MovieChat Forums > Anthropoid (2016) Discussion > exceptionally misleading trailer

exceptionally misleading trailer

posted 8 years ago by DietSoda78
5 replies | jump to latest

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blAKCJcXC5c

Having just seen the film, it was interesting to go back and watch the trailer. There are essentially only two action sequences in the film, and moments from these are cut together to create a sense of corny, generic action that, of course, is not in the film (ie, Cillian Murphy running forward and firing from the balcony, and when referring to Heydrich's brutality, showing him standing up from his car with a pistol and shooting, as if he butchered Prague personally. That, and super corny dialogue that never appeared in the movie at all: "If we fail, I fear that freedom will be wiped from the map!" and then that ending: "In August 2016, Resistance has a name." All in all, it was about as kinetic and mainstream as a Marvel trailer.

Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised (and impressed) to find this slow-burn, minimalist art-house film that is relentlessly realistic and unsentimental. I wonder if part of the negative perception from many viewers has to do with thwarted expectations. It is true - this film is not exciting or feel-good in any sense. An accurate trailer would have focused a lot more on panic attacks, tedium, and the inevitability of death. But I'm sure that there was some desperation when the studio saw the final cut - they'd made a very good film with some truly great sequences, but not exactly a summer blockbuster. I hope it makes money, or at least gets it's due come awards season.

[–] clearthinkernow 8 years ago

The statement about being "wiped from the map" was not about freedom but about Czechoslovakia (and it was in the movie).

[–] DietSoda78 8 years ago

Exactly. They changed the line. The line in the film is, "I fear that Czechoslovakia will be wiped from the map." The line in the trailer is, "If we fail, freedom will be wiped from the map."

IMO, "Freedom will be wiped from the map," given how big "the map" is, is exactly the kind of line that exists mostly in corny James Bond and superhero movies that are actually about the end of the world. The trailer is trying to sell the stakes as being VERY high for the events being depicted. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is that just how high/low the stakes were in completing this one assassination was quite debatable, especially among the resistance fighters themselves.

[–] MinnieStronieGoodsoup 8 years ago

I'd guess they used the word "freedom" to make it sound more appealing to North Americans. Not to make the stakes seem higher but to make them seem more relevant.

****** So says Mr. Stewart. ******

[–] kermitmy 8 years ago

Their aim wasn't to make a "summer blockbuster". If you've seen any of the interviews with the director, Sean Ellis, he felt it was a part of history that was never really focused on before in film, and was an interesting story.

The movie was distributed by an independent film studio, Bleecker Street so it does have a arthouse more cinematic feel to it, and that's one of the things I really liked about it. I saw this movie at an advanced screening at the end of June at the Czech Center in NYC. We met a man who is the grandson of the actual priest in the film. It's an extraordinary story, a beautifully done film. I loved the location shots, and being a fan of Jamie Dornan (see my avatar with him when I met him in NY earlier this month while he was in town promoting the film), I thought he did a wonderful job in this, and I'm glad to see him taking on more serious roles, as right now his most notable role is as 50 Shades of Grey guy. lol

I am seeing the film again tonight, with my husband who is looking forward to it. I hear it's going to Netflix in the near future, so being this was a limited release as of now, this will give people more opportunity to see it since it's not playing in a lot of places.

FRRRRRRRRRRUNKISSSSSSSS!

[–] chrissso 8 years ago

is it weird to think there are many places in this country where they don't show films like this. I live in Chicago so we get this stuff but just 60 miles away ... out in Trumpland ... no go!