Trailer Reviews
May 6th 2011 23:37
Here's a mix of reviews for some recent trailers. Clicking the title links to the trailer.
One Day
This is helmed by the director of An Education, which was mostly a wonderful film aside from that pesky ending. However, the trailer is latent with terrible narration and a clichéd structure which gives away the entire film in 2 minutes. Sometimes films are cut terribly for trailers and sometimes they’re just terrible films. I honestly can’t tell with this one yet but I do know this trailer didn’t prove to me that this film will be anything other than generic, despite its inclusion of strong actors and a very good director. Additionally, Anne Hathaway’s accent is pretty atrocious. Oh, Anne. It’s a shame because I really do adore the poster – has some beautiful coloring.
Rating: D
The Help
This is supposed to be a period film and although the hairstyles and clothes fit the era I had a hard time suspending my disbelief, even in a few short minutes, that it was set in the 1950s. Something about the cinematography and some of the dialogue/comedic timing – the tone of the film just seems disingenuous. I very much like Emma Stone so I’ll probably give this a shot but the trailer didn’t impress me.
Rating: C-
Another Earth
This looks different; understated rather than flashy, independent rather than big budget. This could easily have been a completely different film if in different hands – but as it stands it really looks like it could be something unique. Very intrigued by this.
Rating: A
Terri
Looks like it could be a cut above the quirky-indie drama category. John C. Reilly is always good and the dialogue seems crisp.
Rating: B-
Circumstance
This looks like it could range between beautifully subtle and overtly preachy – remains to be seen but I think I’ll definitely take a look for myself.
Rating: B-
Daydream Nation
It has your standard trying too hard to be clever voice-over and a terrible quote from Variety, calling the film “Juno as re-imagined by David Lynch.” I don’t feel Kat Dennings has much range and this entire trailer was just attempting to be too much.
Rating: D-
The Myth of the American Sleepover
I feel like this small, independent and first feature film of it’s director is what Daydream Nation may have been going for – a realistic look at small town adolescence and discovering yourself. This cast is not attractive – they’re real. This film seems like it could hopefully be something special, perhaps in the same vein of George Washington or Mean Creek in terms of it's brilliant and stark portrayal of adolescence.
Rating: A
The Perfect Host
Honestly, I have no idea. I think this could really go either way. It reminds me of a few other films in its content and tone.. it doesn’t seem incredibly original.
Rating: B-
Midnight in Paris
Like all recent Woody Allen, this could be hit or miss but it looks charming and fun (if not terribly substantial) and has a great cast.
Rating: A
Beautiful Boy
This could definitely be manipulative in terms of emotion but it is also an interesting story to be told – focusing on an aspect that we haven’t really seen before in this topical genre. Strong actors here. May be worth a view.
Rating: B-
A Better Life
Looks rather generic – doesn’t seem to be saying anything terribly meaningful or different that it can’t say within the length of the trailer.
Rating: C-
The Big Bang
An incredibly post-modernistic neo-noir which may be attempting to do too much. Very random cast that could be kinda fun but again, this could fail miserably if the tone isn’t captured the way it’s clearly intended.
Rating: B-
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Absolutely stunning, from the first haunting visual to the tense, tightly woven cut that shows you just enough to get you intrigued yet not too much. This is the definition of a great trailer. Is it crazy that I already think Elizabeth Olson’s performance is going to be one of my all-time favorites? And yes, she’s related to the Olson twins and she looks like she’s about to become a huge star.
Rating: A
The Trip
This looks absolutely hilarious. In the Hall of the Mountain King is definitely getting overused lately and while I would’ve preferred something else as the musical backdrop because of this fact alone, it still worked well. Seems like this will be incredibly entertaining.
Rating: A
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
And another usage of In the Hall of the Mountain King except this time it was utterly predictable for the content; a Morgan Spurlock documentary. This did nothing for me because Spurlock does nothing for me. He’s a man who likes to capitalize on gimmicky material rather than subjects he feels passionately about. There is no heart to his work and this entire trailer was pretentious and tedious.
