10 Cloverfield Lane (B) Movie Review
10 Cloverfield Lane, the secretly made semi-sequel to Cloverfield, stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Michelle, the victim of a car crash who wakes up chained to the wall of an underground bunker. This bunker belongs to Howard, played by John Goodman, an ex-military man who dedicated much of his time and effort over the past years constructing the bunker in case of an "eventual" alien attack or chemical war. As secrets are revealed, Michelle begins to wonder how much of the truth is being told and exactly what must be done about the situation.
I hope I kept my summary vague enough. This is truly one of those films to experience bringing little to no beforehand information into the theater. Personally, I think the trailer gives away too much of the film, although it's stellar marketing and has cultivated a lot of attention through the mystery of the film's existence (10 Cloverfield Lane was not announced until two months before its release).
10 Cloverfield Lane is frustrating in how close it comes to excellence. It does so much, so well, for so long. The first hour and forty minutes of this film are claustrophobic, tension-ridden, and exciting. The problem is that the first hour and forty minutes feel like a totally different film than the last twenty minutes. It's by no means a tacked-on ending and I'll be honest with you, the more I think about it, the more I like it, but it's significantly worse than that first movie we were watching.
But as I just mentioned, it does so much, so well, for so long. Director Dan Trachtenberg masterfully juggles tonal shifts. There are moments in which the film won't take itself too seriously and Trachtenberg shows a particular command over the film in these moments, never easing up on the suspense but giving the audience a few moments in which to catch their breath. There's a surprising amount of comedy injected in the film that works, all while maintaining a precisely measured intensity.
And 10 Cloverfield Lane is a lot of precisely measured intensity. From the moment Michelle wakes up in that bunker, there's a generally unrelenting quality to the film that is keen on keeping you guessing as to the motivations of Howard and to the real circumstances in which Michelle finds herself. There's an unpredictability to 10 Cloverfield Lane that gives the film its intrigue.
John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead both turn in marvelous performances. Winstead has flown under the radar for quite a while now, but those aware of the film world are aware of her and her genuine talent. She's a brilliant actress and it's good to see her in a film in which she'll receive a wide amount of recognition. She's charismatic, always able to capture our sympathies as she puts together the puzzle of 10 Cloverfield Lane, and carries her weight in the more dramatic moments. Her role allows for a certain complexity and depth and Winstead builds upon it.
John Goodman turns an almost one-note role into something deliriously and creepily unhinged without ever veering into cartoon-ish territory. His dominating manner and odd character quirks also create a captivating screen presence. I'd say Goodman gives the best performance of the film. It's nuanced enough to create certain levels to his character but always bold enough to scare.
Perhaps it's that the set-up was so damn good that any conclusion might not have been worthy but the last twenty minutes were an undeniable let down. My audience had a good enough time with the end so I may be in the minority. But even the last twenty minutes carry some impressive moments and until then, lap this film up. It's one of the most taut, suspenseful, purely entertaining films I've seen in quite some time.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic material including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language
I hope I kept my summary vague enough. This is truly one of those films to experience bringing little to no beforehand information into the theater. Personally, I think the trailer gives away too much of the film, although it's stellar marketing and has cultivated a lot of attention through the mystery of the film's existence (10 Cloverfield Lane was not announced until two months before its release).
10 Cloverfield Lane is frustrating in how close it comes to excellence. It does so much, so well, for so long. The first hour and forty minutes of this film are claustrophobic, tension-ridden, and exciting. The problem is that the first hour and forty minutes feel like a totally different film than the last twenty minutes. It's by no means a tacked-on ending and I'll be honest with you, the more I think about it, the more I like it, but it's significantly worse than that first movie we were watching.
But as I just mentioned, it does so much, so well, for so long. Director Dan Trachtenberg masterfully juggles tonal shifts. There are moments in which the film won't take itself too seriously and Trachtenberg shows a particular command over the film in these moments, never easing up on the suspense but giving the audience a few moments in which to catch their breath. There's a surprising amount of comedy injected in the film that works, all while maintaining a precisely measured intensity.
And 10 Cloverfield Lane is a lot of precisely measured intensity. From the moment Michelle wakes up in that bunker, there's a generally unrelenting quality to the film that is keen on keeping you guessing as to the motivations of Howard and to the real circumstances in which Michelle finds herself. There's an unpredictability to 10 Cloverfield Lane that gives the film its intrigue.
John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead both turn in marvelous performances. Winstead has flown under the radar for quite a while now, but those aware of the film world are aware of her and her genuine talent. She's a brilliant actress and it's good to see her in a film in which she'll receive a wide amount of recognition. She's charismatic, always able to capture our sympathies as she puts together the puzzle of 10 Cloverfield Lane, and carries her weight in the more dramatic moments. Her role allows for a certain complexity and depth and Winstead builds upon it.
John Goodman turns an almost one-note role into something deliriously and creepily unhinged without ever veering into cartoon-ish territory. His dominating manner and odd character quirks also create a captivating screen presence. I'd say Goodman gives the best performance of the film. It's nuanced enough to create certain levels to his character but always bold enough to scare.
Perhaps it's that the set-up was so damn good that any conclusion might not have been worthy but the last twenty minutes were an undeniable let down. My audience had a good enough time with the end so I may be in the minority. But even the last twenty minutes carry some impressive moments and until then, lap this film up. It's one of the most taut, suspenseful, purely entertaining films I've seen in quite some time.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic material including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language