Coming Attractions Trailer Night-Summer 2018
By Cheryl L. Dixon, DC Film Society Member
It’s a Sign of the Times: Spike Lee’s BlackKklansman Trailer Rises to the Top!
A cozy group of die-hard film fans attended “Coming Attractions Trailer Night – Summer 2018” program on June 13, 2018 and selected BlackKklansman as the best overall Film Trailer of the 30 trailers in six categories shown. Trailers covered mostly soon-to-be-released summer movies, including the blockbusters, sequels, remakes, and indie faves. Enthusiastic filmlovers cast their votes, both informally (applause) and formally (ballot), at Landmark’s E Street Cinema. Film Critics and Hosts Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson led the always-spirited discussion on the trailers and gave the audience the full buzz on the effectiveness of the trailers themselves and a peek at the movies they represent.
The categories, the winners of each category, and general commentary follow. Whether by applause vote or official ballot, attendees are never shy about expressing their opinions. And they know that their vote counts. Audience feedback is handed over to the Studios and just might impact the course of future trailers and how they are used to more effectively market the films they represent. By now, many of the films associated with the trailers have been released, but remember that attendees at this event saw the trailers first! If you liked what you saw in the trailers, go see the movies! And if you missed the trailers, but like what you’re reading here, go see the movies!!
Here’s a summary of the winning films in each of the six categories and further discussion:
Box Office Gold
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Ant–Man and the Wasp
Mission: Impossible-Fallout
The Incredibles 2 -- WINNER!
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
After introductions, including Film Society Director Michael Kyrioglou and his membership pitch, and Film Critics Tim and Travis and their review of the program rules and regulations, it was time to roll out the contenders.
Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles 2 won the category with this animated feature on the Superhero Parr Family. Fourteen years after the first installment of the film, The Incredibles, this super hilarious trailer hints that we can expect a third edition sooner rather than later. In this trailer, Mom, a.k.a. Elastigirl, has a new job, which serves to change perceptions of superheroes, while Dad stays home, watches the kids, and tackles the challenges of homework and baby Jack-Jack’s unpredictable powers. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson again provide the voices.
Commentary: As this gold category clearly states, summertime movies characteristically include the big box-office mega-blockbusters, full of special effects. Roll out the trailers, time for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Those hangry dinosaurs are back, along with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard attempting to rescue the dinosaurs from a second extinction. What could be more nightmare-inducing than a man-eating, jaw-dripping dinosaur in a child’s bedroom? Marvel Studio’s Ant-Man and the Wasp compare skills and shifting sizes, from super tiny ant-size to super Goliath size. Ant-man gets a crime-fighting companion who’s no ordinary sidekick, she can hold her own with wings and blasters. Mission: Impossible-Fallout brings Tom Cruise and the rest of the IMF team back. Watch Cruise fighting, cycling through narrow European streets, jumping out of airplanes, dangling from helicopters, and completing many other feats of daring. Remarkably, Cruise still volunteers to complete these stunts himself! He’s joined by Angela Bassett, Alec Baldwin, and most memorably Henry Cavill, featured in this trailer as an assassin with a mean punch. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again: Try just reading the movie title without singing along ABBA-philes! Get your voices tuned. It’s been 10 years since the first movie. The trailer shows the goings on with Meryl Streep’s character (Lily James) with the three suitors and potential fathers, a young Sophie who is about to become a mother. Cher comes to the island as the future grandmother, joined by the fellas: suitors Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, and a plus one, Andy Garcia. Skyscraper: Have we seen this one before? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as the devoted family man trying to rescue his family from the 96th floor of a very tall building. What could go wrong? A fire, bad guys, a falling elevator, you know the routine...
Audience Q&A on the trailers included questions about Cher playing Meryl Streep’s mother, Pierce Brosnan’s not being a great singer, Tom Cruise’s “killing himself for our enjoyment” (broken foot and all) in his quest to be the American “Jackie Chan” and that previously mentioned fight scene with Henry Cavill. Tim and Travis said that this new movie version of Ant-Man will likely reap the benefits of the Avengers: Infinity War commercial success. Further, Travis, who had already seen the movie, said that The Incredibles 2 is “amazing, better than the first.”
Why So Serious?
The Wife
Whitney -- WINNER!
Christopher Robin
Whitney: I found this trailer quite mesmerizing and apparently so did the audience. Just seeing her beautiful face and hearing that incredible voice got me so nostalgic and misty-eyed. This trailer is for a documentary on the talented singer, who passed away much too soon. Tim and Travis state that this movie reveals lots of intimate secrets and scandals and was approved by her family. Travis predicts the movie will be huge.
