This Week in Movie Trailers: Machete Kills, The To Do List, A Most Wanted Man, Insidious 2, and Filth

Again this week, I have got a whole heckuvalot of new movie trailers for you to peruse, criticize, and get excited over. So let’s get right to it:

First up is Machete Kills, the Grindhouse-styled sequel from Robert Rodriguez.

In his third big screen appearance (first as a faux trailer in the Rodriguez/Tarantino double feature Grindhouse, then later in his own full-length spin-off), Machete – played by the always great Danny Trejo – is recruited by the U.S. government to take down an arms dealer.

I loved the faux trailer and was mildly amused by the first film, not sure the gimmick has the legs to keep going for another whole movie (or the already rumored threequel, which supposedly send Machete into space!)

Joining Trejo this time around are Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Cuba Gooding Jr., Edward James Olmos, Demian Bichir, Amber Heard, Jessica Alba, Sophia Vegara, Vanessa Hudgens, Lady Gaga, and Antonio Banderas. Machete Kills his way into theaters September 13.

Second is Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen’s annual appearance at the movie theater this year.  

Now I love Woody Allen, but even his most ardent fans cannot deny his spotty filmography over the past decade-plus. For every Match Point or Midnight in Paris, there is an Anything Else and You Will Meet a Talk Dark Stranger. But this new trailer looks promising, but then again, so did some of the others. I will always have faith in Woody to come through every now and then, but I am realistic – hopefully this one ends up in the plus column.

As usual, Allen has packed the film with a star-studded cast, including Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Louis C.K., Michael Stuhlbarg, Sally Hawkins, and Andrew Dice Clay. Blue Jasmine graces theaters June 26.

Check out more new movie trailers after the jump:

Third we have The To Do List, a rare, female-centric foray into the teen sex comedy sub-genre.

I will go ahead and admit that I have a tremendous crush on Aubrey Plaza, thanks to Parks & Rec, Safety Not Guaranteed, and everything else featuring her trademark deadpan/slightly mean style of comedy. So I am all in for this movie regardless, but thankfully, it also looks really funny and great throwback to the genre’s classic ‘80s-'90s roots.

Sure to bring in a lot of laughs, the rest of the cast includes Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Donald Glover, Rachel Bilson, Johnny Simmons, Alia Shawkat, Connie Britton, and Clark Gregg. See The To Do List in theaters July 26.

Next is the sales trailer/sizzle reel for A Most Wanted Man, a film you might not of have heard of yet, but be glad you have now.

No embed is available, so check out the trailer here.

There are several reason why you should be excited for this film: 1) it looks awesome – atmospheric and tense, 2) it is based on a novel by the fantastic John le Carré, 3) it is directed by Anton Corbijn (whose previous films Control and The American were both excellent), and 4) Phillip Seymour Hoffman rocking a serious German accent.

Hoffman is joined by Willem Dafoe, Robine Wright, Rachel McAdams, and Daniel Bruhl. A Most Wanted Man comes to theaters November 22.

  

Then we have a new film from Luc Besson – The Family, starring Robert De Niro as the legendary actor looks to continue his resurgence after last year’s delightful Silver Linings Playbook.

Besson (Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita) assembles a strong cast around De Niro for this intriguing looking film, including Tommy Lee Jones, Michel Pfeiffer, and Dianna Agron. The Family is due in theaters September 20.

 

Next up, we have two sequels to two reasonably successful films – Insidious: Chapter 2 and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Both of which (the originals) I moderately liked, but don’t really remember that well.

Picking up where the last left off, Insidious 2 again stars Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne as parents to a child haunted by an evil spirit. Barbara Hershey, Lin Shaye, and child actor Ty Simpkins also return.

 

Based on the popular book series, this second entry in the modern day Greek gods tale also returns many of the original’s stars, such as Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, and Sean Bean, while adding Nathan Fillion, Missi Pyle, and Stanley Tucci. 

Both films look okay and worthy follow-ups, but neither have me counting down the days until they hit theaters. Insidious 2 comes to theaters September 13 and Percy Jackson 2 hits August 7.

Still with me? Okay, next up is Paranoia, a thriller set in highest level of the business world. The film stars Liam Hemsworth, Amber Heard, Harrison Ford, and Gary Oldman.

Looks okay, nothing particularly exciting, but it could possibly be a nice break from the typical summer blockbusters. Paranoia hits theaters August 16.

Then we have Getaway, which looks kind of awful, but hey, you never know.

An apparent mash-up of Taken and Gone in 60 Seconds, The Getaway stars Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez as a former racecar driver and . . . a young car thief apparently (yeah, I’m not buying it) – and probably the least unconvincing action movie duo ever. Getaway drives into theaters.

And finally, we have trailer #10 and the last for this week – Filth, starring James McAvoy as a bipolar, bigoted junkie cop and  has what may already be the best poster I have seen all year.

Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting), the film looks like a frantic and fun, British version of Bad Lieutenant (both the original Harvey Keitel version and the quasi-remake Nic Cage one). I also like to see McAvoy branching out a taking on a bit of wilder, off-kilter role than he is used to.

Filth also stars Jamie Bell, Eddie Marson, Imogen Poots, Shirley Henderson, and Jim Broadbent. It hits theaters September 27.