Discland
edited by Jonathan Doyle
Cloverfield [BLU-RAY] (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.3.2008) Disguised under deliberately goofy, yet deliciously edible-sounding, aliases such as Cheese and Slusho, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield was produced and rushed into theaters under an equally appetizing shroud of secrecy. From last year's incredibly elusive Super Bowl ad to the film's viral marketing campaign, Cloverfield had everybody scratching their heads and drooling in anticipation. Aside from the as-yet untitled title and the Blair Witch-ian visual style, the film's biggest appeal was the enigmatic creature who was last (un)seen hurling the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty onto the crowded streets of New York City. All we knew about the mysterious beast was that it was big and angry. Now that the highy-anticipated project has come and gone, one question has fortunately been answered: Cloverfield was a major success. (continued)

Joseph Stefano, R.I.P.

Joseph Stefano, who wrote the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and co-created the '60s sci-fi anthology series The Outer Limits, died on 8.25 at age 84. He was a very bright guy and fun to talk to. (I did a phoner with him six or seven years ago.) When you have a chance watch the 90-minute "Making of Psycho" doc on Universal Home Video's most recent Psycho DVD -- Stefano is interviewed extensively, and it's obvious from the get-go that he's a bright, affable, agreeable sort.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 31, 2006 at 10:02 AM

comment #1

FunkDaddy J Author Profile Page says ...

I know Robert Bloch always felt he didn't get enough credit for writing the original story, but Stefano and Hitchcock really made PSYCHO a shocking, groundbreaking film. I give credit to Bloch for the book, sure, but Stefano and Hitch really knocked this adaptation out of the park.

Posted by FunkDaddy J Author Profile Page at August 31, 2006 10:24 AM

comment #2

christian Author Profile Page says ...

true story: at the austin film fest 99 where stefano was a guest, i watched a young man walk up to him and say, "i love psycho, mr. stefano. have you written anything else?"

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at August 31, 2006 12:09 PM

comment #3

Dixon Steele Author Profile Page says ...

Nice to see Jeff write something nice about someone right after their death without slagging off on their career.

See, Jeff, was that so hard?

Posted by Dixon Steele Author Profile Page at August 31, 2006 1:19 PM

comment #4

Patrick Author Profile Page says ...

He was a total hack, who had one VERY overrated
day in the sun!

Posted by Patrick Author Profile Page at August 31, 2006 5:27 PM

Post a comment