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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Earlier this morning director Rod Lurie (Nothing But The Truth, Resurrecting The Champ) e-mailed some friends with a couple of graduation pics taken at his alma mater, Honolulu's Punahou High School -- himself accepting the big diploma from P.H.S. president Roderick F. McPhee in June 1980, and some clean-cut kid named Barack Obama doing the same a year earlier. 2:05 pm: A link from Politico's Ben Smith.

Four Months Ago<< previous | next >>Cross to Bear

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 15, 2008 at 11:53 AM

comment #1

worrywort says ...

That kid's as high as a kite.

Posted by worrywort at July 15, 2008 12:17 PM

comment #2

Michael says ...

Those handshakes seem wrong.

Posted by Michael at July 15, 2008 12:22 PM

comment #3

clancy says ...

That's Punahou High School, I think. What's wrong with the Obama handshake is that, well, he's not shaking. It is more like he is having his hand grasped. I am sure that Lurie is upset that he is no longer the most famous graduate of that school.

Posted by clancy at July 15, 2008 12:31 PM

comment #4

T. S. Idiot says ...

Does this mean Lurie will head National Endowment for the Arts?

Posted by T. S. Idiot at July 15, 2008 12:31 PM

comment #5

Josh Massey says ...

"Those handshakes seem wrong."

Dammit, you beat me to it.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 15, 2008 12:59 PM

comment #6

clancy says ...

God forbid he should have anything to do with the NEA.

It makes sense that Lurie and Obama came from the same school. They're both talented in presentation and of little substance underneath. "The Contender" and "Commander in Chief" were entertaining and well written and obviously well acted, but they were childish in their political depth. Lurie was obviously targeting females in both and damned to hell anything that got in the way of appealing to them. In a way, he had the same problem in "Resurrecting the Champ". That movie was so sappy and sentimental that it was clear the guy was desperate to get his audience crying - it didn't matter that the story was contrived and out in left field. (though Hartnett was very good - Lurie does have a way of getting "personal bests" from actors).

I imagine the same problem will exist with "Nothing But The Truth".

Posted by clancy at July 15, 2008 1:00 PM

comment #7

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Clancy: Apart from your drop-dead brilliant analogy about Lurie and Obama sharing traits because they went to the same high school, you might want to hold your horses regarding forecasts about Nothing But The Truth. Or don't. I don't care. But I read the script a long while back, and it's tight and true and the ducks are in order.

Posted by gruver1 at July 15, 2008 1:16 PM

comment #8

Rod32303 says ...

That was good, Jeff. Made me chuckle out loud.

Posted by Rod32303 at July 15, 2008 1:45 PM

comment #9

Mark says ...

Obama went in for the fist bump, hence the awkwardness.

Posted by Mark at July 15, 2008 2:05 PM

comment #10

Mgmax says ...

Photoshop! Obama didn't really graduate from high school!

Posted by Mgmax at July 15, 2008 3:41 PM

comment #11

Indeed says ...

Funny thing is Im actually a Punahou grad as well. Grades 5-12.

Posted by Indeed at July 15, 2008 4:11 PM

comment #12

Indeed says ...

And by funny, I mean that its a small world.

It has nothing to do with the fact that I would never consider voting for him.

Posted by Indeed at July 15, 2008 4:58 PM

comment #13

BurmaShave says ...

Wait, Obama went to High School with Kelly Preston?

Posted by BurmaShave at July 15, 2008 9:18 PM

comment #14

cutegirl says ...

Is it wrong for a man like him to have sugar baby?? you know it is an absolutely extramarital relationship, but more and more services c ome out on Internet focusing on this kind of relationship..like !!!.Sugarbabydate . c o m.. what will the world be??

Posted by cutegirl at July 16, 2008 2:32 AM

comment #15

Richard2001 says ...

[Deleted due to Stalinist-style censorship.]

Posted by Richard2001 at July 16, 2008 7:53 AM

comment #16

BurmaShave says ...

Haha I like how little sense my question makes now.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 16, 2008 8:49 AM

comment #17

BurmaShave says ...

Also Richard2001, I think I speak for everyone who read it when I say no man should know that much about Rod Lurie.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 16, 2008 8:51 AM

comment #18

clancy says ...

Richard2001-

Rod Lurie went to West Point??? I thought he was a yale or Harvard guy (maybe grad school).
He dated Kelly Preston???
Was he in the military?
What is the truth of his getting in and more importantly how do you know it?

Posted by clancy at July 16, 2008 8:53 AM

comment #19

D.Z. says ...

Why does Obama look like he should be in a Police Academy movie or Love Boat...? Man, I never met the guy, but seein' that old photo gives me some major deja vu.

Posted by D.Z. at July 16, 2008 11:57 AM

comment #20

saramie says ...

HOw Tall is he? I heard that he likes tall girls and had signed up on a tall dating site ~~Tallmeet---c om, his profile tells that he is looking for a tall model who is at least 5'11.

Posted by saramie at July 16, 2008 5:58 PM

comment #21

Richard2001 says ...

Rod's ABC deal was not renewed. His Dreamworks deal was not renewed. Paramount did not want to work with his again, and Warner, Sony, New Line, and Universal passed on his work (they see him as a hack). Now, Bob Yari, a modern Sir Lew Grade when it comes to producing films, is in bed with Rod. Lurie is now 3 films in with Yari, 1 has been released, and flopped, and the other 2 are in post. I hate to say it, but Yari in five years will be stuck producing films with Van Damme in Europe if he keeps this up--his company is not making any money.

I feel sorry for Lurie, who talked a good game but never really made it in Hollywood. In 2000-2001 people loved his work, and pissed whatever power he had away with crap projects. His ego got larger too, which is OK for some, but when you don't deliver the goods, then you're an outcast in Hollywood, and Rod is almost there. Rod Lurie is no Mike Binder. Of course, that's not saying much. ;)

Posted by Richard2001 at July 18, 2008 9:15 AM