Remember that precocious little redhead who sand about the sun coming out tomorrow, thereby winning the "safest bet song" award, who went by the name of Annie? Well, she's coming back and her hair is enormous. The Broadway musical classic inspired by the 1920s comic strip will be hitting the big screen for the third time ever, however this latest version has come through with a contemporary setting for the world's favourite orphan... or second favourite after Harry Potter, I guess. Not that it's a competition, though... never mind.
In this new film adaptation, co-produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z amongst others, Annie is played by Quvenzhané Wallis, the adorable and very talented youngster who earned herself an Oscar nomination for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Joined by the likes of Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, this is already set to be a pretty solid effort and a big hit for Christmas. But how does it look?
Well, as evidenced by the new trailer that's just landed, it looks not too bad. Yes, it's cutesy and twee, but it's Annie, so that's to be expected. What is actually rather impressive is that it doesn't feel like a stage show that's been put in front of a camera, like so many other film versions of musicals do. This Annie feels like a movie, like it fills the reality and space afforded to it by the silver screen. And everyone is game, though it's still clear that Wallis owns the space.
What is interesting is that, aside from one throwaway line, the trailer gives no real indication that it is a musical. No singing, no reference to big numbers. If a person didn't know better, they'd think it was a straight family flick. Interesting choice, since that could perhaps be how they intend to market the film, though we'll see if subsequent trailers stick with this tactic or rectify it.
Either way, the film'll come out at Christmas.
In this new film adaptation, co-produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z amongst others, Annie is played by Quvenzhané Wallis, the adorable and very talented youngster who earned herself an Oscar nomination for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Joined by the likes of Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, this is already set to be a pretty solid effort and a big hit for Christmas. But how does it look?
Well, as evidenced by the new trailer that's just landed, it looks not too bad. Yes, it's cutesy and twee, but it's Annie, so that's to be expected. What is actually rather impressive is that it doesn't feel like a stage show that's been put in front of a camera, like so many other film versions of musicals do. This Annie feels like a movie, like it fills the reality and space afforded to it by the silver screen. And everyone is game, though it's still clear that Wallis owns the space.
What is interesting is that, aside from one throwaway line, the trailer gives no real indication that it is a musical. No singing, no reference to big numbers. If a person didn't know better, they'd think it was a straight family flick. Interesting choice, since that could perhaps be how they intend to market the film, though we'll see if subsequent trailers stick with this tactic or rectify it.
Either way, the film'll come out at Christmas.