Best & Worst of 2008

BEST & WORST OF 2008

Chances are if you’ve seen one mainstream top ten film list, you’ve seen them all. Because, and let’s admit it, there are only so many top of the heap movies released each year. Oh sure, there are lists containing very personal, and exceedingly subjective, choices and/or selections motivated by the high degree of their obscurity (the old, aren’t-we-just-so-in-the-know critics who’re proud to display their elitism by citing movies seen by a precious few film aficionados and virtually none of the general public).

But, in general, a consensus of opinion by those who see more than the occasional film can be relied on as a sure gauge of quality. In that spirit, following are some movies that impressed us as particularly worthy this year and, given the above, will most likely be familiar and in agreement with other lists. Any that don’t ring a bell, we suggest, might be worth a look-see somewhere along the line. Here then are the best with some thoughts from both of us, in alphabetical order:

APPALOOSA - Ed Harris has done everything (produced, directed, acted, co-written) admirably in this western of two gunslingers (Viggo Mortenson as his buddy) hiring themselves out to the evolving town of Appaloosa to arrest the suitably villainous Jeremy Irons. Renee Zellweger arrives as a less than ideal love interest. They just don’t make them (Westerns) like this anymore. More’s the pity. (Charles Zio)

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON – Creatively conceived and realized about a man who ages backwards. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Credit goes to the director and all involved. (Ann Marie Oliva)

DOUBT – A 1960s, Bronx, battle of wills waged between a sternly conservative/single-minded mother superior and her superior, a progressive/energetic priest over his actions related to the first young black man in the parish school. Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Amy Adams, Viola Davis in supporting roles) are excellent combatants though the movie is more or less tilted in her favor. (CZ)

FROST/NIXON – Frank Langella is superb as Nixon and it’s his movie all the way, though Michael Sheen is a more than respectable Frost. A history lesson, too, of what happened and why. (CZ)
Well-written/directed/acted and expertly executed. Who would have thought a movie about these two men could be so compelling? (AMO)

FROZEN RIVER – An independent film that may not be uplifting but does reflect the desperation of many who live along the New York-Canadian border barely subsisting, but still trying to survive. Moving, but doesn’t become cloying because the characters are tough and ask for no pity. (AMO)

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN – Movies about vampires have lost their menace, until now. This Swedish import brings more desolation, horror, and emotion to the story of the undead than you can imagine. Wonderful performances by the two young actors. (AMO)

MAN ON WIRE – A documentary that is truly gripping rather than mildly interesting, about how Philippe Petit takes years to set up a wire walk between the two World Trade Center buildings before 9/11. (AMO)

MILK – First rate acting by all (James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin), in particular Sean Penn as activist Harvey Milk, the first homosexual elected to public office (in San Francisco). Emotion sometimes takes second place to history, but the focus is on a milestone of gay liberation addressing issues which are still current decades later. (CZ)

THE READER – Someone once said the truth is rarely pure and never simple and such are the motives/actions of the characters in this story of a young man’s affair with an older woman who is years later revealed to have been a Nazi guard and his subsequent reaction and behavior and the consequences for them both. Kate Winslet is truly excellent as the woman and David Kross is first rate as the boy-to-man. Much food for thought. (CZ)

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD – Stifled ambitions and hopes in the 1950s in suburban New York. Leonardo DiCaprio is spot on in a mature, textured performance as the husband to Kate Winslet’s frustrated wife. She’s not quite his match in intensity or in gaining sympathy, but the situation is a window on the self-deception and desperation of thwarted lives when both women and men were trapped in the so-called American Dream. (CZ)

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE – Literally, a rags-to-riches story set on the India subcontinent (captured beautifully in all its variety and scope) of the endurance of love and the victory of a decent little guy against all the odds in the framework of the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Feel-good movie of the year. (CZ)
Terrific filmmaking in every way, especially in evoking emotions. (AMO)

SON OF RAMBOW – A sweet, insightful movie about two lonely, outcast boys in England “based on” the filmmaker’s childhood; all the sad/bad/outlandish/silly childhood memories that seem absolutely authentic, make you laugh, and break your heart. (AMO)

WALL-E – An animated winner, as the last functioning computerized cleanup machine on a future abandoned Earth falls in love with another bot and follows her to a floating space station to which our planet’s population long ago migrated and helplessly settled into mindless consumerism. Lots of message and little dialogue in its early half, but clever and skillful enough to be thoroughly irresistible. (CZ)

THE WRESTLER – Mickey Rourke returns in a movie that somewhat echoes his life (the down and out, former star, who makes a comeback). Much the worse for wear, his performance is open and courageous in presenting a less than admirable character who can’t stop himself from mishaps and mistakes. Marisa Tomei is also fine as an aging stripper with issues and regrets of her own. (CZ)

YOUNG @ HEART – A moving documentary that is better than you might think possible. The best part is that the audience gets to share the delight of these seniors who join a chorus and sing with pure joy, forging friendships with each other, and bringing smiles everywhere they go. (AMO)

Over-hyped:
THE DARK KNIGHT. Yes, Heath Ledger gave a chillingly good performance, and it was a good superhero/action movie, but a top ten of the year? We don’t think so.

Stole Thunder from: IRON MAN – the real best superhero movie of the year.

Worst of 2008:
Unfortunately, there are always some lemons:

DISASTER MOVIE – Need I state the obvious? OK: a total disaster.

FOOL’S GOLD – How much of the money wasted on this atrocious movie could have bought meals for the homeless? Kate Hudson is cute, but it’s starting to wear thin, and Matthew McConaughey might want to think about giving his mind a work out not just his biceps.

MADE OF HONOR – This has got to be the silliest premise of the year: that a man would consent to be a Maid of Honor at the wedding of the woman he loves and wear a dress? Even with McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey, this is plain McSilly.

MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL – Awful, crude, awful, crass, and did I mention awful? Offensive to women.

THE LOVE GURU – Who kidnapped Mike Meyers and and gave him stupid pills? Don't insult us!

Those are our lists. It wasn't as good a year for movies as 2007, but we're looking forward to 2009.