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It's been almost a month now since I first saw Director Matt Reeves' much anticipated "Cloverfield."  I sat in on a special screening a good three weeks before its national release.  There was to be no discussion about the film.  Not on any internet sites or blogs until after the film's premiere.  Weeks passed. 

Once the film opened this past Friday, I rolled my sleeves in anticipation to share my thoughts.  I sat in front of a blank screen. 

I forgot about the film already.

The thrill of the mysterious thing attacking the city was gone (I still don't know how to describe that monster), the novelty of the cinéma vérité teaser trailer from July had worn off, and I was sort of pissed that Hud (the camera guy) never used the letterbox feature on his mini-DV camcorder.

I went back and watched it again (in a digital presentation that was spoiled because the film is shot on handheld camcorders, thus leaving the permanent grainy look during the night scenes) and noted some new findings.

1) The film, more or less works, because it has convinced itself that nothing terrible will happen.  The opening shaky shots in a ritzy midtown apartment, on a trip to Coney Island, in a neighborhood store and at an entertaining surprise party, are so warm and authentic that we, as an audience, fool ourselves into thinking that we're NOT watching "Cloverfield."

2)Thus, when shit starts to go down (brilliantly executed during a fire escape dialogue scene), we're in it for the long (actually short, it's not even 90 minutes!) haul. 

3) Hud, the camera guy, (like it or not) saves the film in many ways.  Yes, he says corny lines.  Yes, he wants the untouchable girl.  Yes, he blesses the camcorder with a remarkably charged battery life.  But he also is our eyes and ears to the film.  When he yells, so do we.  When breaks the tension with a joke, we are grateful he did.  And when he is crying out for dear life in a spiraling helicopter, damn it, we are hooked by the gut.

4) If it wasn't for the stupid idea of trying to rescue a soon-to-be-dead ice queen, the film would be 28 minutes long.

5) I know I saw a "Slusho" ad on a TV screen in the electronics store, and still find no significance in it.

6) Hank Azaria is not the camera guy in this movie.  Grateful for Hud now?

7) That shot at Coney Island, during the film's close, paid a sort of ironic payoff, that I must admit went over my head during my first screening of the film.  Look out at the right side screen, just by the white boat, and you'll know what I mean.

8) I forgot about the movie again by the time I was done peeing in the men's restroom.

I don't know what to make of this.