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.
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comment #1
TheJeff says ...
This Tells You...?
1. That the poster designer has taste and admirable restraint.
2. That the film has a great cast.
3. That it is based on a Pulitzer-Prize winning play.
4. That though the film is clearly rooted in Catholicism, it is called "Doubt" and that conflict and controversy will surely ensue.
What more would I want it to tell me?
Posted by TheJeff at August 4, 2008 4:01 PM
comment #2
mitchtaylor says ...
Looks like there may be a milkshake involved.
Posted by mitchtaylor at August 4, 2008 4:07 PM
comment #3
tophertilson says ...
Hell of a good play. I'm really looking forward to this.
Posted by tophertilson at August 4, 2008 4:07 PM
comment #4
Balthazar says ...
This has to be the No. 1 most impossible-to-market grown-up film of the year. But they're sure as hell giving it the old college try.
Posted by Balthazar at August 4, 2008 4:11 PM
comment #5
Balthazar says ...
Maybe the should have mixed in some James Franco as a weed-smoking church groundskeeper.
Posted by Balthazar at August 4, 2008 4:12 PM
comment #6
MickTravis says ...
What???
No mention of "from the writer-director of JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO" ?
And I say that as someone who loved the movie on its first release. I'm not one of those latter-day Joe v. Volcano converts.
I'm not arguing that with you.
Posted by MickTravis at August 4, 2008 4:37 PM
comment #7
115thDreamer says ...
...that it'll be "extra-Churchy"?
Posted by 115thDreamer at August 4, 2008 4:51 PM
comment #8
corey3rd says ...
that they left Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing's names off the poster?
Posted by corey3rd at August 4, 2008 4:53 PM
comment #9
Balthazar says ...
Thank goodness "The Boat That Rocked" is on the way next spring, because PSH seemed to be on quite a streak of doing the least-marketable movies possible, ever since Mission Impossible 3.
Posted by Balthazar at August 4, 2008 4:55 PM
comment #10
C-PhreekII says ...
...we should expect inane statements from Donald Wildmon or William A. Donohue any day now.
Posted by C-PhreekII at August 4, 2008 4:59 PM
comment #11
Carl LaFong says ...
Mick, I'm with you on JOE VS. THE VOLCANO, but I'm afraid I'm one of those late converts. I saw it on first release and hated it, but decided to give it a second try a few years later, and slowly realized that there's a helluva lot going on there. It was marketed as a rollicking comedy, and is actually a quietly absurdist parable. I try to catch it at least once a year, and each time it grows. "I think I'm losing my sole..."
Shanley reportedly re-subtitled DOUBT "A Parable" in published form, which may work against it cinematically. I just don't think mainstream U.S. audiences are geared to parable structure, which is kinda sad. I'd like to be wrong on this and if anybody can name some successful boxoffice parables it'd be interesting.
Anyway, looking forward to DOUBT. Shanley's been away from the screen since what? CONGO? Oh, man! "Tickle Amy!" I think Roger Ebert and I are the only folks who got a kick out of that flick...
Posted by Carl LaFong at August 4, 2008 5:06 PM
comment #12
Balthazar says ...
Congo is one of those "so bad it's great" films. Totally enjoyable wretched stupidness. ... ."Oh, no! The bad apes have the crystal lasers!"
Posted by Balthazar at August 4, 2008 5:21 PM
comment #13
LuckyWilbury says ...
This tells me that Streep, Hoffman and Adams
will be attending the Toronto International
Film Festival next month.
Posted by LuckyWilbury at August 4, 2008 5:26 PM
comment #14
btwnproductions says ...
It's a strong piece, though I'm not sure Hoffman's right for it. (I'm thinking Ryan Gosling/Edward Norton.) Streep should excel in a role terrifically played by Cherry Jones and Eilleen Atkins on Broadway.Too bad Viola Davis couldn't get her name on the poster, as her character (there are only four) has one of its best scenes. Definitely not JOE or CONGO. Good news for bedraggled year-end awards voters; It should only run 90-95 minutes, tops.
Posted by btwnproductions at August 4, 2008 5:41 PM
comment #15
cjKennedy says ...
Was that a test or are you going to give us your answer to your own question?
Posted by cjKennedy at August 4, 2008 5:52 PM
comment #16
p.Vice says ...
...that some boys are going to get their willies manhandled by Truman Capote?
Posted by p.Vice at August 4, 2008 5:54 PM
comment #17
Rod32303 says ...
...that it's going to be fucking awesome.
Posted by Rod32303 at August 4, 2008 6:04 PM
comment #18
Balthazar says ...
Anyone else hope p.Vice is down to his/her last strike before getting banned?
Posted by Balthazar at August 4, 2008 6:10 PM
comment #19
The Winchester says ...
...that it's about vampires?
Posted by The Winchester at August 4, 2008 6:15 PM
comment #20
SaveFarris says ...
...that "W." and "Che" have competition for the biggest prestige bomb of the year.
Posted by SaveFarris at August 4, 2008 6:34 PM
comment #21
Mgmax says ...
That Philip Seymour Hoffman will say something nice about Heath Ledger when he accepts his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Posted by Mgmax at August 4, 2008 6:39 PM
comment #22
btwnproductions says ...
Unless Shanley really blew the direction--it should be a taut, simple piece, with little "opening out" or editing tricks--there's little or no way this will fail, unless audiences prefer a superheroic nun. Uwe Boll could get a prestige hit with this.
Posted by btwnproductions at August 4, 2008 6:53 PM
comment #23
TalkingPie says ...
