Features
Headlines
Search
Loading ...
Archives
You can see the full, un-edited (and voice-over-free) version at Apple, or by clicking the image below. Paramount is pulling the rights violation card on embeds, so I’ve removed the YouTube clip. Any new embeds will likely be yanked as well, so I won’t bother.
Having finally taken a look at the full version, I am immediately taken by the overall look of the picture. Andrew Lesnie’s photography is gorgeous to say the least, and the visual effects could very well find their way into Oscar contention. Stanley Tucci looks certifiably creepy and could be someone to watch, but on the whole, still, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I got an overall “meh” feeling here. I’ve never read the book, so I’m not champing at the bit like some of the devoted. Maybe that explains it, I don’t know.
80 responses so far
1 8-04-2009 at 6:54 pm
Marshall said...
I’m sorry, but I just can’t get excited about this movie. I’ve read the book and didn’t like it. And not just because it was depressing; I read “Revolutionary Road” and loved it just as much as the movie. But the story is just strange and it just didn’t strike a nerve. I get the feeling audiences will be too unnerved by its plot to make it a huge hit.
Marshall
marshallandthemovies.wordpress.com
2 8-04-2009 at 6:58 pm
James D. said...
It is hard to judge with such a short trailer, and half of it being a voiceover from ET. But hey, if it is good enough for Christopher Moltisanti, it can’t be all bad.
3 8-04-2009 at 7:05 pm
Jim T said...
I’ve read the book and I liked it a lot. I agree with Kris on the trailer. I was waiting for something that never came. The effects looked wonderful but my expectations are very high for this film. Not that I worry. It’s just a trailer.
4 8-04-2009 at 7:08 pm
Mr. F said...
I’m a fan of the book, but this trailer is way too short. Hopefully there will be another one before the movie comes out.
However, heaven looks much better than I could have imagined.
5 8-04-2009 at 7:52 pm
Melissa said...
I thought the book was disappointing, so I am hoping the movie will be better. Why is no one predicting Lindsay, Susie’s Sister? She has a bigger part in the book than the Mom and looks like she has a big part in the film.
6 8-04-2009 at 7:59 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
That looks awful.
7 8-04-2009 at 8:06 pm
Marshall1 said...
Read the book, not really the literary masterpiece that people claims to be……and the trailer…yeah, i hope they will put together a better cut of it in a few months……
I’m gonna read push by sapphire…can’t wait for the movie (now precious) to open
8 8-04-2009 at 8:09 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
It’s like What Dreams May Come with a murder mystery subplot.
9 8-04-2009 at 8:15 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
The full Apple version is certainly better than the ET thing, but still, not doing it for me yet.
10 8-04-2009 at 8:18 pm
leocd said...
Wow!!! I love so much the visual effects and the cinematography, and I also love the lead actress. (She is so cute)
11 8-04-2009 at 8:19 pm
Speaking English said...
Beautiful!!! Time to add this one to the Visual Effects predictions. Sarandon looks terrific. But when has she not been?
12 8-04-2009 at 8:26 pm
Roarkkk said...
HOly Hell…this looks AMAZING.
13 8-04-2009 at 8:27 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
Amazing? Really?
I think we’ve stumbled onto the first fanboy Oscar film of the year.
14 8-04-2009 at 8:32 pm
Brian said...
This trailer would be so much better if it a) didnt have the most cliche trailer music and b) didnt try to look like a thriller halfway through,
15 8-04-2009 at 8:37 pm
tony rock said...
Yes, amazing. Honestly…what were you expecting that you didn’t receive?
16 8-04-2009 at 8:39 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
How ridiculous is the photograph of Tucci behind the bushes being part of the puzzle Wahlberg has to figure out?
17 8-04-2009 at 8:40 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
I wasn’t expecting anything at all, to be honest. But regardless, nothing here is blowing my skirt up. The cinematography is great and the visual effects are interesting but like Chad said, we’ve seen it already in “What Dreams May Come,” so it’s certainly not moving the needle all the much.
18 8-04-2009 at 8:40 pm
Roarkkk said...
LOL…yea amazing!!! you make it sound like i’m insane for thinking that…
“first fanboy Oscar film of the year”…..all because i said…”this looks amazing”? really? relax lol
19 8-04-2009 at 8:41 pm
Billyboy said...
Not even a “meh” from me…
20 8-04-2009 at 8:43 pm
leocd said...
