First Trailer for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLIDER

October 24, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Trailers Tagged Anthony Mackie, Anthony Russo, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Chris Evans, Joe Russo, Marvel, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johannson, Sebastian Stan, Trailers

The first trailer for Captain America: The Winter Solider has arrived and, unsurprisingly, it’s looking pretty solid. Following Chris Evan‘s Steve Rogers as he acclimates to living in the 21st century and adjusts to his new position working for S.H.I.E.L.D., the real question is whether this can stand out among the pack if it will just be another solid effort from Marvel. At this point, the studio has a formula for success that’s been working wonders for them. However successful that initial campaign is though, they’ll have to switch gears sooner rather than later if they want to keep proceedings interesting.

The official synopsis reads:

After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

Captain America: The Winter Solider is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and stars Chris Evans, Frank Grillo, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Cobie Smoulders, Emily VanCamp, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Jones. It hits theaters on April 4, 2014.

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New International Trailer for THE BOOK THIEF

October 24, 2013 by Jill Landon Posted in Trailers Tagged Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nelisse, The Book Thief, Trailer

A new international trailer for The Book Thief, a World War II drama adapted by the bestselling novel by Markus Zusak, has been released. This follows 20^th Century Fox taking out two whole pages in the New York Times to fill entirely with blank space except for a URL of the film’s website wordsarelife.com in very small print at the bottom of the page. To say that sort of promotional tactic makes an impression is an understatement, and as this international trailer certainly tries to maintain the gravity from the previous trailer.

With a much less drawn-out introduction than the first released trailer, the inner world of Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nelisse) is given a moment to establish itself alongside the circumstances of her adoption and her recent house guest, but only a moment. Following that, the trailer is all jackboots, burning piles of books, and other horrors of Nazi Germany as Kristallnacht occurs. Liesel is made aware of the devastating consequences not just for her guest, but also for herself if he should be discovered. Bookended nicely by ruminating on Liesel as the Book Thief and what the books mean to her and to her guest, the trailer ends on an even keel that makes you wonder at Liesel’s rebellion and her inner strength.

Directed by Brian Percival (“Downton Abbey”), and co-starring Geoffery Rush, Emily Watson, and Ben Schnetzer, The Book Thief is a clear gambit for the Oscars. The film has Oscars written all over it, although the real test will be to see whether or not it lives up to those clearly-present aspirations. Set to release on November 8^th in the USA, it won’t be long before we see if the writing and character development throughout the rest of the film can match the tenor of the notes struck in this trailer.

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Red Band Trailer for HOMEFRONT Gets Bloody

October 22, 2013 by Jill Landon Posted in Trailers Tagged Gary Fleder, Homefront, James Franco, Jason Statham, Trailers

Jason Statham continues his streak of playing badass Americans with British accents, in Gary Fleder’s Homeland. But, like with Arnold Schwarzenegger, we don’t really care. The spoiler-ridden trailer plays like an annotation for five different action movies in one. A little bit Taken, a little bit Walking Tall, a little bit A History of Violence, and a little bit Malone (if you want to get obscure), Homeland promises nothing new. As silly as it sounds, though, as long as it gives Statham the chance to beat people up and say cool-sounding lines, it will probably be fun as hell. Statham is on his way to full Seagallhood.

This film harbors no illusions about being anything more than a B-movie with a budget. James Franco looks to be really solid, as the meth kingpin (a scene in a yellow hazmat suit makes it impossible not to think of Breaking Bad). Also, Jason Statham looks to turn in a stunning performance as Jason Statham. The hilariously cliché plot and generic action sequences make it tricky to judge the overall quality from the trailer. Films like this tend to be a mixed bag of cult classics and garbage. If you’re in the mood for mindless action, check this out in theaters starting November 27^th. If you are like me, wait for it to be on TNT in a year and watch it over a couple beers with friends, while doing Jason Statham impressions.

Homefront is directed by Gary Fleder and stars Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Kate Bosworth and Frank Grillo. It opens on November 27, 2013.

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New Trailer for MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

October 22, 2013 by Jill Landon Posted in Trailers

A new trailer has been released for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic by The Weinstein Company. Directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) and starring Idris Elba (Luther, Prometheus, Pacific Rim) as the titular peace activist, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom explores the topics mentioned in Mandela’s 1994 biography and premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival. The second trailer released thus far for the film focuses less on the guerilla-warfare like protests of Mandela’s movement, instead zeroing in on the stark contrast between the life Mandela had and dreamed of for his family and the brutality of the Dutch South African regime.

