[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTOMGgY7M_8[/youtube]
Writer/Director Rian Johnson, whose 2005 debut Brick was a genre-twisting hard-boiled Teens Gone Noir thriller that won several Indie screenplay awards, follows up with a globe-trotting adventure caper — Cons Gone Rom-Com. The cast couldn’t be much cooler, and while the budget looks considerably bigger than Brick’s $475,000, the feeling we get from the trailer edges along the kooky cusp where mainstream meets offbeat. (yes, that’s Oscar-nominated Rinko Kikuchi, the precocious deaf-mute school-girl who made a flash splash in Babel.)
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I think this Wes Anderson knock-off theory is a bit unfair. Just because it has Adrien Brody in it and a plot involving two estranged brothers? That’s the only similarity I see to any of Anderson’s works. And frankly, I thought “The Darjeeling Limited” was a terrible bore. This looks much more interesting. Hopefully it won’t involve long stretches of blank stares set to David Bowie or The Kinks played as humor.
Rien Johnson is good at pulling the rug out from under his viewers. I enjoyed “Brick”, and this looks like it’ll be fun.
i dont know about this one…based on the trailer it doesnt seem up my alley at all and I have a feeling this film will come and go without anyone caring like last year’s The Darjeeling Limited.
I’ve hated Ruffalo in everything I’ve seen him in, including Zodiac. He is the definition of wooden. In fact, he and Gyllenhaal really bring Zodiac down IMHO. Thank God for Robert Downey Jr.
Guess one’s ability to relate to Brick depends on one’s own high school experience.
I had Mr. Quinlan for Civics and Mr. Gillis for Creative Writing. My guidance counselor? Mr. Neff.
(But this comment probably seems “gimmicky” to some of you.)
I’m in the Brick-is-overrated camp. I liked parts of it a lot, but like cj, thought it was gimmicky for the sake of being gimmicky. I admire when can be effortlessly cool, but Brick’s coolness was anything but effortless, which is kind of off-putting. I wanted to like it so much more than I did.
This one has me intrigued, though.
Wes Anderson? You mean Hudson Hawk.
You guys are so clever. I almost mentioned the Wes Anderson aura I was feeling, but decided not to clutter things up or risk raising a ruckus. (yeah, cos you know how I hate a ruckus.)
Actually, what I wrote and then deleted was, “There’s a distinct Wes Anderson/Hal Ashby vibe in the rarefied breeziness, a kind of loose-limbed dissolute Topkapi.” But I’ve been referencing Topkapi too much lately, so I cut that line out.
(btw: Topkaki? One of Christopher Nolan’s 10 favorite films. You’ve heard about his new movie this summer, right?)
Noah: I think Mark Ruffalo is extremely underappreciated. He’s terrific in ZODIAC and did a fine job in RESERVATION ROAD, despite that movie’s faults.
Although, the trailer does not make me want to see the movie itself, I am looking forward to see the cast with 2 Oscar winners, 1 Oscar nominee, and 1 that should have been nominated for an Oscar. I also want to know if Brick director can out Wes-Anderson Wes Anderson himself.
Definitely agree that it looks like a complete wes anderson rip-off
I dunno, I kind of liked the trailer. And I loved BRICK, so I’m eagerly awaiting this one.
Yes and I acknowledged that. Movies have been screwed over many times by trailers, most recently In Bruges. If people start raving about this film then I’ll give it a chance.
You can never pre-judge a film by its trailer.
Unless it’s a Michael Bay movie.
The trailer does evoke Wes Anderson…and that’s a good thing. I’m a sucker for Brody, Ruffalo, and Weisz (*loved* the hobbies part), so I’m in.
I loved Brick but this looks like a cheap knock-off of Wes Anderson (Who, of course, has perfected the art of knocking himself off. That’s what she said.) Although that could just be the trailer, who knows? Also I really don’t see the fuss about Mark Ruffalo. I wouldn’t cast him as an extra in a movie.
Because the cast looks completely miscast. That’s why. The entire thing looks like a complete misfire, based on that trailer.
I’m less enthusiastic about Brick than Alexander (I thought its gimmick was never completely justified), but I did like it quite a bit. This looks like quite a shift in tone.
K Trout, how can you not want to see a movie with this cast?
hmm the only reason i’ll put ithis on my radar is because of Rinko Kikuchi/i’ve only seen her in babel/put whatever she did in that film was very much this geek approved ! 🙂
hmm nope K Trout/trailers aren’t supposed to make you want to see a movie/oscar noms are… 🙂
I adamantly adore Brick. It’s my #1 film for 2006. (Inland Empire is a near #2.)
S.T. Stevens largely makes the points I would. Much wackier than I was expecting. Looks a little Ocean’s 11y. Ruffalo and Weisz look like they’re having a lot of fun.
Does Kikuchi get to speak in this one? Doesn’t really sound like it judging by the trailer. Haha, yes, she made a flash in Babel.
Funny. I thought trailers were supposed to make me want to see the movie…
Definitely a different, wackier direction than I expected the movie to take. But I’ve heard the screenplay is considerably darker than the trailer makes the film out to be, so I’m not too worried. Plus I actually liked Rachel Weisz in the trailer, and I’m usually not that fond of her. Still one of my top 3 anticipated films of the rest of the year.