Trailer Round-Up – July 30, 2016

Split Although Kevin (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist (Betty Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teen girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Taylor-Joy), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all those contained within him - as well as everyone around him - as the walls between his compartments shatter apart. Director M. Night Shyamalan has had a complicated, tumultuous relationship with critics and audiences alike, going from acclaimed critical darling with movies like The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, to bottom of the barrel with some of the worst movies ever made such as The Last Airbender and Lady in the Water. His last film, The Visit, received positive reviews and some have speculated that it might signal a return to form for the director. Split certainly looks promising, with a premise that will surely put McAvoy's range to the test. My only problem with it is tickles my curiosity when it looks like it's trying to be more unnerving or scary. Still, worth keeping an eye on. Universal Pictures will distribute Split on January 20th, 2017 Hacksaw Ridge Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson, is a World War II movie based on the true story of Corporal Demond Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive the US congressional Medal of Honor. Doss refused to carry a weapon and served as a medic. He was the only American soldier who was on the front lines without a weapon and he single-handedly saved the lives of 75 men. This is a fascinating true story that could make for a excellent film. A lot of what's seen in the trailer feels familiar - the soldier who everyone else thinks is a coward turns out to be a hero - and if handled incorrectly, even great true stories can be made to feel generic and dull. I find it hilarious that the trailer says the movie is from "the director of Braveheart", but never specifies that that's Mel Gibson - piggybacking off of his critical acclaim while clumsily dodging the controversy. Hacksaw Ridge stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn and is scheduled for release on November 4, 2016. The Accountant Directed by Gavin O’Connor and written by Bill Dubuque, The Accountant stars Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff, a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. The second trailer for The Accountant gives a little bit plot details, but mainly serves to spotlight the rest of the movie's excellent cast, including Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons and Jon Bernthal among others. It looks amazing and with a stellar cast to boot, so I personally cannot wait to see it. The Accountant is scheduled for a October 14 release. The Great Wall The Great Wall, directed by Zhang Yimou is set in the Northern Song Dynasty, as an elite force makes a desperate stand against a deadly threat on The Great Wall of China. This is director Zhang Yimou's first English-language production and is the largest film that was shot entirely in China. Even from this short trailer, the scale of the production looks incredible - it is odd to see Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal there though. They just seem a bit out of place. We don't really get a good look at the monsters our heroes will be fighting, but this is an impressive trailer nonetheless. The Great Wall is scheduled for release on February 17, 2017.