Top Ten List - Best Films 2008

10. Paranoid Park - Sometimes Gus Van Sant does mainstream brilliance (Good Will Hunting) and sometimes he does artsy to the extreme (Gerry), but 2008 seems to be the year he is marrying the two together. Paranoid Park is another gem from Van Sant. With it's minimilistic cineamatography, non-linear story telling and mostly non-professional cast, Paranoid Park is a perfectly executed thrilling story. It's exceedingly well done with an interesting story (did a high school skateboarder accidentally kill a security guard?) and great acting from a lot of unknowns. Van Sant has not disappointed me in a very long time (and more on that later!).

09. Revolutionary Road - Revolutionary Road is devastating. I've been going back and forth on whether or not to include this or Doubt on my top ten list. The fact is, Doubt has this purely engaging, wonderfully written and realized script. Revolutionary Road has it's flaws, for sure, but it's so heartbreaking that it's hard to not include it here. Essentially, it's the story about two people who want something more out of their lives. When it comes down to them, life (jobs, kids, money, responsiblity) breaks them down and ruins their dreams. That's sort of something I can relate to. The lead performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and the supporting performance by Michael Shannon are all top notch. This story and movie has its problems, but the emotional punch it packs makes up for any minor problems.

08. Funny Games - This movie gets into your head because it shows absolutely nothing. You are left to imagine what is happening off screen (and director Michael Haneke uses great long takes so it sometimes feels like minutes before you actually find out what happened) and that is more terrifying than seeing anything. The movie is really a superbly crafted intellectual film (it's maybe almost too smart at times, actually). The acting is great - especially from Naomi Watts, the victim and Michael Pitt, the polite and kind potential killer. Also, the ending boat scene? Fricking brilliant!

07. In Bruges - One of the most surprising films of the year, In Bruges is just simply enjoyable on every level. It follows a "job" gone terribly wrong for two Irish hit men who are forced to hide out in Bruges, Belgium, a little place where there is not a lot to do. The forced waiting, sort of like purgatory, gives Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson a chance to shine through some marvelous dark yet comic dialogue. It's a character study with such wonderful interplay. The movie works as a comedy and a satire. It's been a long time but Colin Farrell finally gets to shine as a morally challenged hit man.

06. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Fincher's epic story about a man aging backwards is a moving and emotionally harrowing journey through the life of one man. Fincher directs the hell out of this thing which has a great script and great performances (especially from Taraji P. Henson). It starts out a little slow but kicks into high gear in the second half. There are so many moments of brilliance that it makes up for it's uneven beginning. It may be a little long but The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a beautiful journey well worth the time.

05. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Woody Allen is as sharp and witty as he was thirty years ago. Here he tells the story of two American tourists (Scarlett Johannson and Rebecca Hall) and the romantic entangelments they become involved in with a Spanish painter (Javier Bardem) and his borderline crazy and completely volatile ex-wife (the amazing Penelope Cruz). Barcelona looks beautiful! The cinematography is beautiful (witness the amusement park and the bike riding scenes). This movie also shows how Allen has grown as a filmmaker. Years ago, he stockpiled as many jokes in the film, no matter how silly. Here, thre is a particular moment where a character is set to tell a joke he warns is bad... and Allen cuts out of the scene! He's more interested in the development of these outrageous and well developed characters than telling silly jokes. With writing as crisp, original, witty and smart as it is here, he doesn't need cheap laughs.

04. The Wrestler - This movie is honest and feels so very real. Maybe it's because Mickey Rourke brings a feel of reality to his role. The character, Randy the Ram, has eerie similarities to his own life (wasted youth, struggling with growing older and losing your career, damaging your body and your personal relationships). Maybe it's because Darren Aronofsky is an amazing director. I don't know. Either way, The Wrestler is a gem of a movie, beautifully realized and utterly heart breaking. This movie is gritty, raw, sometimes funny and sometimes very depressing. There's so much compassion here. This is one of the best movies of the year - a tough, funny, dramatic tear jerker. It's a must see. Rourke and Senn Penn will fight to the finish for that Oscar come February and really, I'd be happy to see either win it.

03. The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight is a huge step forward for comic book / superhero movies. For years, those kinds of movies were seen as brainless summer popcorn flicks. The Dark Knight, however, is a whole different kind of movie. It's a well-done, classy, smart film - the kind that will stand the test of time and the kind that should definitely be called a masterpiece. Everything in this movie is so well done - special effects, story line, acting. This movie probably has the best cinematography of the year. And then there's Heath. He deserves the Oscar. That's all I will say at this point. Everything else has already been said. Overall, The Dark Knight is two and a half hours of pure entertainment. There's little to nothing wrong with the movie. All those months of anticipation and expectations? It not only meets them but also surpasses them.

