Watch: Haunting, Moving Trailer For 'The Impossible' With Ewan McGregor & Naomi Watts

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by Kevin Jagernauth
August 20, 2012 6:03 PM
16 Comments

We've seen a few Spanish language spots for Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Impossible" but none have landed with quite the impact (forgive the pun) for the latest domestic spot, one that makes a serious case that we could be looking at an Oscar contender here. Certainly, Summit hopes so.

Starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts, the film tells the true story of a family on vacation in Thailand in 2004, when the devastating tsunami rips them apart, putting them on a perilous path of survival. The trailer hits all the right notes: terrifying, emotional and tremendously moving, without feeling like it's exploiting a tragedy for easy awards season tears and awards. Hell, even the Damien Rice cover of U2's "One" feels spot on.

"The Impossible" will premiere at TIFF and open in limited release on December 21st. Watch below.

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More: The Impossible, Film Trailers

16 Comments

| Reply
hank | August 21, 2012 10:19 PMReply

NAOMI
steandric | August 21, 2012 5:57 PMReply

The actress is listed BEFORE the actor.
jingmei | August 21, 2012 11:20 AMReply

This is just fucking moving. I just burst into tears after watching its trailer which gets the top rating. Needless to remember Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts in Stay back to 2005, with Ryan Gosling. P.S. Some people comment here get some issues.
steandric | August 21, 2012 6:36 AMReply

Sorry and again, this film is with, and starring Naomi Watts (in the lead), and Ewan McGregor, as clearly pronounced in the trailer and all promotional posters and banners. Stop snubbing the actress time and again from credits properly due to and deserved by her. As a media you should report correctly and without prejudice.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2061o2p.jpg
what a freak | August 21, 2012 10:21 AM

psychopath. Just a idol-obsessed fan site. They wouldn't care otherwise.
Mike | August 21, 2012 10:11 AM

Where do you come from every time The Playlist talks about this movie? Are you doing this on other outlets' articles too? Get a life. It's a toss up, the two of them are clearly co-leads.
Eithan | August 21, 2012 1:46 AMReply

There's only one problem. There was that Clint Eastwood film. Anything else seems like a poor attempt to immitate that fabulous scene. It doesn't work.
Trash Head | August 21, 2012 1:06 AMReply

WHITE PEOPLE
Bogart | August 20, 2012 10:49 PMReply

As much as the comments regarding the film/ trailer appearing to 'almost entirely focus on the white-people' are valid... it's probably worth noting that if it had instead been centered on a South East Asian couple, there would be none of the scale or scope that a large budget afforded by casting two established Hollywood stars. The only other option I could see would be to go the 'Babel' route with multiple storylines and arcs - of which I'm not a fan. I feel it would dilute the emotional and physical journey you're embedded with. But hey, it's just my two cents.
Mark | August 20, 2012 9:43 PMReply

This has Oscar written all over it! Naomi looks amazing. She's been snubbed so many times, especially for Mulholland Dr.
James | August 20, 2012 9:01 PMReply

Yeah forget about the hundreds of thousands of coloured people that got killed and their lives destroyed, there were white people there!
Yod - telling it like it is | August 21, 2012 12:03 AM

There have been several movies and documentaries already showing the effects this had on locals. Don't blame white people if you don't care enough to watch those.
N | August 20, 2012 8:43 PMReply

Looks like some rich white people had their vacation ruined!
In all seriousness though, the only Thai character in that trailer was that old lady for Naomi Watts to put her pretty blond head on. Disgusting.
anon | August 20, 2012 11:51 PM

protect the white man's prize at all costs!
hank | August 20, 2012 8:16 PMReply

"In 2004 tragedy struck SouthEast Asia and white people were there." Yeah, spot on.
triguous | August 20, 2012 6:43 PMReply

Wow.