Not sure what a Trailer Scaler is? Go here. 

In this week’s Trailer Scaler, I’m looking at two movies that deal with contemporary social anxieties. First, there’s the apocalyptic dread of The Day the Earth Stood Still, and then there’s American-electorate unrest of Swing Vote. 

All this… after the jump.

The Movie: The Day The Earth Stood Still, released December 12

The Buzz: The classic 1951 sci-fi flick about aliens taking over the world gets remade with expensive effects and brand name stars like Jennifer Connelly, Keanu Reeves, and Kathy Bates.

The Trailer:

 

The Review: Zzzz… [snerk} Oh! What? Are we still here? Because I feel asleep watching that damn preview, and I thought maybe it was tomorrow.

I mean, really… Could this look more generic? From the opening shot, when a voice on a loudspeaker barks instructions to an ominous military base, I knew what to expect: Eerie lighting, “creepy” music, and a threat of supernatural attack. Toss in the name actress playing a tense, intelligent heroine, and you’ve got The Forgotten, The Grudge, The Eye, and The Ring all over again. Whether it’s aliens or viruses or ghosts, it’s all just sleek, empty scares.

And Jennifer Connelly was already in Dark Water, so I guess she’s just treading dark water. (Zing!)

Also? The first time I saw this preview, the scene with the fluorescent lights made me think of The Matrix, and then there was Keanu Reeves, like the trailer read my mind. But that’s a bad sign. 

Plus, this move is coming out in December, which means it will be humorless Oscar bait. God help us. It’s like Invasion all over again, and we all saw how that turned out. Or maybe we didn’t see it, which makes my point just the same.

The Rating: 1 Cliche Alien Head, With The Slanty Eyes and Pointy Skull (I grant the trailer one head only because Kathy Bates is in it, and I love her.)

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The Movie: Swing Vote, opening August 1

The Buzz: There isn’t any, really, but the movie is about a voting error that leaves a New Mexican doofus (Kevin Costner) with the deciding vote in a presidential election.

The Trailer: 

If it weren’t for my dad, I wouldn’t know about this movie. But when he called me up to recommend that I include it in Trailer Scaler, I had to give it a look. (Thanks for the tip, Dad!)

I’m most impressed by what this trailer isn’t. If Swing Vote starred Robin Williams, which it basically did back in 2006, there would be lots of mugging and shrieking and oh-so-impish bits about the swing voter making fart noises with the presidential candidates. That’s what I expect from any high-concept comedy.

But instead, this trailer has laid-back charm, which is a Costner specialty. The ambient music in the final section hints at some kind of intelligent reserve, as do the low-key performances throughout. 

Of course, this could be the magic of trailer editing, since it also seems the movie will trade in the feel-good basics. You know… Smart, sassy kid who teaches grown-ups how to behave; schlubby hero who goes on a journey from shallowness to depth; tired pop culture references that everyone in the audience can feel intelligent for understanding. (In 2008, jokes about O.J. Simpson are only created by studios who want to reach middle-aged consumers.)

I’m hoping the movie can rise above it’s obvious formula and deliver on the trailer’s promise. I’ll wait for the reviews, though, before I find out.

The Rating: 2 1/2 Hanging Chads