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)

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Death spasms

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"The Reeler" editor Stu VanAirsdale on the latest death spasms (or certainly downshiftings) of Manhattan's elite downtown film culture establishment, as represented by the ending of annual Village Voice film critic's poll. (The bottom-line Voice management guys probably decided it was too expensive to maintain or too pie-in-the-sky, or both.) But on the heels of interim film editor Allison Benedikt having officially assumed the duties of the deposed Dennis Lim "comes word that Lim is working with indieWIRE to revive a comprehensive year-end survey."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 29, 2006 at 8:20 AM

comment #1

LYTrules says ...

Actually, the LA Weekly is doing a first annual big comprehensive critics poll this year. Same owners as the Voice, so you can't blame it on their tastes.

Posted by LYTrules at November 29, 2006 10:11 AM

comment #2

tholl-yung says ...

Explain that, Luke. And Kid Rock, too, if you can, while you're at it.

Posted by tholl-yung at November 29, 2006 10:57 AM

comment #3

jeffmcm says ...

How is a poll like this, which is basically just an email questionnaire to a bunch of critics, 'too expensive'?

Posted by jeffmcm at November 29, 2006 2:08 PM

comment #4

LYTrules says ...

Explain what? I don't know why they're doing the poll in the Weekly now instead of the Voice -- just that, since both are the same company, it's obviously not because the owners hate the idea. It strikes me as entirely possible that the changeover of editors in NY made it hard to prepare the section there in time, but I'm speculating.

As for Kid Rock...explain him in general? Hell of a talented musician who can play numerous instruments, and possibly the only musician I know who bridges rap, metal, and country. Is he a jerk in person? Heck if I know. But his concerts always give me my money's worth.

Posted by LYTrules at November 29, 2006 3:05 PM