Our featured clip this week is Bridesmaids, the inappropriately-themed farce sporting a number of SNL veterans. Could this be the girlie cure for The Hangover and the frequent Apatow fare? In addition, we have the Robert Redford directed The Conspirator, which explores complex themes regarding the
New trailers this week:
Bridesmaids
The Conspirator
Peep World
Rubber
Brotherhood
Bridesmaids
If I were ever able to fathom a more estrogen-oriented version of The Hangover, this comedic entry featuring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, John Hamm and Matt Lucas would be the dream. All the elements are there: the eccentric, lovable gang of destiny-plagued misfits, unfortunate circumstance and excessive raunch. I would be shocked if there was enough of a female audience to bolster such a film as The Hangover was able to having reached a broader audience, but many films of late have showed us the appeal of female-oriented fare; hell even I think this looks enticing.
Bridesmaids is directed by Paul Feig, though only having one feature film credit to his name with the kidpic Unaccompanied Minors, has had his fingers in any number of beloved television productions including Arrested Development, Weeds and The Office. Judd Apatow serves as producer (as he does for any number of similarly themed movies each year) and will be the last screen appearance of Jill Clayburgh who succumbed to leukemia last November. SNL veteran Kristen Wiig puts forth her first screenwriting credit here and it will be interesting to see if her comedic talents translate effectively to paper. The bride comes to theatres May 13.
The Conspirator
In addition to an auspicious acting career, Robert Redford’s directorial efforts frequently collect stunning ensemble casts and his latest effort, a historical account of the trial of Mary Surratt following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, continues that trend. In addition to James McAvoy in the lead as Surratt’s (Robin Wright, now sans the “Penn”) lawyer, we have Alexis Bledel, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Kline, Norman Reedus, Tom Wilkinson, Danny Huston and Colm Meaney. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2010 with a major theatrical release planned for April 15, 2011. The subject matter at hand and the talent involved certainly speak positively towards the impending final product, though stuffy period pieces rarely fare well with mainstream audiences unless awards recognition is forthcoming.
Peep World
The ensemble cast trend continues with Peep World (as does that of TIFF films), a dark comedy about the gathering of four siblings on their father’s 70th birthday as they struggle with effects caused by the publication of a novel based on their secrets, care of the youngest of the four. Michael C. Hall, Judy Greer, Rainn Wilson, Kate Mara, Taraji P. Henson and Sarah Silverman round out the main cast and like any star-studded production, it is hard to not be at least a tad intrigued when so much talent is assembled in one film. Get a look on March 25.
Rubber
The clip for Rubber represents either the most amazing looking or most mind-boggling idiotic production I have seen in some time. On whatever side of the fence I eventually land, I still desperately want to check out this film. The plot synopsis says it all: When Robert, an inanimate tire, discovers his destructive telepathic powers, he soon sets his sights on a desert town. In particular, a mysterious woman becomes his obsession. Oh yeah, that just happened. This no-cast, low-budget production has been met with positive early reviews which praise its bizarrely manic originality. Sounds about right.
Brotherhood
Most films exploring sororities and fraternities spin the real life escapades of the many individual organizations into over-the-top, comedic, booze-soaked parodies or the real thing. It is interesting, if not refreshing, to see a dark and dramatic film set in this world, which finds a young pledge caught up in peril after an initiation exercise goes terribly wrong. We have seen before how movies attempting to craft a mature story out of an inherently silly premise have fared, but Brotherhood looks interesting enough to warrant a peak.
