Welcome back to another edition of Trailer Catch-Up, the weekly segment where I discuss the latest movie trailers that have been released throughout the duration of the previous week and give my personal thoughts on them and give them a grade out of ten with the linked to the trailer if you haven’t seen it already.
A lot of new trailers came out that were either good or mildly passable. We might see some that are coming out later in the fall, possibly, in the next few weeks. With that being said, let’s dig into what Hollywood has to offer this week.
‘Charlie’s Angels’ (11/15)
Now the first trailer to talk about from this past week is for Sony’s reboot of Charlie’s Angels, which is directed by Elizabeth Banks and starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, and Banks as one of many Bosley’s. Like the previous two movies and the 70’s television show, the Angels are now part of a worldwide corporation that works for the mysterious Charles Townsend, and they provide security filled with intelligent and brave women.
The trailer was just fine. It’s not terrible, but nothing stood out when the direction feels bland. I’m mostly curious to see this because I can’t to see Stewart step out of her comfort zone. For some reason, I was definitely getting a Knight and Day and Kingsman: The Secret Service kind of vibe. But this trailer shortly came out after Men in Black International‘s bomb at the box office, which doesn’t bold well for Sony at this point. This also features a new single from Ariana Grinde, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey. Why couldn’t they wait until September to release the song news?
Will this trailer be disliked online? Maybe. I hope Charlie’s Angels ends ups being a good action comedy along with being a solid effort for Banks as a director. I’m just not impressed just yet.
Score: 6/10
‘Queen & Slim’ (11/27)
Now the first trailer that was released online Sunday evening was the first look at Universal’s drama thriller Queen and Slim, starring Daniel Kaluuya and newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith. For the look of it, it appears to be like a modern take on Bonnie and Clyde where a couple is on the run after Kaluuya’s character kills a cop after their first date.
This looks really interesting because I love seeing Kaluuya in anything after Get Out and Widows, and I’m curious to see how writer Lena Waithe would make a relevant romance. It’s only a minute long teaser, but I can’t wait to see more footage later on. I also love the music choices of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and The Pharcyde’s “Runnin’”. Can’t wait to check this out.
Score: 8/10
‘Hobbs & Shaw’ (8/2)
Universal Pictures has also released the third and final trailer for the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as the titular characters. There’s isn’t a lot of new stuff that we haven’t seen before, but I’m still going to be there opening weekend because of how ridiculous this franchise became, but in a good way. It also gives a new look at a pretty fun chase sequence that’s going to be dumb, but exciting.
If you’ve already been sold on Hobbs & Shaw from the past two trailers they put out, I say there’s no point of even watching this. You can tell when and where the movie’s climax will be. We didn’t need another trailer when it comes out pretty soon, but it’s there to get the adrenaline pumping. I’m still pumped to see Hobbs & Shaw as it looks to be very entertaining for early August.
Score: 7/10
‘The Good Liar’ (11/15)
Next up, Warner Bros. Pictures has put out the official trailer to The Good Liar, the latest fall thriller starring Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen and directed by Bill Condon. Based on the novel of the same name, McKellen plays a conman finding himself caring for Mirren’s character after meeting her online. And all the while, secrets and twists will be revealed in the long run.
Not gonna lie, The Good Liar looks pretty good. Will I be confused with finding out what’s going on? Yes. Maybe this was made for an older demographic, but it’s the plot that sounds intriguing to me. I’m checking it out because this is the first time both of these legendary actors worked together.
Score: 7.5/10
‘Midway’ (11/8)
Next up, Lionsgate has released the teaser trailer for Roland Emmerich’s WWII epic, Midway, starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Aaron Elkhart, Woody Harrelson, and Luke Evans. This tells the true story of the Battle of Midway where it took place after the events of Pearl Harbor and the war between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Emmerich isn’t one of my favorite directors since he’s known for disaster movies, but I can’t forgive him for Independence Day: Resurgence, which was pure garbage fire. I don’t think we need another movie about the Pearl Harbor attacks since it was horrible the last time Michael Bay “tried” to pay tribute. Could it be another generic war movie that will lack character development and focus on the action spectacle? Could be.
Here’s hoping Midway ends up being his best movie, or at least the movie’s attempt to be Dunkirk.
Score: 5/10
‘Black and Blue’ (10/25)
Next up is the official trailer for Black and Blue starring Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, and Mike Colter. The Oscar-nominated actress plays a rookie cop who witnessed the murder of a drug dealer by a group of cops that’s all recorded her body cam. Now she’s on the run from every cop before she delivers the footage to the public.
Black and Blue look decent enough, but I’m don’t think it’s something I’ll pay matinee price. Plus, it kind of shows a lot. This is literally the kind of story that I thought about years ago. And this is director Deon Taylor second movie released from Sony/ Screen Gems in 2019 after The Intruder, which I heard was garbage. But this is going to be a rental for me.
Score: 4/10
‘The Current War’ (10/4)
The next trailer is for Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s long-delayed historical drama The Current War starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse, and Nicholas Hoult as Nikola Tesla, respectively. In this, all three inventors were competing against each other in a race surrounding whose electrical system can stand the test of time.
I honestly forgot The Current War was still coming out since it was originally supposed to come out two years ago. The reason why it’s been delayed was that it was going to be distributed by The Weinstein Company. Now it’s been sold the rights to 101 Studios. That being said, it still doesn’t look that good, especially hearing mixed reviews from TIFF. With a story that’s fascinating and a cast that looks great, I wish I was more interested in the film. But this trailer was, at least, better than the original.
Score: 5/10
DC's Take 