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We had a variety of excellent films in 2008 that were
noteworthy. ***
1. "The Dark Knight"-Say what you will about Chris
Nolan's sequel to "Batman Begins" but it proves that a great
sequel isn't dependent on the film that precedes it nor
does it have to imitate it to be successful. A brilliant
sequel that--flaws and all--stands up to the best in every
other genre from this year and often out did many of them.***
2. "The Visitor"-An unusual drama featuring one of
my favorite character actors, "The Visitor" tells the story
of a professor who finds squatters--illegal immigrants no
less--in his New York apartment that he visits infrequently
and the relationship they develop.***
3. "The Wrestler"-Mickey Rourke has had many fantastic
roles he's also an example of a major talent that has squandered
his talent in lesser films to insure a lifestyle that bordered
on decadence. Rourke gives a compelling performance as a
wrestler who sees his last chance to truly make something
of his life and career in the ring. Daren Aronofsky creates
a truly compelling drama that often reflects the Rourke's
own troubled career except for the riches and glamour. Marisa
Tomei gives a terrific performance as Cassidy in the film
as well continuing to prove that she is a terrifically underrated
dramatic actress.***
4."Frost/Nixon"-Who would have thought a compelling
drama could be made about the circumstances of disgraced
former President Richard M. Nixon's first television appearance
after resigning? Faced by tough questions from media celebrity
David Frost, Nixon revealed a complex human being that was
often hidden from the public and a proud man who refused
to apologize for trampling over the Bill of Rights in his
pursuit of "justice" and power. Ron Howard has created one
of his best films.***
5. "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"- ANOTHER franchise
film makes the top ten but, as in the case of "The Dark
Knight", it's the talent that made "Hellboy II" so memorably
entertaining. Guillermo Del Toro made this sequel as compelling,
touching, funny and entertaining as the first film. He also
made an blockbuster demonstrating once again to Hollywood
how it should be making these type of films--with imagination.
His quirky imaginative touches and sense of humanity inform
this film with the same depth and perceptive observations
as in his more "personal" films.***
6. Wall-E-Pixar once again shows why they are the best
in the animation game but, more importantly, making entertaining
films with subtext and meaning. These are kid's films made
for the kid in all of us and doesn't insult our intelligence.
They also snuck in a message with greater subtly and greater
effect than, say, Fox's misfired remake of "The Day the
Earth Stood Still".***
7. "The Orphanage"-A perfect creepy Mexican horror
film produced by Del Toro demonstrating that good horror,
indeed, has no barrier language.***
8. "Milk"-Much more than a biography or a glimpse into
the world of gay rights, "Milk" focuses on the change that
one man can make by running for office and being true to
himself. Sean Penn gives a brilliant performance aided and
abetted by James Franco and an all star cast.***
9. "Iron Man"-The other great comic book inspired film
of the summer, Robert Downey, Jr. continues to reinvent
himself and uses his own personal turmoil as a former drug
addict and alcoholic to color in the flawed character of
Tony Stark. His conversion from right wing patriot to a
nonpolitical weapon of justice is convincing, compelling,
funny and downright entertaining in all the best ways.***
10. "Tropic Thunder"-A very funny satire that manages
to take on Hollywood's image of itself and war films. This
features Tom Cruise's best performance ever as a balding
bully millionaire.***
*** I've decided to stop doing a "Worst" because while
there are some truly bad films out there (and some of these
disappointments are, indeed, VERY BAD), I've found that
usually I'm more disappointed than offended (and bad films
that are so bad you can't even laugh at them are truly an
offensive waste of my time and yours). ---
Top 10 Disappointments:
1. "The Day the Earth Stood Still"-Never mind that
this is a remake even evaluating the film on its own, "Day"
is a failure. After a compelling first half hour the film
falls apart faster than a poorly stacked house of cards.
Keanu Reeves works during the first half when Klaatu is
as alien to us as we are to him but when he discovers his
inner humanity and compassion, his skills as an actor fail
(and the scene isn't well written either). The film has
the stink of post-production interference from the studio
but I can't confirm that. Gort is virtually wasted in the
film and John Cleese just isn't convincing as the scientist
that Klaatu is taken to help change his mind about humanity.
