CLOVERFIELD (2008)

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This is an intense movie. Yet begins as an intimate story of how a group of friends try to survive the most amazing and horrifying event of their lives; a giant monster terrorizing Manhattan. It is a personal drama, at times spectacular science fiction story with a touch of horror thrown in, all through the eyes of a handycam lens. The set up puts us square in the center of reality, in time bringing us to the fantastical, while never jerking or pulling us out of that reality base which makes the film in part so compelling.

Some have stated that the shaky camera work can cause nasea. By movie's end I felt a headache and a mild feeling of nasea at the fringe of my head. But it never intruded past the car ride home.

The performances of the mostly unknown cast are real and riveting. The appearance of the monster throughout the film is both terrifying and incredible to behold. Plus the effects, seamlessly inserted into what the character of Hud's camera sees, are amazing.

An interesting device is the fact that the tape in the camera is being recorded over by mistake. At certain times the camera is turned off to cleaverly reveal some of the back story of Rob and Beth, two central characters in the story. During the attack Rob ultimately decides to go after Beth who is trapped in her apartment and those moments bring a true resonanse to these former lovers who realize how really important they are to one another.

SPOILER ALERT!

My favorite moments cinematically are as follows:

Rob goes into an electronics store that's being looted to try and find a matching battery to replace the one that's dead on his cell. Once he reboots the phone you hear a message from Beth saying she's in her apartment and badly hurt. At that moment all sound from what's going on outside slowly becomes muted. Hud's camera stays on Rob's face as he thinks and realizes he must go after Beth no matter what. An important emotional turning point for the character and the movie.

Marlena, Lizy, and Hud continue to try and talk Rob out of going to find Beth as they are walking down the street. Suddenly the monster appears in front of them about two blocks up ahead. Several flashes appear overhead as missiles and rockets zoom toward and impact the beast. Hud spins around to see a convoy of troops and tanks behind him launching everything they've got. Then the first full on shot of the monster as they try to escape down some stairs to a subway platform. That whole sequence just has a sweet punch!

As the credits roll Michael Giacchino's "ROAR! (Cloverfield Overture)" begins to play and builds to an amazing crescendo. It's a brilliant take on all the Godzilla like movie themes from the past, including the use of female vocals. I loved it and hope they release the track for download.

Just like "Godzilla" was a reflection of the atomic bomb, "Cloverfield" reflects our fears of terrorism and the sometimes very scary world we live in post 9/11. Go see this movie with an open mind. But most importantly go see this movie!

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