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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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Goldstein on two scripts

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L.A. Times columnist Patrick Goldstein takes a gander at the script for Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, and thereafter understands "why the film's supporters see it as less of a brooding Little Children-style drama and more of a supernatural thriller, packed with creepy chills and a sense of wonder."

It doesn't matter. Even if it's a dark adult drama about a 14-year-old girl who is brutally raped and murdered, which sounds nervy at the very least. If it's a Peter Jackson film, I know I'm going to suffer one way or another. All of you Jackson haters out there know exactly what I'm talking about. He can't and won't go home again and revert into the filmmaker who made Heavenly Creatures. He's become like Federico Fellini was in the late '60s and '70s (i.e., indulgence is everything!), and nothing is going to change that.

Goldstein then reads the untitled Michael Mann-Leonardo DiCaprio Hollywood period thriller that's been having trouble getting financed, and concludes this is due to (a) it being too costly at a $120 million, plus the concern that Mann almost always goes over-budget, and (b) the film being "full of familiar Hollywood characters who've been portrayed endlessly, in altered form, in films over the years...for all its popularity among filmmakers, the inside-Hollywood movie genre has a limited commercial reach."

As much as I love anything Mann does, I wasn't all that thrilled when I first read the idea for thisfilm -- DiCaprio as a private gumshoe in 1938 who falls in love with an actress he's hired to watch/protect. Burnished period stuff has a built-in ceidling. But I'd love to see Mann and DiCaprio make theirversion of For Whom The Bell Tolls.

Harvey distribbing Woody<< previous | next >>"Knocked Up" again

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 31, 2007 at 4:05 AM

comment #1

Joel says ...

Sounds like another Hollywoodland in the making. Though Mann's version couldn't help but be more compelling than that turgid mess.

Posted by Joel at May 31, 2007 7:11 AM

comment #2

erniesouchak says ...

Good to see you again, Wells. This Goldstein piece was somewhat interesting, although Jackson's & Mann's projects are clearly apples/oranges. He also mentioned one of Mann's problems is that "Miami Vice" tanked -- let's not forget that. Most of "Lovely Bones" is a good story, but it's hilarious that Dreamamount keeps pointing to "American Beauty" as comparably "dark" subject matter. "A. Beauty" is a black comedy, and there is nothing comedic about "L. Bones." Even "Little Children," which nobody knew how to market, had its lighter moments.

Posted by erniesouchak at May 31, 2007 7:42 AM

comment #3

Deege says ...

Zero interest in either film.

Posted by Deege at May 31, 2007 7:43 AM

comment #4

cjKennedy says ...

You might be right about Jackson, Wells, but how can you be so sure until he does a film that calls for restraint and he overdoes it? Was that a problem for you with King Kong?

Posted by cjKennedy at May 31, 2007 9:30 AM

comment #5

Monument says ...

The thing with Jackson is that he doesn't have any restraint any more. In the old days, when he was making low budget films, and New Zealand was not even on the Hollywood radar, he had to be creative and inventive. Now he has his own little empire and can do whatever he wants. Time will tell if that is a good or bad thing. I just hope he doesn't turn into another George Lucas, more interested in computer generated wanking than actual story telling.

Posted by Monument at May 31, 2007 9:39 AM

comment #6

christian says ...

"He can't and won't go home again and revert into the filmmaker who made Heavenly Creatures."

or he can and will. maybe jackson wants to keep it simple again and he's smart enough to do it.

Posted by christian at May 31, 2007 9:47 AM

comment #7

The Winchester says ...

Seriously, it's not like Lord of the Rings and King Kong are films crying out for restraint.

Posted by The Winchester at May 31, 2007 10:01 AM

comment #8

cjKennedy says ...

That's exactly what I'm getting at Winchester. There's been no evidence to suggest he can't turn things down a notch from epic mode because it hasn't been called for. I'm not a Jackson fanboy and if Wells is right I'll be the first one to admit it, but I'll at least give the guy a chance.

If Monuments fears come true and Jackson turns into another Lucas, I'll be as disappointed as anyone.

Posted by cjKennedy at May 31, 2007 10:11 AM

comment #9

Geoff says ...

Easily one of the most refreshing opinions about Peter Jackson comging from someone who knows film. I'm with Jeff on this one all the way.

Posted by Geoff at May 31, 2007 10:20 AM

comment #10

actionman says ...

Michael Mann's film sounds absolutley fucking awesome. It better find a home and get made.

Posted by actionman at May 31, 2007 11:29 AM

comment #11

Ian Sinclair says ...

People who claim Peter Jackson cannot direct another subtle picture when he has already directed one are either gifted with psychic powers or are raving nitwits.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at May 31, 2007 11:45 AM

comment #12

Monument says ...

...or they are making a logical assumption based on his track record. And while Heavenly Creatures is an excellent film, I'm not so sure that subtle is the best way to describe it.

Posted by Monument at May 31, 2007 12:05 PM

comment #13

jeffmcm says ...

Fellini made some of his best films in the 60s and 70s.

Posted by jeffmcm at May 31, 2007 12:26 PM

comment #14

Mr. Gittes says ...

I'm a little curious as to why Goldstein never directly quoted from Logan's script.

However, the one line he mentions has already won me over. I hope Mann and company can make this film. For Whom the Bells Toll?? Is that just rumor or has Mann mentioned that in an interview?

Posted by Mr. Gittes at May 31, 2007 2:26 PM

comment #15

Terry McCarty says ...

PG's judgment of THE LOVELY BONES from its script reminds me of a remark the late producer Saul David made in the book THE INDUSTRY re Pauline Kael reviewing the rough cut of NASHVILLE:
"...like the basketball coach turning up at the maternity ward to pick prospects."

Posted by Terry McCarty at May 31, 2007 2:59 PM

comment #16

Jayne Gacey says ...

I will take ROMA and AMARCORD over MIAMI VICE any day. Michael Mann can be just as indulgent as anyone else.

Posted by Jayne Gacey at May 31, 2007 4:57 PM

comment #17

christian says ...

MIAMI VICE is mann's KING KONG moment. bloated and vacuous. and not even a dinosaur fight. well, at least the title and concept is positively jurassic.

Posted by christian at June 1, 2007 12:15 PM

comment #18

kimi98 says ...

Hollywood Elsewhere

Upcoming

Goldstein on two scripts

Joel says ...

erniesouchak says ...

Deege says ...

cjKennedy says ...

Monument says ...

christian says ...

The Winchester says ...

cjKennedy says ...

Geoff says ...

actionman says ...

Ian Sinclair says ...

Monument says ...

jeffmcm says ...

Mr. Gittes says ...

Terry McCarty says ...

Jayne Gacey says ...

christian says ...

kimi98 says ...