Trailer Tuesday: The Irishman, Mindhunter and a star-studded war drama

Taika Waititi as imaginary Adolf Hitler who helps a little boy to get away from his blind nationalism – that was the topic of my Trailer Tuesday survey last week.

I wanted to know what your opinion is on Waititi's controversially discussed role. And that's how you voted:

Most of you share the opinion that satire needs to be controversial and bold, that’s it!

What's on this week's Trailer Tuesday? There's the sequel to the outstanding first season of «Mindhunters» and directing genius Martin Scorsese, who has produced a movie exclusively for Netflix. Or a bloodthirsty trailer for «Little Monsters», the next zombie comedy. Also worth seeing are the First World War drama by director Sam Mendes and «Queen & Slim», a «Bonnie & Clyde» story with serious potential.

Mindhunter, season 2

In America in the 1970s, a time when criminal psychology is still in its infancy, two FBI agents (Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany) are convinced that understanding the psyche of crazy psycho killers is key to stopping them.

«Mindhunter» is one of the most popular Netflix series ever. It’s based on John E. Douglas’ book «Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit». Douglas himself was one of the first profilers of the FBI, questioned numerous mass and serial killers and had a decisive influence on the science of criminal psychology.

If you haven't seen season 1 yet, you better catch up. Everyone is going to be talking about «Mindhunter» again in two weeks’ time.

Start date: 16 August 2019, Netflix

The Irishman

In post-war America, Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) was an Irish World War II veteran who became a mafioso and contract killer. During his active time, he worked with some of the most notorious personalities of the 20th century. One of them was Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), a union leader with connections to organised crime. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances that have never been fully resolved to this day.

Filmmaking legend Martin Scorsese, who knows exactly how Mafioso movies work – «Good Fellas» and «The Departed», anyone? – is taking care of this production. What's special is that he's making the film exclusively for Netflix. Even more special is that «The Irishman» is shown in the cinema for a very limited time a few weeks before it’s released on Netflix. Why? This is a prerequisite for the film to be nominated for an Oscar later on in the year.

Start date: Autumn 2019, in the cinema and on Netflix

Little Monsters

Dave (Alexander England) is a washed-up musician who volunteers to chaperone his nephew's kindergarten trip to the zoo. Why? He’s taken a serious liking to the fearless schoolteacher, Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o). However, when they arrive, they meet the famous children's show musician Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad), who also fancies Miss Caroline. While the two compete for the teacher's affection, there’s an unexpected zombie outbreak. Oops.

First Jim Jarmusch’s «The Dead Don’t Die», then «Zombieland: Double Tap» and now «Little Monsters» – 2019 is full of unconventional, weird zombie comedies. My opinion? Okay, but a bit stale.

Release date in Swiss cinemas: 15 November 2019

1917

Director Sam Mendes is best known for two films: Oscar-winning «American Beauty» and critic and audience favourite «James Bond: Skyfall». After the less popular movie «James Bond: Spectre», he took a four-year break from directing. Too long if you ask me. I’m a big fan of the British director.

But let’s talk about the movie: «1917» is a star-studded war movie that’s set during the First World War. It shows two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) who are on a seemingly impossible mission: they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack by hundreds of soldiers, Blake’s own brother among them. A massacre is imminent.

Release date in Swiss cinemas: 16 January 2020

Queen & Slim

A black couple is pulled over for a minor traffic infraction by a white policeman. The driver is asked to get out of the car. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defence while the entire scene is captured on video. The video goes viral. From now on, the couple is on the run and unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country.

«Queen & Slim» seems to follow in the footsteps of «Bonnie & Clyde», but combines the story with the explosiveness of the racism debate. Could be great or dreadful, depending on how nuanced the story is told and the message is deeper than «why don't we all just love each other». I'm curious.

Release date in Swiss cinemas: 23 April 2020

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