February 2, 2008
Review – Cloverfield (15)
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, T.J. Miller, Odette Yustman
Cloverfield… Rarely do we see a movie released in a shroud of such secrecy. Other than “monster attacks city” and some carefully edited clips of shaky camera work depicting the decapitation of lady liberty the publicity has been sparse and increasingly bizarre. Ever since I first saw Transformers back in May I’ve been chomping at the bit to see it. Last night was opening night and all of my waiting was over.
The film is essentially the contents of a memory card discovered in a camera in central park following the events of a creature attack on New York City. It follows the central 5 characters in their attempts to escape the city and save the life of their friend in the process. I don’t want to go into any more of the plot because it will give too much away. It’s that important.
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been extra excited as Empire had previously given it 5 stars and that is a rare occurrence. What I got last night was, in my opinion, nothing short of spectacular.
I had my worries about the shaky, handheld camera work at the beginning but as I found myself feeling more and more involved with the characters and the setting, I stopped noticing the wobbles. I was utterly captivated. The reason I hated the Blair Witch Project was because not enough was going on to take my attention away from the fact it was just a shaky handheld camera shooting the thing. That and there was no pay-off. You never saw the eponymous witch. In Cloverfield they leave you hanging just long enough. Just when the time is right to show you… they show you. What’s more is they show you just enough. They don’t go out of their way to show the monster in full light in glorious focus. You are left in as much shock and confusion as the characters. You don’t know what this is, it’s just there.
The essence of this film’s success is the believability. Not of the creature, but of the characters and their situation. The opening scene is in a party and it is totally believable, the music, the overly drunk, passed out guy… right down to the awkward way people react to being filmed. After that scene I was hooked and just sort of accepted the monster attack. Although realistic the performances were never boring. Although it’s never actually mentioned, it is understood that all these people have just had to flee from a party and are more than a little drunk. As such emotions are high and some comic moments even come in spite of the impending disaster. I can’t really talk about why in much detail but I think the performance of the movie, for me, has to be Lizzy Caplan who played Marlena Diamond. The emotional and psychological changes that her character goes through are mezmerising.
It really is edge of your seat stuff with one scene in particular, the subway tunnel scene, getting your adrenaline pumping like a shot to the heart. The Handheld camera shooting really paid off in this scene. It made you feel like you were in the tunnel with them. The special effects weren’t overly glossy so as to appear too Hollywood but they were good enough to be more than believable. So great direction, great acting, great camera work and great special effects… Some of the millitary characters in the movie don’t sit quite right with me but I don’t have the heart to hold that against what is otherwise a pretty flawless piece of work.
So to summarise, I was hugely impressed and loved every edge-of-your-seat moment of Cloverfield. Wierd since JJ Abrams isn’t in my good books. I hate Lost and think Alias to be about as boring as watching paint dry. I felt a sadness as I left the cinema, however. Over the past week it has become clear that a green light has all but been given for a sequel. Aside from it’s believability this films success came from the fact that you never knew very much. Even at the end, you know precious little more than you did when you first caught a glimpse of the creature and that is a superb touch that can only go to be ruined by a sequel. I pray (but hold out little hope) that the suits in Hollywood realise that we don’t want a sequel! It started and ended strong.
In short, let sleeping sea-monsters lie.
Verdict: 
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February 4, 2008 - 8:45 pm
I totally agree with your 5/5 verdict, the whole concept of the movie, and execution was very well done in my opinion. I also agree they should not have a sequel, that would just ruin everything.
February 5, 2008 - 10:07 pm
Wow, I need to see that! Great review as usual Dan.
February 5, 2008 - 10:45 pm
Ha! Just read the reviews over at Odeon.co.uk.
There are some decent, insightful reviews there but an awful lot of retards too. I’m talking about people who obviously went in with their minds well and truly soaked in traditional Hollywood to the point where they were pickled. One guy claims to have walked out and then had the nerve to award the movie only 1/5! I have not the time or the patience for people who dare to offer critique on a film without watching it IN FULL! If I ever met the guy I’d force him to watch Cloverfield with his eyelids pinned back a’la Clockwork Orange!
Most of the complaints were “The camera moved so much I felt sick!” Well, I’m sorry but if a moving camera makes you feel sick a. That’s your problem. and b. What the hell were you doing watching this in the cinema!? It’s not like the way that this movie was shot was some big secret… it was obvious from the very early trailers!
