Trailers
“Leatherheads”
Universal
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
George Clooney returns as . George Clooney. Would you want him any other way? This trailer for the new romantic comedy – with Renée Zellweger – set amid the backdrop of early twentieth century football looks like it could be fun, with a pleasing, quirky sense of humor that’s a nice alternative to the typical “team bonding” over-dramatics of most sports films. But watch out, this looks like it could easily fall into that “Friday Night Lights” style.
Brandon Conradis
“Mamma MIa!”
Universal
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Ugh. “Rent,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Hairspray”. it was only a matter of time before Hollywood got to this popular Broadway musical carried by the music of ABBA. Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan star amid lots of dancing and suspiciously fake-looking Greek locales in this feel gooder. I won’t see it, but my mom will love it. Too bad ABBA still isn’t any good.
Brandon Conradis
Single
“The Arm”
Islands
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The Unicorns are dead. Islands sounded like a fine reincarnation, and their first album came close to proving it. Now we have “The Arm,” supposedly one of the first tracks from their forthcoming follow-up. A snappy guitar riff and an electronic string section whip the song along in bright fashion, and there are even hints of the whispery, growling vocals of the Unicorns of old. Things get a bit dramatic near the end, but finish with a giddy crescendo. If this track doesn’t get you jazzed for Islands’s next album, nothing will.
Matt Emery