Long Form
Ang Lee's 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' Is Revealed In This First Trailer
Ang Lee is an absolutely incredible director. But I’m a little worried about him.
Having made some amazing films, including Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, his is a name that inspires interest and provides a filmmaker’s gravitas.
That said - the trailer for his next film, the major holiday release Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk has hit, and it looks (to me, at least) like pure, unabashed Oscar bait.
Based on the novel by Ben Fountain, the story juxtaposes the war-time efforts of the titular Billy Lynn (the debuting Joe Alwyn) alongside a halftime appearance at a football game, designed to honor the soldiers and drum up support for the war.
The footage seen here is visually, very strong, but does not feel any different from any other major, schmaltzy “soldier comes home” film, even with a cast including names such as Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Vin Diesel.
Really, the only appeal of the film is the remarkable techniques used by Lee, filming in 4K, 120 frame per second, in 3D.
Sure, that’s moving the artform forward, but the number of theaters that will be able to exhibit the film in that format are minimal. And I’m sure there are countless families wanting to shell out the IMAX 3D costs for a sad story of a soldier returning home.
Who is this movie really for? To indulge Ang Lee’s need to use the latest tech, a’la Peter Jackson or George Lucas? Or to give Sony Pictures a big Oscar hope?
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk hits theaters on November 11, 2016 - and right now, you can count me out.
Thursday May 12, 2016