Best (and Worst) Movie Trailers of 2013

 I have a few things I do on the Internet whenever I’m bored: look at shoes, read entertainment gossip, and watch movie trailers. SO. MANY. MOVIE. TRAILERS.

And because this year was actually a shockingly great one for movies—I saw 140-something movies this year, and I can confidently say that I liked more than I disliked—that means movie trailers were great, too. We’ve come a long way since the pre-YouTube trailers of the 1990s, with their omnipresent narration and low resolution. Now every trailer gets analyzed online, screengrabbed and gif-ed for Tumblr, and—more often than not—they all have that Inception BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM noise. Practically every action movie trailer this year had that noise. Can we stop that noise?

But other than the BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM-heavy deluge, there were a lot of really great movie trailers this year. I’ve collected my favorite seven below, as well as my three least favorites. These trailers either made us excited for the full-length film, really tapped into the point of view of the filmmakers, or just had a great score attached. Are your favorites on here? Sound off in the comments!

BEST TRAILERS OF 2013

TO THE WONDER

I’ll be honest: I love me some Terrence Malick, I adored The Tree of Life, and yet To the Wonder was ultimately a letdown. Too little dialogue; too much Ben Affleck; and this movie seemed to disappear from theaters and public consciousness in a way few Malick movies do. But oh, this trailer had me so excited for months. It’s pretentious but beautiful in that patented Malick way, and every time I heard Javier Bardem say “You feel your love has died—maybe it’s waiting to be transformed into something higher,” I burst into tears. I often have TOO MANY emotions, and this trailer really exemplified that. I think it really accurately captures everything people love—and hate—about Malick, and if that’s not a great trailer, I don’t know what is.

To The Wonder by Teaser-Trailer.com

SPRING BREAKERS

James Franco purring “Let’s cause some trouble now.” Former Disney teen queens wearing sweatpants with “DTF” on their butts. That utterly annoying, undeniably catchy song from Skrillex. Was there a more titillating fever dream of a trailer, or of a movie, this entire year? Nope. Director Harmony Korine and Spring Breakersget that distinct honor, and watching this trailer—even after I’ve seen the movie three times already—still gives me giddy chills.

Spring Breakers with Selena Gomez – Official Trailer by FanReviews

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES

Jeez, was Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines critically underrated this year. An excellent performance from Ryan Gosling, a breakthrough role for Dane DeHaan, the only time I’ve ever tolerated Eva Mendes—The Place Beyond the Pines had all that! There wasn’t a more affecting tale of the relationships between fathers and sons this year than this movie—“I’m still his father. I can give him stuff”—and I didn’t sob more in a movie theater during all of 2013. The mirroring between Ryan Gosling’s and Bradley Cooper’s characters is done really well in this trailer, and although it’s not an intensely exciting trailer, it sticks with you. The movie will, too; just see it.

The Place Beyond The Pines by Teaser-Trailer.com

THE GREAT GATSBY

Before The Great Gatsby came out, buzz was that the movie was going to be a flop. Such a huge budget for a literary adaptation? After Baz Luhrmann had a failure with Australia? The negative hype was high. But oh man, did The Great Gatsby trailers work hard to turn that doubt around—and when the movie ended up being a commercial success, I think you can point to these trailers as helping that. The movie got a few different official trailers and TV spots before its release, but out of all of them, I think the first is the best. “My life—my life has got to be like this.”

The Great Gatsby by Teaser-Trailer.com

ONLY GOD FORGIVES

Yes, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives was basically just a masturbatory arthouse movie with beautiful scenes, fantastic cinematography, and extremely little plot. But try to tell me Ryan Gosling asking “Wanna fight?” didn’t get your blood boiling. TRY TO TELL ME THAT. And you will be wrong.

Only God Forgives Trailer by Teaser-Trailer.com

MAN OF STEEL

Yes, one of my best movie memories of the entire year was sitting next to my PDC colleague Julian Lytle during Man of Steel, when, during a climactic moment, Julian exasperatedly uttered “Fuck this movie!” in the middle of a packed screening. And ultimately, I concur! I found Man of Steel frustrating and badly plotted, which is especially a bummer given how fantastically epic these trailers were. Oh my god, All-American Kevin Costner suggesting that maybe his adopted son SHOULD have let all his classmates die? Superman's red cape flapping in the wind? Um, Henry Cavill SHIRTLESS and on FIRE? Yes, yes, yes. How sad that the movie was a no, no, no.

Man of Steel by Teaser-Trailer.com

PACIFIC RIM

I personally blame U.S. moviegoers for ignoring Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim and thank the rest of the world for picking up the slack. How could you watch this trailer and then NOT want to see it? Amazingly detailed alien monsters? Idris Elba thundering about “canceling the Apocalypse”? Charlie Hunnam’s and Rinko Kikuchi’s extremely sexual sparring? And it made barely anything domestically? Thanks for nothing, America.