02. Wendy and Lucy - It seems so simple on the outside. Michelle Williams perfectly portrays Wendy, a young woman traveling to Alaska to find a job. She takes her dog Lucy with her and just enough money to make the trip. But then everything starts fo all apart. When her car breaks down and she loses her dog, Wendy's life begins to slowly unravel. It's a quiet film, a short film, a simple film. It's mostly Williams searching every nook and cranny for her dog. But it's raw and surprisingly gripping. It's touching and bittersweet. I cried my eyes out and I'm not afraid to admit it. It's a simple story with a powerful message.

01. Milk - There may be a more touching, gripping, emotional, politically timely, perfect film released this year... but I haven't seen it. Milk is everything a movie should be. Directed by the fantastic Gus Van Sant (director of the year!) and starring Sean Penn (probably the second greatest living actor), the film tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the late 1970s in San Francisco. The supporting cast is all fantastic - Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Alison Pill. This movie is a celebration of a man who worked endlessly to bring about a change. With the recent passing of Prop 8 (which is much like Prop 6 in the movie), its clear to see that after thirty years, Harvey's fight is still not over. This movie should be a rally cry, a call to people to come together and stand up for gay rights, civil rights, human rights. Milk is perfect.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona + mini reviews

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed and written by Woody Allen
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson
Plot: Two American friends, the neurotic, engaged, grad student Vicky (Hall) and the free spirited artist Cristina (Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend their summer. While there, the friends both become involved with a charming painter (Bardem) who has a very volatile ex-wife (Cruz).
Review: It's kind of funny. Woody Allen spent the majority of his career making brilliant, classic movies about loving - and falling in love in - New York City. Annie Hall is one of the most romantic break-up movies ever made. Manhattan is a gorgeous love letter to the city. So, it's funny then that Allen has found his creative resurgance by going overseas. First he made his come back picture with Match Point in London. Then he did his solid slapstick comedy Scoop in London. Then he made the strong Cassandra's Dream in London. Now he's in Spain and Vicky Cristina Barcelona is everything a Woody Allen movie should be - it's smart, it's funny and it's poignant. Woody Allen has a lot to say about love. He asks a lot of questions and knows that there are no answers. While Cristina deals with her entangled relationship with a painter AND his wife, she tries to define love - but Allen knows there is no way to define it. Instead, his new film tells a simple tale about two girls and the romantic entanglements they encounter in a foreign country. And Barcelona looks beautiful! The cinematography is gorgeous (witness the amusement park and the bike riding scenes). It's also nice to see how Allen has grown as a film maker. Years ago, he would have stock piled as many jokes in the film, no matter how silly. Here, there is a particular moment where a character is set to tell a joke he warns is bad... and Allen cuts out of the scene. He's more interested in character development know and not just getting a cheap laugh. He doesn't need cheap laughs. His writing is as crisp and witty as it was thirty years ago.
Best Thing About It: Well, Woody's sharp writing, for one. [Witness the scene when Cruz' Maria Elena admits to going through Cristina's luggage because she does trust her. She explains, "I didn't know if you wanted to harm me. After all, I've had thoughts about killing you."] Also, Cruz is a force to be reckoned with. The film is great from start to finish but when Cruz comes on screen, the movie really ignites. She's violent and aggressive and romantic and tragic and volatile and exhausting and straight up hilarious. I've never seen her this way before. She's very impressive here and heading for a second Oscar nomination. (For the record, Hall was surprisingly strong as well.)
Worst Thing About It: The narration takes a while to get used to but it's not bad per se. Other than that, Woody needs to move on to a new muse. Johansson just doesn't have the acting chops that his previous muses did (Farrow, Keaton, Weist).
Summary in Ten Words or Less: Woody is as funny and intelligent as ever!
Grade: A-

Mini Reviews

Bangkok Dangerous - Brainless and pointless. Nicolas Cage needs to stop making movies. It doesn't get an F because of the Asian actor who was actually quite interesting. Grade: D

Son of Ranbow - Great little British movie about a boy who can't watch TV or movies and his sudden desire to make his own version of Rambo. It's funny and charming although a little uneven. Grade: B

How to Rob a Bank - Stars Nick Stahl who I adore beyond words. It's an interesting concept but I'm not sure it's executed well enough. I mean, sure it's flashy but it's more style than substance. I know it's trying to make a point (the government is nickle and diming us into the poor house) but it's not really a point that needs to be made. Believe me, we're aware. Grade: C+

An American Crime - Great acting from Catherine Keener and Ellen Page. Keener plays a suburban mom struggling to make ends meet who locks Page's character up in a basement and tortures her (or approves while her kids and the neighbors torture her) for a few months. Based on a true story. It was interesting enough - it just could have been... edgier. Plus, not sure if I loved the ending. Or the fact that it took the majority of the movie to get to where it was going. Grade: C-