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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The rule-of-three once again applies: French actor Michel Serrault, best known for his role as Zaza in La Cage aux Folles, has died of cancer at age 79.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 30, 2007 at 11:53 AM

comment #1

T. S. Idiot says ...

Those who know Serrault only from La Cage auz Folles might consider seeing Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud, The Girl from Paris, and The Butterfly, some of the best subtle acting ever by an old man.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at July 30, 2007 12:18 PM

comment #2

cinefan says ...

Apparently, today it's the rule-of-four at work. Former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, like Snyder, has died of leukemia - very sad day.

Posted by cinefan at July 30, 2007 12:38 PM

comment #3

Wrecktum says ...

Fuck your fucking rule of three. Everytime a celebrity dies I always see idiots posting "who's next? There all always three." Well, there aren't always three, it's an idiotic game, and it belittles the death of real people to even fucking go there.

Death is the final transition of life. It's an important and reverent passage. Fuckers stop making a joke about it. I'm sick of it.

Posted by Wrecktum at July 30, 2007 1:13 PM

comment #4

Joe Leydon says ...

Wrecktum: I can sympathize with your reaction to what seems like rather cynical joking, especially at a time when we're losing giants like Bergman and Serrault. But the weird thing is, the Rule of Three appears to play out with almost creepy regularity. Seriously.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 30, 2007 1:19 PM

comment #5

Nate West says ...

For celebrities, it's the "Rule of Three." For normal folks, it's the "Rule of 155,000 Deaths" per day. Kind of makes you feel special, eh?

Posted by Nate West at July 30, 2007 2:14 PM

comment #6

Joe Leydon says ...

Well, to quote Jeff's quote from Barry Lyndon not so long ago: They're all equal now.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 30, 2007 2:18 PM

comment #7

Wrecktum says ...

Joe, that's nonsense. The human brain loves to make patterns where they don't actually exist (wasn't that what that shitty movie The Number 23 was all about?). That's all this is.

Anyway, back on tangent. Today is a rotten day for European cinema. How depressing.

Posted by Wrecktum at July 30, 2007 3:13 PM

comment #8

lipranzer says ...

I forgot Serrault was in NELLY AND MONSIEUR ARNAUD. He was terrific in that.

Posted by lipranzer at July 30, 2007 6:40 PM

comment #9

Andy D says ...

Right again, Joe. Now comes the news of Antonioni's death...

Posted by Andy D at July 31, 2007 6:44 AM

comment #10

yopla says ...

My heart is broken. He was one of my favorites.

He won 3 'CÃ©sar' as Best actor for 'La Cage aux folles' (The Birdcage was the american remake), 'Garde Ã vue' (a really great movie....'Suspicion' was the american remake) and 'Nelly and Mr Arnaud'.

In his roles he made me laugh (even in his life with some unforgettable interviews), he made me cry, he frightened me (go rent 'Docteur Petiot' or 'Les fantÃ´mes du Chapelier').
I think he did 135 movies in his career.

R.I.P. Mr Serrault.

Posted by yopla at July 31, 2007 8:32 AM

comment #11

Joe Leydon says ...

Did Petiot ever get any theatrical play here in the US? I saw it at a film festival years ago -- and thought Serrault was absolutely brilliant in it. And, of course, he was superb in Nelly and M. Arnaud.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 31, 2007 9:27 AM

comment #12