Truthless Trailers...

The art of the Trailer... you have a very short amount of time to sell people on the idea of a movie and to make them want to pay the money to go see it when it comes out. A lot of times you get the complaint about all the good stuff being in the trailer after viewing the full film. Maybe you moan about a certain scene in the trailer not being in the final film. Anyway you slice it the makers of the trailer will use anything to get those butts in the seat.

This last week I went to see The American starring George Clooney after the trailer sold me on the idea of Clooney playing a gray haired Bourne-like character. The trailer had quick cuts, action, car chases, guns, intense music... basically promising a thrill a second ride sure to make your heart pump with excitement.

The movie I ended up seeing was the opposite of that. It's a very slow euro indie art house flick all about the internal struggle of a man disgusted with his life and his want of something more. He barely speaks any lines about the struggles of his torn soul and instead relies on looks and body language to express everything we need to know about the state of his journey.

When action does happen it's sudden and is over before you know it's happening. There are only about three or four times action plays a part in the story so the promise of a thrill ride go right out the window as we are usually watching Clooney silently struggle with himself and not with a weapon wielding adversary.

The music is also slow and puts you in a relaxed state as we watch wide shots of vast landscapes and Clooney driving. A lot. This guy loves to drive everywhere.

All of this to say that the trailer lied. It's a lie. The movie they sold to the people sitting in the theaters doesn't exist and that bugs me. I actually liked the movie for what it was but it took some time to get over the fact that I wasn't going to be watching the movie I had paid to see.

I think the folks in Hollywood need to be a little more honest about what they are trying to get us to see. Tricking us to get some cash isn't a way to gain our trust.

So beware of seeing movies based solely on the trailer. Look up the flick and see what it really is before shelling out the cash.

What movies out there have tricked you?