Commentary: There were only three entries in this category. All which might be in some way considered “serious.” It looks like The Wife is a story about the devoted wife behind the “successful” man about to win a Nobel Prize for Literature. Glenn Close stars as the wife, with Jonathan Pryce as the husband. Tim and Travis assert that the movie is getting great reviews for Glenn Close ... do we hear Oscar calling? Christian Slater rounds out the cast. In Christopher Robin, the boy Christopher Robin, portrayed by Ewan McGregor, has grown up to manhood and left childish things behind. In the trailer, he’s sitting on a bench and encounters his childhood friend Pooh. Travis mentioned that the director Marc Foster, also directed Finding Neverland, about J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan.
Laugh Factory
The Happytime Murders -- WINNER!
Sorry to Bother You
Tag
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Boundaries
The Happytime Murders: Director Brian Henson’s trailer. How do we spell c-o-n-t-r-o-v-e-r-s-y? It features Melissa McCarthy, cursing, and dare I say “muppets”? I was so shocked about what to think as I was seeing in the trailer. Parents be forewarned, Brian Henson is the son of Jim Henson and there are puppets, but this is not a kids’ movie. It’s a murder mystery set in a world of humans and puppets. Tim and Travis were really curious about how the audience would react as they figured some folks might get upset. They said, “it’s like Roger Rabbit to the nth degree” and like “Sausage Party” with its naughty humor. An audience favorite.
Commentary: Sorry to Bother You’s trailer depicts a young African-American male (Lakeith Stanfield) looking for a job. The movie tagline is “Destiny is Calling.” Tim and Travis observed this is “whip-smart” and “hilarious” with the main character livin’ large, but selling out to do it. They promised a “creepy third act.” Danny Glover can be seen possibly dispensing fatherly advice. Tag features an ensemble of high-recognition actors, including Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Jake Johnson, and Ed Helms as close pals engaged in the same, annual game of tag for 30 years. And if that’s unbelievable, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. This is actually based on a true story! Funerals and weddings are not off-limits, as the guys show that some traditions never get old and find an excuse to be around each other. Chuckles abounded. Teen Titans Go! To the Movies: I confess, I didn’t “get” the trailer, but hope that the audience did. It’s animation, and it seems, superhero “sidekicks” want in on the action, so they (Robin, Cyborg, Beast Bay, and Starfire) confront a villain that makes them “worthy” of a movie. I think that you might have to be familiar with the characters and genre to fully appreciate the trailer. Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Will Arnett lend their voices to this animated feature. Teen Titan fans rejoice, this one’s for you! Boundaries: This trailer says it’s perfectly o.k. to set boundaries especially on a father-daughter-grandson road trip where Grandpa (Christopher Plummer) is freshly discharged from a nursing/retirement home and proceeds to sell marijuana from the car trunk of daughter (Vera Farmiga). Bobby Cannavale appears as one of the individuals encountered on the trip. The audience liked this portrayal of a dysfunctional family.
Fight Club
The Equalizer 2 -- WINNER!
The Meg
Mile 22
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
The First Purge
Travis really liked this section overall and cautioned that this first sequel for director Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer is very violent, but since the first installment made a lot of money, here’s The Equalizer 2. Denzel Washington deadpans as he calmly states that he’s a high-level, paid government assassin. He stabs, he punches, he breaks noses and goes to war when his friend/mentor gets killed. Fans of the first movie will rejoice in seeing him in such fighting form. Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman are also cast.
Commentary: The Meg: Cool imagery, there’s a glowing ball, and a monstrous shark somewhere deep in the ocean, and Jason Stratham, all in 3-D!. Mile 22’s director Peter Berg (Patriots’ Day, Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor) reunites with actor Mark Wahlberg, and Rhonda Rousey and John Malkovich also join in. The trailer features lots of gunplay, but I couldn’t quite figure out the movie plot. No worries, a sequel is already in the works. Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin star in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, sequel to Sicario. Drug cartels are being played against each other along the U.S.-Mexico border. The First Purge is actually a prequel. In case you’ve not had your fill from the TV series based on the movie, this trailer/movie tells all you might want to know about how the murder/mayhem tradition of legalized killing started. A controversial experiment, political/psychological device? You decide what the rationale was to make one day a year all crime legal for 12 hours.
Indie Darlings
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot
Leave No Trace
Blindspotting -- WINNER!
