BEST OF 2008: Film Edition

Last but not least in my “Best of 2008” series is film, and for the first time in a while, I feel pretty well informed on the subject. Being that this has been my first awards season as a member of the WGA, I’ve benefited from copious numbers of screenings and screeners, thus allowing me to see pretty much all the serious contenders. Of course, I do have some gaps in my viewing experience as no foreign flicks and barely any indies wound up on my doorstep; so I’ve missed out on some acclaimed fare. Oh well.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t say I was particularly blown away by too many movies this year. Many of the much hyped contenders such as Milk and Revolutionary Road failed to speak to me (particularly the latter flick), but there were still several noteworthy films, and hopefully some of the smaller ones will get big time recognition in the next two months as Hollywood begins its annual run of self-congratulatory ceremonies. My favorites of the year after the jump…

13. Wall-E
Ah, the little robot that could. Wall-E is a visually stunning film that ranks easily as one of Pixar’s best (my all time favorite is still The Incredibles). The art direction is one of the year’s best and the story supremely sweet. I only wish it had been slightly less preachy in the second half. Maybe that’s why for as warm and lovable as Wall-E the robot was, the film oddly left me slightly cold. Nevertheless, you gotta applaud Disney for releasing a blockbuster with barely any dialogue — not to mention one that satirizes its target audience (as well as the giant corporation behind the film).
12. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Just because it’s a raunchy comedy doesn’t mean it can’t be considered one of the year’s best movies. The Judd Apatow clique has been cranking out smart, talky movies for the past two years, and this one is one of the best. The first time I saw it, I laughed my ass off. The second time, I still laughed, but I also appreciated just how sharp the writing was. Big props to star and writer Jason Segel. And yes, I did vote to nominate Forgetting Sarah Marshall for Best Original Screenplay in the WGA Awards.
11. Bank Job
I’d heard good things about The Bank Job all year, and when I finally got around to watching it a few weeks ago, I was more than impressed. The whole thing was so tight and exciting and involving and… great. Heist movies are a dime a dozen. It’s the rare one that makes you care about nearly every single character. Plus, The Bank Job had plenty of visual panache to spare. With a million characters and story lines to juggle, director Roger Donaldson does a fantastic job of keeping the wheels from flying off the car. Plus, it’s nice to see Jason Statham in a film that’s actually watchable.
10. The Reader
For the first half of this film, I was barely able to suppress my laughter at the borderline campy pretentiousness on screen: woeful music, naked Kate Winslet, the deflowering of a fifteen year old German boy. It seemed like the second coming of Notes On A Scandal — one of the silliest campfests of recent years. But then a strange thing happened. The Reader suddenly became oddly intriguing. I began to care about the characters and situations, and soon, I was fully entrenched in the drama. I’m not sure The Reader will be for everyone, but for those in search of a fascinating meditation on the moral ambiguities of personal and widespread transgressions (like the Holocaust), this film might be right up your alley. Oh, and Kate Winslet should win the Oscar.
9. Slumdog Millionaire
I absolutely loved the first half of this movie, which was so tight and fantastic that I surely thought there’d be no topping it. The second half wasn’t quite as successful for me as it moved away from a gritty view of slum life to more romantic and fanciful plotting. Still, Slumdog is very good, and the direction and music are excellent. Try to see it on the big screen if you can.
8. The Dark Knight
Speaking of big screen movies, The Dark Knight pretty much reigned supreme in 2008, and not by accident. For its first two thirds, the film is tight, exciting, well-written, and pretty much flawless. Things fall apart towards the end unfortunately as too much time is devoted to Harvey Dent’s descent into madness. It all feels rushed and bizarre, and more regrettably, the Dent stuff detracts from The Joker, who is infinitely more interesting to watch. Add to this some confusing junk about placing a bounty on one dude’s head, a hospital bomb scare, and some good old fashioned ferry intrigue, and we have a third act that’s a bit too sloppy for what the audience deserves. That being said, the second time I saw The Dark Knight (on IMAX no less — definitely try to see it in that format if you can), all those third act woes simply didn’t bother me anymore. I knew what was coming, and rather than getting hung up on it, I just went along for the ride. And you know what I realized? Structural issues be damned, The Dark Knight is an awesome movie.
