Sony Pictures Classics Buys Sundance Hit 'Smashed' Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Sundance has been over for a week, but a few films are still being picked up by distributors. One of the more acclaimed Sundance hits this year was a picture called Smashed, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul as an alcoholic married couple. When Winstead's character sobers up, she has to deal with a few lingering issues from her drunk life.

The film, directed by James Ponsoldt (Off The Black), is being showered with praise for the performance from Winstead, which Pete called "powerful, moving — a must see. It will bring you to verge of tears." Sony Pictures Classics picked up the film over the weekend in a deal said to be worth about $1m. If that price seems low, consider that several of the big Sundance faves from 2010, such as Like Crazy, Take Shelter, Another Earth and Martha Marcy May Marlene, all scored relatively low box-office grosses. All those films will have a strong post-theatrical life, but none managed to break out as a mainstream crossover hit. We don't yet have a release date for Smashed, but when SPC decides on a date and releases a trailer we'll pass them along. [The Wrap]