Published November 13, 2008
“Revolutionary Road”
Dreamworks/Paramount Vantage
December 26, 2008
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So Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”) is directing another sad suburbanite saga with top-notch actors. Sounds like “Revolutionary Road” should be an obvious contender for the Oscar awards.
If only the trailer didn’t make the film look like an overwrought Lifetime movie, but with famous people and nicer visuals.
The storyline is simple: A husband and wife in mid-1950s Connecticut experience the highs and lows of marriage. As one would expect, adultery, self-loathing and lots of yelling ensue. Leonardo DiCaprio slams his fists like any Best Actor-wannabe, and Kate Winslet bemoans the doomed union through the entire trailer.
The use of jazz singer Nina Simone's music is nice, but besides that, who wants to see domesticated dramas these days? We have AMC and HBO for that. “Revolutionary Road” appears to be a good bet for golden statues come late February, but, judging solely on the trailer, it could just as easily be another moody melodrama to be forgotten as soon as it opens.
Blake Goble
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“Seven Pounds”
Columbia Pictures
December 19, 2008
Though he started on the streets of Philly as the Fresh Prince, Will Smith has grown considerably over the past 15 years, from rapper to popcorn-celebrity to his current position: respected actor. In 2007, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in Gabriele Muccino's “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Slated for a December release, Smith stars in another Muccino film, “Seven Pounds.”
If Smith weren’t so beloved, not to mention bankable, the ambiguity of this trailer might be reason for concern. With the number seven as a confounding motif throughout (seven seconds, seven names, etc.), it's hard to definitively say what the movie is about. Smith plays Ben Thomas, who, following the evident pattern, has to choose seven people to help. While we know he has the unexplained power to change their lives, it’s hard to say much more. But it almost doesn’t matter.
The trailer features everything you’d want in a Will Smith drama: tears, a fit of rage, sprints through the rain and Smith's handsome mug flashing a warm smile. Additionally, “Seven Pounds” features supporting performances by Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson. While it might be hard to say whether or not this will be a great movie, Smith is sure to earn recognition from the Academy.
Noah Dean Stahl
