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Tropic Thunder trailer
The trailer for Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder is hilarious. It persuades that the film, which Stiller may even be brilliant. Trailers aren't to be trusted, of course, but this may be an exception. Maybe. I'm now persuaded that two landmark comedies may open in August -- this (opening 8.15) and David Gordon Green's The Pineapple Express (8.8).
Thunder will almost certainly be a box-office champ. HE reader Judy Barker reports she has friends in Long Beach who went to a sneak [of this film] and the people running things had to show it on two screens to accomodate the crowd. The line was around the block."
.
Robert Downey's performance alone is a take-it-the-banker. It feels like a good guess to put him into the Oscar Balloon for Best Supporting Actor. The '08 Balloon is nothing but b.s. spitballing at this stage so why not? It could happen if the film is good enough. Possibly. Especially if you consider his being ignored off last year for his Zodiac performance as San Francisco Chronicle journalist Paul Avery.
The Tropic Thunder cast toplines Stiller, Jack Black, Downey, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader and Nick Nolte.
I can't find an embedded code for the trailer (yet). If anyone has a location, please send.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 18, 2008 at 9:50 AM
comment #1
christian
says ...
Based on what I've seen and heard, this looks fantastic. It's the ol' Ben Stiller of his great TV show days. Very excited about this.
Posted by christian
at March 18, 2008 10:27 AM
comment #2
BurmaShave
says ...
I would say he's a safer bet now that the stunt is understood, and it was a brilliant idea to have an actually African American with them to react. As they said over on CHUD, this could be his Captain Jack Sparrow.
Posted by BurmaShave
at March 18, 2008 10:31 AM
comment #3
Pelham123
says ...
...and just how great does Nick Nolte look in this?
Posted by Pelham123
at March 18, 2008 10:43 AM
comment #4
actionman
says ...
LOOKS AMAZING
The production values are what get me; this looks huuuge
Posted by actionman
at March 18, 2008 11:07 AM
comment #5
wayne76
says ...
I agree with all above.....this looks terrific.
Posted by wayne76
at March 18, 2008 11:09 AM
comment #6
Joel
says ...
Meh, that doesn't look that amazing.
Posted by Joel
at March 18, 2008 11:31 AM
comment #7
Rich S.
says ...
I'm with Pelham123. The first thing that leaped out at me was Nolte. Kind of reminds me of Kris Kristofferson in Blade.
Posted by Rich S.
at March 18, 2008 11:39 AM
comment #8
D.Z.
says ...
Looks like another Envy/Mystery Men type of bomb to me...
Posted by D.Z.
at March 18, 2008 11:56 AM
comment #9
actionman
says ...
Yes, this looks JUST like Envy. Just like it. C'mon D.Z.; don't make youself such an easy target. Think before posting.
Posted by actionman
at March 18, 2008 12:02 PM
comment #10
Geoff
says ...
I think it's hilarious that he got John Toll to lens this. Looks like a good time for sure.
Posted by Geoff
at March 18, 2008 12:02 PM
comment #11
Dravot
says ...
Looks a bit like a souped-up THREE AMIGOS.
Which isn't a bad thing for me. THREE AMIGOS is a guilty pleasure...
Posted by Dravot
at March 18, 2008 12:16 PM
comment #12
rr3333
says ...
I wonder where Downey's career would be now if he kept himself clean for all those years?
To the moon, Alice, perhaps?
Trailer looks great. Methinks Stiller got tired of doing mediocre stuff just for the paycheck, and has a renewed sence of vigor.
Posted by rr3333
at March 18, 2008 12:16 PM
comment #13
clumsymonster
says ...
I was thinking it reminded me of something and Geoff nailed it... Three Amigos! Hope they don't run that gag into the ground because it does look pretty funny.
Posted by clumsymonster
at March 18, 2008 12:33 PM
comment #14
rr3333
says ...
I'm on the fence as to whether Stiller's on HGH or Steroids.
Posted by rr3333
at March 18, 2008 12:39 PM
comment #15
Josh Massey
says ...
"I wonder where Downey's career would be now if he kept himself clean for all those years?"
Probably where it's going to be after this summer.
I absolutely agree with putting Downey in serious Oscar contention. This could be his A Fish Called Wanda.
Posted by Josh Massey
at March 18, 2008 12:45 PM
comment #16
Mumbleboy
says ...
"Just cause it's a theme song, doesn't mean it's not true"
Hilarious
Great to see Stiller get back in front of his own directing. Never was huge on Zoolander but loved Cable Guy. I haven't watched his last few films but will see anything he directs in theaters.
