Trailer Park: 'Twilight' (final trailer), 'Revolutionary Road,' 'Yes Man,' 'Notorious,' 'The International'
First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the high-resolution trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change. --Ellen
Twilight (final trailer) (dir. Catherine Hardwicke): So a little over a month before its release, Summit has released the final trailer for this much-anticipated film, which blends both the romance aspect (finally, a kiss!) and the action seen in the previous trailer. For fans of the books, the smooch is probably worth the replay alone. I'm a little worried about Robert Pattinson's well-cast but little-emoting Edward. Yes, I get that he's a vampire, cold-skinned and very controlled, but there's a fine line between simmering and flat acting. (or maybe it's the dialogue sampled here). I'm hopeful it's not the latter. (Nov. 21)
Revolutionary Road (dir. Sam Mendes): The reunion of Leo & Kate (how cute is it that they're such buddies in real life?) turn it all on its head playing an embittered couple once passionately in love now living in suburbia, punching the clock, making birthday cakes and squabbling. Directed by Winslet's husband Sam Mendes (American Beauty), this looks about as comfortable as watching your own parents fight day in and day out. But two of the most interesting actors with proven screen chemistry in the roles? Argue away. (Dec. 26)
Yes Man (dir. Peyton Reed): Jim Carrey's back; didya miss him? Well, if you recall the glory days circa 1994-1999 when he was the most bankable comedy star, you'll also recall his monster hit Liar Liar in which he found himself unable to lie. This film feels very similar, except it's based on a true story of a man who decides to live a little and say "yes" to everything--that includes attending a Harry Potter party in costume and learning Korean--for an entire year. Releasing as Oscar counterprogramming (we assume), it'll be interesting to see if Carrey makes an impact on on the box office, or if fans are in no mood to walk down memory lane in theaters. (Dec. 19)
Notorious (dir. George Tillman Jr.): Dangit, that Duran Duran song (used over the title credits) is still catchy. Anyway,
the Notorious B.I.G., aka Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls, was a
hugely successful rapper best known for his role in the East Coast vs.
West Coast feud, including a well-known dispute with Tupac Shakur. His
life was cut short when he was gunned down in his car in 1997 at the
age of 24 (the case has not been solved). Newcomer Jamal Woolard plays Wallace in this biopic that traces his childhood in Brooklyn, his friendship with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (Derek Luke), whose brief appearance in the trailer is striking), his feud with Shakur (Anthony Mackie), his marriage to Faith Evans (Antonique Smith) and affair with Lil' Kim (Naturi Naughton). Angela Basset plays his mom Voletta, and, as indicated in the trailer, his music will be front and center. (Jan. 16)
The International (dir. Tom Tykwer): Clive Owen
channels his coulda-been-James Bond (indeed he was once rumored the
front-runner for the role) in this conspiracy thriller about taking
down the world's largest... bank--albeit, a bank that kills people and
buys missiles from China. Naomi Watts' role here is unclear (other than running alongside our grizzled hero), but we're excited that Run Lola Run helmer Tykwer is in charge. Hopefully for Owen, this means something to make us forget Shoot 'Em Up. (Feb. 2009)
Jamie on October 11, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I don't get "little-emoting" from Robert Pattinson - very possibly because I JUST read the Twilight series and am still up to my eyeballs in how desperately Edward is trying to control not just himself but events far outside his control, throughout all the books. Pattinson's voice is not as expressive as his face, I'll give you that, but do you catch the little twitch of his body in the scene where Bella says she'd rather die than be without him? It's as if she stabbed him with a very sharp, though very tiny, knife, and I think most actors would have either skipped that twitch altogether or overdone it. That, the tightening of his jaw at the "Say it," and the horror in his face when he saves her from the van - whew. On the other hand, I'm deeply grateful that either the previous trailers' cuts of Bella's "Your skin is pale white and ice cold" were really klutzy or that they redid the line, because it was about as contrived as it got in those earlier trailers.
I'm far too old to be looking forward to this movie this much...