Moving Pictures
I thought that I would share my favorite movies of 2008:
10. The Dark Knight.
It was cool to look at. It was extremely well acted and well directed but the whole issue of "monologuing" from The Incredibles keeps coming to mind. I wish they had committed to the idea of "some people just want to watch the world burn" and drop a few of the philosophical chats toward the end that dragged it out for so long.
9. Ghost Town.
I loved this for Ricky Gervais only. The plot was unimaginative and I could ultimately go without ever seeing Greg Kinnear in a movie again. However, you could totally spot the parts of the film where Ricky was adlibbing and they are brilliant. He is an amazing comedic talent and totally likeable.
8. Kung Fu Panda.
Yes Yes Yes...I am a total schmaltz-lover...especially when it is done well and with some cleverness. It was adorable and the voice work was very fun..especially Ian McShane as the nasty snow leopard.
7. Global Metal.
A couple of years ago, Sam Dunn from Victoria, BC, put together a fascinating documentary that examined the heavy metal subculture in a way that a total outsider could understand and appreciate. He followed that up this year with an examination of the effect of heavy metal on youth culture in countries all over the world such as Brazil, China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Iran and Israel. It was brilliant and very inspiring.
6. Religulous
I think there is a basic flaw in Bill Maher's process...he claims to be on the side of agnosticism but he repeatedly reveals himself to be more of an atheist with his asides and arguements. Still, the film in general represents a much needed engagement between the extreme sides of the issue. For that, I appreciate the effort. Plus, its damn funny.
5. Doubt.
I take issue with the end of the film, which ended suddenly and with a very neatly placed exposition. However, it still did little to take away from a riveting film with some of the best acting I've seen all year. Meryl Streep could have played it for just the severity and bereft-of-humour nun stereotypes but instead, she spiced her performance up with real touches of humanity and funny little comments. She kept this from becoming overly dry and depressing.
4, Tropic Thunder
While it was, overall, very funny, the scene where the director steps on the land mine alone is worth this place on my list. I don't believe I have laughed that hard at any movie moment since the opening lines of the Uncle Fukka song in South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. However, I am strange that way.
3. Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I seem to be a total Kevin Smith fan but thats only because I like most of his movies. I wouldn't classify myself as a fan-boy though because I dont decide that I'm going to like them before I see them....I just end up loving them for being smart, funny, sensitive and more than a little wrong....all at the same time. Great cast, gratuitous nudity, awkward sex and a terrific scene at the high school reunion where Miri is hitting on her school crush....fantastic.
2. Milk.
I'm not a fan of gay movies. They too often play like rationalizations for youth-, looks- and lifestyle-worship not to mention the victim/martyr themes. I am even less of a fan of Sean Penn. Sure he's a caring liberal but he overacts enough for 10 Al Pacinos. And yet, this movie was warm, funny, inspiring and personally meaningful. I was lucky enough to have a friend who worked for a SF City Supervisor give me the "unofficial" Civic Centre tour which included the office where Harvey was shot....that definitely lent the film more weight. Still, it was pretty amazing.
1. Wall-E
The first two acts of this movie may end up being my favorite 2 acts I've ever seen. Sure, people have called it boring, slow, lifeless...but I disagree. I think its beautiful, emotionally rich, poetically subtle and hilarious. The montage where Wall-E is courting Eve to Louis Anderson's La Vie En Rose is so freaking adorable and there's nothing more endearing to me than a guy who gets awkward and nervous when trying to win someone's affections. I will admit that the last 40 miinutes of the movie are just OK but by that point, I was totally won over and open to whatever schmaltz they wanted to feed me. Best film for me...easily.
Honorable Mentions:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Orphanage
Iron Man
Pineapple Express
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I Really Wish I Hadn't Seen That:
Cloverdale
Hancock
Sex & The City
Drillbit Taylor
Mirrors
There Ain't No Way You Will Ever Make Me Watch That
Wanted
Superhero Movie / Meet the Spartans
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pans 2
Mamma Mia!
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Most Overused Promotional Blurb of the Year:
"From the people who brought you 'Superbad'..."
