With the 20th Brisbane International Film Festival currently underway, the Queensland capital has turned its attention to the best and brightest in local and international cinema. Whilst discussion about the artistic merits of the 135 features in the festival’s program rages in cinema lobbies and social networking forums, I offer a new point of debate: the best trailers for films in the festival program.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The trailer for Tomas Alfredson’s incarnation of John le Carre’s best-selling espionage novel has inspired excitement among many a cinephile, from its cool colour scheme and careful cinematography, to its tense, thrilling composition. Whilst the film itself ably lives up to the promise of the preview, the trailer remains a compelling effort, entrancing audiences in the spy drama before the names of its high profile ensemble cast are even sighted.
Crawl
The product of Gold Coast filmmaking siblings Paul and Ben China, the Screamfest-winning Crawl is the latest Australian attempt at genre cinema, paying homage to the likes of the Coen brothers’ Blood Simple and No Country for Old Men. Eschewing dialogue for sultry crooning, the rhythmic production intercuts slow slices of action with fast-paced editing, providing a mere sample of the suspense of the finished product.
Martha Marcy May Marlene
As unnerving as the film that follows, the trailer for Sean Durkin’s acclaimed debut Martha Marcy May Marlene cultivates an enigmatic air. Making a star out of Elizabeth Olsen even in such illustrious company as Sarah Paulsen, Hugh Dancy and Oscar nominee John Hawkes, the inscrutable trailer offers glimpses of a girl troubled by her past, present and future, in a moody and mysterious affair.
Another Earth
A success at Sundance, Another Earth unvravels a personal story of regret and redemption within a sci-fi framework. The emotive, atmospheric trailer attempts to capture the philosophical nature of the feature whilst exploring both aspects, emphasising the possibilities inherent in the concept through measured clips of the astronomical discovery, and the intimate impact.
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Although the film itself features perhaps the best title of the festival line-up, the trailer for Madeleine Olnek’s offbeat Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same also garners attention. A throwback to the Ed Wood style of sci-fi and early incarnations of The Twilight Zone, the no-frills trailer for the equally low-budget feature employs eerie music, a star-lined background and mystical font to simply but surely ensure audiences are eager for the full product.
The FP
The trailer for apocalyptic dance flick parody The Fp might just be the best ever made, and the SXSW hit film might also be the best in its genre – or the worst. Either way, the Trost Brothers’ effort is certain to inspire amusement and intrigue, with viewers likely to seek out more of the crazy combo of satire and spoof after viewing the insanity of the preview.
