comment #1

lesterg says ...

I didn't even realize Jude Law was in this. Is it 2004 again?

comment #2

Hopscotch says ...

That trailer is just wretched. I mean really off putting. And I loved "Searching for Bobby Fisher", but loathed "A Civil Action". So Zaillian's name attached does not excite me that much.

comment #3

kittyn says ...

I made a face, so did my husband, at Jude Law merely from the trailer. Worst accent ever.

comment #4

NYCBusybody says ...

I never understood the antipathy towards Jude Law. I thought he was very good in "Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Alfie". Sure, he's a tad bland, but as far as high-wattage "matinee idol" stars go, I think he's a fine actor.

Now, yes, his American accents always suck, but I think most British actors' American accents are usually bad. Australians seem to be much better at them. Michael Palin once said, in one of his travelogues, that when his British friends would do American accents, they'd always sound like game-show hosts.

comment #5

kittyn says ...

It's more than the accent. He's overacting and annoying at first glance. The other horrid trailer out now, like bad enough to keep people away, is the one for Scorsese's "The Departed". It's really badly structured and edited. We didn't get what its purpose or focus was - snippets of all the performances? Who knows.

comment #6

insidah says ...

I don't understand why Jude Law is at the top of everyone's casting list. He's just not a very solid screen actor - too British to play American convincingly, too fey to play a tough guy convincingly. I really think Hollywood is so confused right now that the last thing it seems focused on is one of the things it needs to: NEW FACES, NEW TALENT.

comment #7

actionman says ...

bitch, bitch, bitch. whine, whine, whine. it's getting annoying reading these posts nowadays, every time I come here people are pissing on that movie, on this actor or director, etc. Give it a rest! Try making a movie of your own before you start knocking people like Zaillian and Scorsese. It's pathetic to be honest. So The Departed has a "badly structured and edited" trailer? are u f'ing kidding me? what trailer are you watching?!?!?!

comment #8

jeffmcm says ...

So only people who have made films are fit to have opinions about movies?
I think The Departed's trailer is OK but hardly sells it as a must-see (of course it's a must-see for me anyway). Actionman, did you love it and if so, why?

comment #9

KAM2112 says ...

No you don't have to make a film to have an opinion about them but incessant bitching is not an endearing quality. Most of the people on this site seem to revere almost nothing and no one (in terms of films and filmmakers). 90% of the post on this site is bitch bitch bitch, this suck, that director lost his shit, this film is overrated on and on and on.

I would personally love to hear what gets people excited when it comes to a film. Which actors performance gets you jazzed and why, or anything in a movie that gets you jazzed, when was the last time a film floored you?

comment #10

Hopscotch says ...

Just a thought...

Maybe there haven't been any releases in awhile that really got us "jazzed" about anything.

The only two that have really excited me this year are: United 93 and Brick.

if Jeff posted a blog run on "How awesome United 93 is", I'd write pages. But at the moment we deal with movies none of us have seen with bad trailers. so that's why we are whining.

comment #11

actionman says ...

Marty Scoreses is a genius. I love all of the actors in The Departed. It looks bloody and mean and action packed. Vera Farmiga is hot as hell. Infernal Affairs was awesome and is ripe for an Americanized re-telling. I love cop movies, one of my favorite genres. Scorsese seems to have made a kick-ass genre pic first and foremost, not interested in winning awards. The musical selection is sweet. The fucking font they used for the titles and credits is sweet. There isn't one thing about the trailer that I don't love. I guess I am just super passionate about movies so it boggles my mind when a trailer like the one for The Departed comes out and is trashed by some people for being "poorly edited" etc.

comment #12

KAM2112 says ...

Agreed Action man

I think the trailer is pretty succinct. I don't know how much clearer they could make the story and where the tension is in the trailer shot of showing the whole fucking movie?

I think there is a lot to look forward to this fall. We've got Scorsese , Aronofsky, Nolan , Andrew Dominik, Inarritu, and David Fincher (although his film comes out in fucking January) to look forwad to
But I think the next coming months are pretty exciting.

