Overall, I found 2008 to be a somewhat underwhelming year at the multiplexes. Don’t get me wrong, there were lots of great, fun, blockbusters, like IRON MAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, HELLBOY 2, & TROPIC THUNDER. Still, I found there was a definite lack of sleepers, or good, adult dramas. The fall season was particularly weak, with some highly anticipated films (particularly BODY OF LIES) falling flat. Another problem was that the studios held all their best films until the last two weeks of December- so while there’s tons of great stuff out now, it would have been nice if they had been spread out somewhat.
Still, there were a lot of good films that came out this year, and the following are my choices for the top ten films of ’08. There’s still a bunch of big films that I need to see, which is why you won’t see THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON or GRAN TORINO on this list. I’m sure both; particularly BUTTON would rank highly on my list.
Ok, so technically you could call this one of the best films of ’07, but as it never got a general release until March, I’m counting it as this year. I absolutely loved this film. David Gordon Green is a real talent, and I think this is his best film so far. He had a really interesting year, going from this to THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, which demonstrates a versatility I had no idea he possessed. Prior to this film, I never really understood the appeal of Sam Rockwell, but his work here blew me away. His final scenes with Kate Beckinsale (who’s also excellent) stuck in my head for a long time after seeing this. I can’t wait to see what Green does next.
This is a really great little British indie that got totally overlooked this summer. Happily, it’s out on DVD, which is where I caught up with it. It’s about a young offender who’s released from prison around the time he reaches adulthood, and shows how he reintegrates himself into society. Andrew Garfield (who was in LIONS FOR LAMBS) plays the boy, and he’s extremely likable throughout, even when his original, heinous crime is finally revealed. This is probably the only film I saw this year that actually had me in tears by the closing credits. See it!
If the film world was fair, IN BRUGES would have been a huge sleeper hit when it came out in February, but sadly, people were too busy checking out MEET THE SPARTANS or 27 DRESSES to give it a shot. I’m happy that it’s ending up on some best of lists (including JimmyO’s!). Between this, and the similarly underappreciated CASSANDRA’S DREAM, Colin Farrell demonstrated how much he’s matured as an actor over the last few years. I also loved Brendan Gleeson as his older, world weary partner in crime, but for me, the real scene stealer was Ralph Fiennes as an unbelievably foul mouthed (but likable) crime lord.
I’d say that this is probably the best American war film since SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and probably the definitive film on Iraq. It still hasn’t gone into wide release yet (and I wonder if it ever will), but this is definitely a film worth checking out. THE HURT LOCKER gets right something a lot of other war films don’t- namely that it never tries to be preachy. It’s first and foremost a kickass action film, and also features a star making performance by Jeremy Renner, as an adrenaline junkie, half crazed, bomb disposal unit commander. Awesome film, and if it’s marketed properly, I could see it breaking the Iraq movie curse at the box office.
I know, I know- how the hell can I put a film like HAMLET 2 in my top 10??? The thing is, I haven’t laughed at a film like I did at this one in a long time. This is really right up my alley in terms of humor, and I loved every second of it. Not many people checked this one out, but now that it’s on DVD you have the chance to catch up. Basically, if you like Coogan, or shows like ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, you’re in for a treat.
Please Hollywood, leave this film alone. Remaking it would be sacrilege, as it’s pretty much a perfect film, and to attempt to approve upon perfection is really a fool’s errand. That said, I’m sure the inevitable remake will have little to nothing in common with this film, other than the title, and the fact that it’s about vampires.
Ok, so BOY A might have been the only film that made me cry, but WALL-E came pretty damn close. I loved this film, and for me it’s Pixar’s definitive film, and one that will be remembered for generations to come. It’s a truly beautiful film in every sense of the world, and probably the best genre film to come out since CHILDREN OF MEN. Also, that robot is pretty damn cute.
And the award goes to…Mickey Rourke. Basically, this is the film he’s been working towards his whole career, and it’s truly an incredible, and surprisingly touching film.
This film totally blew me away, as it’s probably the only film I’ve seen over the last year that truly made me run the film gamut of emotions over the course of the film. At times it made me sad, other times it made me laugh. Some scenes were frightening, others absolutely heart-warming and inspiring. Truly a great film, and another triumph for the one and only Danny Boyle.
What can I say about this film that hasn’t been said already? Easily the best superhero film ever made, and I really hope that it gets some love from the academy during Oscar season.
Honorable mentions: MILK (very, very close to being on the top 10), IRON MAN, TROPIC THUNDER, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, VALKYRIE
And the 5 worst of ’08…
Nic, Nic, Nic- please stop pissing away your career on crap like this, and please, cut your hair (or change you hairpiece).
I too wanted to believe. I hoped this would re-launch one of my all time favorite shows, but sadly this was the final nail in its coffin. Just awful, it’s like a terrible episode that wouldn’t end.
Why Fox? Why? Even IMAX couldn’t make this film watchable.
Ugh, the only way any one could possibly enjoy this film is for camp value… or if they smoked a lot of weed (A LOT!!!).
This film isn’t only bad, it’s downright tragic to see two icons paired in a film that plays like a below average episode of COLD CASE.
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