2010: Top 10 Favourite Trailers Of The Year

Words: Saam Das

I really quite enjoy watching trailers and am always a bit gutted if I turn up to the cinema a bit late and end up missing most of them. Although nowadays that doesn't matter as much as trailers are all over the internet, often before they're even screened in cinemas. That makes visiting the cinema a little less special than before but also means I can gleefully point you to my ten favourite trailers from 2010.

Some of your favourites might be missing from my list (if you're a bit of an arthouse lover, the recent trailer to Terence Malick's 'The Tree Of Life' might be noticeably absent) so do mention them in the comments. Otherwise, I'll assume your wholehearted support of my undoubtedly stupendous list. Which comes complete with embedded trailers below the jump break.

#10 'A Single Man'

I consulted Twitter when putting together this list and one of the FG writers, Alicia got back to me to remind me about the brilliant trailer to 'A Single Man'. So I had to pop that in the list. Here's what she said about it in her review of the film: "The juxtaposition of Matthew Goode's character lying dead on the snow surrounded by blood, with Colin Firth in bed surrounded by black ink is one of the most spectacular things ever committed to screen."

#9 'Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer'

You might argue that this isn't even a trailer. Or at least not one I should be putting in a list like this. But it's my list and I'll do whatever I want to do. Oddly removed from the original video posting I wrote about in March but still in all its pseudo-Oscar winning glory above. Irreverent humourless comment on said video.

#8 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World'

It's a real shame that Scott Pilgrim bombed at the box office as it was a vibrant, sugar rush of a film that deserved better. It even surprisingly beat out the likes of 'Inception' and 'A Prophet' in our collated film blogger poll. This teaser showed off the colourful nature of the film, capturing its video game leanings and witty dialogue, and reasserting my faith in Edgar Wright.

#7 'The Killer Inside Me'

I bigged up the 'Machete' trailer more than this when I wrote about both back in May but Casey Affleck's menacing stature has stayed with me far longer. Haunting. Quite bizarre to note that director Michael Winterbottom went from this visceral film (particularly controversial for its violence against women) onto the Coogan-Brydon BBC comedy 'The Trip'.

#6 'EM'

Probably a massive surprise to anyone who missed out on this when I first wrote about it in April. "The trailer is cut brilliantly and in my mind, 'EM' is a bit like 'The Matrix' meets 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' with a splash of David Lynch." I'm not really sure what happened to the film as the trailer's only had 300 more views since I first mentioned it.

#5 'Transformers: The Dark Side Of The Moon'

Peoples of the internet were up in arms about the new 'Transformers 3' teaser. I'm a Michael Bay apologist so I had no problems with it at all. In fact, much the opposite. Although even I'll admit that the second Transformers film was utterly awful. But I love the fact that they've gone for a revisionist history with this new film, highlighting what the original moon landing mission was actually all about...

#4 'Rubber'

A film about a rubber tyre that can kill things telepathically, made by Mr Oizo. Yeah, THAT Mr Oizo. I shit you not, good people. What's more the film actually looked like it could be something brilliant from a 30 second teaser. Unfortunately, the subsequent clips haven't been as promising but in my head, at least, this is an amazing film.

#3 'Inception'

So the first 'Inception' trailer was pretty underwhelming. Then came along the second trailer. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMM. Pretty mind-blowing. Explaining the plot well and showing off the gravity-bending special effects on offer, this trailer was the perfect demonstration that 'Inception' could be the film which we all hoped for. Special mention to for Zack Hemsey's thrilling 'Mind Heist', which soundtracked the trailer, and the final line of dialogue: "You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

#2 'The Social Network'

The melodramatic clips depicting Fincher and Sorkin's take on the origins of Facebook are complemented perfectly with Radiohead's 'Creep' - except it's a choral version but same difference. Too good. Until, of course, this (spoilerrific) parody trailer came along and bested it. "DID YOU JUST QUOTE 'THE GOONIES'?"

#1 '127 Hours'

If only Danny Boyle kept the camera a bit more still, I might have really enjoyed '127 Hours'. It's still pretty decent though. Shame the trailer's actually better than the film. The tonal change halfway through the trailer when 'Funeral' by Band Of Horses kicks in is incredible. And then that end tagline...."There is no force on Earth more powerful than the will to live." *weeps*

*****

For a bonus treat and because I presume this is the last 2010 "best of" thing I'll be compiling, here's a wonderfully edited compilation of 2010 films: