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)

Upcoming

December 31

Defiance

Good

January 2

Cargo 200

January 7

Silent Light

January 9

After Dark Horrorfest 2009

Bride Wars

How About You

Not Easily Broken

The Unborn

Yonkers Joe

January 16

Chandni Chwok to China

Cherry Blossoms

Hotel for Dogs

My Bloody Valentine 3-D

Notorious

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

January 21

Of Time and the City




Flow Chart I'll be banging

Flow Chart

I'll be banging out a Monday column, of course, but why not run some photos I took on Friday and Saturday right now (i.e., Sunday afternoon)?

Sunday's big festival news is the enormous response to Craig Brewer's astounding and immensely satisfying Hustle & Flow after an 8:30 pm screening Saturday night at the Park City Racquet Club, along with this morning's announcement that the film has been acquired for $9 million by MTV/Paramount.


Part of the Hustle & Flow posse after Saturday night's screening at the Park City Racquet Club: (l. to r.) Terrence Howard, producer Stephanie Allain, costar Taryn Manning, director-writer Craig Brewer -- 1.22.05, 10:45 pm.
The MTV execs went home around 4 ayem, but the deal closed at roughly 5:30 am this morning, partly as a result of a certain Paramount executive remarking to UTA's Jeremy Zimmer, "We can't do this anymore...I have to go to bed."

No immediate word as to whether Hustle & Flow will be distributed by "big" Paramount or "little" Paramount (i.e., Paramount Classics), but the answer sounds like a no-brainer. Indie-type Sundance movies need the kind of TLC that is generally not dispensed (no offense) by big-studio marketing departments.


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The $9 million is part of a $16 million, 3-picture deal that will cover two other films to be produced and directed by Flow producer John Singleton for $3.5 million each.

The unoffical word is that Hustle & Flow will probably open over the 4th of July weekend, which would be an appropriate date since celebration of this particular holiday figures into the story of the film.

Paramount publicist Nancy Kirkpatrick called to say that Paramount's newly-installed chief Brad Grey, plus Par marketing head Rob Friedman and production president Donald De Line, saw Hustle & Flow in Los Angeles on Saturday night while Viacom co-president and COO Tom Freston was catching it at the same time at the Park City Racquet Club.

I found it interesting that Howard, who was the last Hustle cast member to be called to the stage after Saturday's screening, seemed more comfortable on the edge of the spotlight than occupying it front-and-center.

There's no question that his performance as D-Jay, a Memphis pimp in a midlife crisis with musical aspirations, has put him on the map in the exact same way that Morgan Freeman's performance as a pimp in Street Smart (along with Pauline Kael's rave in The New Yorker) turned him into "Morgan Freeman."

Anyway, the JPEGs now and the copy on Monday morning sometime....along with some new photos I'll probably snap during my Sunday adventures after I finish posting (which always takes longer than expected).

Visual Push


Brothers director and story co-author Suzanne Bier with star Connie Nielsen after Saturday afternoon's screening at the Egyptian theatre on Main Street -- 1.22.05, 2:10 pm.

Hollywood Reporter deputy film editor and columnist Anne Thompson (l.) and film business editor Nicole Sperling (r.) in foyer entrance to a truly deafening party for Layer Cake, held on Park City's Main Street -- Friday, 1.21.05, 10:35 pm.

The Dying Gaul screenwriter and director Craig Lucas (r., on the mike) and (l. to r.) cast members Peter Sarsgaard, Campbell Scott and Patricia Clarkson after late Saturday afternoon screening of the drama, which is Lucas's filmmaking debut -- 1.22.05, 7:15 pm.

Exotic dancer at party for party for Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey's Inside Deep Throat, held inside garage space adjacent to Park City Library -- Friday, 1.21.05, 11:35 pm.

Relatively small container of pre-popped popcorn selling for $4 dollars at Park City's Egyptian theatre -- taken just before Brothers screening on Saturday, 1.22.05, at 11:55 am.

Hustle & Flow producers Stephanie Allain (middle) and John Singleton (r.) stand with writer-director Craig Brewer after after Saturday night's screening at the Park City Racquet Club -- 1.22.05, 10:50 pm.

The Chumscrubber and Dear Wendy star Jamie Bell (l.) with unidentified (but obviously spirited) woman during latter stages of Inside Deep Throat party -- Friday, 1.22.05, 12:25 am.

Layer Cake director Matthew Vaughan seated during interview inside atrium space on first floor of Park City Marriott -- Saturday, 1.22.05, 11:05 am..

Congenial and photogenic Dear Wendy director Thomas Vinterberg with an apparently significant other outside Eccles theatre just before screening of his film -- Saturday, 1.22.05, 2:45 pm.

Hustle & Flow star Terrence Howard (also in Lackawanna Blues) during post-screening interview before audience at Park City Racquet Club -- Saturday, 1.22.05, 11:05 am.

Flora outside Hollywood Elsewhere condo -- Thursday, 1.20.05, 11:05 am.

Brothers director Suzanne Bier after Saturday's showing at the Egyptian theatre, before she introduced Connie Nielsen -- 1.22.05, 2:05 pm.

Inside Deep Throat dancers at post-screening party -- 1.22.05, 12:05 am.

Erratum

"Just to let you know that Nathan Phillips isn't the whacko in Wolf Creek -- John Jarrat is. Phillips plays the twentysomething guy. Jarrat's been on Australian TV for years. Phillips has also been on the tube for a while, but he's only about 24 or 25.

"And you're right about the outback police force, by the way. But then any force would have trouble patrolling an area where people own farms that are bigger than some European countries." -- John Truslove, Melbourne, Australia.

Wells to Truslove: Thanks for offering the correction. I'll fix the error right away.

Stupid Spoiled Whore

"If you have not seen it, hunt down the South Park episode called 'Stupid Spoiled Whore,' about Paris Hilton and the utterly ruthless and unforgiving attitudes about her, especially as they seem to be manifesting in force these days. It's definitely worth 23 minutes of your life." - Gabriel Neeb.

Frame capture from Paris Hilton sex video.
"I'm 100 percent behind you in protesting the appearance of tabloid trash queen Paris Hilton at Sundance. If someone told her that in order to appear at the parties she would have to watch as many films as she could showing at the festival, I'm sure she would pack up and leave ASAP. And major kudos on the use of the Hilton sex tape screen shot as your stock photo." -- Angry Dick 2.

"I think there’s more in you yet to write about porn society, as typified by Paris Hilton. I find it interesting that on this you and I agree. Any chance you’ll write more about that issue?" -- Roy "Griff" Griffis


Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 23, 2005 at 1:25 PM

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