Deleted Scenes 11.19.09: Coming Attractions
Posted by Robert Sullivan on 11.19.2009
In which we go over trailers and have so much fun. Come on in.
Hey, everybody. I'm Rob, this is Deleted Scenes, and welcome back to another variation thereof. I thought it'd be rather fun of us to examine the recent output of cinematic advertisements. But before we can get to any of that frivolity, first we've got to do a little bit of business.
And after you read all that content, go ahead and make 411Mania YOUR official homepage. You're good people, I know you will.
The Column
Five recent trailers caught my wandering eye, readers. Some will be big horses in the Oscar race this year, others blockbusters of the future. But hey, as they say, variety is the spice of life. It certainly is when it comes to the offerings at your local googolplex, or else you end up watching garbage. I know I don't want that for my readers, so follow me down, would you?
Release Date: December 19, 2009
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall
Now, all of you readers will know that my love for Jeff Bridges is deep and boundless. Of course, it started with his immortal turn as The Dude in the funniest comedy ever made, The Big Lebowski. Nominated four times without a win, a portrayal of a drunk country singer itching for redemption might just turn the Academy's heads. I for one hope it does, as this movie looks amazing.
On another note, though, one thing also turned my head. Certain ad people might be getting a little lazy this holiday season, because this trailer also reminded me a great deal of the one cut for The Wrestler, another Fox Searchlight Oscar horse that was released last year. Even the fonts used for the trailer look similar. Now, this isn't aimed at taking it down a notch or anything, I loved The Wrestler's trailer as well, it's just something that amused me very much.
According to the current buzz, if there's anyone to take down Jeff Bridges, it'll be Colin Firth for this film. A very intriguing matchup, as I'm a big fan of his work as well. Criminally overlooked as just a romantic comedy performer, Firth's dramatic work in his breakthrough role as Mr. Darcy in "Pride & Prejudice" to his performance as a frustrated novelist in When Did You Last See Your Father? have stood as testaments to his talents, and it sounds like everyone else is finally going to discover the secret. The trailer, well...that's certainly an interesting way to market this film. Evocative of Little Children's marvelous teaser, this shows an offbeat look to some promising material. I'll definitely keep a eye out for it.
Of all these Oscar contenders, and indeed all of the Oscar contenders we've seen so far this year, perhaps none of have been blatantly obvious and massively pandering as Clint Eastwood's latest primal yell for more Academy statuettes, Invictus.
Ever since I heard about the project, I've felt bemusement at the ridiculously clear motives of the film, mocking its Oscarwhore status far and wide.
And yet...
This damned trailer still worked on me. Son of a bitch, I just can't help feeling all gooshy and warm at the idea of Morgan Freeman's booming Morgan Freeman voice as Nelson Mandela, Matt Damon as the whitest man alive who learns to change, and the country that loved them both.
An ode to Hollywood's never ending can-do attitude, this former starrer for the movies' favorite whackaloon was nearly dead and gone when he backed out. Thankfully, a lowly PA or something noted, "Hey! We can just switch around the gender-based pronouns and proper names!" Thus, Salt is coming soon to a theater near all of us. I guess the trailer makes me excited to go see it...well, not really. It's more of a "great, there's clearly going to be nothing else out that week as everyone will just get out of its way, so I guess I'll see it" excitement.
And so we end today on this - Jason Bourne Goes to Iraq. Fuck it, I don't care that this is for all intents and purposes Jason Bourne Goes to Iraq - this looks awesome. You know, it doesn't seem so long ago that people thought "what the fuck?" at the casting news of Matt Damon as an action hero, and it's funny to think about now. A Dorothy no longer, we all readily accept the idea that Matt Damon can kill you with a rolled-up magazine. Dare I say, the action genre has been all the better for that.
