An example: I gritted through Rachel Getting Married until Anne Hathaway's infamous wedding dinner speech scene. I'm a big fan of Anne Hathaway, and to her credit, in the forty or so minutes that I watched of the movie, she acted very well (originally I wrote "performed brilliantly", but then I remembered how much I dislike it when people write that). But a good acting performance definitely does not equate to a good movie. You have to give screenwriter Jenny Lumet credit for creating something unique - everything from the camera work and the slow transitions were a welcome change - but in this case it simply did not work. I was cringing the entire time I watched the movie, it was so awkwardly uncomfortable. Anne Hathaway plays a woman emerging from rehab, returning home to her not so welcoming family for her sister's wedding. Her character is tremendously unlikeable, embarassingly open about exposing her issues, shamelessly attempting to divert the attention from her sister to herself. And as the film progresses, you realize that the rest of the main cast, for the most part, is also tremendously unlikeable. Watching was a thoroughly unenjoyable experience, regardless of how I might have appreciated the film's unique artistic efforts. In a similar vein, Darron Aronofsky used his trademark style and tactics to wrestle the viewer through The Wrestler, but at no point does the film draw you in. You are never interested in Mickey Rourke's character, only depressed as you watch. And if you're not depressed, it's because you've probably been put to sleep.
Still, in terms of time, the task of seeing all of the possible nominees for a top 10 2008 spot really was not that difficult. Certainly not as difficult as it was to create the movies - even the ones which I shamelessly lambast.
10. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed and Written by Woody Allen, Starring Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, and Penelope Cruz
Major Formal Awards Won: Oscar and BAFTA, Best Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz)
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 7.4
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 70 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Javier Bardem's character Anton Chirugh from 2005's No Country for Old Men suddenly replaces Juan Antonio - we're going to have to guess Juan gets the upper hand in the domestic dispute with Marie Elena.
Clearly Woody Allen's best effort since 2005's Match Point, the film involves the title characters (two best friends) and their year spent in Spain, where they both fall in love with the bad guy from No Country For Old Men (no, he does not flip a coin to choose between them). This movie has its obvious downsides - a somewhat predictable plot, somewhat cliche dialogue moments - what makes the movie is the aura of art and artists, and human beings searching deeper for something to move them beyond the scope of what traditional society has to offer.
The film is unashamedly anti-capitalist, and almost effortlessly captures the transcendent spirit and soul of a different mindset, a different way of life. The soundtrack helps to better evoke the city of Barcelona itself, and is expertly utilized. While it at times the startlingly plain voice of the narrator (don't expect something along the lines of Annie Hall - it's not) seems to trivialize an already trivial romance, it also avoids any typical Hollywood fill-in scene. In terms of making major mistakes, the movie is clean, and is a testament to Allen's talents as a director. It is at its best when romantic intrigue involving Anton Chigurgh is not present, and instead focuses on the liberation of Cristina and the entrapment of Vicky in her loveless, empty marriage. Although Penelope Cruz deserved her Oscar win, the return of her character in the second half of the film did little to prevent cliches of sexually liberal Europeans, and the movie would have done better focusing on some other drama to help avoid the plain, anti-climactic conclusion - which was, alas, assisted by the ever present voice-over.Despite these downfalls, it is far better done than the majority of 2008 films, and though it may fall into the trap of cultural stereotypes, it is well aware of, and strays far from, Hollywood stereotypes...while still being an enjoyable watch.
(The link below is to one of the best movie reviews I've ever read - absolutely read it, especially if you have seen the film - it is short and hilarious, even if it is sarcastic just for the sake of being sarcastic).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/24/vicky-cristina-barcelona-woody-allen
9. Doubt
Directed and Written by John Patrick Shanley, Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Phillip Seymour Hoffmann, Viola Davis
Major Formal Awards Won: Nominated for 5 Oscars, 5 Golden Globes, and 3 BAFTA's (Best Supporting Actor and Actress (Hoffmann, Davis, and Adams), Best Leading Actress (Streep), and Best Adapted Screenplay
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 7.8
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 68 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Phillip Seymour Hoffmann, instead of a guilty priest, becomes internationally reknown brutal terrorist Owen Davian from Mission Impossible 3. Upside for him: in all likelihood he's not going to be taking any crap from Meryl Streep or Amy Adams. Downside for him: probably will be officially dismissed from the priesthood.
