“Annette“
Sweeping strings and Adam Driver dropping his voice an octave and saying the words “fast and fast” like nobody ever has before setting the tone for Leos Carax’s bombastic and exuberant modern-day opera “Annette.” It’s a teaser of many tones and parts, with Driver’s beguiling narration suggesting one kind of seduction in the first part, before Sparks electrify the storyline with their original song written for the film ‘So May We Start?’ And even that’s not enough: of course, to get us in the mood, Baby Annette introduces herself with one perfect hum, proving why she really does deserve a whole film about her.
“The Batman”
If you’d ever wanted to know where the idea of a “storm in a teacup” came from, Paul Dano may well have the answer for you. The latest trailer for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” finds the actor playing iconic villain Riddler, with his dangerous actions only suggested with a question mark in latte art. The footage then veers into more explicit and unapologetic violence, naturally – with Dano’s voice haunting Robert Pattinson as our new Caped Crusader. Other trailer highlights include Zoe Kravitz’s immediately enchanting Catwoman and an unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Penguin. And, obviously, Batman introduces himself not as Batman but simply as “vengeance.”
“Dune”
Zendaya has not come to play in the final trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune.” There’s no time to waste as Arrakis is under threat, and Chani starts to haunt the dreams of Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and every major player – Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and more – must prepare the young heir to fight for what’s right for his planet and for humanity. It’s predictably breathtaking visually from Villeneuve, with clouds of billowing smoke and endless sand in warm hues getting deep under your skin. There’s no messing around with elusive covers here, as cinematic strings and horns set the pace for this – while Zendaya also teases the recent welcome announcement of a second film with her final line. This trailer, this film? It’s all only the beginning.
“C’mon C’mon”
The cinema of Mike Mills feels like poetry in motion with every new title – and “C’mon C’mon” keeps this sensation alive with a swooning performance of Clair de Lune by the San Francisco Saxophone Quartet, as Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny is reading a story to his young nephew Jesse (Woody Norman). It’s the kind of trailer where you can tell every frame is as precious as a priceless painting, where each word delivered slowly hits you right in the gut. “Over the years you will try to make sense of that happy, sad, full, always-shifting life you’re in,” Johnny calmly reads, trying to hold back tears himself from the book he’s reading. But why should he? With such beauty, let them flow.
“About Endlessness”
Roy Andersson depicts life in slow-motion in a series of vignettes framing ordinary people doing ordinary things, but with an incredible focus on the details that get them through the day or help them escape from it. The trailer respects the precise master’s geometric vision – we’re only given a handful of different scenes, all with fully static shots letting life happen while the camera remains frozen. There’s no flitting back and forth or overstimulation, only a focus on the often silent, curious depth of those in-between moments that few other filmmakers would really pay attention to. In lesser hands this would be the fare of sitcoms – instead, we’re gifted with a majestic slice of life immediately, in just over a minute. A masterclass.
“The Green Knight”
“This is why a knight does what he does.” “The Green Knight” doesn’t simply offer a decadent, seductive retelling of one of the greatest Arthurian tales. It’s not just another visual triumph from David Lowery, one of our most consistently impressive and inventive indie filmmakers. It’s not only the most potent showcase for Dev Patel as an utterly mesmerizing leading man. It’s all of these things and so much more – and the trailer, constantly switching in tone and color and style, reflects the unpredictable power of this mercurial film. Highlights include a pin-drop moment during which Patel delivers the existential line of questioning, Ralph Ineson’s own gravelly threat (what will you be doing, one year hence?) and, of course, that petrifying talking fox. Five stars for the petrifying talking fox.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home”
The stakes have never been higher – and so irrespective of the obvious, necessary Marvel inflections, there remains galvanizing energy and a refreshing amount of comedy in the biggest trailer of the year for the biggest film of the year. The tampering of the stability of space and time, and the introduction of the multiverse immediately sets us up for mind-bending and reality-defying twists in Spider-Man’s new one. And even if it didn’t, it’s all worth it for the ridiculously exciting return of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock. There’s no Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield just yet – but it would still all be worthwhile to hear that “hello Peter” again and again. A greeting, and a threat, almost 20 years in the making.
Follow along with the rest of our Best of 2021 coverage here.