'Fifty Shades of Grey' trailer aims to steam up the screen - Los Angeles Times
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‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trailer aims to steam up the screen

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Shirtless hunk? Check. Quivering heroine? Check. “Red room of pain”? Check.

The first trailer for the erotic drama “Fifty Shades of Grey” has been unveiled, giving hot-under-the-collar fans a glimpse of director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s take on the bestselling novel by E.L. James.

Dakota Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith) stars as Anastasia Steele, a coltish, cardigan-clad college student who finds herself in a steamy affair with Christian Grey, a handsome but controlling billionaire played by model-turned-actor Jamie Dornan.

At one point, the kinky tycoon warns Anastasia that he doesn’t “do romance,” but the video has its share of passionate kisses, pregnant pauses and lines like, “I’m incapable of leaving you alone.” (Her reply: “Then don’t.”)

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The whole thing is set to a breathy, slowed-down version of Beyonce’s 2003 hit “Crazy in Love,” which she recorded for the film and teased via her Instagram account a few days ago.

Although the trailer features some suggestive moments — culminating in a shot of a shackled, blindfolded Anastasia gasping — it’s still relatively tame compared with scenes described in James’ S&M-heavy book (which, incidentally, originated as a piece of self-published “Twilight” fan fiction).

Indeed, the trailer highlights the challenge Universal Pictures faces in balancing the movie’s romantic and carnal elements.

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“Fifty Shades of Grey” arrives in theaters Valentine’s Day weekend 2015.

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