Sony Pictures has released the first trailer for Oscar-winning directorAng Lee’s Iraq War dramaBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Based on the novel of the same name byBen Fountainand shot at an unprecedented 120 frames per second in 4K native 3D, the film revolves around a squad of soldiers being heralded as heroes at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game, as flashbacks reveal what really happened during their harrowing Iraq War battle.
On the surface,Billy Lynnlooks like it has an interesting hook by depicting the brutality of war contrasted against America’s desire for hero-worship with our armed services. However, while this new trailer is plastered with laudatory blurbs, a quick check of Rotten Tomatoes shows that the film is only at 47%, and a lot of the criticisms lobbed against the film are targeted at the decision to shoot the film in 120 frames per second. While I’m still curious to see the movie in this format because it’s the way Lee intended it, it’s more out of curiosity for the technical specifications rather than excitement for the story he’s trying to tell.
Watch the newBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walktrailer below andclick hereto read Brian’s review. The film starsJoe Alwyn,Vin Diesel,Kristen Stewart,Chris Tucker,Garrett Hedlund, andSteve Martin.Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walkopens in theaters on November 11th.
Here’s the official synopsis forBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk:
Three-time Academy Award® winner Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision toBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, the film reveals what really happened to the squad – contrasting the realities of the war with America’s perceptions. The film also stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, with Vin Diesel, and Steve Martin. Lee used new technology, shooting at an ultra-high frame rate for the first time in film history, to create an immersive digital experience helping him dramatize war in a way never seen before.
