Watch: Trailer For Gus Van Sant's 'Restless'

Gus Van Sant can’t live on directing the likes of “Elephant,” “Gerry” and “Paranoid Park” alone, and every now and then he comes out with a big, meaty piece of mainstream fare. His previous tub ‘o popcorn film was the Academy Award winner for Best Actor and Best Screenplay “Milk,” but there will be no such chances this time around.

“Restless” tells the story of a 16-year-old girl (Mia Wasikowska) who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and falls in love with an off-beat boy (Henry Hopper) who likes to attend funerals and is suffering from the death of his family — which somehow produces the ghost of a young, Japanese kamikaze pilot from WW II (Ryo Kase) (for real).

It’s hard to tell what’s in store from the trailer. It seems like a total quirk fest, and the January release date doesn’t fill us with confidence. That said, we really liked Jason Lew’s script which is funny, sad, weird, and in many ways all over the map with lots of interesting tones and tenors. So, it remains to be seen just how it all turns out, but we’re curious and optimistic.

“Restless” open on January 25, 2011.