Finally. The trailer for Paul Greengrass’ “Green Zone” starring Matt Damon has finally arrived. This was one of our most anticipated films of 2009 until it was sadly bumped out of Oscar 2009 to the not-great release date of March 12, 2010.
Still, it’s Greengrass and Damon once again, and we read the Iraq-War-set thriller and were pretty intrigued so it’s high up on our list, but yes, there’s something about it that’s probably off enough to make Universal think this one is not an awards contender. Alas, the studios are generally right about these things because they’re not going to spend millions of extra dollars marketing things that won’t play for Oscar. Apparently this thing cost $100 million to make which is a pretty, pretty penny. We digress, here’s the synopsis and below, the trailer, finally.
On March 12, 2010, Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (“The Bourne Supremacy,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “United 93”) re-team for the electrifying thriller Green Zone. In the film, Damon stars as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region.
It looks very ‘Bourne,’ shaky-cameras, an almost cinema verite style, very kinetic, etc. Greengrass has his style. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson and Greg Kinnear. We can’t wait for March. But question. If you were Paul Greengrass, would you really want to follow this up with “Bourne 4“?
I really hope it's just the way the trailer is cut, but this looks far too much like "Jason Bourne Goes To Iraq" to take seriously.
it really does. This was my nice way of saying it and hoping that this is the "sell" trailer.
Agreed. This is a "sell trailer". Aren't most?
Besides, all of us here or other film sites will go check it out based on what we've read and the cast/film-makers, so why not make a sell trailer for those who haven't heard anything about it until they see it before a screening of 'Sherlock Holmes' or 'Avatar'.
It's definitely got a "Jason Bourne: Body of Lies" feel, but I think a lot of us will be excited by this connection because it's a way to get a good action film fix,
even if 'The Green Zone' isn't in the style of a 'Bourne' and this is just "bait and switch".
@Sk, yes,
However, see Up In The Air. There was a fan trailer (subtle) and then the "sell" trailer (obvious).
We're all hoping there's a fan trailer after this, but admittedly not holding out TOO much extra hope that it's not just Bourne in Iraq from the looks of it.
Yes indeed, i absolutely agree.
This looks like Bourne 4.
Which is funny, because, "The Bourne Ultimatum" was pretty much the SAME fucking movie as "The Bourne Supremacy"…
If Greengrass didn't have a few (good) movies on his record already, i would have yelled out "One trick pony"…
sorry to say, this looks not good.
im beginning to think this might make back its budget
Paul Greengrass is one of my verrry top directors working today for too many reasons to say, and I read and save every single interview the guy's done that's available, but this doesn't look too great to me.
He could have done something really special with an Iraq movie – and he wrote the original script – but they brought on Brian Helgeland, and now it's a "thriller about the hunt for WMDs in Iraq". Maybe I've just been spoiled by the incredible honesty and realism of "Generation Kill" that even The Hurt Locker was too Hollywood (to use a lame term) to take seriously.
I have a hard time thinking the conflict in Iraq can be fodder for a popcorn movie, but I guess a movie like Green Zone can bridge the gap between Bourne fans and the reality that is overlooked by a lot of younger people. I like when movies can help shoehorn mass groups of people into big issues or events without preaching or being dull – United 93 certainly achieved that.
I also think this looks average, and the March release date doesn't help my thinking. But boy if next year's first three months aren't filled with films that should've been good (if in case they aren't).
^ Seriously, it seems like the Jan to March months will actually have some interesting "would be" oscar contenders by great directors starring A-list movie stars. So thankful for that, i hate when all good films are compacted into two winter months, when you dont have time to see them all. I'd much rather have this spread out release schedule so i have something to look forward to in those boring early months of '10.
I mean, it looks pretty good, but the connections to Bourne is kind of hysterical.
@ ThePlaylist:
Yes, I've seen the 'Up in the Air' trailers. I saw the "fan" trailer first and loved it, and also thought the "sell" trailer was pretty good. That's one of the best examples of covering your bases with trailers.
I'd much rather have a "fan" and "sell" trailer put out on the internet than a bunch of character posters or discussion of sequels/prequels or "director-worlds" with relatives of past characters.
I hope Green Zone comes out with another trailer. I don't like viewing clips of upcoming movies, but I'd love another trailer.
Like the opening bank robbery scene of The Dark Knight. I wish I never saw it beforehand.
The new Dumping Ground season seems to be late August, September, early October. The old dumping ground has the hype to make you believe its a new community park with flowers. We'll see.
I'm a fan of the book this movie is based off of—Imperial Life in the Emerald City—and I hope Greengrass stays true to it.
There's already a second trailer – the international version (which is significantly different) is available at MSN UK:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-gb