7) Birdman (Teaser Trailer)
Going into 2014, there was no movie more anticipated in this writer’s book than Birdman. Michael Keaton is one of my favorite actors and the backstage drama is a particular preference, too, so combining the two instantly catapulted the title to the top of my list. Thankfully, this bizarre and brilliant film met my lofty expectations. I was not too surprised, though, considering how well the trailer introduces us to this bold, brazen, bonkers world of celebrity ennui and artifice.
The teaser thrusts us right into this fever dream of a film, written and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. It begins with a slinky long take and a near-unrecognizable Keaton walking toward the camera, hidden under a wily wig and drenched in dark hues. After Keaton’s name appears, the trailers barrels forward with various magic realism elements, which probably confused as many people as it delighted. Glittering lights, falling comets, drum ensembles, CGI birds cawing from the rooftop and manic looks at both Keaton and co-star Edward Norton in their underwear gave us a delicious taste of this delirious dark comedy.
Meanwhile, one cannot mention the trailer without praising the slowed-down take of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” a perfect encapsulation of the dazed, dizzying mayhem that makes this ad work stunningly well. Even if you’re not entirely sure how it all fits together, it is hard to imagine anyone not being enthralled by this offbeat 100 seconds of madness. (Oh, and any trailer that ends in a brawl between Norton and Keaton should automatically end up on a year-end best list. It’s just a general rule.)