Posted by Mumbleboy
at March 18, 2008 12:54 PM
comment #17
rr3333
says ...
This movie's too much of a goof for Downey to get an Oscar Nod (whether its deserved or not).
Posted by rr3333
at March 18, 2008 12:55 PM
comment #18
Mumbleboy
says ...
Is there a spoiler in that photo you've posted with the article?
It looks to me like Downey has had the black scared off of him.
Posted by Mumbleboy
at March 18, 2008 12:57 PM
comment #19
corey3rd
says ...
Zoolander Goes to Vietnam vs. Up In Smoke 2.
Posted by corey3rd
at March 18, 2008 1:03 PM
comment #20
Spicer
says ...
Winning an Oscar for a comedic role is an uphill battle (which is odd seeing as most actors agree comedy is harder than drama) but Downey looks like he may pull it off. He looks absolutely brilliant in this.
Posted by Spicer
at March 18, 2008 1:10 PM
comment #21
Richardson
says ...
"It looks to me like Downey has had the black scared off of him."
The descriptions have all been open about the fact that Downey's character is a white actor playing a black character. So the fact that he's not actually black isn't really a spoiler.
Posted by Richardson
at March 18, 2008 2:04 PM
comment #22
Mumbleboy
says ...
Except that his racial change wasn't just makeup applied but rather the operation he underwent to change his appearance. I didn't know that you could reverse surgery just by being in a harrowing experience. If that was true then wouldn't Paris Hilton have gotten her old nose back after her prison stint.
Posted by Mumbleboy
at March 18, 2008 2:24 PM
comment #23
berkguru
says ...
Looks awesome except for the Jack Black annoyance factor
Posted by berkguru
at March 18, 2008 2:28 PM
comment #24
Edward Havens
says ...
Movies about the making of movies always tank at the box office. No one gives a shit about what happens during the making of a movie except the people who make movies and those who want to be movie makers.
Posted by Edward Havens
at March 18, 2008 2:50 PM
comment #25
tjfar67
says ...
Isn't this also the movie that has Tom Cruise as a bald, over weight studio executive?
Posted by tjfar67
at March 18, 2008 3:13 PM
comment #26
Edward
says ...
This is worth seeing for Nick Nolte; maybe it's his time for a best supporting actor nod.
Posted by Edward
at March 18, 2008 4:29 PM
comment #27
fielding
says ...
Come on, this looks utterly, predictably terrible. It'll be amusing at first, when we're being introduced to the characters and Stiller takes potshots at actors and their egos, but then tedium will set in once they find themselves in an actual war zone (or whatever it is). Just like Zoolander. And, indeed, just like 3 Amigos, which was a colossal disappointment.
Jeff, I think you're overrating this because you desperately need something - ANYTHING - to cheer you up after your sister's death. It's only natural.
Posted by fielding
at March 18, 2008 5:00 PM
comment #28
romeoisbleeding
says ...
I say put Downey jr. in the best supporting actor category now. I don't know who can watch this trailer and not laugh. So good to see Noltte again too. This part was tailor made for him. I am not a Jack Black fan but the rest of the cast makes up for it. This just feels like it could be huge. Love the Edwin Starr song War also! I want to see more!
Posted by romeoisbleeding
at March 18, 2008 5:03 PM
comment #29
R. Hunt
says ...
http://www.trailerspy.com/movie-trailers/view/462/tropic-thunder-full-trailer/
Posted by R. Hunt
at March 18, 2008 5:27 PM
comment #30
lazarus
says ...
Fielding, that was a pretty shitty thing to say about Jeff's loss and his mental state. He seems pretty centered about the whole thing to me.
I love the use of Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth", which has been in so many 60's/70's trailers it's beyond cliche.
Posted by lazarus
at March 18, 2008 6:09 PM
comment #31
DavidF
says ...
The scale of the thing looks awesome and Downey looks super-awesome. AND Nolte? And Steve Coogan?!
Also, I just noticed that it was co-written by Justin Theroux. I had to look it up to confirm it's the same dude from Mulholland Drive. Who knew?
Posted by DavidF
at March 19, 2008 8:02 AM
comment #32
Jeffrey Kunze
says ...
"Also, I just noticed that it was co-written by Justin Theroux. I had to look it up to confirm it's the same dude from Mulholland Drive. Who knew?" - DavidF
I fucking knew.
Posted by Jeffrey Kunze
at March 19, 2008 9:57 PM
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