I’m not going to say a lot about this, but it’s something I’m keeping an eye on. David Mitchell’s incredible novel, Cloud Atlas, is a book that will change how you think about literature. It’s an incredibly dense and complex construction, following six stories through time and across the globe, held together by strange threads. They mainly serve to examine the ways in which humanity learns and adapts, and the ways in which it doesn’t.
The Wachowski brothers (they’re responsible for The Matrix) have made Cloud Atlas into a movie. A lot of people, myself included, largely believe that this is a near-impossibility, but the cast is impressive, and now there’s a trailer. I am absolutely reserving judgement, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. Having trouble embedding, so here’s a link.
So last week, I posted three trailers, along with a challenge to my readers: guess which movie I wanted to see, which one I might want to see, and which one I really didn’t want to see. You can check out that post here. I’d like to say thanks to those who played along…there were few guesses here, and a few on Facebook as well. For the most part, it seems like everyone has me pretty pegged. One of the choices was a bit of a trick question, and I did manage to trip a few people up on that, so I got to have some fun too. Anyway, here are the answers!
1. The Man with the Iron Fists: NO.
This was the tricky one. Yes, it involves Russell Crowe, but everything else about it is pretty much everything I dislike about movies. Generally speaking, anything involving Quentin Tarantino (he produced) is really not my thing, and the violence in the trailer alone is enough to put me off of this one. I suppose I can’t rule it out 100%, but it will have to get awfully good reviews and positive buzz for Mr. Crowe before I will even consider it.
2. Pitch Perfect: MAYBE.
Pros: Anna Kendrick, hints of Bring It On (seriously, it’s a classic), Rebel Wilson being funny, maybe some good dancing, the use of “No Diggity” in the trailer.
Cons: A capella groups. Singing a capella style.
Seriously, I’m a musical snob, and I hate this whole a capella craze. Pop singing is one thing, and pop-style Broadway, nasal, drive-a-stake-through-my-head singing is quite another. Um. I feel strongly about that. Sorry. Still, I think Anna Kendrick is a lot of fun, and this could be cute.
3. Robot and Frank: YES.
Is this Focus Features? I love Focus Features. If it’s not theirs, it should be. Seriously, they had me at “Susan Sarandon as a hot librarian.” Also, I like Frank Langella, but he almost always plays bad guys, so this looks super-fun in terms of him cutting loose a little. If you know me really well, you’re aware that I have a bit of robophobia (they’re going to take over and kill us all, people, watch a movie!) but in this case, the whimsy involved will just be too much for me to resist. I’ll probably Netflix it, but it’s still a definite watch.
Thanks for tuning in, and join me next time I can find three trailers that match up for a game of Yes, No, or Maybe!
I’ve been trying to watch more trailers lately, and I’ve got a few I’d like to tell you about. But, we’re going to play a game. I’m not going to actually say anything about these trailers. I’m just going to post them for you, and your job is going to be to guess which one I want to see, which one I might see, and which one I probably won’t see. The answers might surprise you. Here they are, in alphabetical order, lest you think I’m trying to be clever.
1. The Man with the Iron Fists
2. Pitch Perfect
3. Robot and Frank
Well? What’re your guesses? Which of these three will I definitely see, maybe see, and probably not see? And how about you? Any of them strike your fancy?
Anna Karenina is an epic Russian romance, written by Leo Tolstoy. It has, naturally, been adapted for film multiple times, since it has all the earmarks of a great, dramatic, ultimately tragic love story. 2012 will see the latest attempt at bringing Anna to the screen, and now we have a trailer! I have to say that all the names attached are top-notch: Joe Wright (Atonement, 2005′s Pride & Prejudice) has certainly proven himself capable of directing period pieces, and Tom Stoppard (a notable playwright) wrote the screenplay. On the acting side, we have Keira Knightley as Anna, Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) as Vronsky, and Jude Law as Karenin, with a bevy of other notable actors in smaller roles.
On paper, this adaptation ought to be pretty fabulous. Conceptually, it’s a little harder to imagine that anyone can really do this sweeping novel justice, although I admit I haven’t seen any of the previous film versions. Additionally, as much as I do actually like Keira Knightley, I’m not convinced of her as Anna. Obviously she and Mr. Wright have a successful working relationship, but I still don’t think she’s quite right for the role. Can we talk about Jude Law for a minute, though? While he doesn’t do anything for me personally looks-wise (although I admit he’s very nice-looking), I do think he is one of the most consistently underrated actors working today, and judging from the trailer, he is going to rock this movie. Oh right, the trailer. I should let you watch it, huh?