"Day" has a muddled narrative with many terrific ideas (Klaatu
is for all intents and purposes a savior for our planet
but akin to Hitler in how he plans on saving our world so
the Christ subtext has a wonky sort of perverse aspect to
it) and a muddled message. It's a missed opportunity but
looks marvelous.***
2. "Step Brothers"-Will Farrell comedies sail or fail
based on the writing no matter how strong Farrell is in
the film. "Step Brothers" is often amusing but also crass
and lacks the idiotic freedom of even an Adam Sandler comedy.***
3. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"-Judd Apatow's films
are getting pretty thin. His formula of mixing crass humor
with touching moments worked in "The 40 Year Old Virgin"
(part of the reason it worked was the winning performance
there of Steve Carrell) but even by "Knocked Up" the formula
was becoming predictable and less than enlightening. Even
"Forgetting" the over-the-top comedic moments that work
best (for example the puppet play musical adaption of "Dracula"),
the film just wasn't funny enough.***
4. "Repo-The Genetic Opera"- A film with an intriguing
premise (reclaiming body parts donated to others) falls
apart. Paris Hilton can't be blamed for all of this but
I'll do it anyway.***
5. "TowelHead"-I walked away very disappointed in this
coming-of-age story. It was unpleasant to watch sort of
like a reverse "American Beauty" without any of the insight
of that film. Kudos to the actors for their strong performances
but the film just failed to deliver on so many levels for
me. Director Alan Ball (who wrote "American Beauty" and
wrote/produced "Six Feet Under") creates a drama notable
only for its disturbing situations NOT any worthwhile dramatic
moments. For "Towelhead" to work it truly needed a director
of the caliber of Sam Mendes. Clearly Ball had good intentions
but good intentions do not make for an entertaining or meaningful
film. As a father with a daughter close to the main character
Jasira's (Samir Bishil) age, I found the film deeply disturbing
on so many levels particularly after what amounts to a "rape"
scene involving Aaron Eckhart's (who is wasted here) character.
It's an example of a bad film that is well made and fails
because of the approach to the subject matter by the writer/director.***
6. "Eagle Eye"-It was OK as lightweight entertainment
but it was really it wanted to create a great big bang and
instead managed a feeble whimper with a story that had so
much potential if it had been scripted by a better writer
and directed by someone who wanted to be something other
than the new Michael Bay. So much potential and so little
delivered on that potential by director D.J. Caruso makes
"Eagle Eye" a major disappointment for a blockbuster film
as the director and writers recycle a number of situations
seen in other films (although one way that the unseen bad
guy dispatches someone who doesn't do what is asked is pretty
memorable).***
7. "Mirrors" -Reminds me why so many horror films are
stinkers; a lack of good a good script, good acting and
direction. This is a horror film by the-numbers with actors
that should have known better. This is the type of film
that an actor takes because it fits in their schedule, they
want to do something in their down time from their regular
gig and the money is good.***
8. "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" -Sequels
are sometimes like inbred families-their defects become
more apparent with each one. "The Mummy" franchise passed
that phase after the second "Mummy" film with its attempt
to spin-off "The Scorpion King". "Mummy" three lacks all
the wit, sense of wonder and entertainment value of its
predecessors.***
9. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls"-Someone
stop George Lucas from continuing to make sequels. I liked
the opening but the film quickly degenerates into a distant
echo of the original trilogy that Spielberg and Lucas made.
It's all in the writing and David Koepp and Lucas botch
their attempt to revive Indy. Sure, it was nice to see Harrison
Ford in the role again and having Indy be older AND adjusting
to the Cold War was a nice touch but the inspiration just
wasn't there. After the first thirty minutes, "Indy" echoes
other scenes in the other films in the series but just doesn't
do them as well.***
10. "The Women"-Some films should never be remade or
never made in the first place. This applies to this remake
of the 1939 film AND the original film which was adapted
from a weak but successful stage play. Everyone associated
with this disaster should hide their head in shame but no
one more than Diane English ("Murphy Brown") who wrote the
horrible dialog. Plodding when it tries to be clever and
trite when it tries to be profound, "The Women" is chiefly
enjoyable for the performances of the veteran cast but even
they can't overcome the hamfisted script that is so filled
with coincidence that you wouldn't be surprised to learn
at the end that all these characters are secretly related
to each other.***
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