...that the Catholic Church has plumbing problems?
Posted by TalkingPie at August 4, 2008 7:30 PM
comment #24
btwnproductions says ...
I'm not sure how much controversy it'll generate, but I've learned never to underestimate the standard-bearers of my faith. It's not really an "issues" story.
Posted by btwnproductions at August 4, 2008 7:38 PM
comment #25
BurmaShave says ...
I really wish they'd actually let Bryan O'Byrne run with this, because he's fantastic. Also how are they going to campaign PSH as Supporting? It was a Lead Tony nominee, and he's the only man in it.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 4, 2008 7:57 PM
comment #26
Ray says ...
This tells me that DOUBT will make approximately fifteen dollars at the box office.
Posted by Ray at August 4, 2008 8:23 PM
comment #27
Undercover Brother says ...
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF JOE VS. THE VOLCANO! That's enough to get me in the theater. One of the most under appreciated films ever. Can't wait. I don't care if it sucks, I'm seeing it.
Posted by Undercover Brother at August 4, 2008 8:30 PM
comment #28
The Winchester says ...
...that Miramax can have a terrific double pack dvd of stage adaptations that bombed by pairing it up with Proof?
That's a pretty good name combo right there, with one answering the other. Doubt? Proof.
Posted by The Winchester at August 4, 2008 10:07 PM
comment #29
D.Z. says ...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ieb1f595b5fc21e0ab62e4d27421c79d9?pn=2
Posted by D.Z. at August 4, 2008 10:34 PM
comment #30
Edward Havens says ...
It tells that this is the church, and that is the steeple, and if it were a three dimensional standee, you could open the door and see all the people.
Posted by Edward Havens at August 4, 2008 11:07 PM
comment #31
BurmaShave says ...
Also it tells you where the big heads are going on the final and on the DVD cover.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 4, 2008 11:11 PM
comment #32
hcat says ...
this tells me that building wants a hug.
Posted by hcat at August 5, 2008 6:13 AM
comment #33
adorian says ...
This tells me that you should move Streep from supporting to lead in your Oscar Balloon.
Posted by adorian at August 5, 2008 7:25 AM
comment #34
Josh says ...
looks like another hollywood blockbuster!
Posted by Josh at August 5, 2008 8:06 AM
comment #35
Jay T. says ...
I like it...
Posted by Jay T. at August 5, 2008 9:32 AM
comment #36
Mr. Buckles says ...
A THOUGHT ON CASTING - RYAN GOSLING
Okay, so someone thought that Ryan Gosling would be better suited than PSH. While I haven't read the play and know not the physical attributes involved (I have to assume the character is "attractive" - that's all I got), I say you always have to pick the actor in an actor's piece and in this case there's just no doubt.
Is it me or has RG really milked it and gone a long way with the brooding - sometimes with beard and sometimes without. I will give him points for his choices and generally looking cool, but I don't get the coronation that has gone around this dude except to say our assclown species loves a good pageant so we can praise and snipe and seeth.
He's been good for sure, but the next great actor thing is just a story in search of a subject.
Posted by Mr. Buckles at August 5, 2008 10:33 AM
comment #37
Josh. says ...
...everything you need to know about liberalism.
Posted by Josh. at August 5, 2008 11:23 AM
comment #38
televisiontears says ...
Mr. Buckles, I think that Gosling's performances in The Believer, Half Nelson, and Lars and the Real Girl fairly justify a 'next big thing' status. The guy gives nuanced, naturalistic performances, and I think his best work is definitely in front of him.
Love that Doubt poster, btw.
Posted by televisiontears at August 5, 2008 11:32 AM
comment #39
Mr. Buckles says ...
THIS JUST HAS TO BE SAID, FO' REAL.
Half Nelson - the performance didn't put me in a full nelson. It was brooding and detached - not exactly the hardest thing I imagine. Over blown all the way around on that one; Brothers and Sisters, don't believe all of the hype.
Lars and the Real Girl - that movie sucked like it was part of the 80s porn explosion. It's good if you suffer from insomnia maybe. How in the hell are you supposed to care about this one? Nuanced, natural, he plays it just above being catatonic or that he is led. This is what we call range or naturalism? I call it having someone bore the shite out of me - no enema necessary thank you.
But I do have your back on The Believer.
Just sayin' is all.
Posted by Mr. Buckles at August 5, 2008 1:17 PM
comment #40
MattyC says ...
Kudos, Buckles, on your Gene-Shalit-esque review of Half Nelson.
Really? It didn't put you in a full nelson? That's what you got? Way to come with it.
Posted by MattyC at August 5, 2008 1:33 PM
comment #41
movieirv says ...
fine play, but i still dont see phillip seymopur hoffman in the male lead and agree with the gosling suggestion.
Posted by movieirv at August 5, 2008 4:42 PM
comment #42
Mr. Buckles says ...
MattyC,
I don't wear and never have worn a handle bar style mustache, prereq for being Shalit-esque.
I never said theat Gosling was a bad actor or that Half Nelson was a bad movie. I think they simply thought they were both oversold in their unquestionalbe greatness (they are both solid, good, worth of a watch, just not over the moon great). And I certainly think the Brando comparisons are premature - brooding seems easy to me, so does acting hungover.
You can argue with me all you like and I welcome it, but don't ever imply I wear that assclown facial hair.
All I am saying is the PSH is what you call really inventive and deep acting. However, I know nothing of the play and part so I will shut the fuck up now.
Posted by Mr. Buckles at August 6, 2008 7:14 AM
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