It looks fabulous. It’s captured something intangible about the book…the sort of dreamy quality, the sense that everything is going to come crashing down to earth any second. It’s definitely going to be quite lovely to look at. And to the best of my knowledge (haven’t seen Mr. Johnson in anything) these are all quite good actors, so it probably won’t be a total waste of time. I don’t know why I remain skeptical about it…I think it’s still just Keira. I daresay Kelly McDonald might’ve made a better Anna. But what do you think? Does this look like something you’ll want to see?
I’m still super-excited for this one, and the teaser trailer definitely whets my appetite a bit. It looks absolutely fantastic just from an aesthetic point of view. My biggest complaint, which will continue to be a complaint, is the casting of Anne Hathaway as Fantine. I understand why she was cast (current big name, can actually sing), but she’s still a poor choice in my opinion. She’s just too young and fresh, and even though they’ve obviously tried to make her look like hell, I don’t think they’ve succeeded. Also, her voice isn’t doing it for me. Again, too young and fresh. She’s working hard to provide the emotion, but I’m not sold. Still, I think it’ll be a solid movie. Tom Hooper directed 2011′s Best Picture Winner, The King’s Speech, therefore we know he’s capable of working with great actors and delivering excellent period pictures, so no worries there. This is going to be good, you guys. Squeeeeee.
Rupert Everett is going to write, direct, and star in a biopic about Oscar Wilde. Colin Firth, Emily Watson, and Tom Wilkinson will co-star. Brit-tastic! Incidentally, if you haven’t seen the film adaptations of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest or An Ideal Husband, both of which star Everett, you really should.
Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood) will appear in the newest Steve McQueen/Michael Fassbender project (Hunger and Shame being the first two), Twelve Years a Slave. Apparently it’s based upon a memoir of a man who was born free but coerced into slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofor will be playing the main character. Add in Brad Pitt, and those are some serious names. I didn’t really like LMS, but Dano impressed me, and I’m excited to see him in this mix.
Finally, here’s the teaser trailer for the upcoming Bond flick, Skyfall. I recently watched Casino Royale, and man, it is so good. Let’s all just pretend that Quantum of Solace didn’t happen, and cross our fingers for this one, eh? The inclusion of Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes really shouldn’t signal bad things, right?
Can we talk about Charlize Theron? Let’s. She’s been around for a while, of course, and she won an Oscar in 2004 for Monster. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, obviously, and I am totally in love with her in interviews, where she seems to be incredibly down-to-earth and cool. Also, she’s exactly one day older than me. Clearly, we should be best friends! Yet … I’ve only seen her in three movies, one of which I have practically no memory of (The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. I dug her in Hancock, and she had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in That Thing You Do!, so she’s had a varied career, for sure.Despite that Oscar win, however, I’d venture to say that she’s still not the most household of names. I expect that to change, thanks in part to last year’s Young Adult (haven’t seen it yet; it’s on the Netflix queue), but mostly due to what is likely to be a major June. Theron will be starring in Snow White & the Huntsman, and in Prometheus, both of which are undoubtedly headed for blockbuster status.
Snow White has been discussed previously on this blog, but you should definitely check out this new trailer in which Theron is even scarier, Kristen Stewart gets a little more action (and some dialogue!) and Hemsworth is, well, still hunky.
As excited as I am about SW&tH, I am super-super stoked about Prometheus, which I am ashamed to admit I have yet to address here. So, Prometheus, if you’ve missed it so far, is a “is it or isn’t it?” prequel to the Alien movies. It’s directed by Ridley Scott, who directed Alien, and the cast is a grand slam of currently hot young talent: joining Charlize Theron are Idris Elba, Noomi Rapace, and newly-minted Top Fiver, Michael Fassbender. Have I mentioned I’m excited about this movie? I’m excited about this movie. The irony is that I’ve never seen any of the Alien movies, and I am a complete and utter coward. The newest trailer for Prometheus scares the crap out of me, but I will still do my damndest to find a babysitter and drag my husband (also terrified) to the theater in June.
In thinking about lead actresses who can carry a film in the usually male-centric summer blockbuster realm, I’ll admit that I should’ve been thinking of Charlize Theron sooner. She’s got the build and the chops to be awesome in action roles, and I hope that Prometheus will gain her some more mainstream notoriety. In the mean time, I guess I’ve got some catching up to do … what Theron movies do you recommend?