Ps. Hopscotch I'm sure your local video store must have something worth checking out. Like just picked out and watched All the presidents men and Talk Radio from my collection a few days ago and thought wow I fucking love movies. You do remember that feeling don't you. You can't tell me it's been years since you had that love of cinema pumping through you vains

comment #13

actionman says ...

Andrew Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James got moved to February 2007....that one was WAY up on my must-see list (and still is)...just bummed I've gotta wait a few more months.

comment #14

Nick Rogers says ...

I thought Infernal Affairs was good, but overpraised. And even though that promo photo where Damon and DiCaprio look like they're about to start slap-fighting on the rooftop is a bad one, I can't wait to see what Marty does with the material.

comment #15

Seattle_Cellar says ...

The Departed Trailer deserves it's own thread!

Does it make me want to see the movie? Well - it let's me know that Scorsese has got a genre pick coming out with SIX actors who've I've seen give terrific performances in the past. So, Hell Yes, I plan to be there opening night.

Is it a good trailer? Absolutely not.

Here are a few of the reasons:

1. The music. Each piece is a good choice - but it's simple too many choices, the whole trailer has got ADD, or ADHD or whatever. And Gimmie Shelter?? Really? My Calendar says that 1995 was only 11 years ago. I still feel a little burned by Casino (maybe I was just naive thinking it would be another GoodFellas) but it's WAY to soon to be starting a Scorsese Trailers with that same Stones lick.

2. WAY WAY WAY too much given away. Everything from the "I'm gonna have my associate search you" scene...it's much more than I want from a trailer. Some of us have intentionally stayed away from Infernal Affairs - and now here comes the Departed Trailer to spoil a good scene. Admit it - people will write "oh come on, you'd have to know where that scene was going without having seen the trailer" --- my point is I really didn't want to know in nearly that detail. Not til I see the whole picture.

3. That shitty, shitty punch that Mark Wahlberg "Lands" on Matt Damon. WHOA. This is the era of Quicktime. Fighting that Fake has gotta be kept away from the Trailers. -- It's like the still of Damon and Leo, it's got me a little worried that Marty getting too old to make violence look real.

4. The whole last 6 seconds. Tell me that title treatment with the gun doesn't look like some doomed Pilot for a USA networks drama. And the "how's your mother" bit - has me CONVINCED that this Trailer was put together by someone who had NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE DOING with the piece. It's the exact opposite of the "little children" trailer Jeffrey raved about the other week. It's muddy-headed and confused. That BANG that follows the last lines....it's really got me worried that this whole production is somehow B-level.

I'll go. I'll be there. Bad Scorsese is still worth my 9.50. but I'm less excited, NOT MORE, having seen this trailer.

comment #16

KAM2112 says ...

Seattle_ Cellar

Ever read any shakespear? The most unimportant part of a story is what happens-the plot-its the first thing Shakespear gets rid of. He tells you what is going to happen at upfront because what is important is how it happens and who it happens to.

If I am going to bitch about anything its that a lot of modern filmmakers are too concered with plot and not making the events intresting and the people they happen to interesting enough to watch.

that said I doubt knowing what happens in the departed is going to ruin it for you if Scorsese makes the unfolding of these events and his Characters interesting.

I don't think the rest of your points are vailid for the fact that the average joe watching the trailer won't notice any of the things you are talking about and thats who they made it for-they want to recoup the cost of making the movie so appeal to as many people as possible not cineast that complain about everything.

and I don't get the gun thing. I mean this is a standard cops and robbers movie not a big buget summer blockbuster. i doubt that a transformers or Spiderman 3 CGI titles would fit this movie.

comment #17

freepopcorn says ...

Saw the movie last night in Toronto - world premier.
Well it's the first time I've walked out of a fim in living memory. This is a train wreck make no mistake. Sean Penn, hammed this one up big time.
Jude Law, a virtual non entity. Anthony Hopkins a British accentued lawyer in the Bayou. A disjointed script, in a dialect that would make Faulkner blush. And poor James Gandolfini looked about as much out of place as a New Jersey mobster eating crawdaddies. This will be in DVD before this gets posted. Some things were not meant to be remade and the original of this dull copy is surely one of them. You have been duly warned