Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: ALICE [Sundance Film Festival 2022 - Virtual]

The aspect of brainwashing and conditioning is an interesting structure in terms of approach of a would-be genre film but is still horrifying to consider. The crux of the story of "Alice" [US Dramatic Competition) has a slight "The Village" ode with the right (if that is the right word) time period to support it in the early 70s. Keke Palmer plays Alice with an journeywoman presence which really gives a sense of the world in how a person in this situation would react. Some of the earliest transference scenes are awesome in the way they unfurl in simple close ups and reactions. Director Krystin Ver Linden paints the picture with both a inflection of history but also the progress that still needs a lot of work.

Common as Frank balances the equation perfectly giving voice to anxiety, trepidation and a world weariness that works nicely within the context of the story. It is cool to see some simple pleasures as Alice sees her new life and the essence of old school music (which is wonderfully integrated) gives life to Alice's enlightenment as well as rage. On the reverse Johnny Lee Miller's Paul is a menace and thinks he is right in some way which plays to an even darker complication. "Alice" is not quite what one would think and uses a more rigid texture of realism to bring the ideas to bear, not attacking with an utter viciousness but instilling a strength (that at certain points is offset by anger). Alice as Palmer plays her truth once she is seen with raw nerves as expected. And whether it is confronting someone in a diner or lecturing her would-be liberator in Frank (even though he has had his own life experience), it makes a dent. And also infusing this new Alice with influences like Coffee or Pam Grier as bad ass women doesn't hurt either. B

By Tim Wassberg