Trailers are out first real glimpse of a film upon its completion, which can heighten anticipation to the point of ecstasy or disappoint to the lowest depths of despair. Sometimes they work perfectly as a precursor to a sublime film, or, as is the rarity, the trailer can completely misdirect and sell you something it isn't.
Sometimes it backfires, too: with clever editing, a rubbish film can appear great, and similarly a great film can seem bad. Anyway, here are my top 5 of 2011...
#5 TAKE SHELTER
Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain star in this eerie-looking, character driven drama. The odd nature of it builds, making for an utterly captivating story.
What the trailer evokes: Paranormal intrigue and mystery. You're instantly hooked by Shannon's subtle, awkward performance.
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#4 THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
A lot of people are already touting this as their film of 2012 and whilst the trailer is fantastically cut to the typical Nolan standard, it isn't the best I've seen in the past 12 months. Still great, though: Hardy looks terrifyingly muscular and Hathaway looks devilishly attractive.
What the trailer evokes: Fear, Nolan epicness and the topical fight against terrorism.
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#3 PROMETHEUS
Ridley Scott is finally on board and back to his sci-fi roots with something that clearly pays homage and feels like Alien, even down to the title font. It looks scary as hell and if it's anything like the aforementioned, then we're in for one hell of a journey.
What the trailer evokes: A modern day Alien movie to chill, that'll also make you feel warmly nostalgic inside.
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#2 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
David Fincher knows how to make a thriller. This is so slickly and sharply edited you can't help but be utterly drawn in. The music fits perfectly with the entire thing edited around it. Brilliant stuff.
What the trailer evokes: Style, substance, intelligence, thrills. It's goddamn cool.
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#1 TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
This has to be the best trailer of 2011. It's brilliantly made in every way: the music is its main strength, followed closely by the mystery, pacing and tantalising nature of a spy thriller.
What the trailer evokes: A superb set up. Unbelievable tenseness. Buckets of atmosphere. Fantastic.
