There’s an old adage which states that comedians make for the best dramatic actors, because it’s actually comedy that’s hard. Looking back at decades and decades of film and television, you’d be surprised how often this holds up to be true (not always though). We’re about to see if the same can be said about Paul Rudd in the upcoming biopic The Catcher Was A Spy. The first trailer for it dropped early yesterday evening. Have a look below.
If for some reason you aren’t able to view the trailer, here’s the official synopsis:
“A Jewish, Princeton-educated, multilingual catcher for the Boston Red Sox with a closely-guarded private life, the enigmatic Berg (Paul Rudd) was something of a man of mystery. In 1944, the US government’s wartime intelligence agency came to enlist his services. His mission: go behind enemy lines in Europe to assassinate the Nazi’s chief nuclear scientist before the Germans develop an atomic bomb. Trading in his catcher’s mitt for a trench coat, Berg must rely on his formidable, steel-trap intellect in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse—with the fate of the world hanging in the balance”
Gotta admit, that hook on its own is rather intriguing. By then backing it up with the “based on a true story” element means this is likely to pull in all kinds of moviegoers. Or at least it will to speak to dads everywhere, looking to fill their WWII movie itch. I mean, they even grabbed Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan) to write the script! And Moe Berg played for the Boston Red Sox! How does that not grab a dad’s attention?
Along with the trailer IFC released a few still from Catcher. Regardless of how you all may feel about the subject matter, or prospect of Rudd as a dramatic wartime lead, at least we can all agree this movie will look stunning. Plus with a cast that includes Jeff Daniels, Paul Giamatti, Mark Strong, Guy Pearce and Sienna Miller, it’s kind of hard to imagine the movie will strike out.
The Catcher Was a Spy had its premiere earlier in the year at Sundance, where IFC Films managed to snatch it up. Initial reviews weren’t too overly glowing, though the worst thing any of them called the film was “low-key. That’s not a dirty word in the least and even benefits a movie of this subject matter and pedigree. Either way we’re sure to find out soon enough, as the film opens wide on June 22nd. If you’re feeling extra saucy wait 2 weeks after the film’s release and have yourself a Rudd double-pay (err…feature) when Ant-Man & The Wasp comes out!
