One of the reasons I decided to review Sundance trailers throughout the festival was to hopefully draw attention to some deserving films that I’d want to see if I was in Park City this week. Unfortunately, it has so far been difficult to find appealing-looking movie trailers — or maybe it’s just actually difficult to find appealing-looking movies this year (could that be the reason for the lack of deals?). And so, I present you today with a trailer for a movie that looks far from appealing. Maybe instead of pointing to a movie for you to see, this can serve to point to a movie for you to avoid.

I guess every year Sundance needs some kind of uncomfortable movie dealing with sex. After all, it was sex, lies and videotape that helped put the festival on the map. But boy is that film’s subject matter tame compared to some of the selections of late. When I was at the festival in 2005, I watched all but maybe two people walk out of Michael Winterbottom’s 9 Songs, a film that features actual sex intertwined with live rock concert performances (I stuck around for the Dandy Warhols song). Since I don’t think any cool bands appear in Downloading Nancy, despite it being the feature debut of music video director Johan Renck (Madonna’s “Hung Up” and “Nothing Really Matters”; Kylie Minogue’s “Love at First Sight”), I’ll have to say that I’d rather not watch a movie that might have a naked Maria Bello voluntarily being cut with a piece of glass as a form of foreplay.

I’m not the only person who doesn’t find that scenario appealing. So far, at least one critic has given the film an “F”, and according to that review the film has had its own share of walkouts. Then there’s The Hollywood Reporter review, which claims this is Christopher Doyle’s messiest work (which doesn’t actually sound as bad as it should since Doyle is typically a genius cinematographer) and says the film is a “witless and pointless indulgence in shocks without the redemption in art.” But then there’s Cinematical’s Erik Davis, who agrees that it will be a difficult film to market but champions Maria Bello’s performance:

“Should this film get picked up and play in theaters at some point during the year, then I’d be completely shocked if Maria Bello doesn’t wind up with an Oscar nod for best actress in 2009. Sure, it’s a little early to be saying that, but this woman gives the performance of the festival — and of her career — as a lonely, emotionless wife on the brink of complete self destruction.”

Apparently Erik is in the minority, but he might at least have you intrigued with that statement. If there’s one thing I love about Sundance it’s the hope for a polarizing film. This could be it.

Downloading Nancy had its premiere yesterday morning, but it screens again this evening at 5:30 PM at the Racquet Club, tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM in the Library and Friday afternoon at 3:15 PM at the Eccles Theatre. There is also one Salt Lake City screening Thursday at 6:00 PM in the Tower Theatre.