Trailer Watch: Oslo, August 31st
A day in the life? But do we care?
Oslo, August 31st
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Plot Summary: A recovering drug addict spends one day outside his treatment facility trying to experience the life that has passed him by since his treatment began. Release Date: May 25, 2012 |
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Rating: C Commentary: Far too simple for a film with emotional baggage. The image selection is fitting, but ultimately drowned out by the overly precious clock motif. |
Rating: C Commentary: I'm not really sure what the point of the trailer is. There are some interesting moments, but some unflinchingly boring ones as well, making this seem like the foreign film no one will care if they see. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: None. |
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Trailer Watch: Beasts of the Southern Wild
A political drama masked as a young girl's tale of awakening. It might not be bad.
Beasts of the Southern Wild
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Plot Summary: A young girl struggles with the world around her as she tries to make sense of the strange tales she's been told while reconciling it with the cruel world. Release Date: June 27, 2012 |
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Rating: C+ Commentary: It has that fantasy quality needed to convey some of the more complex elements of the film's plot, but it doesn't entirely match what's presented in the trailer. Catchy design, but seems hollow. |
Rating: B- Commentary: Apart from the fact that it features a "precocious" child actor, the film doesn't seem that bad. The trailer designers have managed to blend in a little bit of mystery with a little bit of conscientious self-awareness, making the film seem like it might be worthy of your attention. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: None. |
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Looking at the Weekend: May 11-13, 2012
Tim Burton's quirkiness still sells tickets even if it shouldn't, so expect him to do quite well at the box office this coming weekend. Whether he can beat the second weekend of The Avengers is hard to say.
Consensus
Below is a list of what we have come to a general consensus on. The number in parens represents the percentage of our contributors who agree with the statement.
Dark Shadows: Fans of the original or Tim Burton may be enthused, but others probably won't be.
God Bless America: If it's your kind of humor, then it's going to be a perfect fit for you. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
Trailer Watch: The Amazing Spider-Man
If Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield weren't reason enough already?
The Amazing Spider-Man
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Plot Summary: The popular webslinger gets the Hollywood reboot taking us back to Peter Parker's origins. Release Date: July 3, 2012 |
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Rating: None Commentary: See Previous Preview |
Rating: B+ Commentary: Trailer designers for a lot of blockbusters are learning a great deal about compelling an audience to the theater. This selection, apart from the slow opening, develops into a raucous trailer sure to pique the interests of many a comic book fan...and even some of those who aren't. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview |
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Trailer Watch: The Dark Knight Rises
THIS, not The Avengers is the must-see event of the Summer.
The Dark Night Rises
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Plot Summary: The final film in the popular rebooted Batman franchise finds Bruce Wayne questioning his status as a crime fighter and whether he has what it takes to continue down the path he has chosen. Release Date: July 20, 2012 |
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Rating: None Commentary: See Previous Preview |
Rating: B+ Commentary: The slow, quiet start is an interesting facet in an already-interesting series of trailers. The slowly building crescendo is more dramatic in a theatrical environment, but it plays the films strengths and weaknesses very well. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview |
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Weekend Preview: May 11-13, 2012
Here are previews of five this week's new releases.
Click here to continue reading this article
Trailer Watch: G.I. Joe: Retaliation (trailer #2, poster #1)
Perhaps it should be called G.I. Joe: Mistakes Abound
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (trailer #2, poster #1)
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Plot Summary: When the G.I. Joe team is almost eradicated by an unscrupulous politician, the team must find their way back into the government's good graces and clear their name. Release Date: June 29, 2012 |
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Rating: D Commentary: Too much Johnson. I know I don't want to look at this guy's mug constantly as part of the film's marketing campaign, but I guess I'm out of luck. |
Rating: C- Commentary: They are making it ever more clear that Channing Tatum, despite being leader of the Joes, is not the selling point of this film and in spite of Bruce Willis, I really don't think Dwayne Johnson's going to do it...he's not the draw they think. The action continues to be interesting while the plot appears to be wholly underwhelming. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview |
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What to See: May 4-6, 2012
On Sundays, we list the weekend's upcoming films along with previews of trailers and posters. On Wednesdays, we preview all of the upcoming new wide and limited releases hitting the theaters the coming weekend. On Fridays, we'll now tell you what you should see. We pose two questions each week to our contributors and their responses are posted below.
Wesley Lovell
1. Would you recommend readers see The Avengers?
Absolutely. I'll be there opening weekend, so obviously I'd recommend it.
