The Top 10 Films of 2008
10. Pineapple Express {dir. David Gordon Green}
Let's face it, comedic cinema of the decade so far has been dominated by the so-called “Apatow Clan”, a group of hard working individuals led by writer/director/pro ducer Judd Apatow. Their best effort of 2008 was this film, which deals with two stoners (Dale and Saul) on the run from powerful drug dealers and crooked cops whilst...under the influence. However, the film is much more interested in the dynamic between drug dealer (James Franco's Saul) and drug purchaser (Seth Rogen's Dale) as they narrowly avoid death. This character based humor allows Pineapple Express to separate itself from most mainstream comedies this year.
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button {dir. David Fincher}
The year's biggest “Oscar-bait” picture is an (as expected) expertly made and surprisingly emotional journey through a life lived backwards. For Fincher, the film opens doors that last year's Zodiac should have opened already. Button's craft is very formal, at times almost rigidly classical. Surprising coming from the director of the much loved but ultimately sophomoric Fight Club. Fincher has shed the film school student of some of his earlier films (the shot going through the handle of the coffee maker in Panic Room, really?) and has managed to leave a beautiful and thoughtful product.
8. Burn After Reading {dir. Joel & Ethan Coen}
As always with the brothers Coen, the film is perfectly made, down to the tiniest fibers of the character's costumes, with Brad Pitt's best performance from this or any year. The film is an idiosyncratic satire of the C.I.A., with not a character spared from the pen of the Coens. The characters are portrayed as dumb, ill mannered, selfish and egocentric. Some complained that the film's nihilistic sense of humor choked the laughter out of every situation. However, I disagree. Despite the character's many flaws they are well written characters played by a capable cast. A distinct and outrageous satire.
7. Frost/Nixon {dir. Ron Howard}
A quick paced and fascinating slice of history that includes two brilliant performances from Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Langella is truly the best reason to seek this film out. He portrays Nixon, not as a caricature, but as a complete man, conflicted and pathetic. When viewing Frost/Nixon the very idea of the actual Nixon completely left me, as I sat convinced he was up there on the screen.
6. Slumdog Millionaire {dir. Danny Boyle}
The big winner at this year's Oscar ceremony, and it is not hard to see why. This film resembles a Dickens story stuffed into a blender, rearranged and then scored with a pulsing Bollywood inspired look and score. A vibrant and lively fairy tale, and technically fascinating achievement.
5. Doubt {dir. John Patrick Shanley}
Although it includes some heavy themes, Doubt, is one of the most entertaining and involving films to come along in quite sometime. Rarely have my heart and mind been so engaged in a film simultaneously. At its heart, Doubt remains the stage play upon which it is based, about a priest who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a young boy. The priest is played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and the nun investigating (Sister Aloysius, great name) the situation is played by Meryl Streep, the best living actress and the best actress of the year. The language used in the film treats the situation very carefully and the confrontations between the characters crackle with well- written intensity. The film's central theme is indeed the title: Doubt. As an audience, we are left to our own devices in judging Father Flynn's relationship to the young boy. This uncertainty is a rare and valuable thing in film today. Great performances, wonderful writing and tough themes.
4. In Bruges {dir. Martin McDonagh}
Profane, twisted, at points a beautiful travelogue at other times a Boschian nightmare, this film is the best written of the year and probably the most surprising. These lists tend to lend themselves toward absolute statement so I'll just say it: the funniest film of the year. As with the other comedies on the list it comes from the characters and their situations. McDonagh's wit is unmatched and his past as a playwright allow him to craft such ugly, racist and profane ideas into tightly coiled bundles of hilarious dialog. It is completely un-PC, but endlessly watchable and quotable.
3. WALL-E {dir. Andrew Stanton}
Ultimately, this is bound to be remembered as a landmark of cinematic animation. More than a children's film, it is at times lovely and touching, at others biting and satiric, WALL-E is cinematic expression in its most powerful and moving form. Hype cannot meet how wonderful the film really is.
2. Milk {dir. Gus Van Sant}
I cannot organize my thought into a concise form to fully express how moving this movie is. Suffice to say it ranks as one of the most moving films of the decade. Really just a revelation. Masterful direction, strong writing combine with perhaps the best work of Sean Penn's career. Emotional and moving. Transcends mere biopic-ery. More than the "gay politician" film, but a chronicle of a movement.
1. The Dark Knight {dir. Christopher Nolan}
A big, loud and surprisingly thoughtful blockbuster...as the best film of the year? I know a Batman film is truly the year's best. It is more than a financial success, it is a reconstruction of a tired genre featuring an already iconic performance from a dearly departed actor. This film deserves praise for elevating the superhero picture to a realm of academic dissection and moral and thematic discussion. Seeing The Dark Knight on opening day was an experience to remember. Like Star Wars and Jaws before it, The Dark Knight is the dizzying combination of entertainment and pure craft. The one film 2008 will (and should) be remembered for.
