Big Screen

Previews: Ricky Gervais, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz’s Bad Accent

We’ve got a trio of exciting new trailers today. There’s Ricky Gervais’ new comedy that he wrote and directed, Richard “Donnie Darko” Kelly’s bizarre-looking new horror flick, and a more detailed preview of Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino’s new romp.

The Invention of Lying, which Gervais co-wrote and co-directed with Matthew Robinson, looks pretty funny and absurdist and sports a bogglingly good cast—Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Christopher Guest, Tina Fey, Martin Starr, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Rob Lowe, Patrick Stewart, Stephanie March, John Hodgman, and Louis C.K., among others. Ridiculous.

Inglourious Basterds will be bloody good bloody fun. We’re especially liking Mike Myers’ gonzo Brit in this trailer.

Hm… While The Box has an interesting concept, our faith in Richard Kelly is a bit rattled after Southland Tales. Now, that movie definitely had its merits (that whole virtuoso Justin TImberlake/”All These Things That I’ve Done” sequence chief among them), but in sum it was a muddled mess. The trailer for this picture begins promisingly (if you can forgive Cameron Diaz’s brutal accent) with a creepy, fable-like setup, but then devolves into watery, ugly CGI and we start to worry. Also, does the presence of James Marsden mean he’s on the leading-mean up and up, or does it mean that this is a schlocky B-horror film? Sadly, we kinda think it’s the latter.

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • holdthepickle

    Eli Roth in anything other than a snuff film is a waste of celluloid.

    holdthepickle

  • mslewis

    @TedSez: It's true "Basterds" got so-so reviews at Cannes but that was a quickly edited version to be ready in time for the festival. Reportedly, QT has worked on the movie and made it tighter and shorter and supposedly better. We'll see. I think it will make money since it is typical Tarentino . . . beyond violent. That's what the young'uns want to see!!

    I've never been into Ricky Gervais but this movie looks like fun. As for Cam and James . . . I doubt I or anyone else will bother seeing this stuff. Though it's nice to see Frank Langella again. I usually have to go to NY to see him acting.

    mslewis

  • nonce

    Just, whatever you do, don't see Southland Tales. I was angry for days after I sat through that....thing.

  • Paul_Is_Drunk

    Til Schweiger didn't do the film Saving Private Ryan for personal reasons, but he chose to do Inglorious Basterds? That makes me curious, and actually gives me more faith in the film... despite what my gut is telling me.

    Paul_Is_Drunk

  • bess marvin, girl detective

    @Motoko Kusanagi: i think she was fantastic in "vanilla sky" but i think people like her more for her personality. she's bubbly and fun without slipping into "america's sweetheart" territory currently harbored by women who seems to be insufferable in real life.

  • jeffslate

    @copperband: Actually, here:

    [en.wikipedia.org])

    jeffslate

  • Dances with cookies

    Speaking of accents, I'm pretty sure Langella is recycling his Nixon voice in that trailer, too.

    Dances with cookies

  • 1wish2fish

    @Motoko Kusanagi: Bodacious Ta-Tas?

    1wish2fish

  • EleanorRigby

    @Conch: I thought I was the only one who remembered him and his magnificent jawline from that show!

  • are friends electric?

    @jbwan: I think you might be in the minority there, which increases your chances. Good luck!

    are friends electric?

  • Understater

    Why is The Box set in the 70s? It seems like such an arbitrary time period. And like Richard said, the trailer starts of interestingly enough, but then fumbles down a path of hokiness.

    Understater

  • LoringWebster

    Jesus. Christ. WHEN will actors stop slaughtering Southern accents? Cameron's really pulling a Travolta in Primary Colors on this one. I think they should only cast Southerners as Southerners. "But they are actors!" you say. Reference Cold Mountain. Aussie+Brit=failure. The only passable one was the Texan. In other news, wasn't there a really shitty 90s movie called "Liar Liar?" Huh.

    LoringWebster

  • TedSez

    @MrInBetween: I hope so -- that's certainly an amazing cast.

  • NigelAstydameia

    I love the cast of "Lying," but I really hate "What if" movies, as in "What if...(insert ridiculous concept here)." It makes for good sketch comedy, but a whole movie? "The Box" is almost guilty of the same thing for the thriller genre. It's like that scene in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" where they're making fun of her "What if your cell phone could kill you" movie. So turn it off! Game over!

    NigelAstydameia

  • Motoko Kusanagi

    When someone can explain Cameron Diaz's appeal, I will retreat to emaciated cave-dwelling.

  • MrInBetween

    @TedSez: I have a feeling Gervais' film will be better than you'd expect, and Tarantino's will end up being worse. The Basterds trailer is typical Tarantino -- annoying banalities interrupted too infrequently by moments of genius.

  • Cheap Shot

    @TedSez: proven.

  • jbwan

    I'll push a button in Cameron Diaz's box anyday.

    jbwan

  • this_mad_woman

    @Colonel Mustard: precisely; although i don't think it's that sad. of course, that's probably just because i will absolutely do the same thing. i just love him.

  • Solomon Grundy

    @Solomon Grundy: Also, best Southern accent since Sookie Stackhouse.

  • Colonel Mustard

    Sadly, if there is a chance James Marsden will take off his shirt, I will still go see that movie. I will have to shield my eyes and ears from Cameron Diaz, but it's worth it.

  • Solomon Grundy

    How could anybody cast Justin Timberlake's ex in a non-comedy called The Box?

  • copperband

    Somehow the last ) got chopped my URL above. The episode was called "Button, Button" and starred Mare Winningham.

    copperband

  • TedSez

    A prediction: All three of these films will be worth seeing, but none will be as good as we want it to be.

    Ricky Gervais is a genius, but his last movie wasn't all that funny; Basterds has already gotten so-so reviews; and Richard Kelly has a fantastic imagination but no idea how to tell a story that makes sense.

    Of course, I look forward to being proven (proved?) wrong.

  • copperband

    The Box - yeah we already saw this as a Twilight Zone episode from the 80s. I remember it well:
    [en.wikipedia.org])

    copperband

  • Conchie Birdie

    James Marsden + Cameron Diaz = FAIL

    Sorry James, and I loved you so much on Second Noah.

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