Everywhere you look online this time of year, people are making top 10 lists. Since I have still haven’t had time to write the post that’s been percolating in my head for about a month now (it’s about feminism and is sure to be an insightful, witty, must-read post. If it ever gets written), I’m going to follow suite and give all of you (as always, “all” is hypothetical) my list of the best, worst, most surprising, and most disappointing films of 2008. I know of at least three people who read my film reviews on a regular basis, so this post might actually be useful to someone, somewhere. Then again, maybe not, but I’m writing it anyway.
This year my total for films seen in a theatre is down slightly to only 40, which I blame on having to do my final engineering design project and beginning a new job which requires a large amount of travel. The films I saw did cover quite a lot of ground, in terms of themes, styles, and subject matter, so I think that’s still enough to make a fairly well-rounded list. So, without further ado, we’ll begin.
First up is the most surprising films of the year. These are films I went to which I didn’t necessarily expect to be great but which exceeded those expectations.
Most Surprising:
21 – I went in hoping to see just a slick, glossy movie. That’s what I got, but with the added benefits of interesting characters and a smart-ish plot.
Speed Racer – Again, I was there purely for the visuals. Along with those spectacular visuals I found a truly fun film.
Eagle Eye – This looked like another wannabe thriller for teens. It’s actually quite a well made and entertaining thriller, not exclusively for teens. This is the second time I’ve been surprised by a D.J. Caruso film (the first being Disturbia), maybe it’s time I quit underestimating him.
Bolt – Due to Disney’s recent lackluster track record with in-house animation, I wasn’t expecting a lot from this film, but it’s really quite entertaining. This comment basically echoes what I said about Meet the Robinsons last year. Again, I think it’s time I quit underestimating them. Under John Lasseter, the studio seems to be able to make quality films again.
Next, we’ll take a look at the most disappointing films of the year. These are the films that I wanted to be good, or which could have been good, but weren’t.
Most Disappointing:
Be Kind, Rewind – Not a bad film, but coming from Michel Gondry, I expected so much more than passable.
Smart People – Had some really strong performances, but the script just felt like it was continually hitting just short of the mark.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – I really wanted this to be good, but I knew it wouldn’t be. The problem isn’t that the people involved didn’t do what they were supposed to, it was the medium. This was three 30 minute TV episodes shown back to back. Had they been shown on TV over three weeks, it would’ve appeared much stronger, but in a theatre the TV animation doesn’t hold up, and the pacing is all wrong.
Pineapple Express – The weakest of the Apatow comedies, it just can’t stand up to the others.
The Punisher: War Zone – A Punisher movie should be easy, but they’ve tried three times and failed three times. This one got the violence right, but anytime someone opens their mouth it falls apart completely. Fortunately, there’s not a lot of talking.
The Spirit – Great script, good visual style, horrible, confused directing.
On to the worst of the year:
5 Worst Films of 2008:
5. The Punisher: War Zone – Mostly an uneven mess.
4. I Am Legend – Technically this is a 2007 film, but I saw it in 2008 and it’s bad enough to warrant being mentioned here. Sure, Will Smith’s performance is fairly strong, but he has no script to work with, poor direction, the awful choice was made to show the zombies too clearly, too soon, and a weak ending.
3. Star Wars: The Clone Wars – I’ve already explained this one in the “Most Disappointing” list. Basically, it just didn’t belong in theaters.
2. Vantage Point – Though it had a cool concept, this was just poorly executed. By the final 20 minutes the audience was actually laughing at just how bad and clichéd the film had become.
1. Max Payne – Really nothing to redeem this one. Bad script, bad acting, bad choreography, bad cinematography. Not even enough her to recommend it to fans of the game.
Finally, the ten best films of the year.
10 Best Films of 2008:
10. Speed Racer – Visually stunning, this is a live action anime that completely delivers. Yes, it lost more money than any other film this year, since it had a massive budget and no one went to see it. But take a look at what the people who went to see it thought of it. The few dozen people who actually bothered to see it loved it. It’s definitely worth checking out.
9. Iron Man – A different kind of superhero movie. Well made with a fantastic performance by Robert Downey Jr. and great special effects, this is a great popcorn film.
8. Benjamin Button – Well crafted and thought provoking, this is an engaging film, though it could probably stand one more edit.
7. Rachel Getting Married – A perfect representation of a family gathering, this film is claustrophobic and uncomfortable. You’ll likely recognize yourself and your family in the characters, and not to be overlooked is Ann Hathaway’s stellar performance.
6. Hellboy 2 – Another superhero film, this year was good to a traditionally second rate genre. Guillermo del Toro’s take on the material is breathtaking, creating a beautiful, fascinating, intelligent story.
5. Synecdoche, New York – It’s pronounced Sin-ek-duh-key. And it’s great. It’s about the horror of growing old, addressing a fear present in everyone, whether we admit it or not. Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut, the script is every bit as smart and engrossig as you’d expect.
4. The Dark Knight – Yet another superhero film, this one the most ambitious and adult of the bunch. Fantastic directing, a strong script, and Heath Ledger’s perfect portrayal of The Joker all make this a great film. But you already knew that, since everyone went to go see this back in July.
3. Let the Right One In – A vampire film from Sweden about two eleven year old kids. Also the best vampire film in years. It’s haunting, frightening, engrossing, and fascinating. Not to be missed.
2. Slumdog Millionaire – Danny Boyle has crafted a terrific, film, chronicalling the life of a boy who grew up in the slums of India. Beautifully shot and as energetic as the country in which it was made, this is one that everyone will enjoy.
1. Wall·E – Pixar has been nothing if not consistent. Year after year they deliver films that are not just great, but also push the boundaries of the art form, and Wall·E is the most ambitious yet. Just because it is animated does not mean that it is only for kids (or for kids at all) and Pixar has proved this time and time again, making films with something for everyone, miles ahead of the competition. Wall·E is beautifully crafted in every sense and hands down the best film of the year.
Last year I was surprised by the large number of comedies on my “Best” list. This year it’s back to normal, with comedy completely absent in my top ten. It’s a little unusual to have an animated film in the number one spot, but not surprising given Pixar’s record. Other than that, there’s not really anything worth noting about these lists.
That wraps up another year of films. Time to begin 2009.
Sleep well,
DTE
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