This year's list (released before February, so it's not entirely irrelevant) may be the last semi-comprehensive one I'm able to do for a while. I've scaled back my reviewing duties recently, all in preparation for what will likely be - at the least - and extended shutdown when the twins arrive. Even in '08, I missed a lot. Here's the best of what I saw.
10. Doubt - John Patrick Shanley rises above the legacy of Congo and Joe vs. the Volcano. And I say this as someone who really likes Joe vs. the Volcano.
9. Rambo - There is no god but the M2 .50 caliber, and Rambo is its prophet. Stallone's most famous character not named after a flying squirrel and a Spanish explorer finally embraces his destiny.
8. Gomorra - Hey, here's a thought: lets let the Italians make a Mafia movie. I bet they don't sugarcoat it like the Americans. Remorseless.
7. In Bruges - Colin Farrell accepts the challenge of co-starring with Brendan Gleeson and gives his best performance in recent memory as a distraught hitman cooling his heels in Belgium. By turns violent and touching, this one was a pleasant surprise.
6. The Dark Knight - Yeah, it went on too damn long, and the Two-Face storyline was probably better left for another movie, and Batman had a funny voice (a complaint nobody made about the first movie, for some reason), but it was still a hell of a spectacle. And keep an eye on that Ledger kid. I have a feeling he's going places.
5. Year At Danger - A year in the life of a US soldier, told by that same US soldier, in such uncensored fashion I half expected to be picked up by Homeland Security just for being in the audience.
4. Slumdog Millionaire - Belated cries of racism and accusations of unfavorable portrayals of India aside, if any movie popularizes Bollywood's style in the States, it'll be this. Danny Boyle does it again.
3. The Wrestler - A surprisingly organic offering from Darren Aronofsky, that just happens to be elevated by Mickey Rourke in one of the best performances of the year (neck and neck with Sean Penn). Plus, Marisa Tomei keeps up her recent habit of getting frequently naked.
2. Let the Right One In - Leave it to the Swedes to give the vampire genre a much-needed kick in the ass.
1. Frozen River - "Powerful" was the word most used by critics in describing this northern latitude look at smuggling illegals into the US. Hands-down one of the best movies of 2008, and almost nobody saw it.
Honorable Mentions: Man On Wire, Milk, The Order of Myths, Hellboy II, Trouble the Water, WALL*E, Encounters at the End of the World
“And I say this as someone who really likes Joe vs. the Volcano.”
Proof positive that “de gustibus non est disputandum.” Yeef.
Proof positive that “de gustibus non est disputandum.” Yeef. — Elisson
Proof awesomitive in just two words:
Brain. Cloud.
I haven’t seen some of these yet, but as always, your opinion will hold some sway in this household. I just have to say I was rather underwhelmed by Dark Knight (but loved Batman Returns). You can be frenetic and still tell a story; this wasn’t it. Ledger WAS good, though I wonder how much attention that would’ve gotten if he didn’t have the good fortune to drop dead.
I gots to agree with basshole on Dark Knight as compared to Batman Returns. Thanks for the list though- I’ve only seen 10, 6 and 4 thus far, so it gives me plenty to investigate!
M60 7.62 calibre, dude. M2 is a huge great thing about seven feet long.
M60 7.62 calibre, dude. M2 is a huge great thing about seven feet long.
You missed the third act, I take it?
I’ll chime in with The Thing… and say that Joe v. the Volcano was an unexpectedly entertaining and thoughtful movie.
I seem to remember more bitching about the Bat-growl after the first movie and a bit more, “I get what they’re doing with the Bat-growl” after the second movie, but then I tend to read more comic blogs than I do movie reviews.