Searching
Eighth Grade
Blindspotting: There’s a witness to a police shooting in Oakland in a very intense trailer, which features Daveed Diggs, who hails from Broadway musical Hamilton. Tim and Travis predict that Diggs will be “big.” Wildly applauded!
Commentary: director Gus Van Sant’s trailer for Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot stars Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jonah Hill, and Jack Black in a tale about recovery from alcoholism or whatever prompts excessive drinking. A Sundance movie screening. Director Debra Granik’s film Leave No Trace is about a father, Ben Foster, and his teenage daughter, Thomasin McKenzie, found living in the Oregon woods and are then forced to leave. She wants roots, he likes living freely, this equals one big dilemma. Tim asserts that comparisons are being made to Winter’s Bone, which Granik also wrote and directed. Travis says that there’s “amazing” buzz for the movie Searching. John Cho portrays a concerned father whose daughter is missing. Whodunit? How to find her? He uses the computer. Debra Messing is also featured in the trailer. Elsie Fisher stars as the shy, awkward teenager experiencing growing pains while trying to find herself in this “coming-of-age” story, Eighth Grade. Another Sundance selection.
Odds and Ends
Crazy Rich Asians
BlackKklansman -- WINNER! BEST TRAILER OVERALL!
Under the Silver Lake
A House With A Clock In Its Walls
Superfly
Director Spike Lee’s BlackKklansman screened at Cannes and, as previously mentioned, was both the winner in this category and for the Trailer Program overall. It’s based on a true story of an African-American male’s infiltration of the KKK by using a White doppelganger. This trailer and the movie speak clearly of these times as hate groups have re-emerged and the U.S. is seeing sharp divisions across racial, ethnic, gender, religious, and economic lines, all ironically occurring in what was once considered a post-racial, more inclusive America. John David Washington, Alec Baldwin, Topher Grace, and Adam Driver star.
Commentary: Crazy Rich Asians: We’ve seen this plot before, poor girl meets rich guy, flies first-class to Singapore to meet the snooty family, and hilarity and heartbreak follow, while we hope for a happy ending. But this time, it’s an all Asian cast. Andrew Garfield portrays the main character who gets dazed and confused over the mysterious disappearance of a woman and begins searching for her through hidden messages in Under the Silver Lake. A House With A Clock In Its Walls looks very Harry Potterish with black magic, clocks, and things that go bump in the night in this horror flick. Cate Blanchett and Jack Black are also in the trailer. Finally, there’s Director X’s Superfly for those who missed the original Blaxploitation film in the 70s. Here’s the updated remake, featuring Trevor Jackson and Jason Mitchell, this time set in Atlanta’s club scene – the style, the crew, the music, and the money ... let’s hope the soundtrack rocks!
Bonus Trailers
Of course, the evening would be incomplete without the bonus trailers. We saw The Grinch, a new animated version of the beloved holiday classic based on Dr. Seuss’ book. Tim says that it’s been remade for a new generation to enjoy. Benedict Cumberbatch gives voice to the Grinch character. Tim predicts an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody. The trailer depicts the life and music of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), front man for the band Queen. It will ROCK YOU! The movie’s tagline is appropriately, “The music you know, the story you don’t.” Finally, it was just a matter of time before they put these two together! Night School features Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish in a comedy about never-do-wells who must attend night school to get their GEDs. Haddish rejoins Director Malcolm D. Lee (Girl Trip). Is there such a thing as too much outrageous humor? Should be interesting to see the results of putting them together. These trailers weren’t included in the audience voting.
And so, our very sated movie-going audience enjoyed a full evening of trailer film surprises and promotional giveaways and prizes just for showing up. Plus there were raffle prizes. Always nice to add a free DVD to one’s collection, and there were lots of t-shirts, books, movie posters and other assorted movie memorabilia to please any discerning movie fan. See you at our next trailer program, and at the movies!
Thanks to the DC Film Society Director Michael Kyrioglou, Coordinating Committee Members and Volunteers for putting together this twice-annual educational program. And thanks to our uber co-hosts, Tim Gordon and Travis Hopson, for providing their commentary, sharing their opinions and tolerating ours, Allied Integrated Marketing, Landmark Theatres, Women in Film & Video, and Filmfest DC.
Calendar of Events
FILMS
American Film Institute Silver Theater
"Ingmar Bergman Centennial" (July 10-September 13). Titles in July are All These Women (1964), The Devil's Eye (1960), The Magician (1958), Persona (1966), The Seventh Seal (1956), The Silence (1963), Through a Glass Darkly (1961), The Virgin Spring (1960), Wild Strawberries (1957), and Winter Light (1962). More in August and September and more at the National Gallery of Art.