Pacific Rim Official Trailer by Teaser-Trailer.com

WORST TRAILERS OF 2013

OUT OF THE FURNACE

Want to know every single thing that happens in Out of the Furnace? Then just watch its trailer! Seriously, it leaves nothing out. But if we could move away from trailers that give away the entire movie, which actually discourages audiences from paying to see a movie they think they’ve already seen, that would be great.

Out of the Furnace by Teaser-Trailer.com

AMERICAN HUSTLE

American Hustle is a movie with performances that I loved and a soundtrack I immediately wanted to buy, but its trailers left a lot to be desired. The movie is loosely based on the Abscam scandal that is practically impossible to understand, so the trailers chose to forgo narrative and focus on the cast instead. But a trailer that JUST lists the cast members’ names? That seems phenomenally lazy to me.

American Hustle by Teaser-Trailer.com

INSIDIOUS – CHAPTER 2

Because a fat old naked man whispering things in the dark is not scary.

Insidious - Chapter 2 - starring Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson by Teaser-Trailer.com

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Cinema Royale #12- Derek Cianfrance; 'Evil Dead'

On this week's show, host Travis Hopson is joined by 'The Place Beyond the Pines' director Derek Cianfrance to talk about working with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper on the acclaimed drama.

Plus, Sam Raimi has called his 'Evil Dead' remake the most terrifying film you'll ever experience, but does it measure up to that bold claim? Examiner.com film critic Mae Abdulbaki weighs in on the much buzzed-about horror!

You can find Cinema Royale every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, and Podomatic. Listen to this week's episode below...

Listen to internet radio with Cinema Royale on Blog Talk Radio

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Watch the incredible opening tracking shot from 'The Place Beyond the Pines'

Hitting theaters in most cities today is Derek Cianfrance's sprawling, dramatic epic The Place Beyond the Pines. My review of it will be up here shortly, but those who have already read it elsewhere know that I consider it one of the year's best, a challenging film with something worthwhile to say.  But it's also gorgeously photographed, mesmerizing right from the start, as evidenced by the amazing tracking shot that opens the film and establishes the melancholic mood.

You can now get a look at that opening segment, which follows Ryan Gosling as the tattooed stunt biker Luke, as he walks through a carnival on his way to the dangerous globe of death. Gosling trained for weeks as a rider to perfect his role, and in watching the footage you might be convinced that he actually is performing the stunt himself. In my conversation with Cianfrance, he revealed that he actually used a technique called the "Texas Switch", but it's impossible to see exactly where it was pulled off.

The Place Beyond the Pines is out now, and you should probably make it a priority this weekend. If my review doesn't convince you, maybe this scene will...

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Two new clips from 'The Place Beyond the Pines' with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper

One of the films that arrived into the fall season under the greatest veil of mystery was The Place Beyond the Pines, the follow-up from Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance. Described as a multi-generational crime story, it features the unfair male lead duo of Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, a bank robber and cop respectively engaged in a years long feud that encompasses both their families. Fresh off its mostly well-received debut in Toronto, a pair of new clips have been released

The first clip is drowned out in a bunch of red carpet stuff with Cianfrance and co-star Eva Mendes. But the second one is pretty good, and appears to take place not long after a violent confrontation between Gosling and Cooper, in which the latter is in his hospital bed being questioned by Bruce Greenwood.

Focus Features snapped up the rights to the film pretty quickly, with Cianfrance revealing they'll hold off on releasing it until some time next year. I smell a late season Oscar run for sure.

Check out the two clips from The Place Beyond the Pines below....[HitFix]

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1st official look at Ryan Gosling in The Place Beyond the Pines

In Drive, Ryan Gosling proved to us how much of a kick ass tough guy he could be, playing a stuntman who moonlights as a criminal wheelman with a strict code you'd best not cross. In The Place Beyond the Pines, his second film with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance, he's playing a guy who doesn't appear to be all that different on the surface. With the exception that he's sporting a slick motorcycle rather than a sports car.

We've posted a few photos of Gosling on set before, with his new tattoo and blond hair, but the above image is the first official image from the film. Looks pretty badass. The multi-generational story focus on Luke, a motorcycle stuntman who takes to crime in an effort to support his son. However he ends up crossing paths with a cop turned politician, kicking off a feud that lasts for years and soon envelops their own children. Whether this turns out to have the same sort of Oscar heat that Blue Valentine had remains to be seen. Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendolsohn, Ray Liotta, Max Martini, Dane DeHaan, and Emory Cohen co-star.

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Rose Byrne replaces Greta Gerwig in The Place Beyond the Pines

A little bit of mixed emotions on this story. One of the best looking movies we'll likely be seeing next year is The Place Beyond the Pines, Derek Cianfrance's much anticipated follow-up to Blue Valentine. The star-studded film covers a multi-generational feud between a motorcycle stunt rider who robs banks to support his son, and a cop turned politician. Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, and Ray Liotta make up just a portion of a fantastic cast.

