Cloverfield

Pretentious Pap, 8 September 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom


Don't believe the hype.Advocates of this movie swoon at the hand held camera work, bitty narrative, and edgy imagery.They are wrong. This is a classic case of the Emperors New Clothes, all style and no substance.

It is telling that Director Matt Reeve's previous claim to fame was Under Siege 2 (straight to video) and writer Drw Goddards credentials revolve around being a producer on TV Bore fest "Lost". It shows.

The hand held camera work is fine for the opening "party" Act, although I would have left the party during its 20 minute duration.The characters are sketched as quirky and diverse, like a scene setting episode of "Lost", but lack any warmth or emotional interest. I was willing them ALL to die half way through the film.However when the action kicks in the camera work is firstly nausea inducing, secondly it is used to artificially create a drama and tension which is not in the narrative.

Matt Reeve, by dipping us into this tale and then suddenly dipping us out is essentially telling a short story. And he is not good enough to carry a short story on film off.It fails at virtually every level.I was checking my watch every 10 minutes or so, a good indicator of how poorly the film engages with its audience.

A film I will NEVER watch again. A Director whose films I shall actively avoid in future.