2008 Year in Review Part One: The Year in Media
Yeah, this is late. But at least it's thorough.
Best CD
Over the past few months I've wasted a lot of brain power trying to decide which album from the past year was my favorite. It's close, but I think the edge goes to Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All. Each one of her songs has is filled with a great, upbeat high-energy, and I don't have enough music like that.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is my second ranked album Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago. It's a breakup album I guess. Even though I'm in an extremely happy relationship, I still listened to this album over and over and over. It's heartbreaking.
Rounding out the top three would be Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line. This is just a great album.
What's great is that a year ago I hadn't even heard of any of these bands, and now they definitely list among my favorites.
Most Disappointing CD
There were only two releases I was really looking forward to this year: Tilly and the Wall and The Postal Service. Of course, The Postal Service Record has been postponed until - aw, hell, nobody knows.
Deathcab, however, did release an album. I'm tempted to list this as the biggest disappointment for the sole reason that their first single was "I Will Possess Your Heart." Fucking hate that song. But "...Cath" may be my favorite Deathcab song ever. And I've slowly been listening to the rest of the album. It's growing on me it, a lot like I slowly warmed up to "Plans."
I should probably mention the Tilly album, too. The album had a lot of energy - but interestingly it was a lot of negative energy. "Pot Kettle Black" is a really awesome track. But overall, it just wasn't the Tilly I loved. A little too dark, too much guitar, too much drumming, not enough clapping and tapdancing.
Best Concert
Ra Ra Riot at the Iron Horse in Northampton. The drummer, guitarist, and bass player all looked eerily similar - same doofy haircut and oversized glasses. Then there were was a string section of two pale beauties, a blonde on violin and brunette on bass cello. And a bearded front man with a beautiful voice. It was like a handsome prince leading a band of freaks. Very Tim Burton-esque. It was really high energy, even though some of the songs are painfully sad. Great show.
Worst Concert
None. Hotel Cafe Tour, David Bazan and TIlly and the Wall were all good shows.
Best Movies
Looking back, I realize that I saw way too many movies in theatres this year. By my calculations, at least twenty. Living in Boston has given me the opportunity to see so many small releases that I would have missed out on in PA. But despite all that, most of my top movies are very mainstream.
1) The Dark Knight. Batman Begins was fantastic, and there was an insane amount of hype leading up to this release. Somehow they managed to exceed all of my expectations.
2) In Bruges - This movie had everything: action, love, laughs and first rate drama. Great movie.
3) Wall-E. Another big surprise, especially since Ratatouille really let me down last year. Glad to see Pixar bounce back with this. Best robot love story since Short Circuit!
4) The Wresler. Great cast. Emotional story. Marissa Tomei's boobs. Awesome movie all around. Still thinking about the ending though.
5) Slumdog Millionaire. This movie went from moments of horrifying depression to an ending of pure joy. I went into the theatre without knowing a thing about the movie, and was just blown away.
6) Milk. Great story, told perfectly. Maybe this should be ranked higher..
7) VIcky Christina Barcelona. This is probably one of Woody Allen's top 10 films, which says a lot considering just how many movies he has made. Penelope Cruz was great in this.
8) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Really goddamn depressing.
9) Synechdoche, New York. This is definitely an imperfect film, and I need to see it again just to make sense of it. But I'm a sucker for Charlie Kauffman movies and despite its flaws, the movie really came together in the end. Something about it definitely touched a nerve with me.
10) Cloverfield. A great new way to film a monster movie. It scared the crap out of me.
Here's a list of all of the 2008 movies I've seen so far (in theatres or on DVD)
Baby Mama
Be Kind Rewind (DVD)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (DVD)
The Changeling
Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (DVD)
Doubt
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Gone Baby Gone (DVD)
I've Loved You For So Long
In Bruges
Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Man On Wire (DVD)
Persepolis (DVD)
Pineapple Express (DVD)
Quid Pro Quo (DVD)
Rachel Getting Married
Sex and the City: The Movie
Slumdog Millionaire
Smart People (DVD)
Synechdoche, New York
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Wall-E (DVD)
The Wrestler
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Milk
Happy Go Lucky
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Worst Movies
George Lucas and Stephen Spieldberg have made yet another effort to destroy my favorite childhood movie franchises. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was so bad that it offended me. I'll accept the fact that the movie was about aliens. That could have been pulled off. I will not accept Indiana Jones surviving a nuclear blast. Among the other grievances: Shia Labeaof being hit in the crotch while sword fighting on two moving jeeps, Shia Labeof swinging on vines through the jungle with cgi monkeys, cgi ants stealing Indiana Jones' hat, and everyone not only surviving ridiculous waterfalls, but being chased by Nazis down said waterfalls. This movie does not deserve to be recognized as part of the Indiana Jones franchise. Good job Shia, you've been in the shittiest movie two years in a row. I haven't seen a movie this bad since the Planet of the Apes remake.
