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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The second half of Che, also known as Guerilla, just got out about a half-hour ago, and equally delighted although it's a different kind of film -- tighter, darker (naturally, given the story). But I've been arguing with some colleagues who don't like either film at all, or don't think it's commercial. Glenn Kenny and Kim Voynar feel as I do, but Anne Thompson is on the other side of the Grand Canyon. Peter Howell is in the enemy camp also.

Che Is Brilliant<< previous | next >>Rocchi Hearts Che

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 21, 2008 at 2:46 PM

comment #1

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

When's the third one come out?

Is the next trilogy planned?

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at May 21, 2008 3:05 PM

comment #2

JohnCope says ...

Was there ever some assumption going that these were meant to be or would be "commercial"? I was stunned they got made at all.

Posted by JohnCope at May 21, 2008 3:08 PM

comment #3

Mgmax says ...

"Was there ever some assumption going that these were meant to be or would be "commercial"?"

Insert ironic T-shirt reference here...

Posted by Mgmax at May 21, 2008 3:16 PM

comment #4

Mgmax says ...

"Is the next trilogy planned?"

"No, Hugo... I AM your revolution's father!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..."

Posted by Mgmax at May 21, 2008 3:17 PM

comment #5

aussieanywhere says ...

Sorry jeff but count me in the enemy camp too.
Way too long. Way too dry. Offers little insight. Only a handful of moments with genuine emotion - ridiculous given a 5hr presentation including intermission.

I was seated upstairs in the Lumiere - only about 60% of the audience was still there at the end of the screening.

Posted by aussieanywhere at May 21, 2008 3:24 PM

comment #6

Mgmax says ...

So one's a fake Lawrence-style widescreen epic and the other's a fake Battle of Algiers-type docudrama? Are there fake trailers for other Che movies? "They picked the wrong Argentinian to argue with!"

Posted by Mgmax at May 21, 2008 3:31 PM

comment #7

T. Holly says ...

There's always Mark Cuban. It could be a nice- afternoon-in-a-hotel movie. Any way they could combine them aussie?

Posted by T. Holly at May 21, 2008 3:31 PM

comment #8

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

I'd rather see this Pablo Escobar bio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB7OTtNZvFg

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at May 21, 2008 3:35 PM

comment #9

Joe Leydon says ...

But could either film possibly be as good as this one?

http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/che.html#links

Posted by Joe Leydon at May 21, 2008 4:44 PM

comment #10

Jamie says ...

I actually really preferred the second one. It seemed like more challenging material and I think the visual style was more daring. In general I believe it needs a bit of editing but I thoroughly enjoyed both and found Benicio del Toro absolutely riveting. I could watch that UN footage all day.

Posted by Jamie at May 21, 2008 4:57 PM

comment #11

T. Holly says ...

Armchair editors. You'd like it to edited a bit longer, rearranged, chunks lifted out?

Can we all feel Jeff's pain over SS not waiting on putting these films out?

Posted by T. Holly at May 21, 2008 5:10 PM

comment #12

lazarus says ...

"Too long", "Too dry". I can live with that.

Apparently it's not going to be Hollywood enough for some people.

Posted by lazarus at May 21, 2008 5:45 PM

comment #13

Josh Massey says ...

"I could watch that UN footage all day."

That couldn't possibly describe a film I'd be interested in seeing.

Posted by Josh Massey at May 21, 2008 6:10 PM

comment #14

clancy says ...

This film is going to take a critical pounding - but in the same way as "Jesse James" and "The Thin Red Line" did. I am bumming out stateside that I couldn't see SS's work as it made its first grand appearance. This seems to be a highly succesful Cannes for American films.

Posted by clancy at May 21, 2008 6:15 PM

comment #15

Gaydos says ...

Clancy: For what it's worth, Todd McCarthy LOVED Jesse James, deeply admired (with reservations) Thin Red Line and doesn't seem smitten at all with Che.

It will be fascinating to see how the already-lively debate on this film plays out, both in the jury room and in the wi-fi rooms.

Posted by Gaydos at May 21, 2008 6:34 PM

comment #16

T. Holly says ...

Screw that Clancy, bumming out stateside, Anne T. seems to think there could be one picture from two, but who knows? Then it could get re-reviewed!

Posted by T. Holly at May 21, 2008 7:10 PM

comment #17

Breedlove says ...

I just saw in the credits that Matt Damon has a cameo in this, which seems lame. What is the point of something like that other than to totally take you out of the movie? Damon loves these stupid little cameos: Youth Without Youth, Jersey Girl, Eurotrip, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Finding Forrester, he was a voice in The Majestic, he was a billboard in Minority Report, and on and on...

Posted by Breedlove at May 21, 2008 7:26 PM

comment #18

corey3rd says ...

how will it play in Miami?

it's going to take a genius to market it into the black - unless you think you'll be making all your cash in college screenings.

Posted by corey3rd at May 21, 2008 8:48 PM

comment #19

corey3rd says ...

I'm getting ticked off at film festivals that have merely turned into Big TV screenings with all the projected video.

Posted by corey3rd at May 21, 2008 8:49 PM

comment #20

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

I just heard that Matt Damon has been posting on this site under the username 'Breedlove.'

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at May 21, 2008 9:55 PM

comment #21

Zimmergirl says ...

A quick google search and I found this by Breedlove:

"I would kill to see this movie made. Of the 50 differnet projects Scorcese has been attached to in recent years, I'd have to say this is my first choice."

I dunno. Would he really spell Scorsese's name wrong? He worships the guy. And he kicked ass in The Departed. And The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Posted by Zimmergirl at May 21, 2008 11:18 PM

comment #22

Aladdin Sane says ...

So when's Entourage back again? I wanna see how that Medillen fiasco turns out.

Posted by Aladdin Sane at May 21, 2008 11:24 PM

comment #23

Breedlove says ...

Huh. You know no one has ever pointed that out to me before. I think I've been spelling Marty's name wrong for years. And, no I'm not Matt Damon. But I am fucking him.

Posted by Breedlove at May 22, 2008 5:49 AM

comment #24