“Where the wild things are” was the first fanboy Oscar film of the year. This would be the second, I think.
Anyway it looks a lot like a thriller, but I haven’t read the book so it doesn’t affect me that fact.
I want to see this movie now!! Now my second most awaited movie of the year.
PD: What a wonderful heaven they have created
21 8-04-2009 at 8:48 pm
Billyboy said...
Wonderful heaven? Sorry to disagree with you leocd, but I hope the afterlife doesn’t look as corny as that…
If that’s the case maybe hell might be a more interesting place to spend eternity
22 8-04-2009 at 8:51 pm
Zach said...
I’m not sure if it’ll be as big of a contender as we all previously thought. It’ll definitely make some sort of impact on the tech categories, but I’m not feeling it that it will have a lot of sway in the major categories.
Nevertheless, I’m excited for it.
23 8-04-2009 at 8:57 pm
Pablo (Col) said...
I have to say it look VERY good. It’s different from anything done and that’s a huge plus. Saoirse Ronan looks good as the lead actress and Whalberg, Sarandon and Weisz look promising too portraying her family.
And, of course, Stanley Tucci’s turn into a killer is very attractive and Oscar voters will notice.
What else will it run for ? Director of course, as well as Picture. Jackson has done a fantasy/drama film again and it may be as good as LOTR.
Cinematography, Visual Effects, Sound categories, editing and even costume design, could get guilds and circles attention to this very interesting film.
An Education, Up, Avatar, Bright Star, The Lovely Bones, Precious,.. This season keeps getting better
24 8-04-2009 at 9:02 pm
C. Cruz said...
“The Lovely Bones” has been and still is on my to-watch list for sure, but kris has a point. The trailer’s rather iffy. Wonderful techs for sure, but I can’t see anything buzz worthy, sadly. I’m still excited for it though and hope it comes out better than the trailer. Sometimes it does.
25 8-04-2009 at 9:04 pm
Mr. Gittes said...
Chad Hartigan: Super ridiculous.
That being said, something about this has colored me intrigued.
26 8-04-2009 at 9:05 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
Roarkkk: No offense meant, I’m just a little caught off guard by some of the more enthusiastic responses here.
27 8-04-2009 at 9:09 pm
leocd said...
I was refering to the fact that it looks amazing (his vivid colours, great scenarios, etc) for a movie, billyboy.
There’s no way a man can imagine the greatness and beauty of the real heaven, but I love this version.
Just my opinion of course.
28 8-04-2009 at 9:09 pm
Steven Kar said...
Sorry, but I have to be the nerd here and correct you:
It’s not “chomping at the bit” but champing at the bit.
29 8-04-2009 at 9:11 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
I think “chomping” has taken over by sheer fact of constant misuse, much like “ain’t.” So, whatevs.
30 8-04-2009 at 9:12 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
Ladies and gentlemen, your benjamin button of the year. Haters and lovers all there, I loved Benjamin and no movie thats universally loved in the beginning turns out that great, lets stir some contraversy!! Im pumped for this movie, good lord, Best Picture 09? Perhaps, lets sweep them oscars again Jackson
31 8-04-2009 at 9:19 pm
andrew said...
I’ll be guarded, although I did like the bit with the Requiem for a Dream-ish type camera work with Tucci running. Also the delivery of “Why won’t you listen to him?” sounded SO ROBOTIC.
32 8-04-2009 at 9:19 pm
leocd said...
A question Kris. If Saoirse Ronan get a nomination this year, will she become the younger actress to receive 2 nominations?
I’m so glad to see her on a leading acting now, because she was amazing on Atonement.
33 8-04-2009 at 9:36 pm
j said...
He wasn’t able to sweep the Oscars until building up goodwill with three consecutive almost universally praised billion-dollar makers, so I don’t see a sweep. Of course, that goodwill was enough to give him a nom for King Kong from both critics and Globes. This could be big, though; Lovely Bones has sold copies into the 8 digits.
I thought Saoirse’s VO would be better. It does look too much like a thriller. The sister’s actress doesn’t seem that impressive, and if they’re going to reward a young actress for this film, it’d make more sense for it to be Ronan.
Honestly, the most striking thing to me was how much better Jackson looks vs. the LOTR days.
34 8-04-2009 at 9:40 pm
j said...
I believe the youngest actress ever to get 2 noms is Winslet, at 22.
35 8-04-2009 at 9:50 pm
Bryan said...
