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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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Herzog Isn't Remaking

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Defamer's Stu Van Airsdale has spoken to Werner Herzog about his Bad Lieutenant film that will star Nicolas Cage and will shoot in New Orleans for budgetary reasons. It is not, Herzog says, a remake of Abel Ferrara's original but a continuation in a James Bond franchise sense. He also tells Van Airsdale that he has no clue who Ferrara is. Right.

SVA: "So, yes or no -- is Bad Lieutenant a project you're working on with Nicolas Cage?

Herzog: "Yes, but it's not a remake. It's like, for example, you wouldn't call a new James Bond movie a remake of the previous one -- although the name of the bad lieutenant is a different one, and the story is completely different. It's very interesting because Nicolas Cage really wants to work with me, and just anticipating working with an actor of his caliber is just wonderful."

SVA: "Why this project, though? You could have worked on anything."

Herzog: "There's an interesting screenplay, [and] it's a very, very dark story. It's great because it seems to reflect a side of the collective psyche -- sometimes there are just good times for film noir. They don't come out of nowhere. There was some sort of a mysterious context with the understanding of people in that particular time. And it's going to be in New Orleans, which is a fascinating place."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 4, 2008 at 2:03 PM

comment #1

p.Vice says ...

An actor of Cage's caliber? Maybe Herzog hasn't seen the last few years worth of Cage's films then.

And I believe that when a character dies at the end of a movie it's more or less impossible to "continue" their story.

Posted by p.Vice at June 4, 2008 2:15 PM

comment #2

BurmaShave says ...

God imagine if Ferrara had been in this position saying the same thing. And is BAD LIEUTENANT now the film title version of self-title Weezer albums?

Posted by BurmaShave at June 4, 2008 2:18 PM

comment #3

actionman says ...

Are you blind, p.Vice? Herzog said that the character that Cage is playing is NOT the same as Keitel's character. All this is going to be is a dark cop film that uses the same title as the older film. Why? Beats the shit out of me, to be honest. There really is no reason to keep the same title.

And regardless of some of the stinkers that Cage has been in during the last few years, he's delivered some incredible performances throughout his career. Given the right material, he can be sensational.

I bet working with Herzog will be a major victory for him as an actor. If Herzog feels that a noirish cop story is worthy of his filmmaking time, I'm gonna bet that it'll be worth seeing on the big screen. I have no reason to doubt his abilities at this point, given that pretty much every single film he's made to date has been transcendent.

Posted by actionman at June 4, 2008 2:26 PM

comment #4

actionman says ...

And are we to assume that they are shooting New Orleans for New Orleans? It will be nice to see a movie taking place in that city, as it always seems to be doubling for one city or another.

Posted by actionman at June 4, 2008 2:28 PM

comment #5

JosephB says ...

I don't get it either. Let's pretend Herzog really doesn't know who Ferrera is or hasn't seen (or heard of) the original... why keep the title? Sounds pretty shitty to me, but then again I'm a huge Ferrera fan and understand that Herzog is pretty oblivious to everything around him except shooting wild animals in Anartica or wherever his next documentary takes him.

And about New Orleans- just watched Walter HIll's excellent debut film, "Hard Times" over the weekend and loved the late 70's grit and stench of New Orleans docks, oyster warehouses and bayou country. Great film.

Posted by JosephB at June 4, 2008 2:36 PM

comment #6

alynch says ...

Here's a direct link to the interview Wells is mentioning:

http://defamer.com/395038/defiant-werner-herzog-to-defamer-who-is-abel-ferrara

I am very, very skeptical about this film, and as much as I respect love as an artist, I'm incredibly bothered by the way that he's casually dismisses Ferrara. His comments there are straight up disrespectful. He's remaking a film that was clearly the unique, personal vision of Ferrara, and he's dismissing him like he's nothing even worth acknowledging.

And what the hell is he talking about when he says it's not a remake.? What, it's just a very dark story about a corrupt cop that has the same title, but not a remake?

Posted by alynch at June 4, 2008 2:39 PM

comment #7

actionman says ...

Thanks for the link, Alynch.

I love Herzog.

Posted by actionman at June 4, 2008 2:43 PM

comment #8

mizerock says ...

Maybe it's like "Cat Woman". A different person can inhabit the role, at different times, in different places. They all have a unique history, and face their own challenges. And yet, they are all the same character. Just because one dies, it doesn't mean there are not many more stories that need to be told about this character.

Posted by mizerock at June 4, 2008 2:44 PM

comment #9

Armin Tamzarian says ...

alynch said of herzog "His comments there are straight up disrespectful. "

hahahahahaha. gimme a break, dude.

ferrara said of herzog "But I wish these people die in Hell. I hope theyâ€™re all in the same streetcar, and it blows up."

Posted by Armin Tamzarian at June 4, 2008 2:47 PM

comment #10

berkguru says ...

So what's the plot:

Cage rapes some Katrina refugees?

Loses a huge bet on a Saints game and tries to murder Reggie Bush?

Gets exotic opiates from some Voodoo shamalns in the French Quarter?

Somebody post a link to the script!

Posted by berkguru at June 4, 2008 2:50 PM

comment #11

swordandpen says ...

Perhaps, they should treat this like a franchise and make a "Bad Lieutenant" movie every couple of years. Next will be Russell Crowe, then Johnny Depp, then Robert Downey Jr. and eventually work their way down to Shia LeBeouf.

Like every Bond movie used to have a ski chase, each "Bad Lieutenant" movie will have a masturbation set piece.

One wonders if Herzog is doing this because he can't get anything more personal financed.

Posted by swordandpen at June 4, 2008 3:17 PM

comment #12

corey3rd says ...

Herzog is thinking too high. James Bond? How about the Scanner Cop series?

Far as using an established name to "remake" a film that isn't being remade: Ocean's 11 and Cheaper By the Dozen come to mind.

Posted by corey3rd at June 4, 2008 3:47 PM

comment #13

T. S. Idiot says ...

Herzog's The Piano Tuner sounds more interesting: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1213902/

Posted by T. S. Idiot at June 4, 2008 4:24 PM

comment #14

actionman says ...

The Piano Tuner is certainly more interesting but I'll take any Herzog that I can get. He'll do Piano Tuner next, apparently.

Posted by actionman at June 4, 2008 4:28 PM

comment #15

BurmaShave says ...

Anbody watch Herzog on Conan tonight? What a delightful madman.

Posted by BurmaShave at June 4, 2008 11:58 PM

comment #16

Krazy Eyes says ...

I think what Herzog is saying is that his Bad Lieutenant will not be a remake in the same way that Never Say Never Again wasn't a remake of Thunderball.

Posted by Krazy Eyes at June 5, 2008 5:49 AM

comment #17