03.06.09
Trailers: “The Limits of Control” & “Public Enemies”
I know I haven’t been a very good blogger lately, but when school called, I pretty much had to answer. But now it’s the weekend and for the first time in a very long time, I have no homework. To ease into the weekend, I shall give you two trailers for the price of one; Jim Jarmucsh’s “The Limits of Control” which is without a doubt one of my most anticipated films of ‘09 and opens Stateside on the 22nd of May, and “Public Enemies,” a trailer I am sure most people have already seen but whatever. What do they both have in common? Awesome casts.
“The Limits of Control” stars Isaach De Bankole, Alex Descas, John Hurt, Youki Kudoh, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton as well as Hiam Abbass, Gael García Bernal, Paz De La Huerta, Jean-François Stevenín, and Luis Tosar. “Broken Flowers” didn’t exactly blow my hair back in any which way, but with a cast like that and a cinematographer like Christopher Doyle (“In the Mood for Love,” “Paranoid Park”), I find it hard to not get excited for this one.
According to The Playlist, where I found the trailer, the film is about “is the story of a mysterious loner (played by Mr. De Bankole), a stranger, whose activities remain meticulously outside the law. He is in the process of completing a job, yet he trusts no one, and his objectives are not initially divulged. His journey, paradoxically both intently focused and dreamlike, takes him not only across Spain but also through his own consciousness.” I barely know what any of that means, but I look forward to finding out.
I’m not going to lie and say I was ever truly interested in seeing “Public Enemies” aside from, this is really starting to sound pathetic, being aroused by its cast. Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Christian Bale, Leelee Sobieski, Giovanni Ribisi…and the rest of them. It tells the true story of the Depression-era robber John Dillinger (played by Depp) but watching the trailer with its digi-cam look and random hand held camera shots, you’d never know it the story takes place in the 1930’s.
It looks like rubbish if you ask me, the way it’s shot and not the movie itself, but its Michael Mann so that isn’t surprising. Since its only a trailer – and who am I to judge a trailer? – I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and perhaps on July the 1st, it won’t [completely] suck? Cotillard better get a lot of screentime, all I am saying.
What thinketh you, friends? First one to tell me gets a cookie.
Miranda Wilding said,
March 6, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Mmmmm…
I don’t know about LOC, Nicky.
But just looking at the PE trailer made me interested in the film. COMPLETELY. Prior to that, I was barely in the Maybe camp. When I hear Michael Mann is directing, it definitely gives me pause.
It may very well be crap at the end of the day. I’ve seen brilliant trailers and the films turned out to be pretty bloody bad.
But this at least appears somewhat galvanizing.
And of course there’s JOHNNY…
Now where’s my cookie, big boy…? I’m partial to chocolate fingers, chocolate double chunk and chocolate chip.
Any of those will do…
k said,
March 6, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I am so excited for Public Enemies, I’m just about ready to burst!
Nick Plowman said,
March 6, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Michael Mann and I have an agreement, set into motion way back when, to agree to disagree. However, in him pulling together that cast, I’m willing to give it a chance because you never know, it may just be brilliant. Depp does look great though, so. The way it seems to be shot just doesn’t look right to me, but it is just a trailer and they are sometimes deceiving.
Miranda, you can have the entire cookie jar – and to make up for lost time, please share with k ;)
In fact, I hereby declare today Cookie Day. Free cookies for everyone.
Miranda Wilding said,
March 7, 2009 at 12:01 am
I shall.
I was always very good at sharing. Even when I was little.
Here, k. *hands k the jar*
Thanks for the jar, honey pie.
I’m just a girl of extremes. Excess is so much better.
Why beg for a cookie when a boy will hand you the whole jar…? EASILY.
Hee hee. All in good time.
Thanks, Nicky. You’re so sweet…
Sam C. Mac said,
March 7, 2009 at 5:31 am
Hey Nick,
I was looking forward to both of these at the start of the year, but the trailer has me kind of down on PE. “Miami Vice” was very good, and ‘Insider’ was damn near great, but I’m not into “Heat” or “Ali” and I’ve been avoiding “Collateral” for some reason (someday…).
PE just looks, well, I think you nailed it: Not that interesting visually. The atmosphere was really intoxicating in ‘Vice’ and I thought he might do something similar here but this looks much closer to “American Gangster,” a movie I basically hate.
LoC, on the other hand, looks brilliant. I probably haven’t seen enough Jarmusch, but I’ve seen plenty of stuff with Isaach de Bankole, who’s just a great actor. Plus, it’s shot by the GREAT Chris Doyle, who’s mark is pretty noticeable. Reaching for a modern film reference, as I did above, LoC has the same sort of indie-ensemble-mysterious-o feel that “Red Belt” seemed to exude last year (a movie I liked quite a bit).
I expect big things from LoC and look forward to seeing it either in Tribeca or Cannes.
[P.S: Hop online at some point this weekend so we can talk about what you'll do next for InRO, if you've the time =) ]
Alison Flynn said,
March 9, 2009 at 6:47 am
I love Jim Jarmusch so I will be checking out anything new that he’s doing. :)
As for PE, this is not a movie that I was particularly interested in (I’m one of the few people on the planet probably) and that hasn’t changed.
It’s unfortunate that school has to come before movies/blogging, Nick. Movies/blogging is obviously much more fun.
Sam Juliano said,
March 9, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Hello Nick! Your updates are sorely missed in bloggersville, and while methinks Alison is quite right there about the inherent fun in moviegoing and blogging, I think you must expend your energies in the way you are at the present time.
I know things will pick up. But in any case, January through April is generally very weak for films as you know, with only the smattering of foreign-language stuff that we cull a few good ones from.
As far as this post, I’ll say i’m always interested in what Mr. Jarmusch has to stay.
Best Wishes as always.
Joseph B. said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:42 am
Majorly excited for “Public Enemies”. Behind Scorsese, I’d rank Mann is the single greatest director working today. No one understands timing and editing quite as well as he does and the way he films action scenes (such as the downtown Los Angeles shoot-out in “Heat”) are breathtaking in how they create sense and place for the viewer versus this new sh*tty way of cutting every second.
KeegsMom said,
March 14, 2009 at 2:04 am
Alison, I’m with you, don’t care much about PE even though Depp is in it…. Maybe that will change. But I’ve seen all of Jarmusch’s work except for Broken Flowers, for some strange reason {hastily adding to my netflix list} … A most exciting night long ago, seeing Dead Man at the SF Film Fest and somehow, in the row right in front of me, sat JJ, Neil Young and Tom Waits. I just about died.
blake said,
May 6, 2009 at 10:51 am
I’m totally stoke for The Limits of Control. I’m just worried it won’t come to where I live until much later.