Let's face it, comedic cinema of the decade so far has been dominated by the so-called “Apatow Clan”, a group of hard working individuals led by writer/director/pro ducer Judd Apatow. Their best effort of 2008 was this film, which deals with two stoners (Dale and Saul) on the run from powerful drug dealers and crooked cops whilst...under the influence. However, the film is much more interested in the dynamic between drug dealer (James Franco's Saul) and drug purchaser (Seth Rogen's Dale) as they narrowly avoid death. This character based humor allows Pineapple Express to separate itself from most mainstream comedies this year.
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button {dir. David Fincher}
The year's biggest “Oscar-bait” picture is an (as expected) expertly made and surprisingly emotional journey through a life lived backwards. For Fincher, the film opens doors that last year's Zodiac should have opened already. Button's craft is very formal, at times almost rigidly classical. Surprising coming from the director of the much loved but ultimately sophomoric Fight Club. Fincher has shed the film school student of some of his earlier films (the shot going through the handle of the coffee maker in Panic Room, really?) and has managed to leave a beautiful and thoughtful product.
8. Burn After Reading {dir. Joel & Ethan Coen}
As always with the brothers Coen, the film is perfectly made, down to the tiniest fibers of the character's costumes, with Brad Pitt's best performance from this or any year. The film is an idiosyncratic satire of the C.I.A., with not a character spared from the pen of the Coens. The characters are portrayed as dumb, ill mannered, selfish and egocentric. Some complained that the film's nihilistic sense of humor choked the laughter out of every situation. However, I disagree. Despite the character's many flaws they are well written characters played by a capable cast. A distinct and outrageous satire.
7. Frost/Nixon {dir. Ron Howard}
A quick paced and fascinating slice of history that includes two brilliant performances from Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Langella is truly the best reason to seek this film out. He portrays Nixon, not as a caricature, but as a complete man, conflicted and pathetic. When viewing Frost/Nixon the very idea of the actual Nixon completely left me, as I sat convinced he was up there on the screen.
6. Slumdog Millionaire {dir. Danny Boyle}
The big winner at this year's Oscar ceremony, and it is not hard to see why. This film resembles a Dickens story stuffed into a blender, rearranged and then scored with a pulsing Bollywood inspired look and score. A vibrant and lively fairy tale, and technically fascinating achievement.
5. Doubt {dir. John Patrick Shanley}
Although it includes some heavy themes, Doubt, is one of the most entertaining and involving films to come along in quite sometime. Rarely have my heart and mind been so engaged in a film simultaneously. At its heart, Doubt remains the stage play upon which it is based, about a priest who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a young boy. The priest is played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and the nun investigating (Sister Aloysius, great name) the situation is played by Meryl Streep, the best living actress and the best actress of the year. The language used in the film treats the situation very carefully and the confrontations between the characters crackle with well- written intensity. The film's central theme is indeed the title: Doubt. As an audience, we are left to our own devices in judging Father Flynn's relationship to the young boy. This uncertainty is a rare and valuable thing in film today. Great performances, wonderful writing and tough themes.
4. In Bruges {dir. Martin McDonagh}
Profane, twisted, at points a beautiful travelogue at other times a Boschian nightmare, this film is the best written of the year and probably the most surprising. These lists tend to lend themselves toward absolute statement so I'll just say it: the funniest film of the year. As with the other comedies on the list it comes from the characters and their situations. McDonagh's wit is unmatched and his past as a playwright allow him to craft such ugly, racist and profane ideas into tightly coiled bundles of hilarious dialog. It is completely un-PC, but endlessly watchable and quotable.
3. WALL-E {dir. Andrew Stanton}
Ultimately, this is bound to be remembered as a landmark of cinematic animation. More than a children's film, it is at times lovely and touching, at others biting and satiric, WALL-E is cinematic expression in its most powerful and moving form. Hype cannot meet how wonderful the film really is.
2. Milk {dir. Gus Van Sant}
I cannot organize my thought into a concise form to fully express how moving this movie is. Suffice to say it ranks as one of the most moving films of the decade. Really just a revelation. Masterful direction, strong writing combine with perhaps the best work of Sean Penn's career. Emotional and moving. Transcends mere biopic-ery. More than the "gay politician" film, but a chronicle of a movement.
1. The Dark Knight {dir. Christopher Nolan}
A big, loud and surprisingly thoughtful blockbuster...as the best film of the year? I know a Batman film is truly the year's best. It is more than a financial success, it is a reconstruction of a tired genre featuring an already iconic performance from a dearly departed actor. This film deserves praise for elevating the superhero picture to a realm of academic dissection and moral and thematic discussion. Seeing The Dark Knight on opening day was an experience to remember. Like Star Wars and Jaws before it, The Dark Knight is the dizzying combination of entertainment and pure craft. The one film 2008 will (and should) be remembered for.
posted by MovieDude at 1:28 PM
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