Discland
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)

The Exchange Now?

I knew if I went to the Two Lovers party last night, which didn't begin for me until 12:30 am, that I might not awake in time for this morning's screening of Clint Eastwood's The Exchange (L'echange). Sure enough, I didn't flop until 2:30 am and slept right through my double alarm system (6:40 and 7 am.) Maybe I can snag a ticket to the gala screening at 7:30 this evening. If not, there's a makeup screening tomorrow morning in the new Salle du Soixantieme at 11:30 am.


Waiting outside Salle Debussy for last night's press screening of James Gray's Two Lovers, which began 40 minutes late. A couple of hundred press people got into a 10 pm screening in the smaller Salle Bazin.

I don't see the point of going to the Exchange press conference at 11:30, which is an hour from now. All that bubble, toil and trouble just to take pictures of Clint and Angelina Jolie, and to ponder questions and answers that won't mean much? Today's plan is to (a) drop by the Two Lovers press conference at 1 pm, then (b) see Jean-Stephane Sauvaire's Johnny Mad Dog (great title!) at 2 pm, and then (c) Amat Escalante's Los Bastardos at 7 pm. (Unless a ticket comes through for the 7:30 Eastwood.)

That wasn't an error before -- Eastwood's film, I've been told, will henceforth be called The Exchange rather than Changeling, which is what it's been called all along. While waiting last night for the Two Lovers show to begin, I asked Cinematical's James Rocchi if The Exchange is a new title, and he said "naaah, that's just an English translation of the French one." But then a British journo standing nearby said he'd read/heard that The Exchange is in fact the new title -- that Eastwood recently decided he liked it better.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 20, 2008 at 1:08 AM

comment #1

diesel Author Profile Page says ...

eastwood's film is the biggest reason why I follow the news from cannes and what happens? wells decides to skp it. gee, thanks.

don't like the new title though.

Posted by diesel Author Profile Page at May 20, 2008 2:17 AM

comment #2

James Rocchi Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff:

And it turns out I was wrong: The Changeling is now The Exchange.

http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=39019&Category=

Yours,

James.

Posted by James Rocchi Author Profile Page at May 20, 2008 2:45 AM

comment #3

Bob Violence Author Profile Page says ...

Another wrinkle -- the Cannes website (which has been referring to the film by the English title "The Exchange" since the lineup was announced) has suddenly switched to Changeling. Between that and the Variety review I'm thinking the Screen Daily article is in error (I notice they don't bother saying who informed them of the change).

FWIW I think Changeling is a better title and I hope Eastwood sticks with it.

Posted by Bob Violence Author Profile Page at May 20, 2008 4:39 AM

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