It's been a few years since Ang Lee won Best Director for his 3D CGI marvel, Life of Pi, and the big question has been if he planned to break new ground once again with his adaptation of bestselling novel, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. The source material doesn't necessarily call for grand visual spectacle, but Lee has found a way to push new boundaries by shooting the film in 120fps, giving it a hyper-realistic look. If that doesn't sound like a big deal, just remember that Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films were shot in 48fps, and not everyone was a fan. So how did it turn out for Lee? Check out the first trailer and judge for yourself.
Based on Ben Fountain's acclaimed novel, the story centers on a squad of Iraq War soldiers given a hero's welcome during a Thanksgiving Day football game. Through flashbacks seen through the eyes of 19-year-old Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn), we see the reality of what really happened to get them there, and of course the reality rarely matches up with America's perceptions.
Lee has gathered an unusual mix of superstars for this one: Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, Chris Tucker, Steve Martin, Garrett Hedlund, Astro, Beau Knapp, Ben Platt, and Tim Blake Nelson all have a part in the dramatic ensemble. Fountain's novel has often been described as a "war satire" but nothing satirical can be found in this footage. Hopefully future cuts will give us a glimpse at its sense of humor, because we already know they want to position it as a serious awards-contending drama. It's also worth nothing this is Stewart's second military drama in the last couple of years, following her underrated performance in Camp X-Ray.
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk opens November 11th.