Doubt uses the story of a young boy who may have been sexually assaulted by a priest to reveal the spiritual questions and deeper character of two devoted nuns. In the wake of the horrors they think they percieve, all which they believe in is suddenly thrown into question: everything from the authority of the male figurehead, Father Flynn, to that larger ruling power which would allow such a heinous transgression to occur.
Although at times the quick dialogue is a bit too quick, and it becomes obvious that Shanley's screenplay was first a play for the stage, the tension built up more than makes up for it. Few movies in recent memory manage to convey so much through nothing but conversation. You don't need to care for church-related drama to be taken in by, and become utterly involved with, this story.
The acting in this movie is incredible - all of the main characters earned Academy Award nominations - and for a film that takes place within a very short period of time, with a very small setting, and without any kind of real action, it is as good as it can be.
8. The Dark Knight
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, Starring Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart
Major Formal Awards Won: Oscar win in Sound Editing (Richard King), and Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe Win for Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger)
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.9
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 82 ("universal acclaim")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Heath Ledger's Joker is substituted by Bob Dylan in his 'rebellious actor' stage from 2007's I'm Not There. Dylan reassures Gotham: "It's alright, ma..."
Wildly popular upon its release, The Dark Knight will become legendary not just because it is part of the best comic-book to film adaptation franchise in the business, but also due to Heath Ledger's iconic final performance. The plotline is incredibly complex for an action film, and heightens the genre standard to a new level. The role of the hero is thoroughly analyzed, and the film somehow manages to make one of the oldest super-altruistic characters unique and original, even in a day and age of dozens of lesser spinoffs. Action sequences are expertly done and the film's numerous other Academy Award nominations were well-earned. The more powerful the villain, the better the film - and that is why both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight have succeeded: they are not afraid to be dark and unforgiving, and they refuse to pander cheap happiness to an audience in the form of welcoming victories, universal popularity, and easy romances. Where other films sugar-coat for the sake of the audience, these films sacrifice nothing for the story - almost to a fault. The inclusion of Two-Face feels rushed, and the movie is too long - it would be better without him. Moreover, though the actions scenes were well done, they became dizzying in their length and relentlessness, and in this category at least the film is not neccesarily an improvement on its predecessor.
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Directed by Nicholas Stoller, Written by Jason Segel, Starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand
Major Formal Awards Won: None
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 7.5
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 67 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Kristen Bell's Sarah Marshall becomes Elle Bishop from 'Heroes' - I'm guessing Mila Kunis never gets to leave Hawaii.
By far the best of its kind in years, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, despite what the misleading title may indicate, is a far cry from both typical romantic and comedic films. It sidesteps all mushiness by Jason Segel's hilarious and original dialogue, and avoids shallowness by creating intriguing, immensely likable characters that keep you thoroughly entertained, through humor that is at turns subtle and graphic, from start to end.
Peter Bretter is a music composer stuck composing "dark and ominous" background sounds for the TV Show 'Crime Scene' in which his girlfriend (played by Kristen Bell) is the main character. His relentless ripping of 'Crime Scene' is undoubtedly based on Segel's own time on CSI and his mockery of the poor plotlines is spot-on. The main premise involves his flight to Hawaii for a grief vacation after his girlfriend cheats on him and breaks up with him. In Hawaii he finds her already there, vacationing with her new boyfriend, the hilariously terrible singer Aldous Snow. The humor is better not just because it is smarter, but because it is original. While similar to other very likeable films involving similar producers and actors, such as 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, it is a step beyond - smarter, better acted, better directed. Supporting appearances by Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd are great additions to one of the wittiest, and most critically underrated, movies of the year.
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Directed by David Fincher, Written by Eric Roth based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett,
Major Formal Awards Won: Oscars and BAFTAs in Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.1
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 70 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Benjamin Button does not grow older, but rather stronger as time goes on and soon completes the transformation into Achilles from Troy. Not good for the German navy when Brad Pitt is called to war.
An interesting David Fincher adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. The story was never seen by critics as one of Fitzgerald's masterpieces, but rather a just an original, creative story probably written for money, with only hints of the razor-sharp social criticism that defined his novels. The movie, however, takes an entirely different route with the story, focusing instead on the actual fantastic premise of Fitzgerald's story, rather than the reactions of the local society.
Though it does wind up dragging on for a while, the film has moments that really delve into the heart of mortality. Perhaps there is something about the main character growing younger, instead of growing older, that makes the viewer think more profoundly about the aging process and about the precious amount of time which we truly have on Earth. But Fincher also does an excellent job with imagery: the use of the old World War I clock which bookends the story, ticking in reverse, symbolizing Benjamin's life, coupled with poignant and evocative scenes of love and loss, make this as a movie that you don't stop thinking about once it is finished.
