Cloverfield
The monster movie is back with Cloverfield. I mention it in my blog today because its significance lies in the nature of the scare, and in the mode of its perception.
In the movie, New York is attacked by a mysterious monster and a group of kids, whom we follow, capture the unfolding events with a camcorder.
The Godzilla movies of the fifties, and the 1956 Sci-fi classic, The Invasion of The Body Snatchers, both dealt with an external “other” who invaded. In the case of the Body Snatchers there was a real concern in America at the time about the threat of Communism in the culture; people being “taken over” by Socialist values and turning against existing power structures.
Japan, in the 1950s, was still reconciling itself to the firebombing of its cities in 1945 and to the two atomic bombs. The American Godzilla had literally invaded it and destroyed it. The Godzilla movies safely processed those fears and vulnerabilities for the Japanese audience and processed Cold War fears for Americans.
In 2008 we have a new, post 9/11 reality with a retro feel: the attack on 9/11 shocked and awed New York, the huge billowing smoke plumes pushing through the buildings with dust-covered inhabitants running for cover; many of the 9/11 attacks most important aspects were covered by camcorders, recorded by ordinary people – those running away.
The camcorder has become an extension of our eyes (the new cinéma-vérité, or “cinema truth”) and, when wedded to state-of the-art special effects, produces a new look.
The old movie experience of the 50s and 60s had spectators suspending their collective disbelief for the eye of the film camera and special effects needed not to be filtered through another “eye.”
The filmmakers behind Cloverfield (the military name given an evacuation point in New York following the monster attack), have done a good job recreating our fears and memories of terrorism and have used most of our memories from that fatal September day, even including an evacuation along the Brooklyn Bridge, to concoct this nightmare of movie magic.
Cloverfield is about 9/11 and the “other”– make no mistake.
We could be attacked at any time and we don’t know what it is, where it is, or when, and many will die and the camcorders will catch it.
And it may not even be a movie.
January 21st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Andrew, you are very perceptive and very correct. I saw Cloverfield on Friday and found myself re-experiencing many of the feelings I had the day we now refer to as “9/11″ The film brilliantly gave a reality experience and a personal one aswell. Throughout the unfolding scenes of the movie, I could place myself in the roles of the main characters very easily. So many questions were left unanswered in the movie just as it would, and was that day on 9/11. A brilliantly done movie that touches something and starts something.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:05 am
the holloywood version of any george bush speech. create fear and the public will pretty much let their government do anything. sounds a bit a certain person’s rise to power in the 1930’s anyone. the fear was created and they got away with anything and everything they could think of. a modern day propaganda movie i my opinion. wouldn’t be surprised to see george bush in the credits somewhere or cheney, rice etc etc.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I listen to your show every day .when I can. I work in a manufac plant in N B can”t call in although I really would like to . I do have some contribution to your program. ( I like the show very much and get it as much as I can in my work format.) but I cannot get in to it in talk format during the program . My work constricts me there. Sorry , but that is the way It is for me but I listen every day I can.
I like your humour, your candor, and your licence to crap on the people or subject, its a refreshing change to what was the norm in local talk radio.
YOU are a refreshing change to this market, and to the listeners. I know they like, and thats good for us. Keep up the good work and profesionalism
and you are very well versed in general info and phsy as well well done
I will maybe talk with you on air some soon I will try..