Those of you in the know will think that I am late to the party, but I have finally decided to comment on the Snow White Wars. I know, you’re totally excited!!
For those of you who might have missed it, there are two live-action feature films based on the Snow White story coming out next year. Yes, two. I have been keeping track of the whole affair, but haven’t really felt the need to comment, because there have often been two similar projects in the works, and a lot of the time one or both doesn’t end up panning out. However, in this case, both are definitely a go, and in the last few days, trailers for both have been released. And therein lies the interest, because wow, do these two movies look different. Let’s take a look.
In this corner, we have Mirror, Mirror, a light-hearted take on the fairy tale, directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell, Immortals) and starring Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, and Armie Hammer. My original thought on this one was that Singh has previously made movies that are visually arresting but usually not particularly great, Lily Collins is a total newcomer, but that I love Julia Roberts and find the idea of her as the Evil Queen hilarious, and Armie Hammer is nice to look at and listen to.
Based on the trailer, what we’re dealing with is a fairy tale movie that owes a lot to movies like Ella Enchanted, Ever After, and to the television miniseries The Tenth Kingdom. It’s young, funny, and “updated” in its humor and references. Ms. Collins looks like Audrey Hepburn reincarnate, but she gets to be a little bit of a liberated heroine. Julia Roberts has what may be the worst accent ever, but I still don’t care, and Armie Hammer is indeed very nice to look at and listen to. Also, it’s shiny and pretty, and there’s Nathan Lane! Overall, I have to say that I am much more inclined to see it now than I was initially. The critics will likely pan it, and it won’t win any awards, but it looks cute and fun, a solid entertainment.
Our other challenger is Snow White and the Huntsman, directed by first-timer Rupert Sanders, and starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Chris Hemsworth. On paper, this one seems much more interesting, but it’s gotten plenty of negative buzz from hipster movie bloggers because of its leading lady. I haven’t actually seen Kristen Stewart perform in anything, so I am willing to give her a pass, because let’s face it: Snow White isn’t a particularly complex character. The twist to the story is the selling point here, though, in that the plot revolves around Snow White training with the Huntsman so that she can go into battle against the forces of the Evil Queen. I also find it quite intriguing that there is actually a prince, played by Sam Claflin (PotC: On Stranger Tides). Seeing as the Huntsman is being played by current It Hottie Hemsworth, surely some kind of love triangle must come into play? I’d watch it just to see what they do with that.
The trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman is pretty damn epic. It looks dark and gritty, and Charlize Theron is channeling Michelle Pfeiffer in Stardust, only she looks much, much scarier. I have to say about Chris Hemsworth that he’s not really my style at all, but I think he has got some serious star power. When he’s onscreen, you are just compelled to keep an eye on him, and it’s not just because of his abs. Ok, it’s partly because of his abs. Ms. Stewart, by comparison, doesn’t get a whole lot of screentime, which may be a wise move on the producers’ part. I think that ultimately, this version will come out the winner because it looks like it’s trying to appeal to multiple demographics, but the question is whether or not it can live up to the excitement of the trailer.
So now, the question across the blogosphere is: Which will you see? Originally, I had been firmly in the Stewart/Theron/Hemsworth camp, but I am now pretty interested in seeing both of them. I really like that they are extremely different in their treatment of the classic story. Mostly, they both look like enjoyable films to watch. So that’s my stance, but what about you? Both? Neither? Which do you think is the fairest of them all?
I might have mentioned that I do think the comic book/superhero movie has, at this point, jumped the shark. Having said that, however, ZOMGSQUEEAVENGERSTRAILER. Seriously, this is all the stuff we love. Which might mostly be RDJ as Tony Stark and Tom Hiddleston as Loki, but I will take a little bit of Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth thrown in for good measure, noooo problem. Next summer’s biggest blockbuster? Oh, I think so.
Ahoy! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye scurvy dogs …
Yeah, no, sorry. Can’t do it. I guess I’m just getting old, but I find most internet phenomenon to be kind of ridiculous, and Talk Like a Pirate Day is no exception.
It is, however, an excellent excuse to post a trailer that I saw a little while back, and then forgot about, despite it being A. based upon a reeeeally funny series of strange little books, and B. totally awesome. The voice cast is top-notch, featuring Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, and Jeremy Piven, and, well, it just looks really silly and fun.
