Cloverfield

Although I really don't think you mind much, there are spoilers ahead.

I recently saw Cloverfield on a late night retreat. It was a good movie, let me start by saying as such. Although every filmmaker at one point has this idea, I doubt that as many would do as well a job as Cloverfield did. The setup was perfect. A giant party of young yuppies, surprising a friend as he leaves for a new job. A fight ensues with the host and an old girl friend, and tensions rise.

Then, suddenly, a rumble is felt in the crowd, and an explosion is heard in the distance. They race for the roof in search of an inkling of knowledge about this chaotic situation. Another large explosion, some flying debris, dead people, screaming.

Now, up to this point I get it. My mind can embrace an explosion. I'm cool with that. I get the panic that people are experiencing, it is well acted. But I cannot soak in that the military would respond within 12 minutes from the attack. There is no way in hell that our government would've been able to organize the National Guard in such a small amount of time. There is no way in hell that there would be no line at the makeshift hospital run by the military, especially in such a large scale attack. And do not even try to tell me that

My point? Cloverfield is propaganda.

The military has such a beautiful position in this movie. At one point, our anti heroes are under immense duress. They are being attacked by the enemy from all sides, and just as there is no escape, out of a beautiful light comes our men in uniform, ready to protect and serve. They are brought into the base, and Rob, the main character guy, begs to be able to go into midtown, ground zero of the attack. After getting no where with the lower officers, the general looking guy gives him all the information necessary to go.

Now, in the world of dramatics, this is called the Deus ex Machina, or, hand of god. this is usually an artificial plot point created by writers when there is really no other way out. The subject of a deus ex machina is usually a hero of some kind, swooping down in the last minute to whip you up into the sky.

I'm not saying that I am against the military, no. I am simply inferring that maybe, just maybe, the military gave heaps of money to a film to spread propaganda like a 12 year old girl. Nor am I inferring that this has anything to do with something like covering up the 9/11 conspiracy, terrorists did that, the government isn't competent enough to shut all those people up, but they are very capable of shoveling mountains of cash at people to get them to do odd things. It's been done many times before with almost every movie during the red scare(s). Also, seeing that the movie came out a coupla days ago, and it takes quite some time for pre production and fund gathering, I'd say that, to my best guess, 06 or 05. The script was probably written ages before, but scripts mean nothing when they hit the desk of a money grubbing producer. If the military funded it during this time, it would've been when Bush had gotten some record breaking low approval ratings. A movie like this would boost the trust in the military, and therefore the president. And the top secret status of the movie is just up armed services alley, that's all they ever do.

And, not to be really weird about it, but Cloverfield incites the same mind wracking, "what the fuck is going on!" that the national tragedy of 9/11 accomplished. This mind wracking not only brought a nation together, but caused recruitment to explode. This, in a way, reminds people of that moment, and their commitment to their country, as the government sees it.

So ya, Cloverfield.