"Robert Mitchum Retrospective" (April 27-July 5) is a selection of films from Mitchum's 50 year movie career. Titles in July are Cape Fear, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, Farewell My Lovely and The Yakuza.
"Jean-Pierre Melville" (April 28-July 5) looks at some of the French director's films. The series concludes in July with Le Cercle Rouge and Un Flic.
"Rock Docs" (April 28-July 4) is a 20-part series of rockumentaries, concert films, artist portraits and fly-on-the-wall chronicles. This series ends in July with Dave Chappelle's Block Party and Wattstax.
"The Color of Conversation Film Series" (June 28-July 1) supports the creation and advancement of cinematic works for both established and new filmmakers of color. Titles TBA.
Special Events in July include the 50th anniversary engagement of 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) shown in 70mm July 5-12, with actor Keir Dullea present for Q&A on July 5 only. Count Gore De Vol will present Creature from the Black Lagoon (Jack Arnold, 1954) in 3D on July 21. Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993).
Freer Gallery of Art
A series of Japanese classic films continues at the Freer. On July 11 at 2:00pm is Sansho the Bailiff (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1954).
During July and August is the 23rd Annual "Made in Hong Kong" film festival. The series begins on July 13 at 7:00pm with one of 2017's greatest hits Shock Wave (Herman Yau, 2017) starring Andy Lau as a bomb disposal expert. Other films in July are Color of the Game (Kam Ka-wai, 2017) starring Simon Yam on July 15 at 2:00pm; Paradox (Wilson Yip, 2017) starring Louis Koo on July 20 at 7:00pm; Concerto of the Bully (Fung Chih-Chiang, 2017) on July 22 at 2:00pm; Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight (Alan Lo, 2017) on July 27 at 7:00pm with the director in person along with actress Venus Wong; and the award-winning Our Time Will Come (Ann Hui, 2017) on July 29 at 2:00pm. More in August.
National Gallery of Art
The "Bergman Centennial" (July 1-September 3) reviews the work of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007). More films can be seen at the American Film Institute's Silver Theater and documentaries are shown at the Embassy of Sweden. On July 1 at 4:00pm is Wild Strawberries (1957); on July 7 at 12:30pm is Frenzy (Alf Sjoberg, 1944) for which Bergman was the screenwriter; on July 7 at 2:30pm is Crisis (1945); on July 8 at 4:00pm is It Rains on Our Love (1946); on July 14 at 2:00pm is Ship to India (1947); on July 14 at 4:00pm is Music in Darkness (1948); on July 15 at 4:00pm is Port of Call (1948); on July 22 at 4:00pm is Thirst (1949) shown with Prison (1949); on July 28 at 2:00pm is To Joy (1950); on July 28 at 4:00pm is Summer Interlude (1951); and on July 29 at 4:00pm is Secrets of Women (1952). More in August and September.
Special events in July include Lucky (John Carroll Lynch, 2017) with Harry Dean Stanton in his final role on July 7 at 4:30pm. "Black Maria: Selections from the Festival" consists of two programs of short films on July 21 at 1:00pm and July 21 at 3:30pm.
Museum of American History
The "All-Star Baseball Film Festival" (July 12-15) features eight films, a panel discussion and reception. Some films are 35mm. See below.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
On July 21 at 3:00pm is 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968), preceded by a discussion about the design work of the film and its lasting influence on American culture by Abraham Thomas from the Renwick Gallery. On July 28 at 3:00pm is Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1968) with a discussion about the title design of the film by Dan Perri, the film's artistic consultant.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Two films in the "March on Washington Film Festival" are shown at the museum. On July 13 at 7:00pm is Two Dollars and a Dream (Stanley Nelson, 1988) about Madam C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire. A panel discussion, including Madam Walker's biographer and descendant, follows the film. On July 16 at 7:00pm is The Rape of Recy Taylor (Nancy Buirsky, 2017) followed by a panel discussion. See the website to register for the films.
Washington Jewish Community Center
On July 2 at 7:30pm is Three Identical Strangers (Tim Wardle, 2018), a documentary about three teenagers who discovered they were triplets separated at birth.
Goethe Institute
On July 11 at 6:30pm is the documentary A German Youth (Jean-Gabriel Périot, 2015), introduced by Sarah Diligenti from the Alliance Française. Part of the series "1968: A Time of Uproar in Europe and the US."
On July 27 at 6:30pm is My Name is Victoria (Sebastian Schipper, 2014-2015), shot in a single take in Berlin.
