comment #1

actionman says ...

God I love Mendes; this guy just doesn't fuck up. Great cast overall. Interesting to note that Mendes went with Ellen Kuras for DP, rather than Deakins.

Not a huge fan of Rudolph, but I really enjoy Krasinski on The Office, and from this trailer, it sort of looks like he's doing a darker, more serious riff on Jim.

This should be a nice change of pace during the summer.

comment #2

gradystiles says ...

Looks interesting. Love the song in the trailer, too!

comment #3

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

At first I thought Mendes had really branched out into horror. Alas, it was only a "commercial" (before a trailer, wtf is this world coming to?) for The Haunting in Connecticut.

After watching the trailer, I sort of do wish he had chosen to direct THiC instead. I like Mendes, I think he's talented and has a pretty good eye for composition, but it seems like he just continues to hammer the exact same narrative points over and over again. I think he pretty much nailed the "suburbia rots your soul, mmmkay?" theme in American Beauty, and even then I'd argue that film isn't as prophetic as it thinks it is, and certainly hasn't aged well (Best Picture? Really?). I'd argue that it's not even good as that other high-profile, "disaffected in suburbia," undeserving Best Picture winner, Ordinary People.

I actually like the casting here. I don't like seeing the same faces over and over again in movies, and this film seems to be experimenting with offbeat TV stars as leads (Krasinki, Rudolph), and offbeat comedic nobodies as support (Cheryl Hines, Jim Gaffigan!). Plus, any movie with Jeff Daniels can't be all bad.

If he's going the obsessive-auteur route, I just wish Mendes would pick subject matter a little more epic or interesting than this (like Hitchcock, Polanski, or Scorsese), or at least vary up his choices a bit.

The Road to Perdition had its problems, but at least he was exploring new territory. Maybe this musical he's working on with Sorkin will help shake him out of his rut.

comment #4

Rich S. says ...

So now we have to watch commercials to watch trailers....which are commercials.

Can't help but thinking this is getting a pass from Jeffrey because it's directed by Mendes. If it were, say, Jason Reitman, I think he'd be trying to find things to pick apart.

comment #5

Krazy Eyes says ...

I thought that trailer looked fantastic. I do think this has a different thematic feel than Mendes' other suburbia dramas plus the supporting characters look like their going to make the film.

I'm getting a serious Wes Anderson or even Flirting with Disaster-era David O. Russell vibe and that's a good thing.

comment #6

DavidF says ...

I would think a high-thread-count site like this would have greater appreciation for Dave Eggers as screenwriter.

I did a doubletake and that certainly makes things interesting...Alison Janney looks great there too.

And I've gradually come to the conclusion that Jeff Daniels is one of the most underrated American actors. He's stopped doing stupid movies in lieu of a lot of great roles the last few years.

Incidentally - how long ago was Revolutionary Road filmed that this sucker is almost ready to go? Was it held up last year because of feared confusion with Reservation Road?

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

It's your barbecue Wells, and it tastes good... but the way you're coming at things on this site is getting increasingly weird.

comment #8

lazespud says ...

Krasinki's the real deal, I'll bet he's terrific in this thing. I remember when I first saw him on the office: he looked too big, like a 6 foot 3 14-year-old... But he's clearly very talented and this looks promising.

Have you noticed that he's become the go to guy for commercial voice overs these days? Like Alec Baldwin was a few years ago and Richard Dreyfuss (and his sound-alike no-name brother) was before that?

I wonder how much scratch you get for gigs like that. It's got to be the easiest money on the planet...

comment #9

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Wells to Burma Shave: Again, what are you talking about? My comment about Krasinki? Whatever it is, spit it out.

comment #10

George Prager says ...

"George Segal and Eva Marie Saint look too much like real people."

The stroller thing sold me. I'm there.

BurmaShave: it's called having a personality. A consciousness. Try it sometime.

comment #11

BurmaShave says ...

Just seems a strange thing to focus on with everything involved. Serious change of pace for Mendes, Eggers screenwriting, etc. I don't know, this and the Austin thing, you just seem more peevish lately. Or maybe I am. Still one of the finer reads around, no sweat.

comment #12

Movie fan09 says ...

