Another year gone, another top ten list just begging to be deliberated. Is it just me or did 2008 feel like something of an unsatisfactory blitz in the world of cinema? Sure, “The Dark Knight” grossed over $500 Million and a sixty-six year old Harrison Ford proved he could still quarrel with the best of them, but how many films really made you stop and go “Damn, that was incredible?”
For me, that number was significantly down from last year, but maybe I was just spoiled by the scrupulous smorgasbord that 2007 had to offer. Nevertheless, these past twelve months did serve up some truly outstanding pieces of entertainment that I feel deserve to be recognized, so without further adieu, I give you my picks for the year’s ten best:
1. “The Dark Knight” – Everyone and their grandmother ventured out at least once to experience Christopher Nolan’s brooding pop masterwork and, in the end, I just couldn’t picture any other film taking the top spot. With Heath Ledger’s treacherously nefarious tour de force at its center, this two-and-a-half-hour crime epic took the industry by storm and became something much more obscure and corrosive than any comic book adaptation could ever dream of being. I know it’s been said a million times over, but it’s dazzling in every respect.
2. “The Wrestler” - When Randy “The Ram” Robinson refers to himself as an “old, broken-down piece of meat,” I couldn’t help but think how many view Mickey Rourke in the same unflattering light and how insanely off-kilter they are in that analysis. In the performance of a lifetime, Rourke turns a grizzled professional wrestler on the brink of death into a poignant, heart rending symbol of redemption that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout every bone-crushing moment. It’s cinematic simplicity at its finest and director Darren Aronofsky somehow manages to find authentic tenderness underneath all the brutality that most skeptics of the business are quick to dismiss as a counterfeit sensation.
3. “Revolutionary Road” – Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s first onscreen connection since “Titanic” hits you like a tidal wave of malice and insecurity right off the bat and never lets up until only human shells are left standing. The sobering solemnity of Justin Haythe’s script may leave audiences cold and dejected, but the crackling performances and total rejection of 1950s traditionalism should leave any thoughtful filmgoer stunned by the austere beauty of it all. Dare I say better than “American Beauty?”
4. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – Screenwriter Eric Roth employs the same whimsical formula he used in “Forrest Gump” in this stylishly composed portrait of a man who ages in reverse and again hits the jackpot. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett (obviously) have an unparalleled romantic elegance that will sweep you off your feet if you let it and David Fincher’s masterful command of motion capture technology is jaw-droppingly awesome to behold. It’s definitely a film that needs to be seen in a theatre, because not even Blu-Ray can reproduce this type of larger-than-life opus.
5. “Frost/Nixon” – Michael Sheen and Frank Langella lay it all on the line in this Ron Howard-directed clash of the titans and create some of most electrifying sequences of the year. The storied interviews translate surprisingly well to the silver screen and Langella steals the show by portraying Richard M. Nixon as an enigmatic firestorm of emotion and unrequited narcissism. Arguably the finest film Howard has made since “Apollo 13.”
6. “Rachel Getting Married” – It’s amazing what can happen when a top-line director such as Jonathan Demme gets to work with a rom-com mainstay like Anne Hathaway. In this scathing exploration of a family in crisis, Hathaway channels her inner black sheep and creates a character so real and richly textured that it’s hard to believe she isn’t given more opportunities with dramatic material. Her interaction with Rosemarie DeWitt’s character is almost too piercing to watch and they play off each other splendidly throughout. Plus, any film willing to dedicate an entire scene to a contest in which two characters see who can load the dishwasher the fastest is just too great to pass up.
7. “In Bruges” – Martin McDonagh’s picturesque waltz through the streets of Belgium is the most underrated film of 2008. It’s a violent, crass, and downright hilarious look at how two hit men choose to spend their vacation and I honestly can’t believe how it managed to fall through the cracks of the upcoming awards season. Colin Farrell has never been better and Brendan Gleeson is certainly worthy of further consideration.
8. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” – As I’ve always said, I try to include a comedy every year and none of them made me laugh out loud more than this one. Jason Segel is quickly becoming one of the funniest actors on the planet and his double duty of acting and writing here takes the zaniness to whole new level. As far as its place among the Apatow stable, only time will tell, but I loved every awkwardly raunchy minute of it.
9. “Man on Wire” – Philippe Petit’s awe-inspiring tightrope walk across the World Trade Center towers is something you have to see to believe. He was relentless in his pursuit and fearless in his execution, so in a post 9/11 world, the film takes on an even greater significance and stands on its own as one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen.
10. “Slumdog Millionaire” – This nifty little crowd pleaser from Danny Boyle may very well win Best Picture, but to me, it was simply a familiar story of lost love bolstered by a smooth soundtrack and the fiercest work Boyle has done since “Trainspotting.” Dev Patel is strong as the central character and the visuals are arresting, but I’d have to see it again before being able to fully support the almost universal campaign this film has gotten since it premiered back in September.
Honorable Mention: "Red," "Milk," "Gran Torino," "Cloverfield," "Iron Man," "Snow Angels," "Quid Pro Quo," "Recount," "Lakeview Terrace," and "Tropic Thunder"
Most Overrated of the Year: "Wall-E" - Bogged down by a weak second half
Worst of the Year: "10,000 B.C.," "The Happening," "Jumper," "One Missed Call," "Shutter," "Quantum of Solace," "Righteous Kill," "Pride and Glory," and "Speed Racer"