Most Overrated Actor
Shia Lebeouf
Franchise That Won't Die:
(Tie) Indiana Jones / Star Wars
10. The Dark Knight.
It was cool to look at. It was extremely well acted and well directed but the whole issue of "monologuing" from The Incredibles keeps coming to mind. I wish they had committed to the idea of "some people just want to watch the world burn" and drop a few of the philosophical chats toward the end that dragged it out for so long.
9. Ghost Town.
I loved this for Ricky Gervais only. The plot was unimaginative and I could ultimately go without ever seeing Greg Kinnear in a movie again. However, you could totally spot the parts of the film where Ricky was adlibbing and they are brilliant. He is an amazing comedic talent and totally likeable.
8. Kung Fu Panda.
Yes Yes Yes...I am a total schmaltz-lover...especially when it is done well and with some cleverness. It was adorable and the voice work was very fun..especially Ian McShane as the nasty snow leopard.
7. Global Metal.
A couple of years ago, Sam Dunn from Victoria, BC, put together a fascinating documentary that examined the heavy metal subculture in a way that a total outsider could understand and appreciate. He followed that up this year with an examination of the effect of heavy metal on youth culture in countries all over the world such as Brazil, China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Iran and Israel. It was brilliant and very inspiring.
6. Religulous
I think there is a basic flaw in Bill Maher's process...he claims to be on the side of agnosticism but he repeatedly reveals himself to be more of an atheist with his asides and arguements. Still, the film in general represents a much needed engagement between the extreme sides of the issue. For that, I appreciate the effort. Plus, its damn funny.
5. Doubt.
I take issue with the end of the film, which ended suddenly and with a very neatly placed exposition. However, it still did little to take away from a riveting film with some of the best acting I've seen all year. Meryl Streep could have played it for just the severity and bereft-of-humour nun stereotypes but instead, she spiced her performance up with real touches of humanity and funny little comments. She kept this from becoming overly dry and depressing.
4, Tropic Thunder
While it was, overall, very funny, the scene where the director steps on the land mine alone is worth this place on my list. I don't believe I have laughed that hard at any movie moment since the opening lines of the Uncle Fukka song in South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. However, I am strange that way.
3. Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I seem to be a total Kevin Smith fan but thats only because I like most of his movies. I wouldn't classify myself as a fan-boy though because I dont decide that I'm going to like them before I see them....I just end up loving them for being smart, funny, sensitive and more than a little wrong....all at the same time. Great cast, gratuitous nudity, awkward sex and a terrific scene at the high school reunion where Miri is hitting on her school crush....fantastic.
2. Milk.
I'm not a fan of gay movies. They too often play like rationalizations for youth-, looks- and lifestyle-worship not to mention the victim/martyr themes. I am even less of a fan of Sean Penn. Sure he's a caring liberal but he overacts enough for 10 Al Pacinos. And yet, this movie was warm, funny, inspiring and personally meaningful. I was lucky enough to have a friend who worked for a SF City Supervisor give me the "unofficial" Civic Centre tour which included the office where Harvey was shot....that definitely lent the film more weight. Still, it was pretty amazing.
1. Wall-E
The first two acts of this movie may end up being my favorite 2 acts I've ever seen. Sure, people have called it boring, slow, lifeless...but I disagree. I think its beautiful, emotionally rich, poetically subtle and hilarious. The montage where Wall-E is courting Eve to Louis Anderson's La Vie En Rose is so freaking adorable and there's nothing more endearing to me than a guy who gets awkward and nervous when trying to win someone's affections. I will admit that the last 40 miinutes of the movie are just OK but by that point, I was totally won over and open to whatever schmaltz they wanted to feed me. Best film for me...easily.
Honorable Mentions:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Orphanage
Iron Man
Pineapple Express
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I Really Wish I Hadn't Seen That:
Cloverdale
Hancock
Sex & The City
Drillbit Taylor
Mirrors
There Ain't No Way You Will Ever Make Me Watch That
Wanted
Superhero Movie / Meet the Spartans
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pans 2
Mamma Mia!
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Most Overused Promotional Blurb of the Year:
"From the people who brought you 'Superbad'..."
Most Overrated Actor
Shia Lebeouf
Franchise That Won't Die:
(Tie) Indiana Jones / Star Wars