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)

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Analogy

After Barack Obama's speech last night, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann compared aspects of it to Michael Douglas's speech (written by Aaron Sorkin) at the end of The American President. I just re-watched this finale; Olbermann isn't wrong. Obama's line about how McCain "doesn't get it" exudes a certain echo.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 29, 2008 at 4:46 AM

comment #1

JckNapier2 Author Profile Page says ...

I was thinking that last night, and that was only reading the text transcript. Basically it was a blow-by-blow of the charges leveled at the 'lead character', a sharp refutation of each, then a constant drumbeat of why the other guy cannot help you in this time of crisis. And the end of the speech, I was almost expecting it to end with 'I'm Barrack Obama, and I WILL be your next president" or something similar. It worked well enough in the movie and it sure worked well last night.

Posted by JckNapier2 Author Profile Page at August 29, 2008 7:08 AM

comment #2

buster Author Profile Page says ...

Just like Ghandi said he likes Christ but not the Christians who are so unlike him, I like Obama (and I plan on voting for him), I only wish more of his supporters would follow his example. Obama gave a speech that recognized we are separated not by our ideals but by our ideology (well, mostly anyway), a speech devoid of bitterness, cynicism, and smugness that saturates today's debates.

As great as last night was, today we will hear people like Olbermann make personal attacks on McCain and challenge the decency of those who disagree simply on which path to take towards achieving those shared ideals.

Of course there are things that deeply divide this nation, and will continue to: abortion, gun rights, death penalty, taxes, immigration; but we all want a nation that is prosperous, where wealth is bountiful, that the rest of the world looks to as a model of civilization.


Posted by buster Author Profile Page at August 29, 2008 7:42 AM

comment #3

dp4m Author Profile Page says ...

Man, I've been waiting for this speech to turn up. It's one of the great speeches I've seen, which is why I rate Douglas so high on my "movie presidents" list (with Freeman and Bridges).

Posted by dp4m Author Profile Page at August 29, 2008 10:45 AM

comment #4

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

It was so much fun watching it in a bar with a bunch of like minded people (and one GOP douchebag who had to be talked to). The rope-a-dope comparisons are also spot on.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at August 29, 2008 12:21 PM

comment #5

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

buster: "and challenge the decency of those who disagree simply on which path to take towards achieving those shared ideals."

Anyone who supports screwing the sick and poor has no decency.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at August 29, 2008 6:11 PM

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