Hmm, I’m just hoping they showed so little of Weisz because she’s so brilliant she’ll blow us out of the water.
Cautious optimism, but man, is heaven tacky.
36 8-04-2009 at 11:01 pm
Mark G. said...
Hey Kris…after seeing the trailer, are you keeping Saoirse Ronan in your predicted 5 for Actress?
37 8-04-2009 at 11:18 pm
phil said...
The book drew a lot of its power from its frank and disturbing description of Susie’s rape and murder. The trailer seems to be showcasing Jackson’s visualization of Susie’s heaven, which is only briefly abstracted by Sebold. In other words, it may be a bit misleading. The story is very much a human drama.
38 8-04-2009 at 11:19 pm
Sound Designer Dan said...
Tucci looks like he would make a great Ned Flanders, that is, if there was a real-life Simpsons.
39 8-04-2009 at 11:27 pm
al b. said...
Peter Jackson was the reason I became a fan of movies! When I saw Return of the King for the first time I thought “I didn’t know movies could be this good!” I went back and saw all his previous films and realized that PJ is probably the most skilled director EVER!
It was also after LOTR that I started following the Oscars and the award season in general! So obviously I am a Peter Jackson freak and no matter how this trailer looks (not too great), I’m sure Jackson will once again deliver as he always does!
40 8-05-2009 at 12:11 am
Isaac Richter said...
I can think of someone younger. Angela Lansbury got her second nomination when she was 19 years old for The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945). She got her first one the previous year for Gaslight. Saorsie Ronan probably would be the youngest, though.
And, I’m also really excited for this film. I read the book, really liked it, and the film looks visually stunning, though it seems to be taking some liberties with the plot, since the book is not a thriller, though that may just be a way to market the film. We’ll see what Peter Jackson does with this.
41 8-05-2009 at 12:35 am
Alfie said...
hhmm so someone says its amazing and they are written off as a fanboy yet someone says it looks awful and thats fair enough??
I do like your site though Kristopher. Keep it up.
42 8-05-2009 at 12:59 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Written off is your phrase, not mine. I just sense the fanboy support rising up for the film, nothing more.
43 8-05-2009 at 1:40 am
j said...
Oh, I Googled and found the following at http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/01/do-not-publish.html.
Kate W. being the youngest 2nd thru 6th-time nominee is erroneous. Believe Angela Lansbury was the youngest with 2 at 20 years of age; Teresa Wright with 3 at age 24; and Elizabeth Taylor with 4 having just made 29. Kate W. is however the youngest to have 5 (age 31) and 6 (age 33).
Imdb’ing seems to agree. Though I wonder why it was thought Kate was the youngest 2nd-4th…laziness to do research?
44 8-05-2009 at 1:41 am
Guy Lodge said...
It seems odd to build the trailer up to the sister’s investigation of Tucci, given that it’s not exactly a climax in the novel, but I have no idea what liberties they’ve taken with the adaptation here. (Plenty, I hope.)
Anyway, it looks about as kitsch and ersatz-emotive as the book, so I guess that would constitute a success.
Oh, and Leocd, the answer to your question is yes.
45 8-05-2009 at 2:42 am
red_wine said...
AmericanRequiem, The Lovely Bones is not that Benjamin Button Of The Year(I hated that movie by the way), but Nine. Nine is the default nominee in almost all major categories regardless of quality.
The Top 3 fanboy films of the year are gonna be
The Lovely Bones(seems like the middle-brow drama that pleases some people like Rev Road, Atonement, etc.)
Shutter Island
Avatar
Whether the last 2 become Oscar fanboy movies are just remain fanboy movies remains to be seen.
46 8-05-2009 at 3:52 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
Al B. I completely agree with you. I feel exactly the same. This movie looks great to me, although the trailer uses very unsubtle music to drone it home a bit. It looks visually stunning and might be a big hit as well.
47 8-05-2009 at 5:13 am
Christian said...
I haven’t read the book but I’ve read a synopsis of the story and it has a lot of promise, but the trailer didn’t seem to be as promising or impacting as I thought this story could be. This could just be a bland trailer and the actual movie is five times better.
48 8-05-2009 at 6:08 am
Jim T said...
I so hope this doesn’t end up being Australia of this year but I don’t really think so. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps because I trust Jackson and his company more than Luhrmann (although I loved Moulin Rouge). I just don’t feel like taking the trailer too seriously. I mean, the trailer of An Education wasn’t good either. So what?
