Skyfall (2012, Eon Productions)

The brand new trailer for the new 007 movie Skyfall has just been released.

Check out all those scrumptiously photographed environments in the trailer and let me know what you think about the trailer in general.

I felt like it was another pretty standard action movie trailer. Guns, explosions, 'clever' dialogue and a pretty girl. Though I bet the movie will be more than just another action movie. It is Daniel Craig playing the titular role of James Bond after all.
Also good to see Judi Dench back as a sassy old lady. Last movie I watched of hers, 'Notes On A Scandal' (2006) she was playing opposite Cate Blanchett as a possessive and lonely, lesbian spinster. She really is an outstanding actress.

The Imposter (2012, Picturehouse Entertainment)

Algerian Frenchman Frédéric Bourdin is a man guilty of assuming at least 39 false identities in his lifetime. The documentary 'The Imposter' follows the story of his 5 month stint impersonating missing 13-year old American boy Nicholas Barclay and how he managed to convince and then alienate the Nicholas's family and American authorities as to his identity. A fascinating tale about a broken man playing on broken hearts this documentary includes interviews with the real-life players in this story including Bourdin himself, the family of the missing teen and the FBI agent who eventually uncovered the truth. Interspersed with beautifully shot recreated segments with actors. Currently playing at film festivals worldwide.

Cloud Atlas (2012, Warner Bros. Pictures)

Can anyone tell me what the hell this film is about? A five minute trailer for 'Cloud Atlas' was released today but it does little to help explain the concept behind the movie. Rather I was left feeling confused but somehow intrigued. At first I thought it was a indeterminate time film that used the same actors playing different characters through different centuries such as Aranofsky's 'The Fountain' or an abstraction of a similar idea in a broader context such as Malick's 'The Tree of Life' but it appears that it focuses more on a single action that has repercussions throughout history.

As the directors described in a commentary, the trailer had to be 5 minutes as there was so much to explain.
I was almost relieved to hear that one of the directors (yes there are three) is none other than Lana Wachowski of the Wachowskis, the duo that came up with the epic The Matrix Trilogy that I never really fully understood either.

It remains to be seen whether the film will really conquer all the genres it claims to embody or whether it will become a horribly self-indulgent piece of art.

US release date is set for the 26th October this year.

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (and trailer for Life Of Pi)

I can't wait until this movie comes out on general release in Australia as I missed out on tickets to the screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The trailer looks stunning even though I have no idea what it is about except that it is a fantasy film that follows a young girl in New Orleans.

I guess it's a good thing that the trailer doesn't give away the plot though as these things always kind of plant preconceived ideas about how the movie should be and you end up spending the whole movie waiting for a particular scene or being annoyed that the movie is nothing like the trailer.

It is directed by Benh Zeitlin with cinematography by Ben Richardson. Not familiar with his work but will definitely keep an eye out for him as some of the shots from this movie are so beautiful in terms of composition.

And while we're on animal movies here's the just-released trailer for Ang Lee's screen adaptation of Life of Pi. Looks exciting and the visuals remind me of the dreamscape sequences from The Lovely Bones.


I should add that I am in no way affiliated with Fox Searchlight, I just happen to enjoy all the films they release.