Runner up for most disappointing movie of the year: X-Files I Want to Believe. Jordan summed this up best when he wrote his letter of complaint: "Dear Chris Carter, where are the fucking aliens???" The only good thing that came of this movie is that it encouraged me to watch some old episodes in the series. Man, what a great show.
One more notable letdown: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I was really in love with the trailer, and thought it could end up being my favorite movie of the year. I realize that this had the same writer as Forrest Gump, but that's not a valid excuse for this to be little more than a cheap knock off. Forrest Gump had a lot going for it: hilarious script, great soundtrack, complicated characters, and a lot of heart. Brad Pitt's character had no developement other than the fact that he was aging in reverse. There really wasn't much of a plot aside from Brad Pitt traveling the world meaning somewhat quirky characters. The love story fell flat because that girl was a bitch. Also, there was absolutely no need to include Hurrican Katrina in this movie. The more I think about this movie the more it angers me. And how on earth did Pitt get an Oscar nomination for this? You want to see him in a great movie that's along these same lines, watch Legends of the Fall.
Best Books
This year I tried to read more novels. My favorite was "Look at Me" by Jennifer Egan. I'm really upset that I didn't get to see her speak at AWP. Other great novels: World According to Garp, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and The Abstinence Teacher. Best nonfiction: Another Bullshit Night In Suck City. Best Anthology : Best of Tin House (short stories).
Best TV Shows
I'd have to say my favorite show this year has been How I Met Your Mother. It's just everything a comedy should be. Reminds me a lot of Ed. Kind of wacky, very romantic, good characters and emotional storylines. Big Bang Theory has been really funny too. Great to have a mainstream show make so many ridiculously nerdy references.
Goes without saying that LOST is amazing. Mad Men also has me hooked.
Best CD
Over the past few months I've wasted a lot of brain power trying to decide which album from the past year was my favorite. It's close, but I think the edge goes to Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All. Each one of her songs has is filled with a great, upbeat high-energy, and I don't have enough music like that.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is my second ranked album Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago. It's a breakup album I guess. Even though I'm in an extremely happy relationship, I still listened to this album over and over and over. It's heartbreaking.
Rounding out the top three would be Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line. This is just a great album.
What's great is that a year ago I hadn't even heard of any of these bands, and now they definitely list among my favorites.
Most Disappointing CD
There were only two releases I was really looking forward to this year: Tilly and the Wall and The Postal Service. Of course, The Postal Service Record has been postponed until - aw, hell, nobody knows.
Deathcab, however, did release an album. I'm tempted to list this as the biggest disappointment for the sole reason that their first single was "I Will Possess Your Heart." Fucking hate that song. But "...Cath" may be my favorite Deathcab song ever. And I've slowly been listening to the rest of the album. It's growing on me it, a lot like I slowly warmed up to "Plans."
I should probably mention the Tilly album, too. The album had a lot of energy - but interestingly it was a lot of negative energy. "Pot Kettle Black" is a really awesome track. But overall, it just wasn't the Tilly I loved. A little too dark, too much guitar, too much drumming, not enough clapping and tapdancing.
Best Concert
Ra Ra Riot at the Iron Horse in Northampton. The drummer, guitarist, and bass player all looked eerily similar - same doofy haircut and oversized glasses. Then there were was a string section of two pale beauties, a blonde on violin and brunette on bass cello. And a bearded front man with a beautiful voice. It was like a handsome prince leading a band of freaks. Very Tim Burton-esque. It was really high energy, even though some of the songs are painfully sad. Great show.
Worst Concert
None. Hotel Cafe Tour, David Bazan and TIlly and the Wall were all good shows.
Best Movies
Looking back, I realize that I saw way too many movies in theatres this year. By my calculations, at least twenty. Living in Boston has given me the opportunity to see so many small releases that I would have missed out on in PA. But despite all that, most of my top movies are very mainstream.
