Trailer Talk: American Suicide Spectre Sisters

Suicide Squad

As a later SDCC release (likely done so due to the number of low-resolution copies released online within hours), this teaser for next year's Suicide Squad has certainly perked up my interest in the film. The majority of stars seem to be well-cast (I still have my doubts on walking wooden plank Jai Courtney), the direction looks well-done, and Jared Leto's Joker could be really good despite the initial publicity photo.

Fantastic Four

I'm somewhat worried about Fantastic Four. While I have faith in the talent involved, the trailers have done little to increase expectations, and the recent news that reviews have been embargoed until after the first public screening it's only making things worse. Add to the fact that Dr. Doom doesn't appear to be at all threatening and Michael B. Jordan's Human Torch's role as funny man isn't working out well for him. I'll watch it, but I'm cautious.

Sisters

Here's the thing: I like Amy Poehler, thanks to her work on Parks and Recreation and Inside Out. I like her friendship with fellow comedian Tina Fey and their work together for the Golden Globes has always been fun. But Sisters? Sadly doesn't appeal to me. The jokes simply don't work for me, and the various co-stars are a tad unbearable.

Joy

And obligatory Jennifer Lawrence/Bradley Cooper Oscar-bait picture enters left. Based on the life of Joy Mangano, who created the Miracle Mop in her late 30s/early 40s, the casting of Lawrence is an interesting one considering how young she is, and was perhaps cast only because of her relationship with director David O. Russell, who she is working with for the third time in her hopes for a fourth Oscar nomination. Well edited trailer, but for some reason, it isn't appealing. Maybe because it's a David O. Russell picture.

Pan

Could someone explain why a child is sharing a bath with Rooney Mara? It looks really wrong. Please, and thank you.

The Revenant

The first post-Oscar feature by Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) director Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Renevant does look like something spectacular, with every shot being well-produced and both DiCaprio and Hardy looking rather riveting in their roles. We still know very little, but boy has it perked up interest in a possible second win for the director.

American Ultra

Not revealing much new from the previous trailer, American Ultra is still a film which looks very appealing to me. It's funny, has some great action setpieces, and Jesse Eisenberg is having some form of fun in his lead role. What else can I say apart from 'ticket please'?

The Good Dinosaur

While the initial teaser certainly succeeded in making audiences intrigued, this new trailer is certainly winning them over more and more. The ultra-realistic environment blended with incredibly cartoonish character designs is somewhat off-putting to some (after watching the trailer multiple times, I've grown accustomed to it), but the editing, music choice and the possibility that this could be another WALL-E means that this movie could very well be saved after all its delays. Fingers crossed, as it does look beautiful.

Spectre

Speaking of great first trailers, we have Spectre, which looks action-packed and epic. As someone who enjoyed but didn't adore Skyfall, this doesn't look quite as artsy and gorgeous as its $1bn-grossing predecessor, but it does look like it's going to be upping the stakes severely, and I love that. I'm ready, Mr. Bond.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part Two

Wait, why are they in the same parking lot as that mirror sequence from the abysmal Divergent? Terrible YA adaptation parallels aside, this final chapter in the Hunger Games series has many people excited. Including myself, because it'll finally be over, and this trailer hints that nothing new will come from it outside of a bigger arena. I may end up watching only if I watch Part One at any point...which is highly unlikely.

Freeheld

I can't think of much to say about this film. While I'm sure the story behind it was truly heartbreaking, and I do like most of the actors present here (Micahel Shannon puts me off a little although he's great here), Freeheld looks like a very simple film which won't do much to appeal to mainstream audiences. It's a little TV movie-esque if anything.

The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Let's see now...family reveals? Hinted origins? Life and death scenarios? Yep, just your average YA action franchise adaptation!

The Night Before

SKIP!

Sicaro

This looks okay. Emily Blunt is selling her role well and it looks well-directed, but the story itself isn't exactly appealing, and the trailer's short nature isn't doing much to win over audiences.

The 33

I was wondering just the other day where the inevitable retelling the 2010 news-grabbing story about the trapped miners, and suddenly this trailer for the Antonio Banderas-leading feature pops up! And it does looks alright. Nothing incredibly new, and its focus on the families too may be a drawback during the actual feature, but what's shown does look good enough to watch at some point - either on the big screen or when released on home formats.

Spotlight

An interesting tale is being told here, and I'm somewhat confused by how the trailer is presenting it. It's all over the place, which is a pity because the film itself does certainly look appealing because of its subject matter (once you work out what's going on) and the strong selection of actors present, including recent Academy Award nominees Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo.

Black Mass

Hey look - other people aside from Johnny Depp are in this! After a strong marketing campaign based solely on Depp's portrayal of the one-time criminal kingpin, we finally get a glimpse at the story itself which is being told and who many of the other actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing - and it looks really good. Maybe I may finally join the bandwagon saying that Depp will win an Oscar this year...although the set of actors who could be up for that award is a mighty list.