Just a sampling of a few trailers which have been kicking around the web over the last few weeks.
One of my favourite podcasts is actually a weekly vidcast from Best Ads on TV which provides just that: five great ads that played on TV somewhere in the world during the previous week. Some of them are funny, some artistic, some look and feel more like film than an advertisement but I remember the products because the ads are so unique. Considering that there’s a website devoted solely to finding good ads and that television, radio, magazines and print are full of advertisements, one has to assume there are more than five good ads on any given week but what percentage is actually any good?
“I always thought that advertising is the most whorish business to get into.” That quote comes from the trailer for Doug Pray’s new documentary Art & Copy. Featuring some of the big players in the advertising world (and a few pioneers), the documentary looks at advertising, it’s development, where it’s going and perhaps the biggest elephant of all: inspiration and creativity in the medium.
I like Pray’s style and this is certainly a subject of interest so here’s hoping that the film’s August 21st release isn’t limited to two cities.
(Untitled)
Some art is obviously memorable for a reason but other pieces scream pretentious. Almost as pretentious as Jonathan Parker’s film about a gallery owner, played by Marley Shelton, falling for a “new music” musician (Adam Goldberg). This trailer isn’t just quirky, it’s bloody annoying.
I’m going to assume that Parker is trying to say just that; that some art is pretentious and awful but I can’t get excited about a movie whose trailer fails to not only make me laugh but which actually makes me want to through a pen at my screen.
For those wiling to brave it, (Untitled) opens on October 23rd.
A supernatural thriller based on real events and involving strange occurrences, in this case alien abduction. I’m happy to take in supernatural thrillers when they’re well done but I have problems getting over the “based on true events” moniker, particularly when it’s attached to something as outlandish as this. Admittedly, there are millions of people out there who actually believe in alien abductions but this isn’t the way to spread the word. Just admit it already, it’s a money making scheme.
The newest entry into the canon is Olatunde Osunsanmi’s The Fourth Kind starring Milla Jovovich (Jandy – does this mean you’ll see this one?) as a shrink who becomes convinced people are being abducted. The one thing, aside from Jovovich who I generally like, this movie has going for it is that it also stars Canadian actor, and personal favourite, Elias Koteas. Not exactly enough to sell this but I’m curious.
The Fourth Kind opens on November 6th.
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
I’ve never been much of a fan of William S. Burroughs’ work but it’s hard to look at the his accomplishments and not be in awe. A man constantly on the shit list and continuously pushing the envelope, it surprises me that his name doesn’t come up more often when speaking about eccentrics but Burroughs was nothing if not eccentric.
One of the first openly gay “celebrities”, a drug addict, alcoholic and gun loving individual, Burroughs’ was always on the cusp of the next ban but he was revered and admired by many in the literary world as a genius and now, 12 years after his death, comes the first look at Burroughs’ life.
Featuring interviews with everyone from David Cronenberg to Iggy Pop, this documentary from first time director Jonathan Leyser shines a light on the prolific writer, artist and critic.
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within is currently in post-production and no release dates are available. I expect we may see the film make the festival rounds in the coming year.
The Boys Are Back
I’m a fan of director Scott Hicks whose previous work includes Shine and Snow Falling on Cedars. His films tend to be a on the sweet, slightly overdramatic side but he manages to take those sweeping, over dramatic stories and make them watchable. This appears to be true for his most recent film The Boys Are Back.
Based on a novel from Simon Carr, the film stars Clive Owen as a world travelling journalist who, after his wife’s death, finds himself a single father to two young sons. Surprisingly this doesn’t look as trite as I expected and rather than a man sulking in his sorrow until a new woman enters his life, it does appear to be a story of bonding and growth.
When done right, these feel good stories can be very rewarding and this left me with a wide smile.
The Boys Are Back will premiere at TIFF and then open in limited release on September 25th.