1) The Dark Knight. Batman Begins was fantastic, and there was an insane amount of hype leading up to this release. Somehow they managed to exceed all of my expectations.
2) In Bruges - This movie had everything: action, love, laughs and first rate drama. Great movie.
3) Wall-E. Another big surprise, especially since Ratatouille really let me down last year. Glad to see Pixar bounce back with this. Best robot love story since Short Circuit!
4) The Wresler. Great cast. Emotional story. Marissa Tomei's boobs. Awesome movie all around. Still thinking about the ending though.
5) Slumdog Millionaire. This movie went from moments of horrifying depression to an ending of pure joy. I went into the theatre without knowing a thing about the movie, and was just blown away.
6) Milk. Great story, told perfectly. Maybe this should be ranked higher..
7) VIcky Christina Barcelona. This is probably one of Woody Allen's top 10 films, which says a lot considering just how many movies he has made. Penelope Cruz was great in this.
8) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Really goddamn depressing.
9) Synechdoche, New York. This is definitely an imperfect film, and I need to see it again just to make sense of it. But I'm a sucker for Charlie Kauffman movies and despite its flaws, the movie really came together in the end. Something about it definitely touched a nerve with me.
10) Cloverfield. A great new way to film a monster movie. It scared the crap out of me.
Here's a list of all of the 2008 movies I've seen so far (in theatres or on DVD)
Baby Mama
Be Kind Rewind (DVD)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (DVD)
The Changeling
Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (DVD)
Doubt
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Gone Baby Gone (DVD)
I've Loved You For So Long
In Bruges
Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Man On Wire (DVD)
Persepolis (DVD)
Pineapple Express (DVD)
Quid Pro Quo (DVD)
Rachel Getting Married
Sex and the City: The Movie
Slumdog Millionaire
Smart People (DVD)
Synechdoche, New York
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Wall-E (DVD)
The Wrestler
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Milk
Happy Go Lucky
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Worst Movies
George Lucas and Stephen Spieldberg have made yet another effort to destroy my favorite childhood movie franchises. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was so bad that it offended me. I'll accept the fact that the movie was about aliens. That could have been pulled off. I will not accept Indiana Jones surviving a nuclear blast. Among the other grievances: Shia Labeaof being hit in the crotch while sword fighting on two moving jeeps, Shia Labeof swinging on vines through the jungle with cgi monkeys, cgi ants stealing Indiana Jones' hat, and everyone not only surviving ridiculous waterfalls, but being chased by Nazis down said waterfalls. This movie does not deserve to be recognized as part of the Indiana Jones franchise. Good job Shia, you've been in the shittiest movie two years in a row. I haven't seen a movie this bad since the Planet of the Apes remake.
Runner up for most disappointing movie of the year: X-Files I Want to Believe. Jordan summed this up best when he wrote his letter of complaint: "Dear Chris Carter, where are the fucking aliens???" The only good thing that came of this movie is that it encouraged me to watch some old episodes in the series. Man, what a great show.
One more notable letdown: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I was really in love with the trailer, and thought it could end up being my favorite movie of the year. I realize that this had the same writer as Forrest Gump, but that's not a valid excuse for this to be little more than a cheap knock off. Forrest Gump had a lot going for it: hilarious script, great soundtrack, complicated characters, and a lot of heart. Brad Pitt's character had no developement other than the fact that he was aging in reverse. There really wasn't much of a plot aside from Brad Pitt traveling the world meaning somewhat quirky characters. The love story fell flat because that girl was a bitch. Also, there was absolutely no need to include Hurrican Katrina in this movie. The more I think about this movie the more it angers me. And how on earth did Pitt get an Oscar nomination for this? You want to see him in a great movie that's along these same lines, watch Legends of the Fall.
Best Books
This year I tried to read more novels. My favorite was "Look at Me" by Jennifer Egan. I'm really upset that I didn't get to see her speak at AWP. Other great novels: World According to Garp, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and The Abstinence Teacher. Best nonfiction: Another Bullshit Night In Suck City. Best Anthology : Best of Tin House (short stories).
Best TV Shows
I'd have to say my favorite show this year has been How I Met Your Mother. It's just everything a comedy should be. Reminds me a lot of Ed. Kind of wacky, very romantic, good characters and emotional storylines. Big Bang Theory has been really funny too. Great to have a mainstream show make so many ridiculously nerdy references.
Goes without saying that LOST is amazing. Mad Men also has me hooked.