If you’re feeling smothered by the whole Oscar rigmarole and can’t wait to start talking about some fresh movies, this trailer couldn’t have landed at a more welcome time. Of course, “fresh” is a relative term — it’s nearly six months since I was wowed by Kelly Reichardt’s studied, painterly Oregon Trail western (reviewed here) at the Venice Film Festival, which ultimately took the #2 spot in my Best of 2010 list. For those who don’t get to beat the festival track, however, the film hits screens in April.
I assure you it’s worth the wait, though I do feel conflicted about posting this trailer, which spills a few too many key images (and what images) for my liking. Let me pre-empt the question some of you will inevitably ask by saying this quiet, esoteric early release is no 2011 Oscar contender — though that’s not to say it won’t remain one of the year’s finest. If you do feel like checking out the trailer in all its Academy ratio glory, click the image above for the crisp Apple version, or watch the embed below.
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19 responses to “‘Meek’s Cutoff’ trailer”
Oscars 2012?
“I assure you it’s worth the wait, though I do feel conflicted about posting this trailer, which spills a few too many key images (and what images) for my liking.”
… yeah, I’ll just avoid it, then. That’s why I skip trailers in general, especially for movies I might be looking forward. Thanks for the heads up, anyways ☺
I’ll say this though: the picture above is lovely and classy. I think it could have made for a better poster than the drawn one.
Kel: Did you even read what I wrote?
You guys are exasperating sometimes.
;)
It better, kel. It’s like the Arcade Fire winning the Grammy earlier this month, as someone on my twitter feed said.
Just from this 2 and a 1/2 minute trailer I am dazzled by just how exactingly framed and composed these images are.
This film really strikes me as a classic auteur study. Its one of the great joys of our times that female directors are impressing with increasingly authoritative film-making in the mold of some out are great European masters past and present.
Also the Academy ratio does wonders for the composition here. Almost makes me wish more directors apart from Arnold and Reichardt experiment with it.
If it goes over well, I can see BP nom, director, an acting or two, writing and cinematography (especially).
Watch it first. It’s an extraordinary film, but an Academy non-starter.
In any case, the film raises far more interesting talking points than whether or not it’s a viable Oscar contender. Don’t you guys ever want a holiday from this stuff?
looks interesting, im hoping we see a real surge in the western genre now
Looking forward to this. I couldn’t wake up in time the Saturday morning it played at NYFF.
Well, this IS incontention.com, not Ilovemovies.com. haha
Separate from “Oscar” talk, though, yes … it looks very good, and right up my alley.
I’ve watched this trailer about four times since it went up on Apple yesterday. It’s a thing of beauty. The cinematography is gorgeous, but as a design fan/nerd, I loved the typefaces in this trailer, as well as the placement of the quotes – quite aesthetically pleasing. Can’t wait. I’m going to re-watch “Old Joy” and “Wendy and Lucy” in anticipation.
Hey, we were also hearing last year that Black Swan wouldn’t come near the academy the acadamy’s tastes, yet 5 nominations later…
I’m not ready to write anything off – critics could champion it later in the year since Sundance didn’t produce that much possiblities…
Music reminds me of there will be blood. Looks like a very fascinating character study, and much scarrier then I was expecting.
A December Fox Searchlight release has more persuasive powers over the Academy (and the public) than an April Oscilloscope release. Just saying.
[…] likes of Paul Dano, Bruce Greenwood, and Shirley Henderson. Thanks to a minor spoiler warning from In Contention‘s Guy Lodge, I have refrained from watching the trailer, but I have posted the embed after […]
“Music reminds me of there will be blood. ” Johnny Greenwood did the score of both films. Also, I love how the trailer lists him among the stars. Very classy.
Forgive me if you’re joking, Jacob S — but if you aren’t, you’re wrong on both counts.
Jeff Grace scored the film, not Jonny Greenwood. And that’s actor Bruce Greenwood listed in the credits.
Thanks for clarifying Guy.
Can’t wait… Of course, I adore Michelle Williams, but I’m also a huge fan of Bruce Greenwood. IMHO, he’s one of the most under-appreciated actors around.