After watching the trailer, I sort of do wish he had chosen to direct THiC instead. I like Mendes, I think he's talented and has a pretty good eye for composition, but it seems like he just continues to hammer the exact same narrative points over and over again. I think he pretty much nailed the "suburbia rots your soul, mmmkay?" theme in American Beauty, and even then I'd argue that film isn't as prophetic as it thinks it is, and certainly hasn't aged well (Best Picture? Really?). I'd argue that it's not even good as that other high-profile, "disaffected in suburbia," undeserving Best Picture winner, Ordinary People.

The thing I don't get with American Beauty, is why he decided to cast Kevin Spacey..sure he's a great actor, but in the end he just made the movie harder to understand for mainstream audiences..and yea that might have been the assumption(he says is in the epilogue) but with the original casting of Jeff Daniels, it didn't need to be.

I actually like the casting here.

Yes and to Jeff-
I think that's the appeal-to cast real people in order to make it more easier to digest.
However, maybe that only works for small indie features, not big indie features.
and I think JK the reason he is almost indistinguishable is because playing that tv character..people have trouble seeing him having faults or worrying at all..I mean, he's basically 'The Fonz' on that show.

comment #13

DavidF says ...

I dunno - I think Dwight Schrute is the Fonz.
Jim is basically the most normal and real character on the show, qualities that don't apply to Mnsr. Fonzarelli.

Dwight, on the other hand, gets lines like, "showing ones' teeth is a submission signal in primates. when someone smiles at me all see is a chimpanzee begging for its life."

comment #14

Nike Air Force One says ...

I agree totally..

comment #15

ElstonGunnAICN says ...

Krasinski has also wrote/directed an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men," which screened at Sundance.

I suppose you could say Krasinski is the Tesla to Zach Braff's Edison. There's something to debate over iced green tea with a trendy friendy while purchasing a pastel indie pop Fox Searchlight Blu Ray disc.

Or picking up a copy of McSweeney's. Eggers and co. need your support.

comment #16

The Winchester says ...

If Jess Weixler were playing the Rudolph part, Wells would be all about this.

ElstonGunn- Love the Tesla/Edison comparison. But I have more hope for Krasinski over Braff.

comment #17

BurmaShave says ...

Hopefully Zach Levi is Tesla, I'd like someone with some actual star quality. And Prager, I have opportunities in my real life to present personality other than in a comment on this site. I'm sorry if sometimes you have to carry all the weight, but I know it's your outlet. Back to the toll booth!

comment #18

worrywort says ...

can't remember. Is Maya Rudolph PTA's baby mama?

comment #19

Wiggumx says ...

Yes, Maya had her child with PTA.

I think Maya Rudolph is pretty talented, and hopefully this movie proves that I'm right. I love the casting on this and can't wait to see it.

comment #20

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

A film where the actors come across as real people?

Yes, that is very odd indeed.

Rudolph has been on my radar ever since Idiocracy as someone I've been waiting to see in another visible role (SNL is dead to me, too much chaff to get to the wheat). The rest of the cast seems perfect as well (except Catherine O'Hara who just seems to be playing the same brash scenery chewer in every role now)

Goes into limited release June 5th and my calendar is now marked.

comment #21

rr3333 says ...

Krasinski's a decent actor, but he's not a 'movie star' actor.

He's a tv actor like Aniston's a tv actor (except Aniston's prettier and gets so much nonsensical press that they keep trying to make her a 'movie star' actor, which she clearly is not).

The movie might end up being pretty good, but it aint going to make a dime.

comment #22

televisiontears says ...

Wells, I don't get your beef with Rudolph and Krasinski looking too much like "real people". In a story like this, isn't that, you know, a HUGE plus? I know you have a seriously warped phobia and hatred of the common man, but I would've thought interest in character and story would trump that. Now if this was Mr. & Mrs Smith, or any such nonsense, sure I'm with you. But a story about being slapped in the face with the inevitability of your future? Real problems need real people (or actors that can pass as real people).

Looking forward to this. It looks what Cameron Crowe would be doing if he would've taken the right path.

comment #23

D.Z. says ...

Nice, a Mendes movie without the pretension.