We go from Elba’s voiceover as Mandela, embracing his wife (Naomie Harris) and opining on wanting them to walk free in their own land, to Molotov cocktails and the armored riot-control vehicles now ubiquitous to protests within the first minute. The tone shifts darker with Mandela addressing a packed movie theater imploring them that “we are the pople of this nation but we don’t have rights. There comes a time when there remains two choices: submit or fight!” superimposed with clips of the heavily armed shooting at the assembled South African protestors and the following chaos. The people cheer “fight” and march into the street with Mandela as the march continues with a montage of resistance and white goons coming after Mandela, intimidating his wife and chasing him into a road block, guns trained on him. Whisked away to a court room, Mandela is handed life in prison, and as his fingers disconnect from his wife’s, the new U2 song “Ordinary love” – the band’s first in three years, written for the film – plays as Mandela is brought into prison. The campaign to Free Nelson Mandela begins, and the montage continues into a happier tone, ending with Mandela walking with his wife and supporters and the line “Love comes more naturally to the human heart.”

Rife with topical imagery yet firmly anchored in the subject matter, this new trailer seems more restrained in it’s contemporary call-outs than the first trailer and drives home for fully the gravity of the oppression that Mandela fought against, which given the subject matter seems only fitting. Set for limited release in the US on November 29^th after doing a run of film-festival screenings including Chicago International Film Festival and Austin Film Festival, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom has as high aspirations for it’s reception as it’s subject matter warrants. Only time will tell if it will stand up to it’s equally weighty competition come Oscar season.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is directed by Justin Chadwick and stars Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshhikiza, Terry Pheto and Deon Lotz. It hits theaters on November 29, 2013.

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Madcap Trailer for THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL From Wes Anderson

October 17, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Trailers Tagged The Grand Budapest Hotel, Trailers, Wes Anderson

The trailer for The Grand Budapest Hotel explores the madcap joy of Wes Anderson‘s film and is sure to delight his legions of fans. The story is centered on Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a upclass hotel manager and his protege Zero Moustafa, the new lobby boy. When a guest is murdered, the police suspect Gustave and he and Zero hit the ground running.

Set to hit theaters on March 7th, 2014, the film sees the return of Anderson’s typical troope: Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman. If you missed the first poster, have a look at it here. Otherwise, take a look at the trailer and see where you think this will fall on the Anderson spectrum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fg5iWmQjwk

The Grand Budapest Hotel is directed by Wes Anderson and stars Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Mathieu Amalric, Lea Seydoux, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Wilkinson, and Tony Revolori. It will hit theaters March 7, 2014.

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New JACK RYAN Trailer Looks Pretty Generic

October 15, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Trailers Tagged Chris Pine, Jack Ryan, Trailers

Paramount seems to be on a bit of a marketing blitz for Jack Ryan, the CIA operative, spy thriller starring Chris Pine, as the second trailer just dumped online not even two weeks after the premiere of the first. Maybe the debut trailer wasn’t tracking well with audiences or was failing to amp up anticipation levels but this second one is hardly making up any ground, as quick response has been largely negative.

While it’s hard to judge the quality of an actioner like Jack Ryan well before its release, the culmination of this second trailer has seemed to arrived with a bit of a thud. Obviously, I’ll be amongst those seeing it but I wonder how much of an audience it’ll snag with its Christmas time release. Traditionally, action movies over the Christmas break have seen good return on their investment, but there is no guarantee in a release period overcrowded with competition.

Take a look at this second trailer and see if you would priotize this over Christmas Day competitors American Hustle, 47 Ronin, Anchorman 2, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh (who also plays the villain in the film), Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will also feature Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, Nonso Anozie, and David Paymer. For now, the film is slated for a Christmas release but, considering the many turning tides of films lately, it’s been rumored to be moving back into January territory. The fact that we’ve yet to see a trailer lends credence to that rumor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IX3Imm4osM

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, Nonso Anozie, and David Paymer. It’s currently set up for a Christmas, 2013 release.

