Entertainment

Check Out Sundance's Most Talked-About Movie

by Nick Romano

You may not have heard about Me, Earl & The Dying Girl yet, but if its trailer is any indication, it'll take root in your heart soon enough. The film was the biggest thing to come out of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, causing a massive bidding war between studios — and the first footage from the touching drama should prove why. Fans of The Fault In Our Stars and similar tearjerking stories will gravitate towards the film, which sees what the relationship that bonds between a young boy and his classmate who's been diagnosed with leukemia. Grab your tissues, because we're already getting emotional.

Thomas Mann, 23, is an up-and-coming actor whose body of work has included supporting roles in Beautiful Creatures, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Project X. But in Me, Earl & The Dying Girl, he takes center stage in what could be a career-making performance. His character, Greg, is a high school senior. This time is supposed to be reserved for one last hoorah before going off to college. And yet, he says in the trailer how this particular year "destroyed his life." He's the kind of person who likes to make short film parodies of classic movies with his best buddy, Earl (RJ Cyler), who he calls a "co-worker" because calling anyone his friend makes him uncomfortable.

One day, his mom (played by Connie Britton, people!) tells him that one of his classmates, Rachel (Olivia Cooke) has been diagnosed with leukemia. On her insistence, Greg goes to keep her company, and the bond that they form changes his life for the better and opens him up emotionally.

Fox Searchlight has the honor of distributing this film, which also stars Ron Swanson...I mean, Nick Offerman and Molly Shannon. The film's director, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, has helmed episodes of American Horror Story , including the "Seven Wonders" episode of Coven. From what we can all see in the trailer, it seems to reflect this fantastical quality. In telling this story, he uses dream-like sequences that can be see in the trailer...

I can't say enough about this film, and when Me, Earl & The Dying Girl gets released on June 12, hopefully you won't either.

Images: Fox Searchlight; Nick Romano/Bustle