FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • 7C
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‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ film fans
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE
PASS/FAIL
EDITOR’S NOTE: Film Fans features local residents reviewing the movie of the week:“10 Cloverfield Lane.” To be a film fan, email features@gwinnettdailypost.com.
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WHO WILL LIKE THIS...
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Pass: Good acting makes an OK script look better with absolutely nothing in common with the original “Cloverfield” save for the name. The tension of the story line builds throughout the entire movie and kept me involved throughout as the story developed. Fail: After the initial “made ya jump!” scene, creatively done before the opening title, the story and character development move a bit slowly but do manage to build speed later, just a bit sluggish.
John Goodman is outstanding as one of the central characters who changes personality from sympathetic to sinister to consoling and even vulnerable, then back again to the point where you are not sure what to expect next. Really shows his range as an actor very well.
At the end of the day, this is eventually a horror movie that any fan of movies like “Sign”, among others, will enjoy, mostly because of the gradual build up to the eventual payoff as the tension continues to rise.
Not much panorama until the closing scenes to warrant seeing it on the big screen. The story will be just as effective on DVD. There is, however, a few scenes near the end similar to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” that may be worth the price of admission to some.
Excellent acting by John Goodman and also Mary Elizabeth Winstead as one of Goodman’s captives who proves to be creative and resourceful enough to make the story come alive. There are enough turns and twists to surprise and frighten almost anyone with a nice payoff, that comes a little too late, at the end. All this leads to an obvious sequel that will be soon to come, I am sure.
Pass: This is a good suspenseful movie which is impressive to see with only three main actors that primarily takes place in a underground bunker. If you’ve never seen the movie “Cloverfield” or don’t know much about it, then there is definitely a good twist in store for you. Fail: Because it is known that this story does take place during the events of “Cloverfield,” the level of suspense about what is happening in the outside world is somewhat diluted.
John Goodman played such a good psychopath that it made me think twice about ever wanting to meet him in person.
Fans of suspenseful, psychological thrillers will likely enjoy. Fans of “Cloverfield” may feel a little let down.
This could go either way. It’s good enough to add to your watch list, but it could probably wait.
Even though I enjoyed “10 Cloverfield Lane,” I couldn’t help but feel a little dissatisfied. The attempted connection to the movie “Cloverfield” kind of felt like a bait and switch. Was there a connection? Yes. Did it add to either story? Not really. Did it help me realize I want to see a sequel to “Cloverfield?” Yes!
Pass: A story line that keeps you guessing throughout the movie; almost constantly building suspense and tension, interspersed at times with quirky humor; good acting. Fail: A somewhat unoriginal plot about post-apocalyptic survival; the film editing between some scenes wasn’t consistent; otherwise, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is a really good slow-burner that will hook you early and often.
John Goodman is outstanding in his role of Howard, a survivalist who shares his doomsday bunker with rescued motorist Michelle and local contractor Emmett. Howard insists that a worldwide chemical attack has rendered the atmosphere deadly, so he forbids Michelle and Emmett from even attempting to venture from the shelter. Goodman keeps you guessing about the true character of Howard — one minute he’s kindly benevolent and thoughtful, the next frighteningly menacing and paranoid. Mary Elizabeth Winstead does a very good job as Michelle.
If you like to stay on edge throughout a movie, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is just what you need. Even though J.J. Abrams (“Lost” and the recent “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” reboots) produced “10 Cloverfield Lane,” I could swear I was watching a couple of the the earlier films by M. Night Shyamalan like “The Village” and especially 2004’s “Signs.”
“10 Cloverfield Lane” is well worth the matinee price at your local cinema, and definitely worth seeing on DVD.