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Second MONUMENTS MEN Trailer Confirms High Oscar Odds

October 11, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Trailers

In George Clooney‘s latest starring and directing vehicle, he plays George Stout, a WWI veteran and esteemed Harvard art conservation expert. As Hitler and the Third Reich sough to destroy hundreds of years of irreplacable art, Stout played a key role in helping to secure a team to extract these priceless pieces before they were met with flames.

Under his command, served fellow soldier and art enthusiast James Rorimer (Matt Damon) alongside a ragtag group of art historians turned quick soldiers played by giants like Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and John Goodman.

The official synopsis for The Monuments Men reads:

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action-thriller focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

While the first trailer caught some off-guard with its amplified sense of comedy, this second edition focuses more on the dramatic gravitas, nudging it further into its Oscar contender slot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTBSKrW4K-E

The Monuments Men is written, starrings and directed by George Clooney. It also stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and John Goodman. It hits theaters in the thick of Oscar season on December 18.

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Bale Leads Second AMERICAN HUSTLE Trailer

October 10, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Trailers Tagged American Hustle, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K, Michael Pena, Robert De Niro 1 Comment

As the Oscar race heats up more and more by the minute, American Hustle remains one of the biggest unknown contenders. Directed by David O. Russell and featuring a truly all-star cast of Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Robert De Niro, Michael Peña, Louis C.K. and Amy Adams, American Hustle could potentially be O. Russell’s third major Oscar player in a row.

With a year crowded with great performances, there’s no saying if O. Russell’s acting nomination hot streak will continue or who of his cast will receive the bulk of the accolades. Taking a look at this second trailer, who do you think looks the most likely to snag a nom?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Cb4SFt7gE

American Hustle is directed by David O. Russell and stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Robert De Niro, Michael Peña, Louis C.K. and Amy Adams. It opens in limited theaters on December 13 and opens wide on December 25.

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New Trailer for Coen Brother's INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

October 8, 2013 by Jill Landon Posted in Trailers Tagged Carey Mulligan, Coen Bros, Garrett Hedlund, Inside Llewyn Davis, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, Trailers

A new trailer has landed for the Coen brother’s film Inside Llewen Davis,a drama focusing on the ailing career of folk-singer Llewen Davis (played by Oscar Isaac who also stared in 2011’s Drive and 2008’s Body of Lies) in the middle of the 1960’s pre-Dylan New York music scene. Inspired in mood by the life of Dave Von Ronk and his notion that this scene was dominated by acts from all over the US to the chagrin of New York native musicians, this new trailer shows Davis’s career, life, and relationships disintegrating as he grasps at straws offered from people still willing to give him a shot. Passed over, neglected and berated at every step of this 3-minute trailer, Llewen remains unvanquished and, with the help of the heartfelt music we’re meant to assume is off Llewen’s titular album, the prospect of hope for the folk singer seems less of impossible than in previous trailers.

Llewen has yet to respond adequately in these trailers to the near constant criticism he gets for his failures from his already-taken and newly-pregnant paramour Jean (Carey Mulligan), other musicians, and various acquaintances. However, this trailer has less barbs directed at him and a quicker pacing. Llewen’s brooding looks are less hopeless then previously shown, and beats shown in previous trailers are fleshed out with more of Llewen’s persistence in the grit in the face of his detractors. The scenes of him traveling what we’re given to understand by sequence is away are grouped closer together and coincide with swells in the soundtrack (an old folk song produced by T-Bone Burnett of O Brother, Where Art Thou? fame along with Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons), making it seem less like a retreat and more of a stand taken against the growing clouds over Llewen’s future. Unlike in previous trailers, Llewen’s charisma is easier to spot, and Isaac’s performance is put center stage instead of just setting the scene. In this trailer, he seems actually likable, which is saying something.

The film, which won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, is debuting on December 6th during the bulk of Oscar season releases. Although not as grave as the Coen’s previous couple of films, the personal tragedy of the artist unable to compromise for personal success that the film revolves around is just as serious and just as moving. At turns funny, downtrodden and uncertainly hopeful, this movie has a lot going for it, both for the Coen brother’s fans and for the upcoming academy awards.

To see the IMDB exclusive trailer, click here.

Inside Llewen Davis is directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, and Justin Timberlake. It Hits theaters December 6^th, 2013.

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