Trailer Trash Feature: 21st July – 5th August

(Bi-weekly feature written for Lost In The Multiplex)

I think this has to be one of my favourite round-ups of new film trailers this week, with the promise of some brilliant looking films set to be released over the following year. With the exciting teaser for Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel and a spectacular first trailer for the upcoming adaptation of David Mitchell’s highly acclaimed novel Cloud Atlas, we also have a couple of trailers for some of this year’s Sundance’s favourites including Ry Russo-Young’s moving Nobody Walks and Leslye Headland’s very funny Bachelorette. This really is a great collection of film trailers this week and I hope that by the end of this feature you are left just as excited for nearly all of them as much as I am!

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Man Of Steel

To start things off we have one of the most anticipated trailers, with the first for Watchmen and 300 director Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel. Released at this year’s Comic-Con, the first teaser is both brilliant and beautiful, not giving away too much but giving enough to get us excited for its release next summer. With Henry Cavill in the lead role, the film follows Clark Kent/Kal-El, a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond anyone’s imagination. Transported to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, Clark must become the hero known as Superman to protect the ones he loves. Directed from a script by David S. Goyer (the Batman trilogy), who co-wrote the story with Christopher Nolan himself, the film also stars Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Shannon, and is set to be released on 14th June, 2013.

The Master

Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Thomas Anderson, we also have the first trailer for The Master, which marks the fifth collaboration between the director and the film’s leading star, Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. Set in America in the years following World War II, a charismatic intellectual (Hoffman) launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor. The new trailer gets you thinking what the underlying themes of this film could be, but it won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. Also starring Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, and David Warshovsky, The Master is set to be released in the UK on 9th November.

Cloud Atlas

The trailer that has most excited me this week is the first for Tom Tykwer’s, Andy Wachowski’s, and Lana Wachowski’s adaptation of David Mitchell’s acclaimed novel, Cloud Atlas. The story explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future. A mix of action, mystery and romance, the new trailer looks fantastic and it definitely has a lot to say for itself. With the three directors co-writing the script together, the incredible cast for this film includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Xun Zhou, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant, most of whom take on multiple roles and characters across the centuries the film spans. Set to be released on 26th October, this really is one to look forward to.

Life Of Pi

Another trailer that has impressed this past few weeks is for Ang Lee’s long awaited adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, which is set to be released on 21st December. Starring Tabu, Gérard Depardieu, Tobey Maguire and Irrfan Khan in support, the film follows Suraj Sharma in the lead role as Pi, a zookeeper’s son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck sets them adrift in the Pacific Ocean. The new trailer is pretty incredible and shows off some stunning footage that will certainly get you wanting to see more.

The Paper Boy

Debuting at Cannes earlier this year to mixed reviews – and some very random spoilers – we have the first trailer for Oscar-nominated writer-director Lee Daniels’ returns with his third film, The Paperboy. Directed from a script he co-wrote with the author of the original novel, Peter Dexter, the film follows a directionless young man (Zac Efron) who helps his reporter brother (Matthew McConaughey) investigate the possible wrongful conviction of a man on death row, and in the process falls for the woman (Nicole Kidman) whom the convict (John Cusack) has been romancing through prison correspondence. The new trailer brings this impressive cast together and it seems to be a collection of interesting roles for them all. Also starring David Oyelowo, Scott Glenn, Nikolette Noel, and Camille Balsamo, the film is set to be released in the US on 5th October, but it does not yet have a UK release date.

Branded

Looking more at a dystopian world where corporate branding has run amok, we have the second trailer for the sci-fi/thriller, Branded, which gives us a longer look at the film, bringing with it both more intrigue and promise. Co-directed and written by Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn, the film looks at a radically changed world were visions of bizarre and terrifying creatures with the ability to influence people’s thoughts, desires and actions are used as part of a company’s advertising campaign. With a pretty strong cast including Ed Stoppard, Max von Sydow, Leelee Sobieski, and Jeffrey Tambor, Branded will be released in the US on 7th September, but it still does not yet have a UK release date.

