Rising A Year Away – The Official Trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises” is finally here

As most cinema goes are just getting down from their Harry Potter highs, induced by the franchisees highly successful and well crafted finale Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) [which will be discussed further in an upcoming post], I have been looking ahead to the finale of a smaller film franchise. Emerging onto our screens in 2005, Christopher Nolan exposed international cinema goers to the dark, corrupt and shockingly realistic world of Gotham City, a city run by the mob, controlled by unbureaucratic cops and oh yeah a billionaire playboy who dresses up as a Bat.

Yes, we all know the story for the highly successful Batman Begins (2005) which reinvented the Batman franchisee after an 8 year absence, following the ridiculously camp Batman & Robin (1997). By bringing a new cast, led by Oscar winners Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, Nolan exposed audiences to the deeper humanity and realism within Bob Kane’s original comic book series, creating a Gotham that could represent any major metropolis across the world. His commitment to a realistic story, layered characters and mind-blowing action saw the films’s sequel, The Dark Knight (2008), break box office records and, indirectly, bring about one of the biggest changes in the Academy Award’s history, with the Academy extending the Best Picture category from 5-10 films (and now from anywhere between 5-10 films) in order to prevent any other publicly and critically regarded films from being unjustifiably snubbed. However, the film did secure two wins out of eight nominations, including a well deserved posthumous win for Heath Ledger (The Joker).  Together these two films have garnered a large international fan base, millions of dollars in box office/DVD/Blu Ray sales and created an incredible online excitement around the franchises final installment The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which is currently filming in the UK.

But as the first teaser trailer was released yesterday, via the Warner Brother’s YouTube account, I cannot help but feeling sad that this monumental franchise will come to end next July. For this series, like Harry Potter in many ways, has changed how people view going to the movies, creating a buzz and excitement that is felt across almost every person. While I too am excited for Nolan’s next offering, and I will be speculating about what the plot will entail (is Bane working for the League of Shadows? Will Selina Kylie/Catwoman be an enemy or foe? Will Marion Cotillard’s character really by Talia al ghul (the daughter of Liam Nesson’s character from Batman Begins?) I will also be sad to see another great franchise end after less than 10 years.

If you haven’ already watch the teaser, speculate yourself and feel the bipolar emotions of excitement and grief as we prepare for what will be, no doubt, 2012’s Best Film of the year!

Oscars 2012 Update: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy…Awesome

I know we are still a fair way off next/this year’s award season (I have never really understood how they titled it!) but I have just seen the latest trailer for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), which is slatted for a October 27, 2011 release date. And does it look incredible or what! With its bleak exteriors, flawless costume and set design and a star studded cast to boot, including last year’s Best Actor Winner Colin Firth, rising star Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman, this feels like a definite Awards Season Contender.

I’m excited for this film for a number of reasons but mainly because of the films leading actor. Gary Oldman is an old [pun intended] favourite of mine. While most audiences would only remember him from his role as Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan‘s Dark Knight series or Serius Black in the Harry Potter franchise, he is an actor with a career that extends across 3 decades with iconic performances in such films as the Fifth Element(1997) and The Contender (2000). For years Oldman has been overlooked by the Academy and I feel that this film may be the one that they cannot ignore, even if its just a long over due nomination.

You can find the very minimal synopsis, courtesy of IMDB, below:

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley [Gary Oldman] is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons.

Or if the trailer has left you hungry for more, you can seek out the films stimulus, John le Carré‘s acclaimed novel of the same name, or the 1979 BBC miniseries which starred Sir Alec Guinness in the role of George Smiley. I plan to find the book as soon as I can!