The (Actual) Year in Movies

Enough about what I didn't see.  Even taking those movies out of the running 2008 was an incredibly strong year for films of all stripes - summer blockbusters refused to fizzle and die, independent films had a wider reach in small towns, and the end-of-the-year Oscar bait really had something to offer besides metric tons of melodrama.

For almost six months I thought I had my #1 film locked down, but a last minute rush to the theaters between Christmas and New Year's threw everything into chaos, so instead of wasting any more brain power trying to pick a single film, we'll just have to settle for a tie:

My TWO Best Films of 2008 are...

The first half of WALL-E is just about as perfect an example of the power of film as a visual medium as you can get.  Great science fiction, great romance, great comedy all comes together in the best looking CGI film yet.  Director Andrew Stanton gets so many things right, using sound effects legend Ben Burtt (STAR WARS) to "voice" Wall-E as well as create all the incredible sounds in the movie, getting guidance from cinematographer Roger Deakins (FARGO, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) for "shooting" the film (just watch the opening to feel Deakins' influence on the film)...but the real credit does belong to Stanton and his team of animators, who crafted a beautiful story that centers on our quest to obtain and reclaim that which is the best of our humanity.

In an odd way this quest to reclaim the basic, pure tenets of what makes us (in my mind) human is echoed in MILK.  What Gus Van Sant does so well in Milk is show us the scope and impact of Harvey Milk's life and work, even as it reminds us how far we still have to go.  And it does this in such an artful way, framing the entire movie around Milk's recording his story into a microphone, "in the event of my assassination."  He also integrates actual news footage, home movies, photographs and audio recordings in a way that isn't seamless, but rather draws you further into the movie while making you aware of how real and recent the events being portrayed were.  Of course, none of that would matter if the acting weren't top-notch.  Sean Penn melts into his role - it's one of the few times I've lost my awareness that it was Penn acting, and just accepted him as the character.  But even his stellar performance wouldn't have been enough if it wasn't for the great support he receives from the entire cast - especially James Franco and Josh Brolin.  Both actors have had a terrific year - especially Franco, who between this and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS proved he's more than just a pretty Norman Osborn.  I think the biggest compliment I can pay MILK is that, after watching it, I was reminded why the people I consider my heroes are my heroes, and that everyone, even those of us who consdier ourselves insignificant in the larger scheme of things, has the option, and the obligation, to stand up and make a difference.

Whew!  Let's get off the heavy stuff and move on.  Here are eight more films I found fantastic in 2008, in alphabetical order and confined to  (promise!) a few sentences:

1.  THE DARK KNIGHT:  I think enough's been written about Christopher Nolan's excellent sequel to his re-launch of Batman.  Heath Ledger's Joker is genuinely frightening and a wonderfully performance, and the interplay between all the characters as well as spectacular action rises above a slightly convoluted script and the loss of the some "wow" factor (simply because BATMAN BEGINS was so good).  If the run ends here (which let's face, will NEVER happen) I think we have a beautiful bookend to a franchise.

2.  THE FALL:  There are times when it may not make a lick of sense, but Tarsem's THE FALL partners with WALL-E as the most visually stunning live-action film of 2008.  Every frame can be frozen and started at for hours, and the performances he coaxes out of Lee Pace (R.I.P. Pushing Daisies) and newcomer Catinca Utaru as the little girl are wonderful.  Definitely check this out, and you watch it keep in the head the small fact that there is absolutely NO CGI USED IN THE FILM...unbelievable.

3.  FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL:  In a year where millions and millions were spent promoting TROPIC THUNDER and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS it was the little engine that could that made me laugh the hardest (although PINEAPPLE EXPRESS came close).  Buried in the belly laughs is a film that laid bare a romantic heart, and dared to lay the blame for the failed relationship at its heart on both couples.  Written by star Jason Segel, I can't wait to see what he does next (reviewed here).

4.  FROST/NIXON:  Hands down Ron Howard's best film.  Free from the forced sentiment and warmth of many of his other films, FROST/NIXON has a loose, guerrilla-style filmmaking to it that cuts back in forth in time to present a look into the heart and soul of Richard M. Nixon through his now-famous series of interviews with David Frost, a British talk-show host who at the time was struggling to get his name back on top.  Adapted by Peter Morgan based on his award-winning play, just watching Frank Langella's award-worthy performance as Nixon is enough to justify the film's inclusion on any best of list.

5.  IN BRUGES:  This is the film that reminded why I should never write off Colin Farrell.  It looks like a fish-out-of-water comedy about a brash hit man who is exiled to the quaint town of Bruges after botching a hit, and it is, but buried in the comedy is a lot of pain and drama that gives every action an added weight.  This is another stellar ensemble film, and proves again that anything with Brenden Gleeson is better for it.

6.  IRON MAN:  Hands down my favorite superhero/comic movie of the year.  Sure, it doesn't has the dark, brooding introspection that THE DARK KNIGHT did, but it brings the fun in spades.  Great snappy dialog, an excellent Robert Downey jr performance, and the best hero entrance I've seen in recent memory (when Iron Man lands in the village and slowly rises) made this the movie of the Summer (reviewed here).

7.  THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES:  It's a damn shame that not enough people saw this and instead flocked to horrible children fare like SPACE CHIMPS.  Co-written by indie maverick John Sayles, this action/adventure doesn't skimp out on the scary moments, and has the most believable family unit I've seen in a children's film.  Take away the goblins, orges, swords and magical books and you still have a gripping story about coming to terms with divorce, wonderfully acted and talking to kids instead of shouting at them.  I wish this was the future of children's movies, and can't recommend this enough to anyone, but especially those whose lives may have mirrored in some way poor Jared's.

8.  THE VISITOR:  Another small flick that manages to claw its way to the top of an already impressive heap.  Not enough credit is given to Richard Jenkins, who is such a great supporting character that he's generally overlooked as someone who can carry a film as the lead.  Not so here, as he plays a empty, sad professor who fins that the apartment he keeps in the city is inhabited by a recent immigrant couple who were tricked into thinking the apartment was for rent.  The way these three people come together through the power of music and love is right in step with director Tom McCarthy's previous film, THE STATION AGENT.

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There you go.  2008 was really an incredible year for movies.  If I had to recommend anything for people to see it would really be the smaller films, since everyone and their mother has probably seen IRON MAN and THE DARK KNIGHT. If anyone has other films that they feel should be at the top please let me know!