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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November 12

Slumdog Millionaire

November 14

A Christmas Tale

B.O.H.I.C.A.

Dostana

The Dukes

Eden

House of the Sleeping Beauties

How About You

Quantum of Solace

We are Wizards

November 21

The Betrayal

November 30

New Toronto additions

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Of all the new Toronto Film Festival films announced today, the most intriguing (for me) is Alan Ball's Nothing is Private, a Scott Rudin production that has no distributor as of this writing. I read the script last April and called it "a very solid and sharply observed thing, and sexually audacious as the dickens."

Actually I was only describing the first 55 pages, which was all I'd read at that point. But I finished it the next day, and if anything my admiration gained. It may not be a monumental film (whatever that means), but it had, on paper, a feeling of discipline, completeness and clarity of character.

Based on Alicia Erian's "Towelhead" and costarring Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Peter Macdissi, Toni Collette and Eugene Jones, it's about a 13 year-old half-Arab, half-Irish girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil, said to be exceptional in the part) getting sexually involved with two older guys while living with her strict Lebanese father in Houston in the early '90s.

The other films locked into Toronto are Julian Schanbel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (beautifully made with rivers of feeling, but also a film that makes you wish it would end sooner); Tony Gilroy's Michael Clayton (George Clooney in the lead role), Gavin Hood's Rendition (Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep); Neil Jordan's The Brave One (Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard); Terry George's Reservation Road (Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly), and Peter Greenaway's Nightwatching.

Mangold will be first<< previous | next >>More Sopranos sidestepping

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 10, 2007 at 5:09 PM

comment #1

BurmaShave says ...

Just wish she were better looking.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 10, 2007 5:36 PM

comment #2

gruver1 says ...

Wells to BurmaShave: I think I'm speaking for tens of thousands in saying "what?"

Posted by gruver1 at July 10, 2007 5:42 PM

comment #3

renorambler says ...

I saw the preview for The Brave One last week and it came across very well judging from the audience reaction. Foster seems to be a pretty good judge of projects so this looks like something to look forward to this fall.

Posted by renorambler at July 10, 2007 5:47 PM

comment #4

IClavdivs says ...

I really, really hope that Margot At The Wedding goes to Toronto but if not there then Venice or NY!

Posted by IClavdivs at July 10, 2007 5:54 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

Burma to Wells: Sarcasm. I'm kind of embarassed for you. I don't know how many thousands I'm speaking for though.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 10, 2007 5:56 PM

comment #6

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Burma Shave: Oh...me slow.

Posted by gruver1 at July 10, 2007 6:13 PM

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

Burma to Wells: Don't doubt now that I think about it I won't find several flaws in her face that make her hideous to me. Just ask any of my Ex-Girlfriends.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 10, 2007 6:17 PM

comment #8

Walter Sobchak says ...

......uh........(gulp).....I'm sorry.... what are we talking about here?

anyone know CPR?

Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 10, 2007 6:18 PM

comment #9

erniesouchak says ...

I suspect Alan Ball is the only reason Sam Mendes is still getting work in Hollywood.

Posted by erniesouchak at July 10, 2007 6:24 PM

comment #10

Josh Massey says ...

Burma: You've been on a roll today. Seriously. Two or three actual laugh-out-loud posts.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 10, 2007 6:42 PM

comment #11

lazarus says ...

Just thought I'd let everyone off the hook: she's actually 19 in real life, not 13. So feel free to keep...drooling.

Posted by lazarus at July 10, 2007 6:53 PM

comment #12

malibugigolo says ...

"Wells to Burma Shave: Oh...me slow."

Gigolo to WELLS: No need to talk about sexual sinuses on here

Posted by malibugigolo at July 10, 2007 7:28 PM

comment #13

alynch says ...

"Just thought I'd let everyone off the hook: she's actually 19 in real life, not 13. So feel free to keep...drooling."
The real inner-conflict will come with the movie. Is it okay to drool over her while she's playing a 13-year old? An interesting ethical equation.

Posted by alynch at July 10, 2007 8:16 PM

comment #14

corey3rd says ...

I refuse to comment on the photo for fear that Chris Hansen from Dateline will arrive in my kitchen.

Posted by corey3rd at July 10, 2007 8:17 PM

comment #15

lazarus says ...

"Who's that wine for, corey? You having a little party?"

Our camera crew is waiting in the other room, in case you had any thoughts of trying to escape out the back.

Posted by lazarus at July 10, 2007 8:29 PM

comment #16

Wrecktum says ...

No distributor? Maybe Rudin's relationship with Miramax will push it over there. Miramax showed with The Queen last year that they can run an effective Oscar campaign without the Weinsteins.

Posted by Wrecktum at July 10, 2007 9:07 PM

comment #17

malibugigolo says ...

"Scott Rudin production that has no distributor as of this writing"

I wonder....
And RUDIN is just so CHARMING...

what about Margaret by Kenny Lonergan?
Heard Rudin has shit over anyone at Fox.
Rudin is a solid dramaturge at the taste and pre- production end, but getting out it there, he's become like Harvey....a bad cyst that no one wants to deal with. "This and That" has been trying to deal with Scott and his bombastic insolence...

Good luck Alan Ball and Kenny! You will need it!

Posted by malibugigolo at July 10, 2007 9:52 PM

comment #18