The first trailer for Dark Waters has arrived from Focus Features. It stars Mark Ruffalo as an attorney for DuPont Chemical who discovers that his company has been nefariously and purposely getting small town residents sick for decades.
Ruffalo, some may have forgotten, is an actor who has made his name in movies just like Dark Waters. You know, low budget, “important” flicks that fire off that Oscar buzz and raise awareness and if all goes well for filmmakers and talent—the film may just change the world. After making many a movie with Marvel as The Hulk, it’s easy to forget that he was the poster child for independent cinema for years (and likely will be for years to come, long after he takes off his motion capture suit for the final time), including the Best Picture Academy Award winner Spotlight back in 2015.
When it comes to corporate evil doers, Hollywood has a long list of flicks that have tackled those who seek to put profit over people (and the planet). For example, Erin Brockovich, which scored Julia Roberts an Academy Award for that real life David versus Goliath tale. The key here is will people turn out in droves (like they did for Brockovich and Spotlight) that will put Dark Waters on the radar for word of mouth to bring up those box office numbers to keep the film on the Oscar voters’ radar.
The thing is, Ruffalo’s latest is set to debut on screens nationally November 22, aka Thanksgiving weekend. Last time I checked, that is not the best release date for those who want anything but a cinematic escape at the least and something to take the entire family to at the most. Hopefully, this thing has some legs and can stretch into early December.
A wild card in this instance is the presence of Todd Haynes. The director of Dark Waters is beloved in Hollywood and by a passionate fan base that turns out for his flicks, regardless its subject matter. Most recently, he gave us Wonderstruck in 2017 and before that, the dazzling Carol in 2015.
Dark Waters also stars Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham and Bill Pullman.