Hi, PopWatchers,
With this week’s big new releases (Babylon A.D., Disaster Movie) looking particularly bleak, we have to turn to previews to remind ourselves that there are better — or at least, other — things on the horizon. This week’s group includes a creepy doomsday thriller (Knowing), a tiny character-driven dramedy (Humboldt County), and a wannabe critics’ darling (The Brothers Bloom). Check out the clips, and let us know if any of them look good enough to chase away your end-of-summer blues!
THE BROTHERS BLOOM
October 24
Plot: A fraternal pair of con men (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) devise a globe-trotting plan to bilk millions from a kooky heiress (Rachel Weisz).
Looks like: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels à la Wes Anderson
Verdict: Despite all the explosions and postcard backdrops, there’s something weirdly small about this trailer. But if anybody can make a lot out of a little, it’s the trio of Weisz, Brody, and Ruffalo, who look like an indie version of the Ocean’s 11 crew (in cute hats, no less).
KNOWING
TBD
Plot: When a 50-year-old time capsule is opened, a guy with an eye for codes (Nicolas Cage) uncovers a cypher that has predicted every major tragedy for the past five decades.
Looks like: The Number 23: Times Two (Working Title: "46")
Verdict: I’m always game for a good end-of-the-world fantasy, but the premise of this one seems thinner than an Olsen twin. Is Hollywood really resorting to grade school number puzzles now to get the apocalyptic ball rolling? And then there’s Cage who, at a taut and well-tufted 48, seems to be turning into a bobblehead doll of himself. He’s rescued noodle-brained blockbusters before (Face/Off, National Treasure), but we’ll have to wait and see if he’s still got what it takes to pull this one off.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
September 26
Plot: After his own father fails him in med school, a shy-and-sensitive type (The Happening’s Jeremy Strong) meets a free spirit (Fairuza Balk), who introduces him to her pot-growing family.
Looks like: The Graduate meets Weeds
Verdict: This trailer takes a pretty sharp swerve when it goes from shlub-com to teary-eyed (and dry-mouthed) family drama in a few quick shots. But if the movie can balance those two parts, it just might have a shot at indie-level success, especially with a great supporting cast that includes Peter Bogdanovich (The Sopranos) and Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under).
Does Humboldt County look buzz-worthy? Will The Brothers Bloom pull of the world’s greatest heist; and if so, does Nic Cage already know about it? What do you think, PopWatchers?
Comments (1-5) of 5 Add your comment
I live in Humboldt County and it looks nothing like most of those scenes in that preview. I will admit that there are a lot of people who grow pot but there is more to Humboldt County.
I’m kinda excited for Brothers Bloom just because of Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody together, on screen, in what COULD be a really cool/cute movie. Rachel Weisz, “collecting hobbies” and doing all those random cool things? Awesome.
Brother’s Bloom looks pretty good. I can attribute a big portion of that, however, to the cast.
I can’t wait to see “The Brothers Bloom!” I think it looks pretty great. Also, “Humboldt County” looks like it may be interesting.
I can’t wait to see the Brothers Bloom… soo coool!!! and Rachel Weisz is great!!!!!!!!