When does a film not need a trailer to get you excited to see it? While most people need to see what the film is about before deciding whether it is worth their time, I can sometimes be satisfied knowing that there is strong talent that going into making the film. If a film has a talented director with a reliable track record, or has managed to pull together a unique cast, that should be reason enough to want to go and see that movie.
Each of the trailers this week has an element that alone should get you intrigued enough to watch it. We have a couple independent films with strong casts, a sequel to the great animation, and a fun 3D experience.
50/50
Right off the bat this film feels like a great feel-good indie with strong characters and honest performances. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Hesher, 500 Days of Summer, Inception) alone is one of the most talented young actors working today. And Seth Rogan (who is also producing), while fresh and talented in everything he does, could use this type of role to break out of this Apatow comedy type-casting.
Additionally we have the under-appreciated Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), who is simply enjoyable in everything she does, as well as Bryce Dallas Howard (Hearafter) in some strange Twilight reunion. Not to mention the incomparable Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums) rounding out the supporting cast.
I get a strange feeling that this could be a strange mixture of 500 Days of Summer and Up in the Air.
The Descendants
There is really only one thing you need to know to get excited about this movie: Alexander Payne. If this is anything like his previous films, it it sure to have great style and leave you with a heartwarming feeling long after the credits roll. Sideways, which he is probably most known for, is a strong enough film that just seeing Payne’s name in the director credit should be more than enough for the promos.
And when is George Clooney not great in everything he does? This film looks like a perfect role for him, one that all fathers, all families, will have no trouble relating to.
On a technical note, there were some pacing issues with the trailer as a whole, but I really liked the title design, especially in the sequence where they matched up the titles with sound of the running footsteps.
Salvation Boulevard
This just looks like a good movie with a strong cast and original premise. The film follows Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) as a Christian who witnesses his pastor, played by Pierce Brosnan (007), kill a man.
With a cast including Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler), Ed Harris (A Beautiful Mind), and Jim Gaffigan (Away We Go), how could this not be entertaining. What I like most about this trailer is the humor in which is seems to deal with this subject matter. For some reason I get the vibe that this could be the Little Miss Sunshine of religious films.
Happy Feel Two
The first Happy Feet was one of the few great non-Pixar animations to come out in the last decade. There really isn’t much to say about this film, what you see in the teaser is what you’re going to get. If this sequel lives up to the first one, we should get a film that is both fun for the whole family and enjoyable if you’re just a fan of good animation.
With voice talents including Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), Robin Williams (World’s Greatest Dad), Hank Azaria (The Simpsons), Brad Pitt (The Tree of Life), Matt Damon (The Adjustment Bureau ), Sofia Vegara (Modern Family), and pop singer Pink, at least we know the studio has enough faith after a few years to put a decent budget behind this.
Bottom line, it comes down to the question of if they put the same effort into the screenplay as they did for the original film. But regardless, from this trailer alone you can tell that the animation is cutting edge and should be worth the price of a 3D ticket. I cannot wait for this theatrical trailer.
Ridiculously Awesome Trailer of the Week:
Shark Night 3D
With any luck this film could be this year’s Piranaha 3D surprise hit. A horror film so bad that there is no way it won’t be an enjoyable viewing experience. It’s pretty much the same concept as we always expect, a bunch of hot teens party it up at a salt-water lake filled with blood-thirsty predators. Except that hopefully this one should look cooler since it was actually shot in 3D instead of converted later.
While director David R. Ellis doesn’t have the most artistic film resume (The Final Destination, Snakes on a Plane) he does have experience making films that are worth watching just for the fun audience experience. But, more than likely, this film is just going to get old after the first act when you realize there isn’t going to be nearly as much nudity as you hoped and the dialogue is so bad that’s it’s not even worth laughing at any more.
