Preview: RED (2010)

Synopsis:

Retired CIA operatives discover a plot to kill them to keep their secrets safe and rebel against their would-be assassins.

• Poster: B-; B; B; B-; B-; B-; B-

Review:

With a title like RED, I'll forgive the overzealous use of the color in the poster. Yet the need to use black and white on the poster as well, especially in the lettering, is unnecessary. Still, it's a sufficient effort to appeal to audiences.

The first poster for this film was released yesterday and I have a feeling there will be more than just these two. I give this one a slightly higher rating because although it's part of a series and the comments I made yesterday still apply, you just can't beat Helen Mirren with a weapon that big. She may well be the ONLY reason to see this film.

So, I thought Helen Mirren's poster would be the only one I'd give a slightly higher grade to, but I was wrong. This one for John Malkovich shows off his maniacal side, which is a very positive thing.

And then we get the fourth poster and it's as limitedly engaging as the first one with Bruce Willis. You would think Morgan Freeman could convey something exceptionally cool from his depiction, but it is not to be.

Saving the last two cast members for last is a bit irritating, but neither is exactly a box office name. This is Mary-Louise Parker, Emmy nominee for the acclaimed pot-selling comedy Weeds, but her show is fairly niche entertainment, so it makes sense. And the poster's not terribly crafty or inventive like a couple of the others.

The last is Karl Urban who doesn't have name recognition despite having appeared in two of the biggest films of the last decade: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King, not to mention the reboot of Star Trek. So no mass audience identity by name, but definitely by visage, if people notice.

It's a fitting conclusion and combination of the previous posters. Though, it's interesting that Karl Urban got his own poster before, but was not part of this ensemble poster.

• Trailer: C; B-

Review:

This isn't the kind of attraction I imagine these actors putting together. The film looks rather paltry in terms of creativity. The narrative on display seems lazy and unfocused.

I love that they changed it up entirely for the second trailer, but the first has a few good moments as well. This one makes the film seem less interesting and like it's filled with somewhat lame cliches.

Oscar Prospects:

None.

Release Date:

• October 15, 2010

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (July 4, 2010) Original

-Wesley Lovell (July 12, 2010) New Poster

-Wesley Lovell (July 13, 2010) New Poster

-Wesley Lovell (July 15, 2010) New Posters

-Wesley Lovell (July 18, 2010) New Posters

-Wesley Lovell (July 23, 2010) New Trailer, Updated Synopsis

-Wesley Lovell (July 30, 2010) New Poster