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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Blind-side

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Variety's Justin Chang has joined the growing throng of Blindness panners. "The personal and mass chaos that would result if the human race lost its sense of vision is conveyed with diminished impact and an excess of stylish tics in Blindness, an intermittently harrowing but diluted take on Jose Saramago's shattering novel.

"Despite a characteristically strong performance by Julianne Moore as a lone figure who retains her eyesight, bearing sad but heroic witness to the horrors around her, Fernando Meirelles' slickly crafted drama rarely achieves the visceral force, tragic scope and human resonance of Saramago's prose. Despite marquee names, mixed reviews might yield fewer eyes than desired for this international co-production."

Edwards, Finally<< previous | next >>Same Same

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 14, 2008 at 4:16 PM

comment #1

p.Vice says ...

Chang's review tells you everything you need to know about this movie. Take a large pot full of Rarely Achieves The Depth Or Complexity Of The Revered Source Material, sautee with equal part Hits All The Points With None Of The Vision and two cups of Flinching, spinkle in some Blunt Metaphors and Incessant Voiceover Narration to taste, and serve with a hearty side of Cooler But No Less Fussy Aesthetic. I for one know exactly what that tastes like. Yuck Phooey!!

Oh, and I called this when they announced Blindness as the opening night film. The jinx continues.

Posted by p.Vice at May 14, 2008 4:36 PM

comment #2

mutinyco says ...

Does a ridiculous boat appear at the end with HOPE painted on the side?...

Posted by mutinyco at May 14, 2008 5:03 PM

comment #3

actionman says ...

Why didn't Todd McCarthy review this film? Justin Chang?

Posted by actionman at May 14, 2008 5:39 PM

comment #4

Seal Pup says ...

Maybe Chang was the only one who could be bothered to read the source novel.

Posted by Seal Pup at May 14, 2008 6:02 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

mutinyco, I'm not even going to tolerate jackshit contrarian criticism of CHILDREN OF MEN.

Posted by BurmaShave at May 14, 2008 7:14 PM

comment #6

CinemaPhreek says ...

mutinyco: A-fucking-men and ditto to that. I was already feeling let down by the ludicrous resumption of hostilities for no reason whatsoever.

But then came that sophomoric, so-obvious-Stevie-Wonder-could-see-it metaphor to ruin the ending. It was the second worst one that year (hint: the worst involved a much more experienced director and a rat on a railing).

Posted by CinemaPhreek at May 14, 2008 8:08 PM

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

You're both insane.

Posted by BurmaShave at May 14, 2008 8:27 PM

comment #8

MiraJeffAICN says ...

I'm with Burma. And J.C. is the man!

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at May 14, 2008 8:40 PM

comment #9

diesel says ...

there's no way I'd consider moore's character "heroic", unless that means someone who can see the blind bullies rape the women and steal the food, but chooses to do nothing about it until very late. no, I don't think so. crap-ass novel anyhow.

Posted by diesel at May 14, 2008 10:57 PM

comment #10

Terry McCarty says ...

diesel wrote:
there's no way I'd consider moore's character "heroic", unless that means someone who can see the blind bullies rape the women and steal the food, but chooses to do nothing about it until very late.

Somehow that reminds me of John Edwards endorsing Obama only after months of quietly observing the Clinton hazing, race-card and Rev. Wright shenanigans.

And I can't help but think of the character Paul Bettany played in DOGVILLE when I see Edwards now.

Posted by Terry McCarty at May 14, 2008 11:28 PM

comment #11

LYT says ...

Blindness sounds like Day of the Triffids, minus carnivorous plants.

Posted by LYT at May 15, 2008 1:09 AM

comment #12

lionsfan says ...

I've neither read the original source material novel nor seen the film. Even so, am I the only one out there who's reminded here of the central plot device of "The Day Of The Triffids?" (Novelist John Wyndham was no slouch himself at social criticism, by the way.)

Oh, just noted the post above. Great minds do think alike!

Posted by lionsfan at May 15, 2008 10:06 AM