Rating: F
One Day
This is helmed by the director of An Education, which was mostly a wonderful film aside from that pesky ending. However, the trailer is latent with terrible narration and a clichéd structure which gives away the entire film in 2 minutes. Sometimes films are cut terribly for trailers and sometimes they’re just terrible films. I honestly can’t tell with this one yet but I do know this trailer didn’t prove to me that this film will be anything other than generic, despite its inclusion of strong actors and a very good director. Additionally, Anne Hathaway’s accent is pretty atrocious. Oh, Anne. It’s a shame because I really do adore the poster – has some beautiful coloring.
Rating: D
The Help
This is supposed to be a period film and although the hairstyles and clothes fit the era I had a hard time suspending my disbelief, even in a few short minutes, that it was set in the 1950s. Something about the cinematography and some of the dialogue/comedic timing – the tone of the film just seems disingenuous. I very much like Emma Stone so I’ll probably give this a shot but the trailer didn’t impress me.
Rating: C-
Another Earth
This looks different; understated rather than flashy, independent rather than big budget. This could easily have been a completely different film if in different hands – but as it stands it really looks like it could be something unique. Very intrigued by this.
Rating: A
Terri
Looks like it could be a cut above the quirky-indie drama category. John C. Reilly is always good and the dialogue seems crisp.
Rating: B-
Circumstance
This looks like it could range between beautifully subtle and overtly preachy – remains to be seen but I think I’ll definitely take a look for myself.
Rating: B-
Daydream Nation
It has your standard trying too hard to be clever voice-over and a terrible quote from Variety, calling the film “Juno as re-imagined by David Lynch.” I don’t feel Kat Dennings has much range and this entire trailer was just attempting to be too much.
Rating: D-
The Myth of the American Sleepover
I feel like this small, independent and first feature film of it’s director is what Daydream Nation may have been going for – a realistic look at small town adolescence and discovering yourself. This cast is not attractive – they’re real. This film seems like it could hopefully be something special, perhaps in the same vein of George Washington or Mean Creek in terms of it's brilliant and stark portrayal of adolescence.
Rating: A
The Perfect Host
Honestly, I have no idea. I think this could really go either way. It reminds me of a few other films in its content and tone.. it doesn’t seem incredibly original.
Rating: B-
Midnight in Paris
Like all recent Woody Allen, this could be hit or miss but it looks charming and fun (if not terribly substantial) and has a great cast.
Rating: A
Beautiful Boy
This could definitely be manipulative in terms of emotion but it is also an interesting story to be told – focusing on an aspect that we haven’t really seen before in this topical genre. Strong actors here. May be worth a view.
Rating: B-
A Better Life
Looks rather generic – doesn’t seem to be saying anything terribly meaningful or different that it can’t say within the length of the trailer.
Rating: C-
The Big Bang
An incredibly post-modernistic neo-noir which may be attempting to do too much. Very random cast that could be kinda fun but again, this could fail miserably if the tone isn’t captured the way it’s clearly intended.
Rating: B-
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Absolutely stunning, from the first haunting visual to the tense, tightly woven cut that shows you just enough to get you intrigued yet not too much. This is the definition of a great trailer. Is it crazy that I already think Elizabeth Olson’s performance is going to be one of my all-time favorites? And yes, she’s related to the Olson twins and she looks like she’s about to become a huge star.
Rating: A
The Trip
This looks absolutely hilarious. In the Hall of the Mountain King is definitely getting overused lately and while I would’ve preferred something else as the musical backdrop because of this fact alone, it still worked well. Seems like this will be incredibly entertaining.
Rating: A
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
And another usage of In the Hall of the Mountain King except this time it was utterly predictable for the content; a Morgan Spurlock documentary. This did nothing for me because Spurlock does nothing for me. He’s a man who likes to capitalize on gimmicky material rather than subjects he feels passionately about. There is no heart to his work and this entire trailer was pretentious and tedious.
Rating: F
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