Nobody Walks

Winner of the Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Filmmaking at this year’s Sundance, jointly with James Ponsoldt’s Smashed, we have the first trailer for Ry Russo-Young’s Nobody Walks. Starring Olivia Thirlby and John Krasinski in the leads with support from Rosemarie DeWitt, Justin Kirk, India Ennenga, and Dylan McDermott, Russo-Young co-wrote the script with the brilliant Lena Dunham. The film follows a 23-year-old artist from New York who arrives in Los Angeles to stay in the pool house of a family, where the father has agreed to help her complete sound design on her art film as a favour to his wife. This looks like a great role for Krasinski to take the lead in and it is his role that I look forward to most about this. Set to be released on VoD on 6th September ahead of its theatrical release on 12th October in the US, there is no word on a UK release date as of yet.

The Oranges

Another first trailer sees the joining of Hugh Laurie (House) and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) in Emmy-nominated director Julian Farino’s The Oranges. Playing the role of a couple living on Orange Drive in suburban New Jersey, the duo are best friends with another couple on the street played by Oliver Platt and Allison Janney. When their neighbour’s daughter, Nina (Leighton Meester), returns home from a five year absent, instead of developing an interest in a boy her own age, it’s her parents’ best friend David (Laurie) who captures her attention, causing a rift between the couples and their families. The new trailer looks pretty interesting and it is certainly worth a watch for Hugh Laurie. Also starring Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat and The OC’s Adam Brody, The Oranges is set to be released in the US on 5th October, but as yet there’s still no word on when we can look forward to it over here in the UK.

Jack and Diane

Focusing on a very different kind of relationship, a lesbian werewolf one to be precise, we also have the first trailer for Bradley Rust Gray’s indie romance, Jack and Diane. Starring Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises) and Riley Keough (Magic Mike) in the lead roles, the film follows these two teenage girls who meet in New York City and fall in love. When Jack discovers that Diane is moving, however, Jack pushes her away and, unable to grasp her new feelings, Diane’s emotions begin to cause unexplainable violent changes to her body. This looks like a great little indie and if for nothing else it will be interesting to see Temple in a much bigger role. Also starring Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) and Kylie Minogue (Moulin Rouge), Jack and Diane will be released in the US through VoD on 28th September ahead of its theatrical release on 2nd November; no word yet on a UK release date though.

Bachelorette

Another film that debuted at this year’s Sundance with a new trailer this week is Leslye Headland’s directorial debut, Bachelorette. This new red band trailer contains a lot of swearing and puns and reminds me very much of last year’s Bridesmaids, so it does have promise. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, and Lizzy Caplan in the leads, the film follows three frisky bridesmaids who go searching for a little fun, but who find much more than they bargained for. Directed from Headland’s own script, the film also stars James Marsden, Adam Scott, and Rebel Wilson. Set to be released on VoD on 10th August before its theatrical release on 7th September in the US, it again has no release date in the UK as of yet.

The Big Wedding

Also on the wedding theme, we have the first trailer for writer-director Justin Zackham’s return behind the camera with The Big Wedding. With an all-star cast headed up by Katherine Heigl, Topher Grace, Robert De Niro, Amanda Seyfried, Diane Keaton, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon, and Robin Williams, the romantic comedy follows a modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco. Set to be released on 9th November, the trailer sets up the plot quite nicely but it’s the cast that seems to be its best feature.

Cockney’s vs. Zombies

From weddings to zombies, we have the first red band trailer for Cockney’s vs Zombies, which follows a bunch of east-enders who fight their way out of a zombie-infested London, led by an unlikely gang of amateur bank robbers and foul-mouthed pensioners. The trailer gives away enough to make it seem like a zombie film worth a watch, even if only for the ass-kicking bunch of oldies. Starring Honor Blackman, Michelle Ryan, Harry Treadaway, Alan Ford, Dudley Sutton, Georgia King, Richard Briers and Rasmus Hardiker, Cockneys vs Zombies is directed by Matthias Hoene and will be with us 31st August.