49 8-05-2009 at 6:13 am
BJT said...
It seems to me like they’ve over egged the pudding on this one.
What impressed me about “the inbetween” in the book was that it felt so ordinary, school yards, summer houses, lakes. Pretty, certainly, but not fantastical. By upping the wow factor of the afterlife I think Jackson may lose the focus from the family dealing with grief and how the deceased watch over and guide.
I’m also concerned about the thriller tone. One aspect I hated in the book (and it looks like I will hate about the film) was that whilst the father and sister are primarily concerned with justice – at least proving the guilt of the killer and passing him over to the police – but when justice fails Susie is later satisfied purely with vengence. No spoilers here, mind.
If the whole film works the fantasy heaven and thriller like this trailer then I’m worried that I might not like this film as much as I currently am looking forward to it. (It’s a long way down the list, anyay.)
50 8-05-2009 at 6:25 am
Guy Lodge said...
I must say I agree with BJT. I thought the purpose of Sebold’s depiction of the afterworld to offer only a faintly skewed reflection of the protagonist’s previous life — Jackson’s lavish CGI creations may be pretty to look at, but thematically, I fear he’s missed the point.
As much as I dislike the source material, I was hoping it might portend a return to the mordant restraint of “Heavenly Creatures.” This seems to be less and less the case.
51 8-05-2009 at 6:31 am
El Rocho said...
Not sure hoe people are going to feel about this movie, but I was completely engaged by the trailer. I don’t see Oscar potential here (aside from visual effects and screenplay…maybe some acting credit). And not a boxoffice draw, either. But I think critics will like it.
52 8-05-2009 at 6:51 am
Voland said...
All a trailer has to do, is to sell the movie, to get the people inside the cinema. For me, the trailer did just that.
53 8-05-2009 at 7:11 am
John said...
The movie could be great or not, the trailer has some iffy moments …
But overall, I’m intrigued, and the trailer has got me excited. I think it will ignite Middle-America as well; when they start seeing this trailer in the theaters/commercial spots.
I see “potential” for lots of noms.
54 8-05-2009 at 7:11 am
John said...
Exactly what Voland said.
55 8-05-2009 at 7:16 am
Jim T said...
I agree with Voland. I don’t think this trailer is to be taken as an indicaion of the movie structure. I think the thriller element was more to attract the people not familiar with the book. We’ll see.
56 8-05-2009 at 7:57 am
Gian said...
This could be a boon for Tucci as he’ll also have his opposite turn in “Julie & Julia” as well as goodwill built up from ‘Prada’.
57 8-05-2009 at 8:09 am
Guy Lodge said...
I like to think that Stanley Tucci has goodwill built up from a lot more than a paper-thin role in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Great actor.
58 8-05-2009 at 8:11 am
benito delicias said...
i think the trailer was made exclusively for those who read the book to get the hype going among the book’s fans.
they went pretty straight forward with it and didn’t leave anything out…
I’m sold. The book is not the best book in the world as I’ve read, it’s very slow and filled with a lot of unnecessary comments and characters, but there is something behind all the crap and the trailer got exactly that, so I’m very excited and we’ll just have to wait and see…
59 8-05-2009 at 8:16 am
Gian said...
I totally agree with you Guy as Tucci has been solid and underated for years but I think his wonderful interplay with both Streep and Hathaway in ‘Prada’ put him back on the average voter’s radar and will remind them of his versatility.
60 8-05-2009 at 8:18 am
Me. said...
As usual, everyone bashes something that looks great in this site.
Guys, the film looks very good! All of the performances look amazing and the visuals are out of this world!
Also, how are you not predicting it for Best Picture? Capitalism: a Love Story won’t get nominated. It’s only logical.
61 8-05-2009 at 8:27 am
Wade said...
The most interesting thing about the Apple trailer is that apparently Peter Jackson is about 150 pounds now. Crazy skinny. I miss the fat, hobbit-like Peter Jackson.
62 8-05-2009 at 9:12 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
Wade, he’s been like that ever since making King Kong. He probaby felt too resembling to the big ape.
63 8-05-2009 at 9:32 am
Wade said...
Jonathan: He looks even skinnier now than he did around King Kong. Maybe I just haven’t seen a photo of him in a while.
64 8-05-2009 at 9:41 am
alex said...
