Since I spent all of 2008 either pregnant or with an infant, I missed a few movies here and there and I mostly avoided a lot of the crap. However, I did see enough movies to compile a Top Ten list. Here it is:
10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall.* I was really starting to tire of everyone who ever met Judd Apatow before this movie was released, but I should have known that my Marshall Erickson would be able to make a really sweet and funny movie.
9. Burn After Reading. I'm not sure why this movie didn't get more love. It's very classic Coen Brothers. Brad Pitt is amazingly insane.
8. Role Models. The best straight up comedy of the year. Tropic Thunder is undeservedly overpraised (see my worst of list tomorrow), and Pineapple Express is fantastic for the first 3/4 of the movie, but loses it in the end. Plus, the dorkiest character in the whole film is named, what else, Augie.
7. Son of Rambow. Can I say, Chuck Bass? Yes, the Bass-hole is in this movie, but it's the little kids who sell it. Look for Will Poulter, who plays Lee Carter, to make something of himself someday.
6. The Visitor. So. Freaking. Good. You must rent this movie immediately. Richard Jenkins deserves a best actor nomination for sure.
5. In Bruges. I love, love, love this movie. The screenplay is fantastic. The acting is superb. It's just a bizarre, smallish, bloody film.
4. Iron Man. This certainly was the year of really good superhero movies. Robert Downey, Jr. is officially back, though he'd been back in my heart since his stint on Ally McBeal.
3. Frost/Nixon. The most recent movie I saw with my husband has a slash in the title, just like the very first movie we ever saw together: Face/Off. Just a little bit of trivia. Frost/Nixon is waaaaay better. The acting is superb. Both Frank Langella and Michael Sheen are great as the title characters. Plus, Oliver Platt. Love him.
2. Slumdog Millionaire. This is the movie that will probably win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and it probably should. It should also receive an adapted screenplay nomination as well. This is one of the most interestingly constructed movies in a long time and it's just a joy to watch.
1. The Dark Knight. I've seen it thrice. I don't care how popular it is or how cool it is to be bashing TDK right about now, this movie is fantastic. The acting is very good to great. The score is fantastic. The cinematography is unbelievable. I still can't help but marvel at the non-CGI shot of Christian Bale at the top of the Sears Tower. Chicago never looked better. And, most of all, shouldn't we all be encouraging Hollywood to make big budget popcorn movies that are actually good? Let's throw a few Oscars over by there.
*I realize the movie Wall-E is missing from this list. I saw it. I liked it. I'm not as deeply in love with this movie as many people are. I think it's good, and technically brilliant, and I may grow to love the movie in time, but as of December 30, 2008, I am just not there yet.
3 comments:
I think we need more movies with slashes in the titles.
Solid list Jules. You may not have seen as much as me, but it looks like you've seen the good stuff.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall?! Oh man, I do not agree. I thought Tropic Thunder was waaaay funnier! Ahh, different strokes for different folks! Happy New Year, Julie Boolie :)
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