2. Are there any limited release features this week that you would recommend (and why)?
Both Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and First Position could be interesting, with the former garnering my recommendation.
Peter J. Patrick
Trailer Watch: Lawless
How many -less title-puns can this film endure? Probably quite a few.
Lawless
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Plot Summary: A family bootlegging operations is threatened by corrupt local law enforcement wanting a cut of the action. Release Date: August 31, 2012 |
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Rating: None Commentary: Poster was a placeholder at the time this post was written. |
Rating: C+ Commentary: The trailer doesn't impress me. It follows the standard formula without generating any credible interest in the story. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: If it's good (the late August opening doesn't fill me with hope of that), it could be a contender in several categories, but as it stands, I'd say Art Direction and Costume Design are its only hopes. |
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Trailer Watch: This Is 40
Didn't Judd Apatow already director a 40-year-old movie or twelve?
This Is 40
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Plot Summary: A middle-aged woman and her husband can't quite figure out what to do with their mid-life crises. Release Date: December 21, 2012 |
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Rating: None Commentary: Poster was a placeholder at the time this post was written. |
Rating: B- Commentary: Paul Rudd is funny, but the rest of the trailer seems disappointing and lacking in freshness. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: It's late-year launch might mean a push for its actors, but I just can't see the Academy embracing this film. |
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Looking at the Weekend: May 4-6, 2012
Being the only new wide release, it's usually a given that it will be the top new release of the week. But even if The Avengers were fighting against another production, it would win hands-down.
Consensus
Below is a list of what we have come to a general consensus on. The number in parens represents the percentage of our contributors who agree with the statement.
The Avengers: The first Summer blockbuster should prove potent if it can sway our interests.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: It's the stars that make this movie look so good.
Trailer Watch: Take This Waltz
Sarah Polley's directorial debut was fantastic. Let's see if lightning can strike twice.
Take This Waltz
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Plot Summary: A young woman struggles to accept her marriage to her husband in the face of a new man in her life who seems to have the romanticism she feels she lacks in her marriage. Release Date: June 29, 2012 |
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Rating: D+ Commentary: You know that most directors don't have input on their poster designs because I can't imagine Sarah Polley letting something this generic and indistinguishable pass. |
Rating: B Commentary: Sarah Polley is one of those directors who doesn't take traditional approaches to stories, so I'm already sold on the film. Yet, the trailer does a nice job setting this up as an unconventional drama about the nature of love and relationships. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: Polley's prior film (Away from Her) earned its star Julie Christie an Oscar nomination and several precursor awards along with an Adapted Screenplay nomination. I see this film as being a potential figure in this year's Oscar race as long as critics take a shine to it. Michelle Williams, at least, has to be considered a potential contender. |
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Weekend Preview: May 4-6, 2012
There are five new releases this week. We have previews for all of them below.
Click here to continue reading this article
Trailer Watch: Magic Mike
Male stripping isn't everyone's cup of tea. Can women drag their boyfriends to this one? Girls night out is probably the best they can hope for.
Magic Mike
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Plot Summary: Stripper by night, hopeful entrepreneur by day, a young man wants to make something of his life, but finds his job on the stage more enticing and more monetarily rewarding. Release Date: June 29, 2012 |
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Rating: None Commentary: Poster was a placeholder at the time this post was written. |
Rating: C Commentary: Women will undoubtedly be lining up for this film after the trailer, but is there enough newness to make it a cross-gender hit? Probably not. After you take away the sexual aspects, the film looks to be an unoriginal romantic drama. The only thing that could save it is director Steven Soderbergh who doesn't typically make common fare. |
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Preview Link: CLICK HERE for link to the trailer, more posters (if available) and other commentary not featured here. Oscar Chances: None. |
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What to See: Apr. 27-29, 2012
On Sundays, we list the weekend's upcoming films along with previews of trailers and posters. On Wednesdays, we preview all of the upcoming new wide and limited releases hitting the theaters the coming weekend. On Fridays, we'll now tell you what you should see. We pose two questions each week to our contributors and their responses are posted below.
Wesley Lovell
1. Which of the four new wide releases would you choose to recommend above the others?
I'd almost say it's a toss up between Pirates! Band of Misfits, but I am more interested in seeing The Raven.
2. Are there any limited release features this week that you would recommend (and why)?
There are several releases that could be good this weekend, but forced to choose, I'd pick Juliette Binoche in Elles.
Peter J. Patrick
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