Hey folks, Harry here with another filled to the brim report by Trailer Man. The man with an impossibly short attention span. Unable to watch feature length films. Trailer Man is lurking around out there... And, he's got all the coolness of trailers to back him up.

TRAILER MAN back (ok, ok. calmer, silliness mostly in check) with some advance looks and then a look at a couple of trailers of films scooped this week before even the previews could hit the screen. Gotta work fast on AICN.

LOST SOULS (New Line) Lightly touched on by McMurphy, but worth looking at how paranormal, occult films are being marketed lately. Trailer opens, ominous music and set up of what becomes apparent an exorcism for a "ruthless serial killer"...(hate that... are their nice, considerate serial killers?) John Malkovich is killer in glimpses, and John Hurt a priest. Then the trailer becomes one continued series of quick cuts each ending in a camera warping split or wipe that becomes so annoying rather than the urgency I presume trailer is trying to convey. But through the visual mayhem it does become clear that the killer has willed his soul which is to be Satan himself into the unsuspecting body of Ben Chaplin (looking very prep lawyer like) but fortunately an intrepid Winona Ryder is here to solve and save mankind from the pending evil evidently manifesting at the turn of the Millennium. (Now of course this is redundant since Arnold is on the case in END OF DAYS) Trailer heavily showcases arresting long shots of cathedrals, foggy backlit hallways, tilting camera angles, extreme closeups, of priests while pacing steadily increases to climactic collage of desperate shots of not really much. Disappointing since its all blustery visuals, possibly this being the directorial debut of Janusz Kaminski, (yes, an extraordinary cinematographer whose work for Spielberg's SCHINDLER'S LIST and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN are as integral as John Williams' scoring) may be the cornerstone of otherwise middle brow material. I cannot recall a cinematographer successfully making the leap to directing recently save for Barry Sonnenfeld (ignoring Wild Wild West ) or more so, Caleb Deschanel. So this could be smoke and mirrors at its best. To that end, is pounding pacing and quick cuts ALWAYS necessary? STIR OF ECHOES, THE HAUNTING,...if anything can be learned from the efficient 30 second trailer of BLAIR WITCH and the very effective 6th SENSE, its possible to give audiences a taste of dread and suspense without applying trailer cutting styles reserved for action/adventure pictures. "I see dead people" whispered in agony by the kid in 6th Sense....proof at the boxoffice.... confounding all research.

SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS (Universal) Not unlike the approach of ANGELA'S ASHES, trailer sets a tone of sumptuous, literate, IMPORTANT CINEMA, with reverential voice over of a "love and emotion that knows no limits". Cars establish a 40's period and Ethan Hawke is showcased sharing a relation with an Asian American (could not absorb her name but striking none the less) and then cuts to them as children which does take some paying attention. Flash back, then forward, back again, all the while caressing, soft focus shots of the both exploring their bodies, defying authority, . Then a semblance of a story line, she whose destiny in marriage is to another in her society, he obsessed by her and so wanting. Then some sort of legal issues (Japanese relocation? for a while not so sure) alluding to her husband falsely accused of something and Hawke eager to help. That's it. Okay points for not revealing too much at all, establishing stunning place in time, an impressive supporting cast, Sam Shepard, Max Von Sydow, James Cromwell but then again its angst angst angst. The trailer is clearly aimed at women and those fond of the novel. It is what it is and one of those movies that always open at the end of the year for Academy and Best of Year consideration...nevertheless a bit ham fisted for my taste. As with ASHES, CEDARS trailer lacks electricity leaving both at the mercy of reviews and fans of the books.

DOG PARK (New Line) Okay I did not review last time and instead made fun of what the title headings of its reviews could be. Bruce McCollough from Kids In The Hall directs and co-stars with the impossible fox Natasha Henstridge and Luke Wilson doing his best David Schwimmer shtick of singles meeting while running their dogs at a park. Love and dating served up in all its awkward and funny scenario but nothing new to this genre. Janeane Garofalo in the same role she always plays is winning but only because she has the only two amusing moments. Any edge and irreverence from Kids is not evident here.

PLUNKET AND MACLEAN and BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT- Specialized films (scooped with so so reviews on Tues.) that really try to raise above that stigma of being specialized or art fare. P&M is vying I'm to understand for a semi-wide release. Trailer cannot hide it being a period piece (guessing late1700's) so it does with some degree of success deliver a hip anarchy complete with modern score. Risky because it could fall through the cracks trying for a youth who wouldn't be caught dead in a Robin Hood like story of Highway Men and losing the tweed and deck shoe crowd who resent the juxtoposition of style. Big E for effort though. CAT is a non-stop rip of gags, groin kicking, raucus, absurdity intercut with reviews confirming what your seeing..... Calendar booking in revival houses by end of year and thats being positive.

BANDITS (Stratosphere) OK the last and this is a specialized entry for the Fall as well. But this one grabs you just in it sheer audacity and freshness. In short bursts, the storyline is clearly conveyed. Get this, what seems to start out as a throwback to 50's "women in prison" dramas then reveals an intrepid group of inmates starting a band then becoming a sensation. Lose you here probably... but the trailer felt like La Femme Nikita in all its fantasy and exhilirating story. And while music and voice over reveal a story of estrogen fueled pride and defiance you do see subtitles,,,does not try and fool anyone that this is a foreign language film. And that successfully then becomes a non-issue since what is prsented is kickass. I hear the movie is even pretty good.

DINOSAURS (Walt Disney Pictures) DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY,,,,, even if it takes all night! Speaks volumes....