Trailers by Brandon: Eight more weeks until 'Halloween'

I know it’s early and everything, but I’m starting the countdown to Halloween, partially because the next month looks a little slow in terms of movies (there’s The Predator and The Nun before then, but it’s too early to tell how those are going to turn out based on the trailers) and partially because that’s just how excited I am for this movie. T-minus 56 more days until the return of Michael Myers.

Crazy Rich Asians is opening this week, though, and that’s pretty exciting, so let’s jump into Trailers by Brandon.

Opening this week:

Crazy Rich Asians

I’ve had my eyes on this one for a while now, as Crazy Rich Asians seems like it’s positioning itself to be a hidden gem that’s going to open big with the right crowd, similar to what The Big Sick did last year. Not only do the trailers look really good and funny in general, but Crazy Rich Asians is also a milestone as it’s one of only a few Hollywood movies to feature a cast that’s almost entirely of Asian descent.

Mile 22

I had high hopes for Mile 22. I’ve liked all three of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg’s past films that they made together (Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day) and the trailers were cool. All the early reviews for Mile 22, though, are telling me to lower those hopes — by a lot. I’m disappointed but I still kind of check it out for myself, just to see if it’s bad as I’m hearing.

Alpha

They made a kid-friendly version of The Revenant…why, exactly? I remember seeing a poster for Alpha in my local theater almost three years ago now. I don’t know if it’s been exactly that long, but I know it’s been up for a while, and every time I walk past it I have one thought: pass.

Juliet, Naked

Juliet, Naked, on the other hand, I’ll gladly go see (not in that way). The trailers look light-hearted and sweet with a really talented cast, so I’m hoping this one can pay off.

 

New trailers:

Roma (Dec. 14, 2018)

I have a good feeling about this one. A very good feeling. Granted, a lot of that feeling comes from the concept of the film, director Alfonso Cuarón and the color scheme more so than the actual footage seen in the trailer for Roma, but it also certainly didn’t do anything to hurt my expectations as I can’t wait for this one. It might just be the Oscar-friendly step forward that Netflix needs.

Climax (2018)

With Climax, I really don’t know. It has all the potential in the world to be great — hence the reason it came in second this week — but it also has a good chance of crashing and burning, too. The trailer really intrigued me, though; all the hypnotic dancing and underlying sinister vibe that kind of reminded me of Suspiria leaves me wanting to see more of Climax.

Arizona (Aug. 24, 2018)

Arizona easily wins the award for the funniest trailer of the week. I happen to really enjoy dark comedies (which maybe says more about me, as a person, more so than anything else) and this seems to hit all the notes that I like. While it ends with somewhat of a weak joke, the look that Danny McBride has on his face when he’s showing Elizabeth Gillies the photograph of himself is priceless.

An Evening with Beverly Luff Lin (Oct. 19, 2018)

Three Stooges meets David Lynch is a phrase I didn’t think I’d ever see anywhere, but here we are. A little shaky as to what An Evening with Beverly Luff Lin is actually about, but it’s got a talented cast and a few funny moments scattered throughout the trailer — mainly being whatever that grunting noise coming from Craig Robinson was.

After Everything (Oct. 12, 2018)

I’m getting Me, Earl and the Dying Girl and 50/50 vibes with this one — both movies I liked but don’t necessarily need to see redone in the exact same way. I guess I’m just hoping for something new with After Everything, and I’m not totally convinced that’s what I’m going to get yet (although the end of the trailer did seem to suggest the story was going to move in a different direction, so maybe).

Green Book (Nov. 21, 2018)

I know there are a lot of people out there who are getting super jazzed about the trailer to Green Book and, if that’s you, more power to you. I think it looks fine. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen (who’s unrecognizable here) are obviously both incredibly talented actors who will surely elevate this movie — I just wasn’t wowed. I get that it’s a slower paced movie that isn’t necessarily going for a ‘wow’ factor, but I just haven’t found that hook that has me intrigued with Green Book.

The Angel (Sept. 14, 2018)

I watched the trailer for The Angel about twenty minutes ago and I’m already struggling to remember what happened in it. It looks like a perfectly fine spy thriller, I guess, but also not one that I think anybody is going to rush out to see. Granted, that’s why it’s being released on Netflix and all, but I’m also the kind of person who doesn’t really want to watch boring/forgettable movies at the theaters OR on Netflix.

What Men Want (Jan. 11, 2019)

What Men Want looks to have a progressive message and I don’t want to take anything away from that. What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson and released in 2000, definitely wouldn’t fly in today’s ‘Me Too’ era, and this is a clever twist on the concept. I just wish the movie itself looked better. I like Taraji P. Henson and all, but none of the jokes actually made me laugh here and the whole thing seems a bit….lazy. Like, what if we had a thoughtful movie that actually engaged in the way men and women think and the ways they are both similar and different, instead of just settling for dumb fart jokes?

47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter (June 28, 2019)

Whoever decided to name this 47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter and not 48 Meters Down made a huge mistake. I never saw the first 47 Meters Down, I know it has some defendants out there but, to me, it just looks like a perfectly bland shark movie (which I really don’t need to see more of right now, after just watching The Meg). I know it made all kinds of money at the box-office so a sequel makes sense, but I have a hard time imaging they’re going to be able to come up with a new and original concept for this one. There’s only so much you can do with shark movies.

 

Rewind:

Lone Survivor (2013)

Personally my favorite the Berg-Wahlberg movies, Lone Survivor is one that doesn’t get the credit that it deserves. Maybe it’s a little simplistic in how it depicts the military, the people they're sent to defend and the “bad guys,” but it’s an exhilarating ride all based on a true story. Besides Wahlberg, we also get some great performances from Ben Foster (who’s literally great in everything he’s in, so here’s another shameless plug for Leave No Trace), Taylor Kitsch and Emile Hirsch.