Early buzz on Sundance films

In the past I've said I wouldn't write about this again, but sooo many people — friends, co-workers, total strangers — have bugged me about it that I just don't feel I have a choice in the matter.

Everyone's asking what movies they should go see during this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Now take into consideration that I haven't seen any of these yet, but here are some that look intriguing from Sundance's Premieres, Dramatic Competition, Documentary Competition, World Dramatic Competition and World Documentary Competition sections (go online to www.sundance.org for dates, times and venues):

• ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM. Magnolia Pictures has already snapped up the distribution rights for this scathing documentary about the '90s Enron corporate scandal.

• GRIZZLY MAN. Another documentary, this one from veteran filmmaker Werner Herzog, profiling the late grizzly-bear researcher Timothy Treadwell, who was killed by one of his animal subjects.

• KUNG FU HUSTLE. If Hong director/star Stephen Chow's follow-up film is as wacky and inspired as his "Shaolin Soccer," this martial-arts comedy will be the sleeper hit of the festival.

• THE LIBERACE OF BAGHDAD. The title alone has piqued my curiosity about this documentary that looks at Iraqi musician Samir Peter.

• MIRRORMASK. Everyone who seen this live-action/digital animation hybrid, a musical-fantasy based on a story by Neil Gaiman, has been blown away by the imagery.

• NEW YORK DOLL. Brigham Young University graduate Greg Whiteley directed this profile of former New York Dolls musician and LDS Church convert Arthur "Killer" Kane.

• PALERMO HOLLYWOOD. This Brazilian thriller has been compared to the works of Quentin Tarantino, as well as the Sundance hit "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."

• THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney head the cast of this domestic drama, which was written and directed by Noah Baumbach (who co-wrote "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou").

• THUMBSUCKER. Another film with Utah ties, this comedy stars Tilda Swinton and Keanu Reeves and was based on the best-selling novel by former LDS Church member Walter Kirn.

• WOLF CREEK. This creepy Australian thriller has already been purchased by Dimension Films, but I'm advising that audiences see it before the inevitable "Blair Witch Project" backlash begins.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com