Immediately after Benjamin realizes he is growing too young to be a good father and he leaves Daisy, he travels to India to more fully experience life. During this brief sequence, Brad Pitt's melancholic voiceover does not feel like an intrusion (like voiceovers often do), and it really drives home the point of how pointless it is to waste the small window of time you've been given with pursuits that don't thrill and engage you. The movie is in every way an improvement over the short story, with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett both turning in career-performances.
5. Milk
Directed by Gus Van Sant, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Starring Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Allison Pill, Josh Brolin
Major Formal Awards Won: Oscars for Best Actor (Sean Penn) and Best Original Screenplay (Dustin Lance Black), nominated for five BAFTA's and a Golden Globe
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.0
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 84 ("universal acclaim")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: It actually turns out that George W. Bush shot Harvey Milk, not Dan White.
A story about the most important man you may never have heard of. It is not just Sean Penn that makes the movie great, it is the reality of the story. It's shocking to think that in the 1970's, the American population was still bigoted enough at large that laws could still be passed to prevent equal rights for minorities like homosexuals. Having not known the complete story of Harvey Milk before, this is a great historical lesson for the average American who may be sympathetic, yet still ignorant, of an underground struggle to preserve human rights in the "land of the free" just thirty-one years ago.
It is great to give credit to Josh Brolin too, who has now helped portray infamous crusading cowboy right-of-center politicos twice in one year.
4. Burn After Reading
Directed and Written by Joel and Ethan Coen, Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, John Malkovitch
Major Formal Awards Won: Nominated for two Golden Globes
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 7.4
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 63 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Brad Pitt uncovers even more complex government secrecies as the insane man from 12 Monkeys.
By far the most underrated movie of the year, Burn After Reading is the best dark comedy since maybe Dr. Strangelove. Few other films in recent memory capture the absurdity of the misinformation age with such hilarious accuracy. The movie deeply critical of our postmodern state, brutally mocking both the average American who presume to know too much, and the political system of VIP's who usually have even less of a clue as to what's going on. The ridiculous turn of events may not be exactly realistic, but it is sympotmatic of a chaotic capitalist culture that has too many people trying to do too many things for increasingly shallow reasons. One of the Coen brothers' bests of all time.
3. Gran Torino
Directed by Clint Eastwood, Written by Nick, Starring Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang
Major Formal Awards Won: Nominated for Golden Globe, Best Original Song
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.4
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 72 ("generally favorable reviews")
Role I'd Most Like to See Transplanted: Clint Eastwood doesn't exactly play a wide spectrum of characters. Rest of the cast is relatively new.
Incredible performance both on and off the screen by Clint Eastwood, in his portrayal of a racist Korean War veteran who is forced to defend his innocent Asian neighbors from a local gang war. The first thirty minutes of the film is hysterical and perfectly done. A few moments later in the film, particularly between "Toad" and Eastwood, feel forced, as if their acting never found a rhythm. Otherwise, this is one of the best made movies of the year, and there is no excuse for its being snubbed at the Oscars. The obvious explanation for this is the extensive, and even glorified, usage of guns by private citizens, something which the Academy is probably opposed to. I don't like it either - but it doesn't change the fact that Gran Torino was an excellent movie and a very poignant way for Eastwood to end his acting career (he has mentioned he may want this to be his last on-screen appearance).
2. Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)
Directed by Tomas Alfredson, Written by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Starring Kare Hedebrandt, Lina Leandersson
Major Formal Awards Won: None, but nominated for 51 smaller awards with 11 wins
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.2
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 82 ("universal acclaim")
1. Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by Danny Boyle, Written by Simon Beaufoy, Starring
Major Formal Awards Won: Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and 5 other categories
IMDB's Kitsch Rating: 8.5
Metacritic's Avant-Garde Rating: 86 ("universal acclaim")
Best Performances of 2008
Best Actor
Sean Penn – Milk
Clint Eastwood – Gran Torino
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Sheen – Frost/Nixon
Russell Brand – Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading
Best Song
Gran Torino – Gran Torino
O. Saya – Slumdog Millionaire
Dracula’s Lament – Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Best Screenplay (Original)
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
The Coen Brothers - Burn After Reading
Jason Segel - Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Best Screenplay (Adapted)
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
John Adjvide Lindqvist - Let the Right One In
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Tomas Alfredson - Let the Right One In
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