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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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HR's Defore on "Blood"

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Hollywood Reporter guy John Defore was also at the Austin Draft House last night, and he's written that the fans of There Will be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson "might not know what to do with this picture, which has none of the attention-grabbing flourishes of earlier films -- no hailstorms of frogs or deus ex machina pianos here.

"The closest it gets to self-conscious showiness is its closing scene, a confrontation as memorably strange as the fireworks-popping, 'Jessie's Girl"-belting drug deal in Boogie Nights. Its setting is as visually spare (a highlight of Jack Fisk's brilliant production design) as the other was decadent and cluttered, and eventually the scene makes good on the title's promise -- but only after offering a virtuoso humiliation to mirror one that Daniel Day Lewis's character suffers earlier in the story."

I was told on 9.19 that a Blood screening would happen sometime during Fantastic Fest. I was skeptical at the time.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 28, 2007 at 4:34 PM

comment #1

Unison says ...

What? No. Re-read it.

"Director Anderson's critics might not know what to do with this picture, which has none of the attention-grabbing flourishes of earlier films"

It's an unqualified rave.

Posted by Unison at September 28, 2007 4:51 PM

comment #2

TheJeff says ...

"Director Anderson's critics might not know what to do with this picture, which has none of the attention-grabbing flourishes of earlier films"

Poor Ian.

Posted by TheJeff at September 28, 2007 5:49 PM

comment #3

Aladdin Sane says ...

Screw Ian.

Go PTA!

Posted by Aladdin Sane at September 28, 2007 5:56 PM

comment #4

lazarus says ...

Not that anyone is going to take this very seriously, but Harry's absolute rave is up on AICN. In addition to referencing Giant & Citizen Kane like everyone else, he brings up Ace in the Hole in comparing Kirk Douglas' character to DDL's. A good read. for those that appreciate Harry's enthusiasm, as I do.

Posted by lazarus at September 28, 2007 6:00 PM

comment #5

source188 says ...

Oh come on! I can't take all this hyperbole anymore. This film must be released now!

Posted by source188 at September 28, 2007 6:03 PM

comment #6

MASON says ...

This will be Poland's whipping boy. He will do everything he can to bring it down.

Posted by MASON at September 28, 2007 6:08 PM

comment #7

Hatheru says ...

Actually, it was "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger, not "Jessie's Girl" in the fireworks n' drugs scene in "Boogie Nights." MOTORIN'!!!

Posted by Hatheru at September 28, 2007 6:37 PM

comment #8

Jack Price says ...

"I BROKE you and then I BEAT you!"

Posted by Jack Price at September 28, 2007 6:57 PM

comment #9

DavidF says ...

Actually, Hatheru, it's "Sister Christian" AND "Jessie's Girl" in that scene. Remember - the mix tape hits the end and then there is an ominous pause before it auto-flips and starts the new song.

Posted by DavidF at September 28, 2007 7:01 PM

comment #10

Geoff says ...

I would argue that the use of JESSIE'S GIRL is just as brilliant as SISTER CHRISTIAN. That long close-up on Mark Wahlberg's face that silently screams "How did I get here? I fucking NEED to get out of here," is awesome.

Posted by Geoff at September 28, 2007 7:54 PM

comment #11

Larry says ...

PTA hasn't made a good film since Boogie Nights. He's due.

Posted by Larry at September 29, 2007 2:02 AM

comment #12

BurmaShave says ...

If you use a term like good, than that statement becomes ridiculous. MAGNOLIA and PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE are both at least good, no? Great is debatable.

Also the scene with Molina in BOOGIE NIGHTS is one of the greatest in recent cinema history, just so awkward and tense. It's like a short film all its own.

Posted by BurmaShave at September 29, 2007 10:09 AM

comment #13

George Prager says ...

They're both great. And I would refrain from bugging BurmaShave today, people. He's already had to break a couple of twenties, so he's getting a little cranky.

Posted by George Prager at September 29, 2007 11:42 AM

comment #14

J. Huff says ...

I forget a lot about the movies I see, but PTA's films stick in my mind (even without a rewatch) for years at a time. He's an uncanny talent, and if I only see one more movie this year in a theatre, it's going to be this one.

Posted by J. Huff at September 29, 2007 3:42 PM