One name you'll note that I left off is my indie darling, Greta Gerwig(Greenberg), who has long been linked to the role of Cooper's wife. Unfortunately, her hectic schedule has forced her to pull out, and while I'm disappointed in that, her replacement is more than adequate. Rose Byrne, already seen this year in Insidious and Bridesmaids, has stepped in to take her place.

This is a lateral move, in my opinion. Both actresses have proven they can handle the dramatic just as easily as comedy, although by the sounds of it the latter won't be called for so much in this film.  Shooting is already underway, so expect to see The Place Beyond the Pines on the festival circuit next year. [Vulture]

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1st look at a tatted up Ryan Gosling in The Place Beyond the Pines

If I had one problem with Ryan Gosling it was that he was almost too intense. Ever since he turned all of our heads in The Believer, the guy has barely cracked a smile in any of his films. If he did, his face would likely fall apart. His latest film, Crazy Stupid Love, has him showing off his comedic chops opposite Steve Carell, playing a smooth talkin' ladies man, and proving just how versatile in actor he really is.

Gosling's next film has him re-teaming with Blue Valentine director, Derek Cianfrance, in a multi-generational drama titled The Place Beyond the Pines. He stars as a stunt motorcycle rider who as an act of desperation, turns to robbing banks to support his newborn son. He runs afoul of a cop turned politician, which kicks off a years long feud. Bradley Cooper is his nemesis in the film, which also features Ray Liotta, Greta Gerwig, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, and Max Martini. Shooting us underway now, but JustJared has snagged a few shots of Gosling looking vastly different than he does in Crazy Stupid Love. He looks like he fell asleep and his buddies gave him a bunch of fake tattoos he's unaware of. Oh, and he looks like he forgot to do his shirt laundry.

 
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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Ray Liotta joins the cast of A Place Beyond the Pines

In the span of like two weeks Derek Cianfrance's A Place Beyond the Pines has become a film that I'm anticipating like no other. As a follow-up to last year's Blue Valentine, Cianfrance has put together a "multigenerational crime film" featuring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Greta Gerwig, and Eva Mendes. Can it get any better? Yes. Yes it can.

Ray Liotta, who can play dirty cops in his sleep, has signed on to do just that in the film about a motorcycle racer who turns to crime in order to support his newborn son. He runs afoul of a police officer turned politician, kicking off a feud that lasts generations.

If you ever saw the way Liotta kicked ass in the excellent cop drama, Narc, then you know he's the man for this part. The last time he played a questionable officer of the law it was in the Michael Cera comedy, Youth in Revolt, and he was hilarious there as well.  He'll appear next in Cogan's Trade, alongside Brad Pitt. [Variety]

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Sure Shots: Pacific Rim; The Place Beyond the Pines; Despicable Me 2 gets a release date

* Charlie Day has turned his role as the resident wacko on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia into a fast rising film career. After cranking out a few laughs in the Justin Long/Drew Barrymore rom-com Going the Distance, his big starring turns comes in a couple weeks as part of Horrible Bosses. But his biggest gig to date is on the horizon, as Variety reports he's in talks to play a professor(no doubt an eccentric one) in Guillermo Del Toro's monsters vs. mechs film, Pacific Rim. He'll be starring opposite the only known castmember at this time, Charlie Hunnam(Undeclared), who is featured as a mech pilot who snaps into action when the planet is under attack. Shooting should begin in the fall, so hopefully by then the rumored Idris Elba will be signed and ready to suit up.

* If you ever saw Animal Kingdom, then you were probably creeped out into a puddle by the actions of Pope, played to terrible perfection by Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn. So while that film has seen many of it's stars blow up and move on to very different roles, Mendelsohn is set to make the jump himself, only he's staying very much on the villainous side of things. Variety notes that Mendelsohn is set to join The Place Beyond the Pines, from Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance. He'll play Robin Van Der Zee(how cool is that name??), a bank robber who let's Ryan Gosling's character into the criminal fold. Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and Greta Gerwig also star.

* I like what Universal is doing in their plans for a sequel to Despicable Me, last year's animated where a bunch of little yellow minions stole the show from star Steve Carell. They aren't jamming it down our throats in a year's time like some other movies(Alvin and the Chipmunks), they're taking their time. They've just set a release date for the film on July 3rd 2013. Two years away. Good move. No other details on it right now. In other release date bits, Oliver Stone's Savages will open on September 28th, 2012. The crime film stars Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Uma Thurman, Emile Hirsch, Salma Hayek, and Benicio Del Toro. And lastly, Oblivion, from Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski will open on July 19th 2013. Tom Cruise leads the way of the futuristic sci-fi film, based on Kosinski's own graphic novel.

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