Tuesday, April 22, 2008
New on DVD: Cloverfield, Charlie Wilson’s War and One Missed Call
Not to mention The Orphanage and Starting Out in the Evening. (And I'll go ahead and mention them, since they are, in fact, worthy of it.)
My favorite city-stomping monster pic of 2008 (so far) releases this week (April 22) on DVD. Cloverfield attracted the scorn of many for its dizzifying use of hand-held cameras, ostensibly to give the viewer the sense that he/she was embedded in the action (but also perhaps to keep production costs down). The film grossed $80 million in theaters - no small feat for a no-star Godzilla-esque whose primary buzz driver was a cryptic movie trailer (so cryptic it didn't even tell us the title of the film), followed by a bunch of (eventually annoying) internet shenanigans. My only gripe with the movie: that "ready for my close-up, Mr. Demille" of the monster towards the end, which served to de-mystify it and messed around with my sense of its size. Could have done without it.
Alex found Charlie Wilson's War to be food for political/historical thought clothed in an entertaining and sharp-witted package. It doesn't hurt to have scripter Aaron Sorkin on board, along with talented actors such as Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
One Missed Call touts a cellular phone service so capable that it includes glimpses into the circumstances of one's imminent demise. Yes, it's another English language retelling of a Japanese shocker a la The Ring, and it's reminiscent (derivative?) of Final Destination, but if you're into those sorts of... (RIIIING... RIIIING).
[Excuse me, I'd better answer this one.]
In the realm of indie fare, two outstanding films will now have a chance to connect with the mainstream audiences they deserve: both The Orphanage and Starting Out in the Evening were excellent films - the first a leap-from-your-seat creepshow and the second a marvelously touching story of the human condition, told through the eyes of an aging college professor who hooks up - sort of - with a sexy young grad student. Amazing performances from Lauren Ambrose and - especially - Frank Langella, who succeeds in eliciting both our pity and our respect.
