Welcome to the weekly column Trailing Off in which I take a look at a trailer from the past week and analyze its potential. This will be done using an obnoxious amount of analyzing and personal thoughts on the cast and crew as well as expectations. Coming every Sunday (it's called Trailing Off for a reason), I will attempt to highlight films ranging from new blockbusters to lesser known indies and give them their due. Partially to spread awareness, I do believe that there is an art to the sell and will do my best to highlight why these trailers matter or don't with approval (trove) or disapproval (trash). So please stop by, recommend some trailers, and I will see you next time.
Trailer in Discussion
Directed By: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Written By: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano
- Preamble -
One of the running themes in Trailing Off is my goal to find great films that come out of Sundance and look to have promise. I do my best to balance between big and small films, if just to prove that there's quality marketing in every department. However, there's few films coming out of Sundance that seem to be having quite the reputation as that of Swiss Army Man. If you haven't heard about it, prepare to be in for a baffling journey. While it is true that child actors often take on shocking work to prove that they're not kids anymore, there's no preparing you for the mind-bending logic that lead to the green lighting of this movie.
It's a film in which Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse. He isn't in just some cameo role, but actually is front and center in terms of plot value. Let that sink in for a minute. The actor who came to prominence thanks to a role in Harry Potter's decade spanning franchise is now in a film whose big comedy comes from a corpse that farts. It may also be taken as a sign of Radcliffe phoning it in, as how much effort does a corpse really need to provide in ways of acting? It's a curious circumstance, and one that is infinitely promising in being a divisive experience.
What is possibly even more impressive is that among the Sundance films out there, there's been few that have gotten the positive reputation of Swiss Army Man. Yes, there are detractors. That's to be predicted. However, a film with a farting corpse actually has good reviews and is being released by A24, who are responsible for some of the best in modern independent cinema. There's a lot to be excited about, and it's almost guaranteed to have defenders screaming "What did you expect?" In all honesty, I am going to try to hold pretensions to the side for this, but if things get too juvenile... I'll probably snap.
- Dissection -
On the bright side, the idea of the farting corpse is held to a minimum in this trailer. Beyond an opening gag that establishes him as such, Radcliffe's character is thankfully given a whole lot more to do than fart. Of course, the title would suggest that he does quite a bit. I am unsure what all it is, but thankfully he's doing more than serving as a roadblock for anything creative. If anything, I am curious to see how they evolve the character - as it looks like he does something more as time goes on. It's delightfully absurd.
However, I don't know that there's much here that really grabs me beyond the surprise. he doesn't really do much that is exciting with the story. Paul Dano thankfully has some enthusiasm, but we're not entirely sure why. We get plenty of existentialism as well, but what is it all for? I don't really know what's going on with this trailer, and I'm sure that it will baffle people who have less of a preconceived notion than myself.
Most of all, it feels strangely conventional for a trailer to a film that has such a distinct premise. Beyond its gimmick, the trailer plays into all of the familiar themes that you'd expect for an indie comedy. There's the uplifting music that plays over images, which look out of place from the first half. There's Terrence Malick-level whispering. There's even the reviews that have to assure the audience of its quality. While it is by no means a bad trailer, I don't know that it gives off a sense of urgency that makes me want to see it. It's a good trailer in terms of craft, but it doesn't really do much to sell me on the movie.
However, I don't know that there's much here that really grabs me beyond the surprise. he doesn't really do much that is exciting with the story. Paul Dano thankfully has some enthusiasm, but we're not entirely sure why. We get plenty of existentialism as well, but what is it all for? I don't really know what's going on with this trailer, and I'm sure that it will baffle people who have less of a preconceived notion than myself.
Most of all, it feels strangely conventional for a trailer to a film that has such a distinct premise. Beyond its gimmick, the trailer plays into all of the familiar themes that you'd expect for an indie comedy. There's the uplifting music that plays over images, which look out of place from the first half. There's Terrence Malick-level whispering. There's even the reviews that have to assure the audience of its quality. While it is by no means a bad trailer, I don't know that it gives off a sense of urgency that makes me want to see it. It's a good trailer in terms of craft, but it doesn't really do much to sell me on the movie.
- One Sentence Sell -
Harry Potter stars as a farting corpse, that's all you need to know.
- Trove or Trash -
TRASH
As much as I want to get on board with what this film is offering, I don't know that this raises or maintains the enthusiasm that I had for it. If anything, it looks a lot less assured of its purpose than I had initially thought. Still, it's bound to be one of the more curious movies of the year.
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