French Embassy
"Forever Jeanne Moreau" is a film series to honor the great French actress who died last year. Continuing in July are two more films. On July 10 at 7:00pm is Bay of Angels (Jacques Demy, 1963) and on July 24 at 7:00pm is Diary of a Chambermaid (Luis Buñuel, 1964).
On July 2 at 5:00pm is a documentary A Frontier in the Jungle, about an exploration in the Amazon jungle, with a panel discussion and reception following the screening.
On July 21 at 6:30pm is Goddesses of Food (Vérane Frédiani, 2016), a documentary about women chefs.
The Japan Information and Culture Center
To complement the exhibit "A New League: Shared Pastimes and the Story of U.S.-Japan Baseball," is a screening of The Tetsuharu Kawakami Story (Eisuke Takizawa, 1957), about one of the greatest baseball stars in Japan, on July 25 at 6:30pm.
The Textile Museum at GWU
On July 14 and 21 at 2:30pm is the PBS documentary Alexander Hamilton (2007), complementing the exhibit "Breaking News: Alexander Hamilton."
On July 19 at noon is Stories of Indigo (Mary Lance, 2011), a documentary about the rich blue dye. Part of the "Textiles at Twelve" series.
National Archives
On July 20 at noon is "From the Vaults: Remembering Vietnam," third in a series of archival films related to the war in Vietnam.
The Avalon
On July 11 at 8:00pm is the documentary Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017) followed by a Q&A with director Stephen Nomura Schible. Part of the "Films in Focus" series.
On July 18 at 8:00pm is The Guardians (Xavier Beauvoix, 2017) for the "French Cinematique" film series.
On July 25 at 8:00pm is the thriller Shelter (Eran Ricklis, 2017) part of the "Reel Israel" series.
On July 22 and July 24 at 10:30am is I, Claude Monet (Phil Grabsky, 2017), part of the "Exhibition on Screen" series.
Library of Congress
The Mary Pickford Theater
at the Library of Congress starts a new series of films showcasing the Library's collection and including newly preserved films. On July 19 at 7:00pm is The Last Embrace (Jonathan Demme, 1979), a Hickcockian thriller starring Roy Scheider.
Wolf Trap
On July 6 and 7 at 8:30pm is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra and The Choral Arts Society of Washington with Steven Reineke conducting.
On July 21 at 8:30pm is Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, Emil de Cou conducting.
On July 22 at 8:30pm is Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006) in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, Emil de Dou conducting.
"Capital Classics" at Landmark's West End Cinema
Classic films are shown at the West End Cinema on Wednesdays at 1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm. On July 4 is King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933); on July 11 is Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Mike Nichols, 1966); on July 18 is Jailhouse Rock (Richard Thorpe, 1957); and on July 25 is A Night at the Opera (Sam Wood, 1935).
Dumbarton House
The Seventh Annual Jane Austen Outdoor Film Festival takes place on Wednesdays in July. Films are Love and Friendship (2016) on July 11; Sense and Sensibility (1995) on July 18; Emma (1996) on July 25 and Pride and Prejudice (2005) on August 1. Films are shown outdoors at sundown, around 8:30pm. A pass for all four films is available.
Embassy of Austria
On July 25 at 8:30pm is the documentary Glossary of Broken Dreams (Johannes Grenzfurthner), followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and party. Location: Hole in the Sky Collective, 2110 5th Street, NW.
Smithsonian Associates
On July 12 at 7:00pm is an advance screening of The King (2017), a documentary about Elvis Presley with filmmaker Eugene Jarecki and other guests present for Q&A.
Reel Affirmations XTra
On July 20 at 7:00pm is Cherry Grove Stories (Michael Fisher, 2017), an oral history of the hamlet of Cherry Grove on Fire Island, NY.
Busboys and Poets
On July 11 at 6:30pm is the documentary "Refugees Got Talent," about a talent show in a refugee camp. The filmmaker, Theopi Skarlatos, will join other panelists for a discussion after the film. At the 14th and V location.
On July 16 at 7:00pm is the "PBS Online Film Festival," a sneak peek and talk with filmmakers. At the 14th and V location.
On July 1 at 5:00pm is Sammy Davis, Jr: I've Gotta Be Me, preceded by a live tap dance performance. At the 5th and K location.
The Phillips Collection
To accompany the exhibit "Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia" is Samson and Delilah (Warwick Thornton, 2009) filmed in a remote Aboriginal community and Australia's pick for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009.
FILM FESTIVALS
