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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De Niro's Tribute Riff

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Defamer's Stu VanAirsdale has posted a video snippet of Robert De Niro's remarks at last night's Meryl Streep tribute at Lincoln Center.

"If De Niro's appearance is any indication, all those haters who ridiculed the actor's agency switch last week might have another thing coming," VanAirsdale notes. "De Niro killed. In a cruise-ship comic kind of way, perhaps, and filing through a fistful of index-carded one-liners, but still."

HE comment #1: Yes, he did pretty well at the lecturn, but you can't hear what he's saying on Stu's video -- it's too echo-y. HE comment #2: Despite his genius instincts as an actor, De Niro is not known for being the most intellectually gifted actor in the business, so it makes sense that he would bring along the index cards in case, you know, he "went up." (Which happens to everyone.)

The best quote from that alleged written-within-CAA letter about De Niro's departure: "Bobby blames everybody but himself for the way he's squandered his career, and refused lots of quality pictures because they wouldn't give him producer credit. [He] had a choice ten or so years ago. He could either go the Nicholson route -- very selective, very particular, protect the brand -- or go out sending himself up in tripe like Analyze This, which made money but turned him into that 'old psycho guy.' He could have concentrated on quality stuff, but instead wanted to keep funding his little empire in New York."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 15, 2008 at 1:22 PM

comment #1

T. S. Idiot says ...

I've seen DeNiro introduce Pacino at the TriBeca Film Festival and pay tribute to Hoffman at Lincoln Center. Both times he was clearly uncomfortable and couldn't get off the stage quick enough. Last night, he was terrific, delivering his witty, self-deprecating lines with perfect timing. He used the cards just to remind himself of what he wanted to say. He did not read. Of the others present, only Stanley Tucci and Mike Nichols even came close to DeNiro. Redford was easily the worst. He had nothing to say and said it awkwardly.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at April 15, 2008 3:25 PM

comment #2