What are your top ten films of the 2008? Performances?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 12:50pm

The best films (subject to change...):

10) IRON MAN
9) CHANGELING
8.) FROST/NIXON
7) WALL-E
6) SNOW ANGELS
5) DOUBT
4) SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
3) MILK
2) REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
1) THE WRESTLER

The best performances (top five):
5) Viola Davis, DOUBT
4) Frank Langella, FROST/NIXON
3) Kate Winslet, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
2) Melissa Leo, FROZEN RIVER
1) Mickey Rourke, THE WRESTLER


Mickey Rourke's performance in THE WRESTLER must, MUST win him an Oscar. He is beyond brilliant.



Updated On: 1/21/09 at 12:50 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 1:24pm

Movies blow, I can barely drag myself to a theater anymore. All I want when I go to the movies is a variation on what Pauline Kael wanted: to experience pleasure in the presence of creativity. Since I find creativity lacking in the crap that comes out nowadways, it's impossible for me to come up with a Top Ten. It's no surprise to me that two of my picks are Imax movies, I'm not looking for the miniaturized pleasures that could maybe be gained from watching a movie on an iPod screen. Also, the very notion of a "queue" of movies waiting to be sent to me so I can watch them and send them back makes me glaze over.

Having said that, these are films I saw that were worth it in 2008:

1) Wall-E
2) Milk
3) Happy-Go-Lucky
4) Hamlet 2
5) Religulous
6) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
7) U23D Imax
Shine A Light Imax


Movies I had interest in but got by me: What We Do Is Secret; Slumdog Millionaire; Were the World Mine

Updated On: 12/12/08 at 01:24 PM

[Jack King]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 1:35pm

I read you lima charley. I'm into watching DVDs of MURDER SHE WROTE and HAWAII FIVE-OH. I'm not disappointed.

Yep also on the lack of creativity. Creativity where is thy sting?

Most of the lack of creativity is that the moviemakers are scared of going broke. They take the simplest approach, replacing storyline with spfx. Spfx sucketh, in general. If you can't get your "efx" via camera angles, lensing and the like, then I don't want to watch it.

My maxim is: the more digital technology "improves," the wore the presentation-of any kind. You should see--better yet not see--the industrials being made by digital techies. They are visual guys with an audio track. And they don't know how to use sound or mic anybody. Music selection is hokey.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 1:41pm

The best new films I saw this year were WALL-E and IN BRUGES.

The best performance of the year came from Heath Ledger as the Joker, with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson from IN BRUGES running a close second. Ralph Fiennes' turn as their psycho boss should win him a Supporting Actor Oscar.

Haven't seen many of the year-end Award Bids, so this may change, but I have no intention of laying down my hard-earned money to sit through DOUBT again, and my dislike of that Hoffman creature make me DOUBT i'd like it even if I did. I saw FROST/NIXON onstage, enjoyed it well enough but I am just not interested in seeing the film: what's Ron Howard going to bring to the material anyway?

Looking forward to seeing HAPPY GO LUCKY. I'll go see MILK, I guess, more out of obligation than anything else.

Updated On: 12/12/08 at 01:41 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 1:56pm

The two best films I've seen this year are Happy-Go-Lucky and The Edge of Heaven, a wonderful film by the young German-Turkish director Fatih Akin. It was a sad year for movies, but especially for American films. The only two American films I've seen as of yet that have excited me are Rachel Getting Married and David Gordon Green's underrated Snow Angels, which came and went very quickly back in March.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 3:42pm

I haven't seen much, and I have a lot yet to see (including almost all the heavy hitters), but this is what I have enjoyed most thus far:

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Mamma Mia
Wall-E
Iron Man
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Tropic Thunder
Kung Fu Panda

I have some serious catching up to do.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 6:46pm

Don't have a Top Ten yet, especially since DOUBT, I LOVE YOU SO LONG, THE CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, THE READER, and REVOLUTIONARY ROAD haven't gone wide or been released at all yet.
So far my favorite performances of '08 have been (in no specific order)
1 ) Anne Hathaway-RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
2 ) Sean Penn-MILK
3 ) Emile Hirsch-MILK
4 ) Allison Pill-MILK
5 ) Meryl Streep-MAMMA MIA!
6 ) Heath Ledger-THE DARK KNIGHT
7 ) Rosemarie DeWitt-RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 10:53pm

I was fortunate enough to see advanced screenings of the films I mentioned that are either in limited release or not released yet.

I think BENJAMIN BUTTON will take the Best Picture Oscar...it's both narratively and technologically impressive. And Pitt gives his best performance on screen ever in it...and Taraji Henson (whom I've always loved...she was brilliant and gave a performance worthy of an Oscar in HUSTLE AND FLOW) is simply fantastic.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/12/08 at 10:54pm

Oh and I also loved SNOW ANGELS, AC.

What a beautiful movie...definitely in my top fifteen of the year.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 10:25pm

I have seen some great movies recently but Slumdog Millionaire ranks #1 on my list. I saw it today and I can't stop thinking about it. I don't want to stop thinking about it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 10:40pm

In Bruges gets my vote for best movie of the year.

Anne Hathaway in RACHEL and Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR, best actors.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 12:58am

This will probably change but, as of now, my top ten is...

1) LET THE RIGHT ONE IN - Incredible childhood vampire story.

2) SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK - I saw this last night and no film had a more profound emotional effect on me. I will be in tears when I see it a second time.

3) THE DARK KNIGHT - The Batman film I have yearned for since childhood.

4) WALL-E - Aside from SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK, no other film affected me as deeply emotionally from this year.

