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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Showest is nothing

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Showest, the longstanding exhibitor convention, kicks off in Las Vegas today. Exhibitors attend because...I don't know, ask them. It's basically a dog-and-pony show (stars, speeches, product reels). Trade journalists attend for exhibition stories, for the relationship-fortifying schmooze opportunities, and to report on the product reels (or the occasional debut of a new trailer that hasn't gone online yet).

I haven't attended since the mid '90s. I had a perfectly miserable time. Vibe- and energy-wise it felt like the exact opposite of being, say, at a great big-time film festival or even a small cool one -- like I was marooned on another planet with a bunch of chowderheads who didn't know any more than I did and were basically there to kick back and maybe enjoy a nasty experience on the side. (Which is what all middle Americans imagine they'll do when they visit this grotesque town. And which 99% of them don't have the balls to even attempt.)

I wouldn't dream of going again. I hate Vegas anyway, and I can get whatever news that may come out of it right here at my desk.

Mehd-V(y)EHD-yehf<< previous | next >>Ferraro's Obama insult

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 11, 2008 at 10:16 AM

comment #1

Wrecktum says ...

ShoWest is nothing about stars, speeches and product reels anymore. That died a long time ago. It's more of a straight trade show these days: demonstrations of new digital cinema products and popcorn poppers. There's still a tiny, tiny celebrity quotient, but it's more obligatory than anything.

Certainly nothing like it used to be. Those Warners luncheons were legend.

Posted by Wrecktum at March 11, 2008 10:52 AM

comment #2

PerfectTommy says ...

I wish many of the films that previewed in Vegas would stay in Vegas.

Posted by PerfectTommy at March 11, 2008 10:53 AM

comment #3

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Wrecktum: Seth Rogen is doing the dance there this year. And you're telling me they don't run product reels at all anymore? Bullshit.

Posted by gruver1 at March 11, 2008 11:00 AM

comment #4

Wrecktum says ...

Of course they do. But that's not the primary focus. Some studios are more active than others. Paramount, for instance, did a huge Transformers thing last year, but most of the other studios sent crap.

Posted by Wrecktum at March 11, 2008 11:11 AM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

Las Vegas is the most perfectly American city. Not a compliment, but just go with it.

Posted by BurmaShave at March 11, 2008 11:17 AM

comment #6

scooterzz says ...

sony is trotting out all the stars for tomorrow nights premier of '21' at the hard rock....

and a side note: i'm told that they're having to hold the '21' junket at the redrock (waaaaaaaaaaay off the beaten path) because it's the only place that would allow the original card counters in the door.....

Posted by scooterzz at March 11, 2008 11:23 AM

comment #7

Rich S. says ...

Dog and pony show is right. As I recall from my theater days, ShowWest was where they revealed for the first time whether all the movies they'd been hyping for the past six months were going to make any money or not. That's the key: whether they were bankable, not whether they were any good. The exhibitor trade magazines were usually pretty brutal in their assessments.

They weren't always right, but they were usually very, very close. To paraphrase one of Jeffrey's favorites sayings, you can tell in about five minutes whether exhibit "A" is going to pull the rubes in off the street.

Posted by Rich S. at March 11, 2008 11:30 AM

comment #8

Jay T. says ...

People bashing Vegas is getting old...

Posted by Jay T. at March 11, 2008 11:43 AM

comment #9

christian says ...

Vegas is the most depressing city in America.
Unless you do it Gonzo style!

Posted by christian at March 11, 2008 12:01 PM

comment #10

T. Holly says ...

Can someone explain seven card stud? I'm too busy reading ten interviews that shook hollywood and winning The New Yorker DVD collection.

Posted by T. Holly at March 11, 2008 12:16 PM

comment #11

Jackrabbit Slim says ...

I'm fascinated by Las Vegas. It is perhaps the only metropolis in the world built around vice. But I certainly wouldn't want to live there.

Posted by Jackrabbit Slim at March 11, 2008 12:41 PM

comment #12

The Winchester says ...

And yet, nobody cares or comes out for ShoEast in Atlantic City.

Posted by The Winchester at March 11, 2008 2:24 PM

comment #13

Edward Havens says ...

As great as the studio presentations are/were (and yes, the Warners luncheons in the mid 1990s were legend... wait for it... ary), I loved spending hours roaming the trade show floor, checking out all the things I wished I could have at my theatre.

I don't think ShoWest can truly be appreciated for what it is unless your livelihood depended on the things seen and discussed there.

Posted by Edward Havens at March 11, 2008 2:34 PM

comment #14

Edward says ...

At least Atlantic City has the beach. Hunter Thompson might of had the right idea, but I think Vegas on acid would be way too weird. Maybe that's why he had the ether!

Posted by Edward at March 11, 2008 3:46 PM

comment #15