Trailer Park: What Looks Good to Me

The focus of this week's Trailer Park is going to be a bit more self-indulgent than usual. If you've read previous installments, you've seen how I usually discuss several trailers that can be grouped together under a common theme. Sometimes, though, as I look at all the new previews no pattern emerges, so the trailers I'm focusing on this week are mentioned here purely because they appeal to me personally. It's "what looks good to me" week on Trailer Park.

Run Fatboy Run
Based on the fact that Shaun of the Dead is one of the funniest films of all time, and Hot Fuzz, which I haven't had a chance to see yet, looks quite awesome as well, anything starring Simon Pegg will grab my attention. Pegg's co-star from Shaun, Dylan Moran, also shows up in this trailer. Unfortunately, this preview suffers from one of my pet peeves: it doesn't actually tell you what the film is about. According to the synopsis on IMDB, Pegg is training for a marathon to win back the woman he dumped ten years earlier. What we do get, however, is Pegg running around in a pair of shorts even shorter than the ones Lieutenant Jim Dangle wears on Reno 911. Who knew that was even possible? There's some pretty good physical comedy on display here; like when Pegg takes a dive down a flight of stairs (yes, grievous bodily harm can be hilarious in the proper setting) and the bit with him drinking the raw eggs made for a pretty good laugh. This film marks the feature directorial debut of Friends star David Scwhimmer from a script by Michael Ian Black. Here's Erik Davis's take on the trailer.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Obviously this is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the summer, and I'm just as excited about it as anyone. I've read all of J.K. Rowling's Potter books, and like the films, each one has been better than the last. Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is loose once again, Dolores Umbridge, has been appointed Grand Inquisitor of Hogwarts School, and having read the books I couldn't help smiling when the trailer showed a bit of the Weasley twins laying mischievous waste to the school. The preview is flat out spectacular and I can't wait for this one. See for yourself:

The Sensation of Sight
I've seen very little mention of this Indie drama which stars Oscar nominee David Strathairn, but the above link will take you to the film's Myspace page where you can check out the poster and trailer. Again, the trailer doesn't give a solid presentation of the plot, but Strathairn plays an English teacher propelled into a mid-life crisis by a tragedy that has him turn to selling encyclopedias door to door. This looks like a small personal drama with a lot of potential. Strathairn impressed me in Good Night and Good Luck, and I'm quite familiar with the small New Hampshire town in which The Sensation of Sight was filmed (told you this would be self-indulgent). The movie also stars Ian Somerhalder from ABC's Lost, and Ann Cusack.

Charlie Bartlett
The title character strikes me as sort of a latter day Ferris Beuller. After being kicked out of private school for manufacturing false ID's, the prim and proper Charlie learns to fit in at public school by becoming the resident shrink to the other students, and sets up office in the boys' bathroom. Charlie's mother is played by Hope Davis, who I remember best from her role in American Splendor, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays the principal. Looks like a high school comedy that doesn't just appeal to high school kids. Erik Davis first mentioned this film here on Cinematical last June.

The Boss of it All
A Danish language office comedy from director Lars von Trier about an IT company that hires an actor to pretend to be company president in order to sell the business. I tend to stear away from foreign language comedies because humor rarely translates well from one language to the other. This trailer had me rethinking that policy, as even with subtitles the trailer showed a good sense of comedic timing. It feels a bit like an arthouse version of the sitcom The Office. View the trailer for yourself:


And don't forget the new trailers on AOL Moviefone:

• The Golden Door -A Sicilian widower's journey to America.
  
• Paris Je T'Aime - Paris as seen through the eyes of several celebrated directors.
  
• Zoo - A man has an unusual relationship with a horse.
  
• Hollywood Dreams - A girl from Iowa seeks fame in Hollywood.
  
• Once - Two musicians make romance and music together.
  
• Balls of Fury - A comedy that mixes international intrigue with competitive ping pong.
  
• Boss of it All - An actor is hired to pretend to be head of a major corporation.
  
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Trailer No. 2 - The fifth film in the popular Harry Potter series.
  
• The Other Conquest -Historical drama from Mexico.
  
• Crazy Love - A true story about a truly bizarre romance.