Although the film was completely ignored by the Academy, the Golden Globes, and most U.S. American year-end lists, I am delighted to see that Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield was selected by the venerable French film magazine, Cahiers du Cinema, as one of the 10 Best Films of 2008.
For the record, the Academy’s nominations for the Best Picture of 2008 are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (yawn), Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog Millionaire. I daresay Cloverfield – with its carefully and cleverly limited point of view – was more formally interesting than any of them.
Seems like we still have to contend with the same genre prejudices (A monster film? No way!) that have plagued American film critics and the organizations that reflect their attitudes since Year One. God Bless the French.
Other notable Oscar snubs: Synecdoche, New York and Vicky Cristina Barcelona for Best Original Screenplay. Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) for Best Actor. Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) for Best Actress.
[Thanks to Cinematical for the Cahiers heads-up.]
