If a trailer begins with New Order’s “Blue Monday” and a soundbite from Ronald Regan praising religion followed by shots of cocaine and humping, it’s a safe bet that author Bret Easton Ellis was involved. The Informers is the latest adaptation in Ellis’s bibliography (American Psycho, Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction) and he also co-wrote its screenplay.
Set in Los Angeles during the early ’80s, the movie examines a cornocopia of effed-up, unhappy lives, as played by Kim Basinger, Billy Bob Thorton, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Chris Isaak, and the late Brad Renfro. The book’s supernatural elements were apparently scrapped, but director Gregor Jordan (Ned Kelly) seems to have laid on the period-appropriate gloom, doom and glam. Some will say it looks edgy, others “edgy,” and the rest will say, “I hate the ’80s.” The film opens later this year.
Discuss: Thoughts on the trailer?
August 6th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I think it looks good. Like Billy a lot
August 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Yeah I saw it earlier and loved it. I’m biased for any Bret Easton Ellis work as it is and loved Rules of Attraction. And I can’t wait for this one.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
As a trailer, I really can’t stand it.
It’s 3 minutes and it never really goes anywhere, just various shots of characters in all sorts of horrible situations. I’ve got no idea what the movie’s about, which would be okay if I was at least made curious to find out more.
But I’m not.
It started out with promise, the whole Reagan/Blue Monday thing was great. Then it just went downhill, as it was just 3 minutes of dialogue that held no meaning for me whatsoever.
Give me a reason to care about seeing this movie.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
“too bad they cut the vampire parts”
it’ll be said. i’m quoting them in advance.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
ok yes, exactly. where the fuck are the vampires?
August 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’m all intrigued to see it now. It looks to be good.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I agree with Vincent in that I wanted to have a reason to care. I care by default because of Bret Easton Ellis’s previous work
but as a trailer? Needs more to it (I do mean less though)
August 6th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
@Vincent, you took the words out of my mouth.
Same old story retold in different time and actors.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Wow. This totally doesn’t look like Bret Easton Ellis material.
Lot’s of sex, violence, rich white people, drugs, the 80’s.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
It looks interesting.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I hate the ’80s.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Eating a turd would be better than watching this…
Not that I would want to do that either.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I would love to comment my thoughts on this but the trailer seems to be breaking up everytime I watch it. Is anyone else having this problem? Even is breaking up on Youtube
August 6th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
The beginning of the trailer made me feel like I wanted to get up and dance, but after the accident it all went in a downward spiral of depression. Oddly, in a few shots most of the actors looked really skinny, which I thought was an odd observation to have…lol.
All in all this is the type of movie I would watch. Plus, I like the other movie adaptations of Ellis’ novels.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Finally a film about spoiled emo rich kids crying about their problems in between acting like arrogant self righteous assholes?? And there might be vampires in it too?
AWESOME!
Can I buy my tickets now?
August 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
This film needs to take the approach of full on nihilism, not just a blatant observation of vice.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
This movie looks like an overwhelmingly melodramatic Boogie Nights. And I mean that in the worst possible way
August 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
What a boring trailer. Other than Blue Monday at the beginning there was nothing interesting going on. Either this movie is as dreadful as it seems or someone doesn’t know how to cut a trailer.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Terrible trailer. Drags on and does nothing to interest me. Also, I wasn’t around for much of the 80s, but that really didn’t look like they put much work into getting the style right.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
anyone know the song at the end of this?
August 6th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Uhm… what’s this movie about??? Neither the description nor the trailer let me know…
August 6th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Maybe it’s about the rise and fall of a media hungry family?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
The trailer makes absolutely no sense to me, but I’m intrigued. I’m a fan of Lunar Park and American Psycho–and I just read the word “vampires”–so I’m pretty sure I’ll end up reading the book.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
pretty sad when the most exciting part of a trailer is Kim Bassinger giving a sex moan. Otherwise, this just looks like something we’ve all seen multiple times. Boring stuff.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Interesting that “greed is good” (as seen on the poster) was one of the catch-phrases (and ended up being one of the most famous quotes) from Wall Street, one of the 80’s best movies.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Looks like Less Than Zero with Billy Bob Thorton.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hey look another Great Gatsby
August 6th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
The feel-bad movie of the year! And intriguing is probably the best way to describe this. Might end up being terrible, but the cast is fantastic.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Oh, and was there some male genitalia in that trailer? Red band or not, geez-a-loo.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
You may have to read the book. Each chapter is a different character’s POV, all of their stories are related by how empty they are and their actions are absolutely heinous.
Here’s to Mickey Rourke raping and killing a boy, a kid doing his ex-step-mom, and constantly coked-out insanity.
This is going to blow American Psycho away.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:50 am
I hate the 90s.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Can’t wait.
I need to reread the book though.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:50 am
The trailer looks FANTASTIC and I’m excited to see it.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Nargh, Vincent said it very well.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Well, the promise of Amber Heard’s breasts is enough to lure me to the theater by itself. But I can’t see how this movie is going to be a success without the freaking VAMPIRES! That was the coolest, weirdest, most memorable part of the whole book other than the short story about Tim Price and his dad on vacation (which thankfully looks like it is going to be included).