Best of 2006: Top 10 Trailers

I almost didn’t post this because 2 trailers this year were so superior, they made the top slots of everyone else's list. But, even if there’s no suspense in my winner, trailers are one of my favorite art forms and I can’t pass mentioning my favorites.

I want to give special mention to the MIAMI VICE trailer, which contains the year’s best TRAILER moment. It occurs about 35 sec. in and involves the sound of various guns being loaded to the music. Below is a clip highlighting that moment.

And before I list my top 10, a special mention to excellent trailers that didn’t make the cut. Alphabetically, they are…
BABEL
THE DESCENT
THE FOUNTAIN
GRINDHOUSE
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE PRESTIGE
THE QUEEN
SPIDER-MAN 3

10) BLACK SNAKE MOAN

This film looks like it’s going to be either genius or terrible. You wonder if you’re actually seeing what you think you’re seeing. The trailer does a great job a selling the comedy. (Christina Ricci’s look when she hears of Samuel L. Jackson’s plan is priceless.) It sells right to two key groups, those who want to see something sexy and those who want to see something different.

9) BRICK

The trailer hooks you right away by explaining some of the film noir slang in a series of smoky titles. There’s a confident, mysterious mood that elevates it above the typical indie pack.

8) BORAT

Remember when most people didn’t know who Borat was? This trailer expertly set up the character and Sacha Baron Cohen’s style of ambush comedy. Many comedy trailers put all the best stuff in, but quick shots like the bear in the ice cream truck let us know we were only getting the tip of the iceberg. “In my country, they would go crazy for these two…not so much...”


7) CASINO ROYALE – Final Trailer

I have a major problem in that this trailer reveals a key moment from the finale. Take that out and you have Bond bliss. The trailer expertly sets up the romance (a Bond with human, emotional risks), and while you can never go wrong with one of the greatest theme’s of all time, this went one step beyond by adding an operatic choir.

6) TRANSFORMERS – Trailer 1

Following a lame teaser, this first look at Summer’s upcoming Monster Truck Rally made every fan boy stand up and cheer. Never mind the silly concept or the fact that Michael Bay is directing, giant robots are coming, and the battles look (and sound) f**kin’ awesome.

5) CHILDREN OF MEN

While most trailers hit you with the slick visuals, this one grabbed me by the heart. There’s great music (like the beats as Alfonso Cuaron’s credits hit the screen) backing up a neat plot idea. The quiet, mysterious final section was poetic in its emotional beauty.

4) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

This trailer distills a bloated movie into everything you wanted to see: swordfights, pirates, Davy Jones and his creature crew, the Kraken, comedy, Kiera Knightly and of course, the return of Capt. Jack Sparrow. Add bombastic music, set to blend and watch the money pour in.

3) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 – Final Trailer

Like CASINO ROYALE, there’s built in music that can’t miss. This time it’s pure orchestra. Cruise counts down while percussion gets the pulse pounding. Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives a threat that’s just…mean. After that it’s a series of great images – including shots of Cruise’s team – more anger from Hoffman, and the best final shot to a trailer this year.

2) 300 – Trailer 2

The first trailer was interesting, but the effects looked 2nd rate. Turned out they weren’t finished yet. The new trailer looks like SIN CITY done in hyperactive color. The film could easily drown in its own bombast, but the trailer in both image and music has made this a must see on opening weekend. Love the final line.

1) LITTLE CHILDREN

An argument can be made about how this trailer doesn’t prepare you for the tone of the actual film. (Good luck making THAT trailer.) Instead, the trailer for LITTLE CHILDREN is a work of art unto itself. A perfect blend of train sounds and images of people heading towards their own figurative crash.