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Rant: Expect No Answers From CloverfieldBy Rafe Telsch: 2007-12-30 21:54:52
We’re getting increasingly closer to that 01-18-08 release date that had everyone captivated a few months ago. Finally we’ll get to see what all the hype has been about as Cloverfield hits theaters. As you might expect, the movie’s commercials have continued to shroud much of the film in secrecy. Fans who were critical of Michael Bay unveiling the Transformers crew prior to the film’s release, after such a build up of anticipation, are the same people who are seeing every new commercial and whining that there’s no sign of the monster. Well, I’ve got news for you: get used to it.
Let me be frank: I don’t expect Cloverfield to deliver much in the way of a traditional “monster” movie, regardless of how much producer J.J. Abrams and writer/director Matt Reeves say their intent was to create that. And that’s what they’ve said: America lacked a true “monster movie” so they created one. ”We need our own Godzilla,” Abrams told MTV in July. But let’s look at what we know about the movie, and you’ll see an American Godzilla isnt’ what we’re getting. First of all, take a look at the film’s premise, as promised by the studio: Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper decends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.” That’s the text that appears on the “about the movie” description over at CloverfieldMovie.com, the official site for the film. Now, let’s break that down. The movie isn’t about a monster, it’s about survival. This isn’t a grand scale movie about the destruction of a city by a gigantic monster. That’s the setting, but unlike Godzilla that’s not the focus of the movie. The focus is about five friends attempting to survive the monstrous attack. Expect a lot of running, expect five people scared out of their minds that very well may make the Blair Witch girl look like she’s on a picnic instead of terrified out of her mind. After all, here we have a tangible horror pursuing the friends. The story is survival however. Think about the difference between the alien invasion of Independence Day, which was about an alien attack, and Signs, which was about one family during an alien attack. That’s Godzilla versus Cloverfield. The movie is told from the point of view of their video camera. The filming decision was to use (or simulate) consumer grade video gear, to give this a more realistic feel. This isn’t shot on film, with huge camera dollies and cranes giving sweeping scale and motion to everything. Expect a lot of jiggling and complaints of motion sickness galore by theater patrons. Steadicam - what’s that? Most consumers don’t have that in their video kit, so don’t expect to see one here. This is from the point of view of the cameras the friends carry. By that same logic, don’t expect huge set pieces and establishing camera shots. Don’t expect footage from a plane overhead (or a helicopter) unless our protagonists board one (like we see in the trailer). That also means you shouldn’t expect a clear, fully focused shot of the monster either, which is what everyone has been waiting for. This isn’t a polished movie like that. It’s supposed to feel raw and realistic, and if you had a monster destroying the city around you, you sure as hellfire wouldn’t stand still to take a damn picture. Also – have you been in New York? Getting a camera shot of a monster the size of a skyscraper that isn’t blocked by skyscrapers is near impossible. Add one more piece to the “don’t expect to see the monster” argument. The movie is produced by J.J. Abrams, the man who has kept audiences in the dark about smoke monsters, the Dharma Initiative, and Rambaldi artifacts for longer than most fans hold interest. Revealing things just isn’t in Abrams’ repertoire, and the few times he’s been forced into revealing his secrets, fans have been dissatisfied. I know Abrams is only producer, with Matt Reeves actually responsible for the writing and direction, but the two have been fast-friends since age 13. With Abrams being the bigger name between them, I have to believe this movie is being done Abrams way, regardless of how much of it is in Reeves’ plan. Again, this points to a distinct lack of answers by the time Cloverfield’s end credits roll. So – if you’re expecting a big monster movie on par with Godzilla, with cool footage of the monster destroying the city, you’re looking in the wrong place. Unfortunately, from the looks of it, that’s what a lot of people are hoping for. Instead Cloverfield has only promised a survival tale of five friends during a monster attack. Anything beyond that personal story, shot as if it’s a home video, is beyond expectations.
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