Sundance officially ended last night. This year I was fortunate enough to see six films including three in a row yesterday - didn't think I'd make it through them all but I did. Most years there are one or two that I just don't like, but this year every movie I saw was good. I've already told you about one of them and it's accompanying short, but I thought I'd offer up short descriptions of the remaining five:

Thumbsucker is the story of a high school student trying to kick his humiliating habit of thumb sucking. Along the way, we gain insight into both our main character and the adults trying to help him. The acting is excellent, and the movie features an amazing cast playing wonderful characters. My favorite had to be the orthodontist caught up in "hippie psycho-babble" played perfectly by Keanu Reeves, but see it because there are others.

Heights follows a mother and daughter through 24 hours in New York City as they both come to heads in their romantic relationships. Glenn Close plays the mother, a successful stage actress, in a role that seems close to home. It's the sort of slice-of-life film that I love, and it's got a great ending.

Strangers with Candy is the prequel to the television show of the same name. In it, we learn exactly how 46 year-old ex-junkie and ex-con Jerri Blank returns to high school to start her life over. Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert are excellent in their original roles and are accompanied by Mathew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker; both are hilarious.

Murderball is a documentary about the US Paralympic Rugby team. The film offers an insights into both disability and the competitive world of sports by highlighting the rivalry between the US and Canadian teams in this sport where wheelchairs are transformed into tanks and quadriplegics go full-contact to win. It's both inspiring and eye-opening.

Hustle & Flow is the story of a small-time Memphis pimp who in a mid-life crisis decides to become a rapper. As contrived as that premise seems, it really is an excellent movie. The acting and writing are terrific. It's much more polished than most Sundance movies, but it wouldn't have been cast or delivered with the same framing and depth if it weren't an indie.