7. American Teen
The most underrated film of 2008, American Teen is a hilarious, intriguing, and fun look into the high school experience. The documentary doesn’t necessarily cover any new territory (and the animated interludes can be very annoying), but it does take us back to those youthful days when it seemed like life was over after nude photos of you got out on the internet as part of a vicious prank. Okay, maybe times have changed a little over the years, but high school is still high school — and the excitement of prom, basketball games, college acceptance, and acne is still alive and well. Some critics have charged that the film feels staged, and while I can’t speak to the veracity of their accusations, I can say that the fun you’ll have watching this colorful group of teens is very real.
6. Frost/Nixon
If there was any movie I had no interest in, this would be it. A film about David Frost and Richard Nixon? Based on a play? And that’s it? UGH. Turns out Frost/Nixon is highly enjoyable, surprisingly engaging, and dare I say it? Fun! Plus, Frank Langella churns out a fantastic performance as Richard Nixon. Check it out. It’s not nearly as stodgy and boring as you’d think!
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I’m not gonna lie: I really loved this movie. Whenever I see a big Hollywood drama like this, I always look for the flaws and find reasons to reject it. But honestly, I was genuinely moved by this lovely ode to life and death and the experiences which shape us. Sure, it could stand to lose thirty or forty minutes, but even at a bloated length, I still loved it. And yes, I CRIED. I mean, no sobs or anything, but a tear rolled down my cheek. It was so embarrassing.
4. Doubt
I had a hard time deciding whether I liked this film more or less than Benjamin Button. I’m still not totally sure. Whereas Benjamin Button moved me on an emotional level, Doubt intrigued me on an intellectual one. Plus, it was shorter. On the downside, there were a few too many overly obvious symbolic touches (light bulbs exploding, winds rustling, etc. etc.), and some of the oblique camera angles were a bit much. However, the intensity of the drama (and the performances) more than make up for some dubious filmmaking. The escalating tension between Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman is a sight to behold, and let’s not forget Viola Davis whose runny nose nearly steals the whole show. Is the movie a bit stagy? Yeah. But who cares. When you’ve got crackling dialogue this good, you can let a lot of things slide.
3. The Visitor
Up until now, I’ve enjoyed every movie on the list greatly, but they’ve been flawed in some way or another. Not so with The Visitor, a beautiful, small picture starring Richard Jenkins as an econ professor who wakes up from his rut when his life intersects with two immigrants. Sounds kind of dry and stereotypically indie in the worst sort of way, but trust me, the movie is great. The characters are all so richly drawn and likable that I’ve found myself many times still wondering what they’re up to, even though they’re not, you know, real people. The Visitor is definitely worth checking out. Everyone should go out and rent it as soon as possible.
2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Just barely missing out on the top spot on this list is Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a light, breezy romp through Spain that questions whether we as humans find happiness in doing what we want or in doing what is proper. And is doing what’s proper even that proper? Like most Woody Allen films, there are no easy answers — only heaps of cynicism which will haunt you long after the closing credits. Bonus points go to Penelope Cruz who deserves a Best Supporting Oscar for her work.
1. The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke is back (for the next two months at least until Hollywood chews him up and spits him out). The Wrestler is a powerful, gritty, and thoughtful look at a man past his prime trying to figure out where he fits in in life. As you’ve probably heard, Mickey Rourke is tremendous, and while Sean Penn and Frank Langella give outstanding performances this year, it’s Rourke who should walk home with the Oscar, if only because this role demands more than mere acting. It requires some intense physicality. Mickey Rourke quite literally threw himself into this role, and for that he should be rewarded. Also supplying a strong performance is the always reliable Marisa Tomei, who appears as a sympathetic yet guarded stripper also facing a career crisis, if you will. Everything works with The Wrestler, and like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Visitor, the film grapples with the notion that sometimes we gotta do what we want to do in life and not what we’re supposed to.
What were your favorite movies of 2008?