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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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Boy A

"The Farnsworth Invention"

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A friend is raving about a Broadway preview performance he just saw of Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention, a play about how RCA's David Sarnoff (Hank Azaria) more or less ripped off the patent rights to an amazing new invention called "electronic television" from young inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (Jimmi Simpson).

Apart from calling the play brilliant and immensely satisfying with superb perform- ances (especially by Simpson), my friend is saying it will translate beautifully into a film, and that Steven Spielberg, one of the play's producers, is certain to either produce or direct it.

Directed by Des McAnuff, The Farnsworth Invention has been previewing at the Music Box theatre since 10.15, and will open 13 days from now -- on Wednesday, 11.14.

The Farnsworth Invention, says a press release, "centers around the bitter conflict that pitted Philo T. Farnsworth, a boy genius who invented television as a high school student in 1927, against David Sarnoff, the head of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The legal battle between Farnsworth and RCA would later become known as one of the great, tragic examples of legal and industrial force combining to crush a rightful patent owner. In a race that would change humanity forever, two men battle one another for honor, glory and a place in the history books."

Spielberg became a producer of the show after seeing a workshop performance at the La Jolla Playhouse sometime between 2.20.07 and 3.25.07, or the span of its run.

Simpson is making his Broadway debut with the play. He played the kid who got shot along with his blonde married girlfriend in the very beginning of Zodiac. His other films credits include Herbie Fully Loaded, Loser, D.E.B.S. and Seraphim Falls.

My friend says Sorkin was at the performance he attended and was signing autographs after the show.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 31, 2007 at 01:54 PM

comment #1

Mike Schaefer says ...

If Spielberg films this, then I guess "Carter Beats the Devil" will never get out of development hell...

Posted by Mike Schaefer at October 31, 2007 02:44 PM

comment #2

Cineasta says ...

Ummm. . . don't mean to nitpick. But, Jimmi Simpson played the older version of Mike Mageau at the end of "Zodiac", not at the beginning.

Posted by Cineasta at October 31, 2007 03:41 PM

comment #3

Breedlove says ...

I saw it last week. It was good, entertaining, if not Earth-shattering. The irony of any talk of a film adaptation, of course, is that Sorkin originally wrote it as a screenplay and tried to get the movie made for a while. Eventually he got frustrated, apparently, and turned it into a play.

Will it win a bunch of Tonys and be a smash hit? Will Spielberg direct the movie? My guess would be no on both counts.

Posted by Breedlove at October 31, 2007 03:55 PM

comment #4

GKLondon says ...

Nitpick all you want homeboy, but he played both the younger and older parts.

Hollywood magic.

Posted by GKLondon at October 31, 2007 04:01 PM

comment #5

p.Vice says ...

Herbie Fully Loaded, D.E.B.S., AND Loser? This guy is going places.

Posted by p.Vice at October 31, 2007 04:03 PM

comment #6

alynch says ...

He's hilarious as inbred Liam McPoyle on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Posted by alynch at October 31, 2007 04:05 PM

comment #7

MilkMan says ...

The Final Scene of The Farnsworth Invention as per Speilberg's shooting script.

EXT. - DAY - FARNSWORTH'S HOUSE

A long black limousine pulls up to the curb in front of Farnsworth's house, an AMERICAN FLAG rippling in the wind. The sky behind the house is blue, the trees are sun-dappled. The smell of a freshly baked apple pie fills the air with it's buttery, cinnamon-y goodness.

DAVID SARNOFF steps out of the limousine. He's weraing a grey, pinstriped suit and a long black overcoat. He looks around the neighborhood, squints his eyes and smiles to himself. He places a velvet black fedora on his head and walks towards the Farnsworth's front door.

He knocks on the door.

The door opens. MA FARNSWORTH stands in front of him. She's wearing a flowery dress and a yellow apron. She wipes he hands with a towel.

MA FARNSWORTH
Yes.

SARNOFF
Is Philo here?

MA FARNSWORTH
Yes. And might I ask who you are?

SARNOFF.
My name is Richard Sarnoff. I'm the man who stole your son's invention.

MA FARNSWORTH
Hold on a minute.

MA FARNSWORTH turns towards the staircase.

MA FARNSWORTH
Philo! Someone's here to see you!

PHILO FARNSWORTH comes running down the stairs. He's wearing overalls, a striped shirt and a beanie with a propeller.

PHILO
Ah, Ma, I was listening to the game. Joe D was just about to...

PHILO looks at SARNOFF. SARNOFF takes off his hat and puts it to his chest.

SARNOFF
Ma'am, I don't mean to be rude, but could you please excuse us for a minute? I'd like to have a word with Philo here.

MA
I'll just go check on supper.

MA FARNSWORTH kisses PHILO on the cheek and walks away.

PHILO
What do you want?

SARNOFF
You're mother loves you.

PHILO
I know.

SARNOFF
There's nothing more important than that. A mother's love for her son.

PHILO
I'm going to invent something even better than television. You just wait and see.

SARNOFF
You could probably use some money.

PHILO
I'll find some. I don't know where, but I'll find what I need and when I do you better watch out.

SARNOFF reaches into his coat pocket and takes out an envelope.

SARNOFF
Maybe this will help.

SARNOFF hands the envelope to PHILO. PHILO opens it and takes out what looks to be a check.

SARNOFF
Do you think that's enough to get you started?

PHILO
Yes.

SARNOFF
Don't give up on your dreams, son. This is a cruel world sometimes, but in the end, everyone gets what they deserve.

PHILO
And what do you figure I deserve?

SARNOFF
Everything. You changed the world. You've also made me realize that there are more important things in life than making money.

PHILO
Like what?

SARNOFF
Like how wonderful apple pie smells on a summer evening.

PHILO
My mom makes the best apple pie I've ever tasted.

SARNOFF
I never got a chance to taste my mother's apple pie.

PHILO
Well...do you want to stay and have some with us? We were just about to sit down and eat.

SARNOFF
I would love that.

PHILO
I'm sure if you asked my mom she would give you here recipe.

SARNOFF
No, son, I don't need to know her recipe. There are some things that aren't yours to know.

SARNOFF smiles. So does PHILO.

SARNOFF steps into the house. The front door shuts. The CAMERA dollys back until we are back at the curb.

The sun is setting. The flag is waving. Through the kitchen window we see SARNOFF, PHILO and MA FARNSWORTH sitting at the kitchen table.

FADE TO BLACK.

Posted by MilkMan at October 31, 2007 04:06 PM

comment #8

lazespud says ...

Jesus MilkMan... you are really, really good. Seriously, that was frickin funny and very clever; and just damn spot on.

Now you need to tackle the talky Sorkin version, before Speilberg got his paws on it...

Posted by lazespud at October 31, 2007 04:27 PM

comment #9

alan says ...

I'm guessing that Spielberg's shooting script wouldn't have misspellings of "your," "its," and others. Just sayin'.

Posted by alan at October 31, 2007 04:30 PM

comment #10

MilkMan says ...

Yeah, sorry Alan, I forgot to spell check while trying to write my comment and working on the stuff I'm supposed to be working on here at my job. Next time I'll peruse it with a fine tooth comb. Whatever that means.

Posted by MilkMan at October 31, 2007 04:37 PM

comment #11

Monty says ...

GKLondon - now it's my turn to nitpick with you: Jimmi Simpson didn't play both the young and old Mike Mageau in Zodiac. Lee Norris played him as a young'un.

Posted by Monty at October 31, 2007 04:38 PM

comment #12