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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Slumdog Millionaire

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A Christmas Tale

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Remembering O'Donoghue

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"[Simply] making people laugh is the lowest form of humor." -- the late humorist Michael O'Donoghue.

Ressner reporting for Politico<< previous | next >>Damianos

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 31, 2007 at 8:25 PM

comment #1

The Hoyk says ...

A lesson too long forgotten from a truly twisted genius.

I can only fathom the irreverent revelry he and Terry Southern are engaged in wherever that spiritual plain may be.

Posted by The Hoyk at October 31, 2007 8:30 PM

comment #2

Matthew Lucas says ...

No...fart jokes are the lowest form of humor. Just below crotch hits.

But yes, I get your point.

Posted by Matthew Lucas at October 31, 2007 8:32 PM

comment #3

R. Hunt says ...

O'Donoghue was a genius, and one who I suspect is largely unknown to anyone under the age of 40. Check out the "Mr.Mike" biography. And remember his other great quote that tv was just a lava lamp with slightly better sound quality.

Posted by R. Hunt at October 31, 2007 9:39 PM

comment #4

Sax says ...

Does anyone else remember his little treatise in National Lampoon, "Michael O'Donoghue's How To Write Good"? His all purpose ending: "Suddenly, everyone was run over by a truck" (English aspiring authors can substitute,'lorry'). The best part was the cheesy little cartoon, advertising the lessons. In the first few panels, hapless writer Dave suffers rejection after rejection. Even his wife thinks he should give up Then he reads Michael O'Donoghue's "How To Write Good". He submits a story and then ... two weeks later, he makes his first sale! ... There's a classic panel where the beaming editor is saying "Great story, Dave! I especially liked the part where everyone got run over by a truck!"
Mr. Mike lives up to his own credo here. It's silly and it makes me laugh just typing it out, but he also makes his point about mail order con-jobs and the whole culture of American smarmy salesmen from P.T.Barnum to Cialis ads on TV ... not to mention the delusional pathos of most would-be writers. Mean spirited? Yes. That's what makes it so funny.

Posted by Sax at November 1, 2007 3:36 AM

comment #5

carla kolchak says ...

I pause to mourn SNL's long and sad decline: from the sublime "Least-Loved Bedtime Stories" to the ridiculous "Dick in a Box".
*sigh*

Posted by carla kolchak at November 1, 2007 6:14 AM

comment #6

George Prager says ...

Dick in a Box was hilarious. When did humorless nuns start posting on HE?

This is funny SNL:

Fly High Duluth

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4_QMCrqi4ds

Posted by George Prager at November 1, 2007 6:30 AM

comment #7

carla kolchak says ...

So if you don't find "Dick in a Box" funny you are automatically a nun? Guess that's better than being a dick. In a box or otherwise.

Posted by carla kolchak at November 1, 2007 6:55 AM

comment #8

christian says ...

I love "How To Write Good." I reference it all the time to unknowing friends.

But suddenly, I am run over by a truck.

Posted by christian at November 1, 2007 9:48 AM

comment #9

George Prager says ...

I wanted to know what kind of person doesn't think "Dick in a Box is funny, so I looked at sister carla's charmless, unsexy blog. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I'd rather be a dick .

Posted by George Prager at November 1, 2007 10:19 AM

comment #10