BuzzSugar

Ford and McAdams and Abrams - Oh, My!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:30:04 -0800

This movie news is just delightful. I probably would have never thought to put together the names of these Hollywood folks, but now that I see it, I think it's pretty awesome. Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams (though she's still "in negotiations") will star in Morning Glory, a comedy that will be produced by JJ Abrams and his Bad Robot production company. Notting Hill director Roger Michell will direct. Here's more:

McAdams would play an aspiring news producer who tries to save a failing morning show by getting control of its feuding anchors. Ford will play one of the anchors, and the female thesp playing the other anchor will be set shortly.

There's still that other female anchor to cast, so is there any way to make this cast even better? I vote for Kristen Chenoweth (can you imagine her battling it out with Harrison Ford?!). Any other suggestions?

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Cloverfield: Something's Coming. . . And It's Awesome

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:36:25 -0800

I am genuinely surprised by how much I love Cloverfield, the JJ Abrams-produced monster movie which, despite being heavily promoted through viral marketing schemes, has largely managed to remain shrouded in mystery up until today's release. The viral stuff was starting to get exhausting - and ridiculous - and I worried that all this hubbub would be for naught, and all of us Abrams fans would be fiercely disappointed. I was wrong. It's not going to win tons of awards, but in the genre of monster movies, this is one of the best I've ever seen.

Filmed in the shaky-cam style of Blair Witch Project, it's a little nauseating at first, but easy to get used to. Enough time has passed since the Blair Witch Project that this seems like a legitimate cinematic technique again. In fact, it works better this time around since technology in everyday life has become more common, every public event nabbed immediately on dozens of cameras and cameraphones. It's not so unusual that a crazy monster attack on New York would be caught on a 20-something's video camera. And this is exactly what happens. To find out what else goes on, read more.

The bulk of the action begins with a surprise bon voyage party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David) being thrown by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas). While prepping for the party, Jason gives his friend Hud (T.J. Miller) the camera, instructing him to take testimonials from the guests. Yet Hud never really puts the camera down, even when the party learns that the city is under attack - by a monster. From here the party spins into panic mode and everyone scatters while the monster slips around buildings, glimpses of it caught in the light of helicopters. A group of partygoers try to stay together and set out to find their friend Beth (Odette Yustman).

The best part about the story is also the best part about the storytelling technique. The movie truly begins with the original footage on the videotape: Rob filming his longtime crush Beth in bed, groggily waking up from their night together. Throughout the entirety of the film, this taped-over footage is slipped between super intense monster scenes, providing a jolting - and much-needed - shift from tension to relief, from a horrible present to a happier past.

In general, I think Abrams does well with this balancing act, though it's unclear how much of the end product of Cloverfield is him and how much is director Matt Reeves. This balance is probably the best thing about the movie: this perfect combination of tension and relief, anticipation and action, "real-life" drama and humor. They did well to have the cameraperson, our narrator of sorts, be Hud, a bumbling guy whose baffled quips from behind the camera often provide comedic relief. The movie never gets too precious and never takes itself too-too seriously. And still, when that monster is on screen it’s really, really scary.

As a sidenote, there are some absurdities that will simply have to be swallowed, like when the group - some of them in heels - walks from Spring Street in Manhattan to 59th Street in very little time and with no physical consequence. There aren't too many of these outrageous things, though, and by the end of the film, all is forgiven.

The movie so easily sets up the possibility of sequels (there could be any number of these "recovered videos" from the monster attack, and could even find one from every major city), so definitely expect to see Cloverfields 2-10 or so. There is, in fact, something hoarsely whispered at the very end, after the credit roll (yes, I geekily stayed in the theater through the entire credit roll, made rather enjoyable by the choral piece "Roar!" which was specially composed for Cloverfield), but I couldn't make out the words. If you're a nerd like me and stay through the credits, let me know what you think is said.

To see the trailer and more clips from Cloverfield check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

JJ Abrams' Cloverfield Gets a Trailer

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:30:00 -0800

After much fan-geek speculation and swirling rumors across the Internet, we finally have an official glimpse of what the JJ Abrams' "monster movie" will entail. Titled Cloverfield for sure, the movie now has an official website and a trailer that has been showing before some screenings of Beowulf. After the jump you can see a real video of the trailer instead of just the shaky bootleg versions taken by people at movie theaters.

Then again, that shaky "real life" sense would be in keeping with the actual movie, so there's something kind of neat and trippy about watching an audience member's filmed version of what looks like other peoples' home videos. But I digress. The movie is like The Blair Witch Project in its shakycam realistic style, making it seem like we're watching found footage of a crazy monster attack on New York. There's not much more to say about it than that. It's pretty creepy, especially seeing things like the head of the Statue of Liberty crash and roll on the street. Yipes! You can check out the trailer below before Cloverfield hits theaters January 18 if you read more

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J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield... If That Is Your Real Name

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:30:09 -0700

Certain film blogs are abuzz with reports that a mysterious teaser trailer for a movie called Cloverfield was shown before some press screenings of Transformers. Apparently the trailer showed a bunch of teens partying and an explosion followed by the Statue of Liberty head falling into the street and then the release date comes up on the screen: January 18, 2008. Filmed all shaky handheld camera-style, it's rumored to be a kind of monster movie, or as Cinematical posits, "basically The Blair Witch Project meets the Godzilla remake."

Yet, details are sketchy and even the title is shrouded in secrecy, with many people believing Cloverfield to be a fake title. Firstly, there was the speculation that this project is actually Stephen King's Dark Tower movie that J.J. Abrams is working on, rumored to be operating under the title Cloverfield, but that was quickly denied by King's people. Now Ain'tItCool is claiming to know a few facts about the movie: Matt Reeves, former writer on "Felicity" and writer/director of The Pallbearer is directing, while J.J. Abrams' own production company, Bad Robot is helping to produce.

Also, one of the movie's writers (Drew Godard) has collaborated with Abrams on "Lost," leading to this highly intriguing speculation which I think would be pretty damn cool: Perhaps the movie will be some kind of companion piece to "Lost." January 18 is around when the next season of "Lost" is starting up... Just saying.