Trailer Roundup Week 1

By Darian Scalamoni 

Hey everyone and welcome to Trailer Roundup! This is going to be a weekly column where we cover the week in movie trailers. Luckily, for our first time doing this we have plenty of content to talk about so without further ado, let’s get into it. 

Assassin’s Creed

Starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson

The trailer that everyone was anxiously awaiting that I enjoy the more time I see it. Though it’s evident by response from everyone that the Kanye West song choice was absolutely wrong, it’s hard to not love all the excitement that this trailer packs into a little over two minutes. I’ve only played a little bit of the first game and it seems to have some differences but still aims to play in spirit of the games. It will be interesting to see if this film will be the one to break the curse of bad movies that are based on an adaptation of a video game property. I do still have some questions about the film based on the trailer though which is not a good sign, but, who can complain about that amazing dive by Fassbender off the tower? 7.5/10

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Starring Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin

I was very excited for this film just based on the premise and the fact that Ang Lee (Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain) is directing. The premise is unique telling the story of a 19-year old soldier played by newcomer Joe Alwyn, who returns home for a victory tour after a traumatic experience in Iraq. This trailer does a great job of getting the viewer invested in the film without showing too much. Along with that, the film boasts a very interesting cast (and that’s putting it lightly). This movie also will take a look at the war sequences which were filmed so that will make you feel how personal the story is and make you feel like you’re in the war alongside the title character. Ang Lee being an Oscar winning director also doesn’t hurt this film’s cause. It will be released in November too so look for it to be a player when it comes to awards season. 9/10

The Neon Demon (REDBAND)

Starring Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks

Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives) is a director that some may think is more about the look of a film more than the scripts he writes which is evident in his last directorial effort, Only God Forgives, but he also has some amazing films in his filmography like Drive and Bronson that have made audiences feel the other way. Unfortunately, this seems like an effort from the latter. This movie looks to me to be all about the glam and stylized shots more than the substance of the story. The trailer even more so, though cut well to the music choice, is just strange. It has a weird tone which I’m sure will be the same tone of the movie, I’m just not buying into it. I will admit that the premise is fascinating, showing the darker side of the fashion industry and the models that walk the runway, but by the trailer, I’m not intrigued. 5/10

Café Society

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Steve Carell, Blake Lively

Now THIS is a trailer at its finest. Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris) is still producing content at the age of 80, which is something to marvel at; but this film also looks to be his best since Blue Jasmine. Though his last couple of movies haven’t lived up to the standards of his Oscar darlings of the past, it seems that he is back to true Woody Allen form with Café Society. A film that takes place in the 30’s that follows a Bronx native to Hollywood where he seems to meet beautiful women everywhere he goes is right up Allen’s alley. The movie has been getting good reviews out of the Cannes film festival. I can’t believe that it took him this long to realize that Jesse Eisenberg has the same sort of anxiousness but also charm to play his characters that Allen himself used to portray. With a great premise along with an impressive trailer that boasts Kristen Stewart who has been turning in fantastic performances as of late along with Steve Carell in his first film with Woody Allen since Melinda and Melinda, this is a film I’m extremely excited for and I believe everyone else should be as well. 10/10

Queen of Katwe

Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga

Disney loves adapting inspirational true stories to the big screen and this movie is their latest effort with Queen of Katwe about a young girl from Uganda who trains to become a champion of the game of chess. With heavy hitters like David Oyelowo and Oscar winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o, this looks like a sure bet to have people crying as we see the progression of a young girl in a poverty stricken country strive to be something greater. Oyelowo, who you might know for play MLK in Selma, seems to turn in another good performance as the member of the village who teaches the young girl to play chess. I am not a fan of all of these feel good stories as they try to force you to take a side immediately as the film begins but this looks to be a cute film that will stimulate viewers to exactly the story they want to see. 7/10

Inferno

Starring Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Ben Foster

Inferno is the latest installment in the Da Vinci Code series helmed by legendary director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind). This one follows Hanks’ character along with Dr. Sienna Brooks, played by Felicity Jones, in a race against time in Europe trying to stop a global catastrophe having to do with Dante’s Inferno. I have never seen the two previous films adapted from Dan Brown’s novels but I will say that I have no interest in seeing this movie at all. It feels very unrealistic and the plot is just not appealing. It also seems that there is a lot more action on this movie compared to the previous two, relying heavy on effects and the talents of their actors to propel a mediocre story. I thoroughly didn’t enjoy this trailer but I will give it a two based on the fact that I still got to see Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones. 2/10

Indignation

Starring Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tracy Letts

A film that I was excited to see as soon when I heard the premise, it follows a working-class Jewish student from New Jersey who attends a small college in Ohio where he struggles with sexual repression and cultural dissatisfaction. This trailer does a marvelous job of painting a picture for the viewer. Logan Lerman is one of my favorite young actors and this seems like it could be another juicy role for him following great performances in esteemed dramas, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Fury. The reason I’m not giving this trailer a higher score is because based on the reviews for this film at the Sundance Film Festival, they claimed there was actually some humor in the movie which isn’t evident at all within the trailer. I’m still excited to see this film though as potential star Sarah Gadon is also gorgeous beyond belief and it’s James Schamus (The Ice Storm; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) feature debut after writing screenplays for the past 14 years which is exciting considering he’s written some great stuff. 8/10

The Phenom

Starring Ethan Hawke, Johnny Simmons, Paul Giamatti

Already being described as Whiplash in a baseball setting, The Phenom tells the story of a Major League rookie pitcher, with an abusive father, who loses control over his pitching ability and is sent to a psychologist to help him solve his problems. This trailer is intense, with somber tones playing underneath and what looks to be a tremendous performance from Ethan Hawke, I’m extremely excited for this film. The trailer is cut together perfectly showcasing not only Hawke’s abusive nature but also the depression and fear in his son’s eyes. It looks like a true portrayal of how some fathers can take their children’s sports life even more seriously than if it was their own and I want to see that told on screen. 9/10

The Light Between Oceans

Starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz

Though we have discussed some potentially great drama movies coming out, none might have a subject matter as dramatic as this one. Starring real life couple, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as lovers who are married and live in a lighthouse and miraculously one day, a baby washes ashore that they save and ultimately raise as their own daughter. As seen later in the trailer, a woman who lost her child at sea who would’ve been the same age as the couple’s child arises in their lives and they have to make a decision to keep the child or not. The chemistry of Fassbender and Vikander on screen seems to be clearly irrefutable due to their real life comparison, but the emotion evoked from the female lead just from the line “I’m her mother” hits you to your core. Along with the fact that this movie is directed by Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) who broke all hearts with his previous films, the talent of the cast is remarkable and the premise alone would make me want to see this movie. 10/10

The Accountant

Starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons, Jon Bernthal

Here’s a trailer that is very hard to judge simply because you know all about the main character but not much about the story. This movie stars Batman himself, Ben Affleck as an accountant/assassin who has obsessive compulsive disorder and is going to help the government crack a case. Though Affleck’s character seems to be a complicated one with demons from his past which could be fascinating to the viewer, there doesn’t seem to be much story involved as it looks to be a pretty cut and dry film. I wish we were seeing more here especially since we get no glimpses of great character actors Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow while also seeing Anna Kendrick and JK Simmons for a short period of time in the coming attraction. The film looks alright but ultimately that would be because of an alright trailer. 6.5/10

That’s it for Trailer Roundup this week everyone, thanks for reading and keep watching movies!