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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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"Oceans 13" trailer

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The just-posted trailer for Ocean's 13, rated PG-13 for "brief sensuality." And George Clooney has written directly to Radar and denied having anything to do, even indirectly, with getting those Huckabees clips circulated, and offers "a million bucks to anyone who can prove otherwise."

Defamer on the poem<< previous | next >>"The Silence"

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 29, 2007 at 7:38 PM

comment #1

Mgmax says ...

I just got a call from one of those tracking survey folks. (I mention it here because they mentioned Oceans 13.) It was an interesting experience. I have a feeling I'm the outlier, inasmuch as I had strong desire to see Reign O'er Me and Grindhouse, and none at all to see Shrek 2 or Pirates of the Caribbean 33-1/3... I learned that there are a lot of "stars" who I am expected to want to see in movies when in fact I have no idea (Shea LaBoof, Mekky Fifer) who the hell they are. And I learned that I no longer learn anything about movies from TV ads, TV reviews, talk shows, MTV, radio ads, newspapers, magazines, or any of the other ways I used to, but now I get it all from sites like this one. Jeffrey, you'll be glad to know that I cited H-E by name a couple of times-- entirely truthfully, the questions were about Grindhouse and The Lookout-- and made sure he took down your site as where I get a large part of my movie info. The ad dollars should start raining from the sky shortly.

Posted by Mgmax at March 29, 2007 7:57 PM

comment #2

Mgmax says ...

Some movie stars someone named Stone Cold Steve Austin. I know there's Stone Phillips and all, but what kind of mother gives her child the first name Stone and the middle name Cold? That's just not thinking.

Posted by Mgmax at March 29, 2007 7:59 PM

comment #3

jeffmcm says ...

His first name is Stone and his nickname is "Cold Steve" because he used to work in an ice cream store.

Posted by jeffmcm at March 29, 2007 8:21 PM

comment #4

Geoff says ...

I really dig the trailer. This one looks good. And I really loathe Ocean's 12. BTW, those glimpses of superimposed numbers floating above everyone's head on the casino floor--is that condsidered a Fincher trademark? I'm thinking of Fight Club of course, but there's also that great montage in Zodiac with the detectives walking through the newspaper room.

Posted by Geoff at March 29, 2007 8:34 PM

comment #5

Ford_Fletcher says ...

Ocean's Twelve is better than Ocean's Eleven. It feels jazzier, looser, more soulful, and more alive (i.e. messy in this instance) than the almost oppressively clock-work "hi-jinks" of Eleven. I can't help but feel the casino location (vs. European streets and mansions) of Eleven had something to do with this, and probably why this trailer doesn't excite.

Posted by Ford_Fletcher at March 29, 2007 8:52 PM

comment #6

Geoff says ...

Jazzy, loose, soulful. All things that Ocean's 11 had. But Ocean's 12 pushed it too far. Alive? It all felt boring and dead to me. "Let's party at Clooney's pad when we're done with this cakewalk," is what I got from it.

Posted by Geoff at March 29, 2007 8:59 PM

comment #7

jeffmcm says ...

I agree with Ford Fletcher. 11 felt forced, too constrained by the plot of the old movie. 12 was lighter on its feet, insouciant. "Let's party at Clooney's" indeed, and we were all invited.

Posted by jeffmcm at March 29, 2007 10:50 PM

comment #8

JD says ...

I third the sentiments of Ford and jeffmcm. Ocean's Twelve may be Soderbergh's most formally accomplished work to date. The script wasn't very good, but as an exercise in big budget self indulgence, it was pretty great.

Posted by JD at March 29, 2007 11:12 PM

comment #9

D.Z. says ...

Russel's next project:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic8a667db1a35f3a0cc4564cd7d8077f7

Posted by D.Z. at March 30, 2007 2:22 AM

comment #10

Josh Massey says ...

Wow, I didn't think anybody alive could think the trainwreck of Ocean's 12 was even in the same league as its predecessor.

Posted by Josh Massey at March 30, 2007 5:17 AM

comment #11

DavidF says ...

I don't think 12 was as good as 11 - it's a bit too convoluted and self-indulgent for that.
But it's still pretty fun silly movie that doesn't credit for its subversiveness (probably because it goes a bit off-track eventually). I mean, most of the heists don't even make sense and by the time you get the French guy using music to dance around the lasers...maybe it took the self pardoy too far?
Perhaps the big 12 thing is that people have to be divided into those who liked the Julia Roberts gag and those who thought it was the dumbest made-up-on-the-spot thing they've seen.

Posted by DavidF at March 30, 2007 6:34 AM

comment #12

dre says ...

I like the original (original Clooney one that is) a little better but Ocean's 12 is just as good a movie. Jazzier, looser, more soulful indeed. Artier too. I like what they did in that flick and they definitely didn't repeat themselves.

Posted by dre at March 30, 2007 6:37 AM

comment #13

Rich S. says ...

I've always thought of the Ocean's movies as the Clooney-crowd's version of the Cannonball Run flicks. I.E. They are an excuse to get together with friends and goof off while the cameras are running. They're better made than the CR flicks, but just about as fluffy.

Posted by Rich S. at March 30, 2007 7:35 AM

comment #14

Mgmax says ...

"I've always thought of the Ocean's movies as the Clooney-crowd's version of the Cannonball Run flicks"

Or of the Rat Pack movies... oh wait...

Posted by Mgmax at March 30, 2007 7:53 AM

comment #15

Breedlove says ...

Everyone seems to hate 'Ocean's 12.' Even the stars speak ill of it. Personally, I really like '11' and '12.' The first one was just a lot of fun, a slick well-done popcorn movie. After seeing the second one a couple of times I really started to get into it. Maybe it's just my wierd sense of humor but I think it's a really funny comedy. When the guys are hanging out and busting each other's balls they say a lot of really wierd, funny shit that feels almost improvised. I laugh my ass off when I watch that movie. Not sure why it has such a bad rep. One thing I will say about Soderbergh: he's one of the best, but my two favorite films of his are 'Out of Sight' and 'Erin Brockovitch.' I wish he would go back and do another one of those soulful, character based movies, with romance and comedy. I think those are what he does best. He seems very focused on Ocean's movies, experimental stuff and very very serious dramas.

Posted by Breedlove at March 30, 2007 7:54 AM

comment #16

cjKennedy says ...

I understand why a lot of people didin't like Ocean's 12, but I don't quite understand the venom directed at it. People act like it was crafted by the devil with evil intent - like they were somehow taken advantage of or bamboozled in some way. You had to know going in pretty much what you were going to get, right?

The first film was tighter and more disciplined, but it wasn't much less self indulgent than the sequel and both were made in the same spirit of 'famous buddies hanging out and having fun' as the Sinatra original.

That kind of thing might not be everyone's cup of tea, but then why'd you go see it in the first place?

Posted by cjKennedy at March 30, 2007 10:01 AM

comment #17

Geoff says ...

Look guys, I can sing Soderbergh praises all day long. 12 had style and all that shit, sure. But my god, the plot of Ocean's 12 was a complete waste of time. You all know what I'm talking about with that stupid egg switcheroo in the backpack. I really couldn't have much fun with it. But it's kind of ironic for me because I have a weakness for style over substance anyways with films.

Posted by Geoff at March 30, 2007 12:02 PM

comment #18

jeffmcm says ...

In a movie like this, plot is really beside the point. Geoff, why were you not able to have fun with it if you are typically susceptible to style over substance? Different kind of style than you usually prefer?

Posted by jeffmcm at March 31, 2007 2:47 AM

comment #19