I’m playing catch-up with the latest trailers after weeks of not posting a single one. So here are a couple that piqued my interest (oddly enough, both names starts with the first letter of the alphabet):
Animal Kingdom
Parents better not be confusing this with a Disney flick or any other animated feature with cute, cuddly animals. In fact, there’s nothing cuddly about this Jury Prize winner from Sundance. It’s a gripping gangster flick set in the underworld of Melbourne, Australia. It centers on a seventeen year-old J (Josh) as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him. The always terrific Guy Pearce plays the detective amongst a cast of mostly unknowns (to us in the US anyway).
I was startled, and puzzled, when the cheesy 80s Air Supply song comes on. Boy, I remember my brother playing All Out of Love over and over again in his car to my deafening ear. It’s so bizarre, but maybe that’s the point? CinemaBlend says “… its use in the film is perfect and spooky” and “… in one of the most awkward of places… it gets stuck in your head after watching the film” says GeekTyrant. Hmm, I’m even more intrigued now. Kinda reminds me of Somewhere over the Rainbow playing in contrast to the brutal gunfight scene in Face/Off, I always think of that scene every time that song comes on ever since.
A lot of the stuff I’ve read about this film seems to echo the blurb written in the Sundance site:
Wielding a formidable cinematic lexicon, writer/director David Michôd shows complete command of every frame as he shifts between simmering intensity and gut-wrenching drama. There isn’t a false note in the film as it follows through on the tantalizing promise displayed in his short films and unleashes a fierce new voice in Australian cinema.
The movie is released in the US August 13th.
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Adjustment Bureau
An affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by “mysterious forces” keeping the lovers apart.
Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Terrence Stamp
Based on a Philip K. Dick‘s short story Adjustment Team, this movie is a directorial debut of screenwriter George Nolfi, whose work include Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly and Minority Report. It’s a familiar, tried-and-true story – heh, what isn’t in Hollywood these days – but at least it’s one I’m tend to be drawn into. It reminds me a bit of the Rufus Sewell movie Dark City and Christian Bale’s Equilibrium which deal with an authoritarian government/elite group run amok and the heroes must fight for their freedom.
As for the cast, Damon is quickly growing on me. I haven’t seen him as a romantic leading man very often though, but I think he can pull off the tough-guy-with-heart quite well. I’m a big fan of Emily Blunt and the chemistry looks pretty convincing between these two, which is crucial in the plot as Damon’s character risks everything to be with her. And the cold stare of General Zod (whom Mr. Stamp will always be to me) is pretty much synonymous with ‘sinister villain.’
The movie’s release has been pushed back to September 17 (from the Blockbuster calendar of July 30), which means it’ll open the same day as his best buddy Ben Affleck’s crime thriller The Town (which is one of FC’s most anticipated flicks of this year).
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So folks, does either one of these flicks appeal to you?
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Animal Kingdom looks pretty darn good – with some pretty explosive performances I can imagine. I didn’t recognize Pearce, which is a good sign indeed. Adjustment Bureau has potential to be very good and bad at the same time. But I love Philip K. Dick stories – even the movie versions. So I will probably see it in some form good or bad. Plus, Emily Blunt…
Yeah it does, doesn’t it? Pearce is one of those extremely underrated actors who should have the same career as Crowe. Funny to hear him use his own Aussie accent as I’m so used to hearing him speak in flawless English or American accent.
I love sci-fi thrillers so hopefully they tackle the Adjustment Bureau story well. Nolfi looks like he’s got street cred in this genre, but his directing skills remains to be seen.
First time I see the trailer for Adjustment Bureau and I think it has a lot of potential. Not sure about Emily Blunt in the part (she seems a bit too young) but the premise and concept are highly intriguing.
Not crazy about Emily Blunt? Come one Castor, it can’t be Rachel McAdams in every role 🙂 I’m not too familiar with the story, how old is her character supposed to be? Hey, at least they didn’t hire someone like Vanessa Hudgens or some pretty young thing …
Ahah, there is a 13-yr difference between Damon and Blunt. That’s all I suggested 😉
Oy I didn’t know that, boy that Matt looks young for his age, doesn’t he?
Btw, I saw your comment on Dez’s blog you posted while I was in London.. LMAO! He won’t get any crap from me for stuff like that, dude… man I have a life! 🙂
http://hollywood-spy.blogspot.com/2010/05/gerard-butler-kissing-blond-beauty-in.html
Animal Kingdom looks really good. It’s the first time I saw the trailer for it. Pearce is definitely one of the most underrated actors around – Maybe that’s what gives him the freedom to choose great films though 🙂
Yeah it definitely stood out for me amongst a sea of movie trailers out there. Hmmm, perhaps I should do another chat-worthy-yet-underrated actor post soon 🙂
Have seen the ADJUSTMENT BUREAU trailer twice this past week while at the theater. Looks like a sci-fi flick that mated with a ‘chick flick’. Which makes me very happy. Emily Blunt has an unusual face…it’s not plain BUT it’s not expentionally beautiful….either way looking forward to seeing ADJUSTMENT BUREAU. And while I have been known to drool over Terrence Stamp I’m really looking forward to another silver fox: John Slattery.
Hi miss Belle! Sci-fi flick mated with a chick flick, ha! Never heard of that before but hey, that sounds good 🙂 I’ve loved Emily since Jane Austen Book Club, I always thought she is just stunning but in an unconventional way. Speaking of stunning, so are Mr. Stamp’s blue eyes. He’s indeed a silver fox!
I have to say that Animal Kingdom looks great, especially with that Air Supply song, that actually seems to fit with all that damn violence and craziness.
It’s amazing how quickly that Air Supply song get stuck in my head after just watching the trailer twice! I’m curious how it’ll be used in the film, I’m guessing it won’t be used in the romantic scene (if there’s even any).
Adjustment Bureau actually look interesting. I like the feel of it, but am not sure I’ll see it in the theaters. Neat concept though:)
Hi Marc. Yeah, me neither. I’m too chicken to see something like that in the theater, but I’ll check it out on dvd for sure. The concept’s intriguing because it’s a twist on a gangster betrayal story we’ve seen often. It’s got strong performances written all over it.