Fincher. Pitt. Blanchett. Button.
By Craig Kennedy - June 12th, 2008; 8:32 am
I managed to avoid it before Indy 4 and I’m not watching it now, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to tempt you with it. Courtesy of Trailer Addict.
Filed under: Trailers, Upcoming
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I saw the trailer for this movie before Indy 4. It’s a bizarre trailer, and it kind of gives everything away.
Really Alison? I quite liked it. (I thought it was the best part of the evening of crystal skulls. Helped me feel less cheated for the ticket price.)
I’m lenient with trailers for movies based on previously published material. The plot has never exactly been a secret, and the Fitzgerald story can be read in less than half an hour. By page two you know the premise and can imagine the conflicts to come.
The trailer relieved the anxiety over my one major concern: the realism of the effects to accomplish the aging (or de-aging).
Is this music from Days of Heaven like the most borrowed nostalgia-montage music of all time, or what? Not Morricone, it’s from “Carnival of the Animals,” Camille Saint-Saens.
I was trying to post it myself, but being the techno retard I am, didn’t work.
I REFUSE to watch the trailer, it is my MOST anticipated film of the year, I adore F Scott Fitzgerald’s story, and I pray they don’t screw it up.
I’ve read Fitzgerald’s story, I love it (love Fitzgerald in general) and I’m completely looking forward to this in December. Looks brilliant, amazing, gorgeous, etceteras. Hope it is.
But. The trailer, despite how pretty and interesting and enticing it is in many ways, totally bombed with both crowds I was with before Indy. I was told by a couple of friends who saw Indy elsewhere that the reaction was very similar, if not even worse. I literally heard people, both times, audibly voicing their confusion and apparent indifference.
The trailer, in short, gives too much away while not showing anybody beyond cinephiles why they should care. The general impression was “ick, that’s gross,” and “how creepy and stupid.” I hope the inevitable meatier trailer helps to solve this, and, yes, obviously many people seeing Indy wouldn’t be interested in this anyway, and it probably wouldn’t be a very big hit no matter what you did (though just showing Brad Pitt’s name would help a smidgeon, one would hope) but it was a bad early sign for the film’s prospects nevertheless. It’s still a lovely trailer in its own right, and I love the music from “Carnival of the Animals,” too, yet I have to admit if I weren’t familiar with the story already I’d probably be nonplussed as well.
Although I imagine the film’s narrative isn’t tremendously critical, I’m avoiding this trailer because I want to remain virginal before seeing it. I already know enough (director, cast) to ensure my ass in seat on opening weekend.
Ryan, I have read Fitzgerald’s story and I’m very much looking forward to seeing this movie. Everything about it is win for me - director, cast, story. But I did find the trailer to be bizarre.
I guess you didn’t like Indy 4, huh?
Alexander, the “Carnival of the Animals” is awesome.
Me too joel. Me too buddy.
Brad Pitt shirtless! yay!
When he’s 88! …oh.
“I guess you didn’t like Indy 4, huh?”
[Ryan holds cards to close to chest]
I liked it better than the trailer for The Love Guru.
Didn’t read the original story (on accounta I is illiterate), I know the broad strokes of the thing and that’s it.
I even skimmed the comments for fear of spoilerage.
Fincher is such a visual guy that even seeing how the movie looks counts as a spoiler.
I know, it’s obsessive, but so is writing about movies online every day.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaggghhhhh!!! I cracked and watched it.
It looks great. Now I must commence forgetting.
Does anyone get less credit than Brad Pitt? Here’s a megawatt star who foregoes star vehicles to make interesting film after interesting film, and a lot of film fans still like to take shots at him.
I missed the trailer in theaters, but I checked out the leaked Spanish-language one which is probably for the best. Provided a nice distance from the plot and dialogue while whetting my appetite for the film. Since I’m at home now, I have a sluggish 56k connection, so I won’t be seeing the official trailer. That’s just fine with me.
In addition to the enticement of another Fincher film — even when he’s doing populist thrillers like Panic Room he’s great — I’m really looking forward to Taraji P. Henson’s performance. To me, she’s an incredibly underrated actress (brought depth to broad-stroke characters in Hustle & Flow and Talk to Me) and this could be a meaty role.