5) THE FALL - Extremely underrated and under-released gem from the visionary Tarsem who made this with his own money. Lee Pace fans should check this out.

6) IN BRUGES - Martin McDonagh brought his distinct brand of twisted genius to the screen in a wholly original and surprisingly touching gangster film.

7) BURN AFTER READING - Funniest film of 2008, I thought. The darkest satire possible on the foibles and absurdities of human existence.

WALTZ WITH BASHIR - One of the best animated films I've seen in years. Do not let this one pass you by when it gets released. It packs a wallop.

9) MY WINNIPEG - The universal story of one man and his love/hate relationship with his hometown.

10) VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA - Woody Allen's best film in years. Even better than MATCH POINT. It's hilarious while you watch it but, as you exit, you realize that it's actually more tragic than it would immediately seem.

BEST PERFORMANCE - Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT - Ledger took on comics' best loved villains and made him as frightening and crazed as possible. The Joker enthralls every second he is onscreen.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 9:34am

Curse my lousy memory for forgetting Guy Maddin's brilliant and moving MY WINNIPEG. Splendid film, light years ahead of that inane DARK KNIGHT.

My revised vote for Best Live Action film: a TIE between IN BRUGES and Mike Leigh's HAPPY GO LUCKY.

Sally Hawkins should win every conceivable award for her brilliant performance. She'll probably snag everything but the Oscar which will probably go to the Streep.

Drop everything and see HAPPY GO LUCKY. Just do it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 10:03am

Roscoe, as usual, your observation is spot-on. Sally Hawkins' performance is peerless this year. I can't imagine Streep winning the Oscar, though. Well, I can, but I don't want to. I saw DOUBT yesterday and her level of scenery chewing would make Cate Blanchett blush. The final scene, so effective on stage, came off as a farce.

[Weez]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 10:14am

I've literally only seen three new films this year.

3) Mamma Mia!
2) Iron Man
1) The Dark Knight

Nearly saw 'Quantum of Solace' but couldn't quite bring myself to break my streak of musicals & comic book adaptations only. XD

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 1:57pm

I agree with whoever touted Rosemarie DeWitt. She's the unsung heroine of RACHEL, a good movie that was allowed to goes on forever, alas (please, I hope to never see the reception sequence ever again). DeWitt is the centerpiece, and her performance has been too overlooked. Still, I was riveted to Ms. Winger -- who will likely get the supporting Oscar nod.

But Viola Davis, Viola Davis, Viola Davis. She is the emotional centerpiece of DOUBT, and her sequence lifts the movie into another realm. (And she almost blows La Streep off the screen). Please, let this great work get a nomination.

But my favorite moment on film in 2008, and perhaps well beyond: Watching the robotic Wall-E watch and take comfort (and find advice) in "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from DOLLY. It's moving, funny, absurd, and in some mysterious way, thrilling.

Updated On: 12/14/08 at 01:57 PM

[Atrias]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 8:05pm

I feel like I'm the only one who didn't enjoy "Happy-Go-Lucky." I was bored to tears, and couldn't stand the main character or meandering plot. It's odd, because I usually like films in this vein. Maybe it was the lack of coherent narration that bothered me.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 9:23pm

Mike Leigh's films generally require more than one viewing for the structure to become clear. They feel like they meander, but they are very very carefully put together. Seen any of his other films? NAKED and TOPSY TURVY feel like they're just all over the place, but they really really come together on repeat viewings.

I can see finding Poppy maybe a bit annoying.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 1:19am

I must also say that Dianne Weist and Tom Noonan created the two creepiest characters I saw in a movie all year in SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK.

[Q]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 1:30am

I have to admit I kind of like having a 'make or break' item when it comes to movie discussion this year.

For me, anyone or anything that touts THE DARK KNIGHT immediately loses all interest. I simply cease to pay attention.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 1:42am

I wish more people got to see SYNECDCOCHE NEW YORK and THE FALL.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 1:55am

The Chicago Film Critics nominations are close to perfect, IMO, from the films I have seen.

I still need to see BENJAMIN BUTTON, FROST/NIXON, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, THE WRESTLER and THE READER.

I am especially glad that they FINALLY gave some recognition to Bill Irwin who was wonderful in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED.


And, Q, you know I love ya, but don't you think this...

For me, anyone or anything that touts THE DARK KNIGHT immediately loses all interest. I simply cease to pay attention.

...is a little over-the-top. Just because someone liked one movie that you didn't, you think it is fair to discredit their opinion all together?

[Q]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 2:03am

Priest - I'm not discrediting their opinion at all. I'm just saying it's an obvious demarcation point. I felt so negatively about that movie, that anyone who touts it isn't going to share any viewpoint.

Does that mean theirs is invalid? Of course not. It's all just opinion.

But, for sake of approaching discussion, that has turned out to be a complete bell-weather for me.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 2:06am

Why didn't you like it?

[Q]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 2:21am

Cruel - it's been discussed here ad nauseum. There are many who didn't respond to it.

In a nutshell, I found it coumpletely dull - I kept nodding off. I'll grant Heath's performance - although, I might not carry on so much about it as some do. Basically, the only time it held my interest was when he was onscreen. That doesn't mean it was that earth-shattering, it just means that it stood out that much from the rest of what I thought was the equivalent of wading through thigh-high mud.

But, enough about this particular flick - it's been discussed to death here.

My only point was that it's convenient to have this easy dividing line when discussing movies this year. If you loved it, hooray for you - but we have very little to discuss.

It's very similar to the BROKEBACK year (breathe, Priest, BREATHE!) I certainly neither judge nor condemn those with differing opinion. But when my attitude is skewed as much one way as theirs is another, what's the point of discussion?