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




Polanski pic snapped up

When I came out of last night's Holiday Village screening of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, who do I see jabbering on his cell phone over in the corner but Harvey Weinstein? I waved; he waved back. A few minutes later he was standing outside in the cold air, coatless and still jabbering away, when I left for the Bottle Shock screening at the Library.


Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired director Marina Zenovich at Friday night's after-party at the MIcrosoft House.

Just before this morning's 9 am screening of Perros Come Perros, a brilliant if viciously brutal Columbian crime flick, an IFC guy told me he heard that the Polanski film had been bought late Friday evening. I toldl him that the film's director, Marina Zenovich, hadn't mentioned a buy when we spoke last night around 11 pm, but then she's not in sales.

A little more than an hour later -- 10 am Sundance time -- the news broke that the Weinstein Co. had picked up all international rights for a figure in the low six digits. Domestic rights are still in play. Variety's Anne Thompson wrote this morning that the Weinstein Co. and Focus Features are among the bidders.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 19, 2008 at 11:27 AM

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