Ditto K. Bowen. He earned a great deal of respect with me because of Jesse James and, thinking back on some of the films he’s done over the years, he’s had an interesting career. For every Mr. & Mrs. Smith in his filmography there’s a gem like Se7en.
I have a hard time feeling bad for Brad, but I think you’re right. He could’ve turned his success into paycheck after paycheck but he never really has. His emptiest movies offhand are the Oceans pictures and I can’t think of better empty movies to be in.
Hell, I know this will probably get me punched in the balls but I liked Mr. and Mrs. Smith too.
I liked Mr and Mrs Smith too, all things considered. Don’t need to own it on DVD, but it was silly fun.
Troy on the other hand…not so much.
I agree, K. Bowen, and he’s been seemingly trying to appear in more potentially awesome films with great directors in the last couple of years (and, looking into the future, the next couple of years) than really any other A-lister today.
Sometimes “empty” movies can be better than the “full” ones, though. I’d take Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Troy over Babel, for instance. (Seen the Mr. and Mrs. twice, and Troy twice–probably no more for either one ever–and Babel only once.)
I’ve stricken Babel from my memory…but yeah, add that into my Troy column.
Babel was my number one film of 2006. Brad was great, but the film so did not belong to him.
It was nice seeing him have some real material to work with, it will be really interesting to see how he handles “Button,” in my opinion.
Whatever one thinks about Babel, it certainly wasn’t a paycheck movie for Pitt. The dude picks and chooses his projects…not unlike a certain Tom Cruise who also tends to not get any credit, in part because he’s another pretty boy and in part because of his personal life.
Benjamin Button is my second most anticipated film after Synecdoche, NY. And like Ryan and Craig I’m totally revved up by the artful trailer. As Ryan noted the aging effects seem outstanding. I too think Pitt, like some earlier pretty boy actors, is under-rated as a performer. I had a real sense of him pushing into new territory in the excellent JJ and Babel (my second favorite films of their respective years).
Alexander, I don’t think this film was ever a realistic prospect for a broader audience. Cinephiles with some crossover to women who don’t generally go for art house films are the most likely audience. I’m thankful for getting another budget rich art film.
Well lookit what the cat dragged in!
Yep, back from 2 weeks of superb holiday travel around California and Arizona. Taking in among so many highlights 3 of the greatest natural wonders of the world - Yosemite Valley with all its waterfalls active, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon (briefly visited Utah for that experience). We loved the constantly changing and empty Arizona landscapes. On this trip we were accompanied by my wife’s mother who is visiting from New Zealand. In another 2 weeks we’ll return to some of the same locales with one of my sister’s and her husband who arrive from Holland.
Glad you’re getting a taste of some of the goodness the US has to offer my Kiwi friend. Also glad you’re back.
I loved Brad Pitt in Jesse James. It was perfect casting.
Did you get to visit any of the parks in Utah, sartre, or did you just pass through? If you haven’t already gone, you should check out Bryce Canyon. Also Arches National Park and Zion National Park are worth visiting.
We’re planning to visit Bryce and Zion on our next excursion. The younger legs mean we can hike more. Can’t wait. Thanks for the tip re Arches, Alison.
Welcome back, Sartre.
You’re probably right that this is an unlikely sell beyond cinephiles, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the reaction the trailer received with crowds.
Nevertheless, I’m dying to see this. It looks so different for Fincher, and it will surely instantly create the need to reevaluate his auteurist tendencies and themes.
Pitt is in two of my five most anticipated films for the rest of ‘08. I’m kind of glad they’re three months apart because if they were any closer together my head might explode.
The wonderment that is Brad Pitt’s performance as Jesse James has continually been overlooked, even now, partly because so many people were (rightly) floored by Casey Affleck, who took just about everyone by surprise.
That’s fantastic about your whole trip, Sartre. I’ve been all through that entire region three or four separate times. Such tranquility and beauty. I particularly love staying at the Grand Canyon for an extended period of time, either around now in June or in October at the end of the season. And Alison is right-on: Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park and Zion National Park are all very much worth visiting.