Although their titles are similar, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is not a sequel to 2008’s “Cloverfield,” although both share some of the same basic story elements. I was pleasantly surprised at how well director David Trachtenberg kept the chills going throughout the film, without resorting to the bloodiness and “boo-scares” that lesser horror flicks often employ. The fact that most of the film takes place inside a fallout shelter only adds to the sense of edginess. Those around me at the theater also felt that “10 Cloverfield Lane” was a very good thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Steve Kalberg, Lawrenceville
HHHH
Kenny Grams, Lawrenceville
HHHH
Tim Weekley, Suwanee
HHHH or more people won acting Oscars the first time they were nominated. A: 2016 — Alicia Vikander, Brie Larson, Mark Rylance Now, for this week’s questions: Test your 1. In what state is “Perdifilm knowledge with tion” in “Road to Perdition?” 2. What is the highestMichael Clark grossing movie directed by So, you think you’re good Alfred Hitchcock? at movie trivia? Every week, 3. Name three Steve we give readers the opSpielberg movies set during portunity to flex their movie World War II. muscles by answering five 4. What role eventually trivia questions from our played by Tom Cruise was movie critic, Michael Clark. originally offered to Daniel Congratulations to last Day-Lewis? week’s winner, Ken Pier5. Name someone who is annunzi of Lawrenceville. in the Country Music Hall Here are last week’s of Fame, the Songwriters questions again and the Hall of Fame, has received answers: multiple Oscar and Golden 1. Name two movies Globe nominations and is a where Warren Beatty’s char- Kennedy Center honoree. acter was shot by a gun. The first person (located A: “Bonnie and Clyde,” within the U.S.) to respond “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” with all of the correct an“The Parallax View,” swers receives a prize of an “Heaven Can Wait,” item or items (movie T-shirts, “Bugsy” and “Bulworth” hats, posters, etc.). The 2. Name the studio to winner also gets their name win the first Oscar for Best published in the next WeekAnimated Picture. end section. Please email A: DreamWorks (2001 – your answers, along with “Shrek”) your name to clarkwriter@ 3. What fruit is most mindspring.com. Include shown prior to and/or during “Gwinnett Daily Post Trivia many of the murder scenes in Contest” in the subject line. “The Godfather” franchise? In the event no one answers A: Oranges all of the questions correctly, 4. Name the novelist or the person with the most playwright whose works correct answers submitted have been adapted into the by 6 p.m. the Monday after highest number of feature the contest is posted will be films. the winner. Only one winner A: William Shakespeare per household is eligible for 5. Name the last year two each 30-day period.
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DISC SPOTLIGHT MICHAEL CLARK
The Big Short (R) Movie: HHHH Disc: HHHH
concentrated levels and are able to make a 130-minute, insider jargonfilled, dialogue-heavy movie go by in a flash. Co-leads Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling deliver their A-games. Technical specs: aspect ratio: Widescreen (2.40:1/1080p), audio: English (DTS: X), French, Portuguese and Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), subtitles: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
The much-deserved winner of the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, “The Big Short” is the only movie about the 2007 financial crash that mixes ear-pinning drama with black comedy and provides the best explanation of the concept Special features include: of greed since “Wall Street.” Direc• Six featurettes tor Adam McKay and co-writer • Deleted scenes Charles Randolph distill the book • Additional DVD and Digital by Michael Lewis down to highly HD
• First edition slipcover packaging Paramount, $39.99
COMING SOON TO OWN • “Point Break” (March 29): The action-movie remake casts Luke Bracey as a novice FBI agent who infiltrates a possibly criminal group of thrill-seekers. (PG-13)
(March 29): In Quentin Tarantino’s western, a blizzard strands stagecoach travelers; stars include Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson and Jennifer Jason Leigh. (R)
• “Exposed” (March 29): Keanu Reeves plays a New York police detective whose probe of his partner’s death comes to involve a troubled woman (Ana de Armas). (R)
• “The Expanse: Season One” (April 5): Earthlings and Martians try to coexist in the Syfy series; stars include Thomas Jane and Shohreh Aghdashloo. (Not rated)
• “Concussion” (March 29): Will Smith stars as a forensic pathologist who links pro football’s necessary roughness to dementia in some players. (PG-13) • “The Hateful Eight”
• “The Revenant” (April 19): The recent Oscar winner for best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and director (Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu) is an early-19th-century frontier survival story. (R)
Winder to host screening of independent sci-fi film ‘Embers’ By Polly Ouellette Staff Intern
Fans of science fiction movies will get the chance to attend a screening of an award-winning independent film on Sunday, March 20. The city of Winder and the Winder Cultural Arts
Center will present “Embers,” the first feature film of Claire Carré. “Embers” explores a world in which everyone has lost their memories due to a global epidemic affecting neurological function. The film features five intertwined stories of those who struggle
to adjust to life in this unfamiliar world, while exploring the topics of love, family, morality and freedom. After a screening of the film, Carré will talk to the audience about the film and her other works. Carré is a New York-based film maker with experience
in directing music videos, fashion films and commercials. She is a fellow of the 2014 IFP Independent Filmmaker Lab and was nominated for the 2014 Gotham Awards Spotlight on Women Filmmakers Grant. “Embers” has also played as an official selection at a
variety of film festivals since its release in October of 2015. “Embers” is an official selection of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. The tour is a program of South Arts, a nonprofit arts organization that focuses on the heritage of the South and enhancing
the public value of the arts. Several more independent films will visit Winder for screenings through the spring. The screening will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, in the Winder Cultural Arts Center, located at 105 E. Athens Street in Winder.