James Mangold shared his concern about the loss of emotional depth in modern movies at the recent Sundance Gala event at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. He said audiences now favor clever, detached storytelling over films that stir real emotions and reminisced about the era when films openly connected with viewers and portrayed raw feelings.
James Mangold also pointed out how modern platforms encourage short attention spans, leaving little room for movies that touch the heart. He called for filmmakers to embrace sincerity and urged them to make genuine stories, but not heavy or overly dramatic.
James Mangold and Cynthia Erivo shine at Robert Redford’s Sundance Gala
The Sundance gala honored creative talent, with Mangold and Cynthia Erivo taking center stage. The former received the Trailblazer Award, an honor previously given only to Christopher Nolan, which acknowledged his bold approach to filmmaking as he blends emotional storytelling with engaging ideas.
Erivo, who playfully wore a tiara, received the Visionary Award, presented by Olivia Colman. She spoke about her journey, revealing how she followed her instincts and worked tirelessly to reach her goals. Erivo is now a Grammy and Emmy winner and is two steps away from achieving EGOT status.
Director James Mangold’s Hollywood journey
Mangold being at Sundance was quite a full circle moment as his career began there, where he developed Cop Land in 1994. A year later, he made his first feature film, Heavy, which earned him critical acclaim and launched his journey in Hollywood.
Over the years, Mangold has mastered storytelling across movie genres. From intense dramas like Girl, Interrupted to superhero hits like Logan, he created movies that are impressively timeless. He also brought musical legends to life with films like Walk the Line and A Complete Unknown, which earned him multiple Oscar nominations.