Tucci is in this year.
By the way, Sarandon is… 62 years old ? She looks amazing, that’s coming from someone who used to work at Guantanamo
65 8-05-2009 at 10:55 am
Guy Lodge said...
“I miss the fat, hobbit-like Peter Jackson.”
Funny, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t!
“Capitalism: a Love Story won’t get nominated. It’s only logical.”
When we’re discussing films that no one has seen yet, logic hardly comes into it, no?
66 8-05-2009 at 11:23 am
Alex said...
I was a little worried about a 14-year old girl voiceover coming off as kinda corny and cheesy…but boy, Ronan really knocks it outta the park. And I love how they used the Requiem for a dream RageCam on Tucci while he’s running down the hall…..freaky! And Visuals look really beautiful yet kinda weird and trippy. I cant wait for this.
67 8-05-2009 at 11:29 am
head_wizard said...
Not much to add but there didn’t seem to be anything really special hear the special effects looked pretty enough but nothing spectacular and the plot didn’t seem that interesting. I was never excited about this film but I’ll wait for some reviews first and see
68 8-05-2009 at 11:50 am
Chad Hartigan said...
It saddens my heart that these youngin’s think Darren Aronofsky invented the camera harness that straps to an actor.
See more movies people!
69 8-05-2009 at 12:26 pm
Alex said...
Did i say he invented it?….I used it because its a simple reference to what i was talking about.
…sorry that i didnt spend my time looking up who the first person to use that camera technique was…
70 8-05-2009 at 12:42 pm
Peter M. said...
I think that the story itself may take a back seat while Jackson put a lot of work and focus on the visual effects.
I would prefer to have something simple that tells the story instead of lavish to get you to go “neat”.
Simplicity people!
71 8-05-2009 at 1:42 pm
MattyD. said...
Honestly? I think this looks fantastic. Granted, I don’t think the trailer is doing the actual film any justice. But it seems like a good meshing of the “Heavenly Creatures” Peter Jackson and the fantasy epic Jackson in terms of the “in-between” scenes. I have a feeling that the film is going to be a real contender. But then again, “nobody knows anything” is the mantra of the Oscar race, is it not?
So SUCK IT TREBEK! Just kidding. People have to stop flaming other’s opinions on these comments. C’mon people. We’re better than that. This isn’t the Rotten Tomatoes message boards.
72 8-05-2009 at 1:44 pm
MattyD. said...
Oh, and as a P.S.: This film has been in my Best Picture nominees for months and I’m truly surprised that it isn’t part of the 10 on the sidebar of this website.
73 8-05-2009 at 4:30 pm
diego said...
amazingggggggggggggggggggggg!!!!
74 8-05-2009 at 7:52 pm
Ryan said...
I have read the novel and have anxiously awaited the film for a few years now. I really like the trailer and what it shows of the movie, with the exception of that last piece, which looks more like an action movie (hopefully they just made it look like that to attract more people)…
I am mostly wary of Mark Wahlberg. His performance in The Happening was one of the worst things I have ever seen on film, and I am unsure he is up to the task of playing Mr. Salmon, at least as well as Ryan Gosling could.
That said, I am enchanted by everything else displayed in the trailer, especially the use of color, and the visuals of Susie’s heaven.
75 8-05-2009 at 9:35 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
KRIS, do you have any idea if well and when well be getting an actual poster for this movie?
76 8-06-2009 at 4:39 am
Dani said...
Does anyone know what music is played in the trailer?
77 8-06-2009 at 7:46 am
M said...
Not everyone will like everything. Personally I love the trailer. I can’t wait for the film in December.
Ryan Gosling was too young for the role, I wouldn’t believe he had a 14 year old daughter. Like when would he have her, when he was 14?
However, we can’t judge Wahlberg until we see the movie. Again, I am excited for it.
78 10-03-2009 at 7:17 pm
Laurent said...
Same music as in Changeling trailer.
79 10-21-2009 at 7:50 am
Dave said...
So, after seeing the preview I dont feel like I need to see the movie – I already know who the victim is, what the story is, and who the killer is what more could the movie tell me that I dont already know?
I hate previews that give everything away.
80 12-25-2009 at 4:14 am
Josh said...
Still, it will be interesting to see Jackson’s interpretation of the story.
I mean, it’s not really fair to ignore a film based on the book even though you know what happens.
If that was the case, everyone should have ignored the Lord of the Rings.