Upcoming Movies to Look For: Trailers

*The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Julia Ormond
Opening: December 19, 2008
It's an interesting concept: A man that ages backwards. The trailer has a bit of a "Big Fish" mystical feel to it, as though you never really know if the whole thing is just a story inside a story. Obviously however, if Benjamin is aging backwards, he'll die as a baby instead of as an old man. And while the trailer doesn't give much away, I can tell that it's going to be a tear jerker, where the audience is left wondering "What it all means?" or "What's the meaning of life?"


*Burn After Reading
Starring: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand
Opening: September 12, 2008
If this movie was being directed by anyone else, I'd think it was going to be ridiculous...but it's the Coen brothers. They've cornered the dark/sarcastic comedy film market over the years with films such as Intolerable Cruelty, and Fargo. No Country for Old Men being an obvious exception, because I there was absolutely no comedy involved in that movie. Burn After Reading is about a couple of moronic gym employees who attempt to sell a disk containing the secret memoirs of a CIA agent. Brad Pitt's character, Chad, is completely ludicrous and I'm totally loving that. He's gorgeous and all, but Pitt's at his best when he's playing someone who's not afraid or doesn't realize that he's making a fool out of himself (See The Mexican and Mr. and Mrs. Smith). The trailer looks good, and I'm always up for a Clooney/Pitt collaboration.




*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes.
Opening: November 21, 2008
The trailer doesn't give us much to go on, but it does catch our interest. I suppose that's the point of a teaser trailer. We can guess that Tom Riddle/Voldemort's upbringing and early childhood are going to be important aspects in this film, the sixth in the series. We're given a very quick glimpse of Dumbledore's pensieve, where Harry is able to view his mentor's memories from his full and magical life. The films have gotten much darker, and much better in quality, since the first installment seven years ago. I doubt there will be much happiness in this film, other than the long awaited hookup between Harry and Ginny Weasley. Makes me want to belt out a little "kissing in a tree".




*The Duchess
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper
Opening: September 5, 2008
This is the story of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who lived extravagently during the 18th century. I'm hoping it proves to be better than the mistake that was 2006's Marie Antoinette (starring Kirsten Dunst as the ill-fated queen), because it seems to have that "I'm rich, beautiful, and arrogant but I've got a soft side that only my true love can understand" feel to it. I do usually like Keira Knightely however, so perhaps it'll turn out to be more Oscar-worthy than Razzie-bound.



*The Edge of Love
Starring: Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, Matthew Rhys
Opening: June 20, 2008
Sienna Miller and Kiera Knightley become the best of friends, and fall in love with two amazing men: William Killick (Murphy) and famous poet Dylan Thomas (Rhys). Unfortunately Thomas and Knightley fall in love, and the love triangle dares to tear the friends to pieces. It's got the feel of a sweeping historical drama, so of course Knightley had to star as the leading lady. Is there a shortage of young, beautiful British actresses? Or is she really that good? Last years Atonement was my pick for Best Movies of the Year, so I'm hoping that The Edge of Love is just as beautifully done. The film's already been released in the UK, with no apparent date set for US release, which is unfortunate. Oh well, I've gotten used to most of the best films and televison shows coming out of the UK.