Taken 2

Another big first trailer this week sees the rebirth of Liam Neeson as Hollywood‘s number one Action Man in Olivier Megaton’s sequel to Pierre Morel’s 2008 hit with Taken 2. The new trailer features a lot of what was good about the first film with plenty of action, kicking, gunblasts, whilst also proving that a sequel has something more to give. Also starring Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace, Taken 2 is set to be released on 7th October.

Killing Them Softly

As for another action thriller, we have the brilliant first trailer for Andrew Dominik’s Killing Them Softly, previously titled Cogan’s Trade, as he returns to work once more with Brad Pitt in the lead role following 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James. After debuting at Cannes earlier this year to very positive reviews, the new trailer will show you exactly why. With Dominik directing from his own script, adapted from the original novel by George V. Higgins, the film follows Jackie Cogan (Pitt) who is called in by the Mob why their poker game is knocked off by petty thieves. Under the eye of a mysterious driver, Jackie must track down and punish those responsible for the heist. Also starring Scoot McNairy, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard, and Slaine, the film is set to be released on 21st September.

The Imposter

Bart Layton’s upcoming thriller The Imposter has a new trailer too, which opens up the films premise of the unsettling of 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay who vanishes without a trace. Three and a half years later, the boy has been found thousands of miles from home in Spain, saying he survived a mind-boggling kidnap ordeal. His family is ecstatic to have him back no matter how strange the circumstances – but things become far stranger once he returns to Texas. Though the family accepts him, suspicion surrounds the person who claims to be Nicholas, leaving the family with many questions about who this man is and what really happened to their son. The Imposter is set to be released on 24th August.

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

We also have a number of horror trailers this week. First up is Michael J. Bassett’s sequel to 2006’s Silent Hill, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, both of which are adaptations of Konami’s survival-horror video game. This time following Adelaide Clements in the lead, the film follows her character Heather and her father (Sean Bean) who have been on the run, always one step ahead of a dangerous force that she doesn’t fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she’s not who she thinks she is, as she is led into the demonic world of Silent Hill that threatens to trap her forever. The new trailer reminds us of some of the horrific characters from the game and the first film that will make this worth watching. Also starring Adelaide Clements, Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Radha Mitchell, and Malcolm McDowell, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D is set to be released on 31st October.

Paranormal Activity 4

Another horror sequel with its first trailer is the fourth film in the Paranormal Activity franchise. With co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman back behind the camera, 19th October will see the release of Paranormal Activity 4 to make Halloween that little bit more scary once again. Directed from a script by Zack Estrin, continuing on from Oren Peli’s original 2009 big hit, the film sees the return of Katie Featherstone, this time alongside Dianna Agron (Glee). The trailer for this explains a little more about how the film follows on from the previous three films, but I guess we’ve all already made our minds up about this franchise.

A Night in the Woods

As for another hand-held camera horror, we have the first trailer for Vertigo Films’ latest horror, A Night in the Woods, which stars Scoot McNairy (Argo), Anna Skellern (W.E.) and Andrew Hawley. Directed by BAFTA nominated Richard Parry, the film follows the trio of actors who intend to go on a fun camping trip in the atmosphere of the legendary haunted past of Dartmoor’s Wistman’s Woods. Bad moods and minor disagreements rapidly lead to feelings of severe paranoia, sexual tension, fear and, eventually, violence between the three friends, a situation that worsens as the evening draws in, and as night closes upon them each begin to wonder if darker forces are at work. The trailer is very much what you would expect of this type of film, but the actors seem to give pretty strong performances and it could even be worth a watch. A Night In The Woods is set to be released on 7th September.

House At The End Of The Street

And finally, we have the third trailer for Mark Tonderai’s upcoming horror House At The End Of The Street. Directed from a script by David Loucka and based on an original story by Jonathan Mostow, the film is a twist on the familiar horror story of a family – Elisabeth Shue (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) – who move into a house and things start to go badly wrong. In this case, it turns out that he house next door was the scene of a brutal murder, where the only survivor still resides. The new trailer shows that this horror might actually have a decent story line behind it, but even if it didn’t Lawrence sure makes it worth watching. Also starring Max Thieriot and Nolan Gerard Funk, House at the End of the Street will be released on 21st September.