Of the three new trailers this evening, two (Love and Other Drugs and How Do You Know) both have the potential to strike gold at the Oscars while the third film already struck gold and is merely getting a buffed up re-release this year (Avatar). In addition, there are four new posters today for The Expendables, The Last Exorcism, The Town and A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

	Plot Summary: A pharmaceutical salesman uses his charisma to win over new conquests, but when he meets a woman of equal appeal, he can’t seem to shake his feelings for her. Release Date: November 24, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: B+ Commentary: Edward Zwick may finally have something here. With the undeniable chemistry of Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, this could be a huge hit this winter. The trailer has a nice mixture of humor and pathos, but does give away a bit too much about the film’s plot.	Rating: None Commentary: I don’t review placeholders.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: Normally, Zwick is on the cusp of nominations and back when the Academy announced they would be increasing the number of Best Picture nominees to ten, Zwick was one of the three entities that I said would benefit most from this change. Yet, I can’t help but think he might have had a shot even had this not been a 10-nominee year. Nominations for Picture, Director, Actor and Actress are all distinct possibilities. We’ll have to wait until critics weigh in to know just how far it will go.

HOW DO YOU KNOW

	Plot Summary: Trying to figure out what she wants from life, a New Yorker finds herself torn between her current boyfriend and another man. Release Date: December 17, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: We could finally see Paul Rudd getting some attention for being a lead in a film instead of just a sidekick to a comedian. Of course, this doesn’t look like a great film and the situations don’t seem as fresh as they could be, but this is James L. Brooks, so appearances can be deceiving.	Rating: None Commentary: I don’t review placeholders.
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: When I first saw this listed as a late-year release and James L. Brooks’ name attached, I thought it might be a contender. If this trailer is any indication of the film’s quality, I’m not so sure anymore. Still, Paul Rudd could get a nomination for doing what looks like his typical routine, which never seems to get enough love. But we need critics to weigh in first to know more.

AVATAR (RE-RELEASE)

	Plot Summary: A re-release of 2009’s box office champion with additional footage added in. Release Date: August 27, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C- Commentary: From the pathetic choice of music to the cheesy narration, I don’t see how anyone would be entices to watch this movie on the big screen again by advertising like this. It will still draw an audience, but in spite of this trailer.	Rating: None Commentary: Not applicable.
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: Not eligible for 2010 awards.

THE EXPENDABLES, poster #2

	Plot Summary: A ragtag group of mercenaries go on a mission to South America where they hope to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Release Date: August 13, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: The Expendables	Rating: B- Commentary: It’s not a bad poster, but the silly expressions on some of the actors’ faces make for a rather uncomfortable poster and the colors are just brash and unexciting, though it blends somewhat well with the first poster for the film.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview

THE LAST EXORCISM, poster #2

	Plot Summary: Filming his last exorcism before a documentary crew, a trouble evangelical minster finds himself in a fight for his life and for the life of the young girl possessed by the devil. Release Date: August 27, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: The Last Exorcism	Rating: C+ Commentary: It fits very nicely with the first poster for this film sharing the same color scheme and overall design mentality, but it’s still not that compelling an image and isn’t likely to bring new people to the film.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview

THE TOWN, poster

	Plot Summary: A bank robber tries to reconcile his feelings for a bank mangaer from one of his previous jobs while trying to escape capture by a determined FBI agent. Release Date: September 17, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: The Town	Rating: C- Commentary: A rudimentary poster using traditional multi-box cast photos and a single, modestly interesting main image.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview

A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP

	Plot Summary: Based on the Coen Bros. film Blood Simple, acclaimed director Zhang Yimou follows the fate of two young lovers as her husband hires an assassin to kill them both. Release Date: September 3, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop	Rating: C- Commentary: The colors are just atrocious. And considering how adept Zhang Yimou is at using vivid, intense colors to tell his stories, this poster is a significant disappointment.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview