‘Sleep Dealer’

If you are the type of person who likes to be ahead of the curve, to see the first features by directors who go on to do bigger things, then you don’t want to miss Alex Rivera’s impressive debut, the Sundance prize winner “Sleep Dealer.” Adventurous, ambitious and ingeniously futuristic, this beautifully shot film is a welcome surprise. By choosing to work with veteran cinematographer Lisa Rinzler, Rivera has been able to combine visually arresting science fiction with a strong sense of social commentary in a way few films attempt, let alone achieve. Even more impressive, it was done on an indie film budget.

-- Kenneth Turan