What is obvious though, from reading reviews at odeon, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDB is that Cloverfield is very much like Marmite. You either love it or hate it.
February 6, 2008 - 3:35 pm
Nice review Dan, just wanna go see more now, been resiting the temptation to download it.
February 6, 2008 - 3:40 pm
@Edd
A good choice as far as most special effects movies are concerned but I think Cloverfield would be it’s most realistic when viewed in a floating Media Player window or on a mobile phone.
It is, after all, supposed to be the output of a digital handheld camcorder that has been filed by the department of defence. What devices would that type of content be played on? Handheld devices and computers, not a cinema screen or a 42″ plasma in some dude’s living room.
February 6, 2008 - 3:43 pm
Yeah man I like your thinking, I got a PSP, I’ll get silk to send it me.
February 10, 2008 - 2:55 am
I didn’t really know what to make of Cloverfield, it wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t filth. Personally I don’t see what all the fuss about , it screamed ‘Lost’ in some places, the monster looked like it was an alien or genetic creature that didn’t fit in the world at all. Maybe they did that on purpose… and what was with the bites making you explode??
I didn’t connect in any way with the characters or even care if they lived or died, the camera was ok but they used techniques that have been done before… yawn, I think the only good thing about seeing Cloverfield was that I went to see it at 11pm and me and my mates were the only people in the cinema, literally. sorry Dan, download it or wate till the DVD.
February 10, 2008 - 1:25 pm
Ahhh Edd, You disappiont me. *shakes head* I thought you’d really enjoy it… Oh well, too bad you didn’t.
February 11, 2008 - 6:06 pm
I enjoyed it. It kept me completely riveted through the entire film and I thought the camera work was rather inventive. Defying all of the rules of filming and making it seem realistic whilst putting the audience right into the midst of the action, I would imagine is very difficult; and I think Cloverfield managed this successfully.
I thought the silence at the beginning and end of the film when the titles and credits are rolling was effective too, (though it was ruined in my experience as a man upfront decided to voice his opinion at the end rather loudly with, “Is that it?!”)
There should definitely be no sequel. This film stands on it’s own, it doesn’t need no explanation and ‘what happens next’ should be left entirely to our imagination. Otherwise it will just be another brilliant film that in ten years time people will look back upon and say, “The first one was good, the rest were shit”, rather than, “That film was a legend.”
Obviously not everyone will share that opinion but even so, this shouldn’t have to be justified by a sequel. Do producers ever know when to stop?
February 11, 2008 - 7:20 pm
The only way I’ll hold out any hope for a sequel to Cloverfield is if it is made by James Cameron. That guy knows how to make a good sequel! Terminator 2, Aliens…. Hell, he could make Titanic 2 a box office hit!
Fantastic comments as usual Kym!
February 11, 2008 - 7:23 pm
haha, maybe, but even so I just wish they wouldn’t.
I have to say, this opinion varies also, Nathan wants a sequel because he wants to be told what happens next.
We had a little debate about it on the way home from the cinema
February 15, 2008 - 12:01 pm
Just watched Eric Striffler’s “review” of Cloverfield and he talks about all the hidden bits and pieces that we see or don’t see throughout the film, especially things that tie in with the viral marketing campaign. Lots of interesting stuff in there including the playback of a hidden message that played after the end credits.
See it here ***CAUTION!!! CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!***
April 28, 2008 - 1:45 am
Okay, Watched this movie now…
I gotta say, ive seen it twice and the first part of the movie is so mind numbing it is unreal, great I know its a home movie blah blah blah, but cut the crap its bullshit.
So, their on the roof “the start of the movie” fantastic, shit hits the fan blah blah.
Overall it’s a good film, however – going up to rescue her? Man you would take one look at that building – know damn straight some mental thing that looks like me at 6am is running about the city knockin buildings down left right and center and say – holy crap, no chance… hell even if some oversized gollum wasnt running around I wouldnt do it, sorry my balls would just shrivel up and pop inside me by the time i got up there, and she is alive – only got staked but alive and can run.. hmmmm yeah!
Film is spoiled by a few “BS Stupid crap”, it could have been some much better, far better… Dan says “You saw just enough” I think you saw too much in a fashion…. But I can honestly say images of the “Creature” on google is a damn near impossible thing to find! So here’s the goods!
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