Hello fellow movie lovers and welcome back to Trailer Tracker where we at Player Affinity analyze the newest trailers hitting the web, employing meticulous efficiency and brazen assumptions. This week on the circuit we visit The Town directed by Ben Affleck, rev things up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Faster, take a puzzled glance at the Comic-Con teaser for The Goon and settle The Debt with Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington in a WWII thriller. Last off we have the first trailer for Woody Allen’s latest, the lengthily titled You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.
The Town
Not but four years ago, if someone had told you that Ben Affleck was going to become one of the most promising new directors, you would have laughed as much as you did during Daredevil. Nevertheless, coming off his successful directorial debut Gone Baby Gone, Affleck returns both in front of and behind the camera for another Boston-set police drama, The Town. The cast is chalk full of ample talent from veterans to “it” stars the likes of Jeremy Renner and Chris Cooper. The trailer debuted in front of Christopher Nolan’s Inception and generated palpable chatter afterwards. Worthy or not when all is said and released, the previews seem to promise a gritty action drama. The Town relocates into theaters September 10.
Faster
Need something to wash the lingering taste of The Tooth Fairy from your palates? (Disclaimer: this critic guilty admits to liking said film) Well, The Rock’s return to action after a string of kidpics seems to give some hope for action junkies who miss the days of The Rundown. Faster is a straight-up action revenge flick, but if the mayhem is constant and Johnson can bring his inherent charisma to the proceedings, my anticipation remains unmoved. Faster co-stars the formerly MIA Tom Berenger (in his second film this year following Inception), Billy Bob Thorton, Carla Gugino and Jennifer Carpenter.
The Goon
If you thought the teaser clip for the animated film Rango was odd, set your peepers on this film of the same medium, The Goon. Based on the paranormal-style comic book of the same name, Blur Studio (Rockfish) adapts with the voice of Paul Giamatti and with David Fincher as producer. I may have no idea what is going on, but consider my interest significantly piqued. Mature animated films are a rarity, the last major one being 9, so any deviation from kid-centric features are most welcomed.
The Debt
If Bryan Singer’s Valkyrie was a tad too, let’s say vanilla, perhaps The Debt will be more to your taste. Starring considerable talent the likes of Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds and Sam Worthington, the John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directed project finds three Israeli Mossad agents on a secret mission to capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. Its December 29 release date understandably positions the film for Oscar consideration, and if the actual film turns out to be as good as its prestigious ambitions, this year could very well pick up as we head into the final stretch. What is (99 percent) certain is The Debt will halt Worthington's streak of mega blockbusters.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Another year, another Woody Allen movie. “Stranger’s” Cannes debut was not met with much buzz or critical applause, which seems to be in line with Allen’s most recent products. Yet like most movies, the last thing to go wrong is the acting and the cast is jam-packed with talent: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts and Josh Brolin to name a few. If your annual Allen craving is giving you the sweats, you need only wait until September 22.
