I originally intended this to be a top 10 list, but attempts at compiling such a list proved just as frustrating as trying to rank my all-time favorite movies. How does one weigh, for example, the merits of Vicky Cristina Barcelona vs Iron Man vs The Reader. All were high quality productions which I enjoyed and would gladly watch again, but by what criteria do I judge them against each other? Also, I have not seen every movie released in 2008 (nor would I want to). Not only have I missed obvious titles such as Changeling or Rachel Getting Married, but titles very few have seen like Wendy and Lucy or Waltz with Bashir.
Perhaps it is too soon to throw together a best of '08 list? But consider that not only have Academy members already voted, but votes have already been tabulated and released in the form of the Oscar nominations. (Don't think good movies fall through the cracks?)
So, here's the plan. I'll briefly mention several 2008 movies I considered (in no particular order) and close with the five movies I would have voted for had I been an Academy member.
Iron Man - Definitely a tier above your standard action movie and if it hadn't been for The Dark Knight's release just a month later, more people would be talking about it. The final confrontation was a little weak, but a solid show.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - What can I say? This was a really funny movie with interesting characters. Not your standard throw away comedy with no story.
Doubt - Loved seeing the behind the scenes world of the priests and nuns at a Catholic school. Four Oscar nominations for acting is not a fluke.
Burn After Reading - Even the people who said they didn't really care for this movie, laugh out loud when you remind them of some of the highlights. Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons steal the show.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - If it weren't for that damned voice over, this might have cracked my top five.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Enjoyed the ride, but can't forgive the weak final act.
In Bruges - Far from perfect but a lot to love here. Excited about its Oscar nom for screenplay, and happy for Colin Farrell's Golden Globe win.
The Wrestler - I watched the trailer 15 times. The movie was great, but the trailer actually moved me more. Springsteen not getting nominated for Best Original Song was one of the biggest Oscar snubs.
The Reader - I liked it, but nothing really surprised me here. It fills the roll of pretty good movie that boots better movies out of the Best Picture category (I'm talking to you Atonement and The Queen).
WALL*E - Brilliant. First 3/4 are absolutely revolutionary. Final quarter is solid, but drifts toward the more conventional. Don't be surprised to see it win for Best Original Screenplay.
I'm sure there are still others I forgot to mention, but moving on - here are my five "votes" for Best Picture of the Year:
5. Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella is amazing as Richard Nixon. This movie turned an interview with an ex-president into an epic battle for information. I could have watched these two battle it out for hours. Oscar moment - Nixon calls Frost in the middle of the night to rant about how "they" (the underprivileged), appreciate their success more and will rub it in the faces of the rich kids who stood in their way - a conversation Nixon has no memory of the next day.
4. The Visitor - If every film had the same resources to campaign during awards season, I think you would have seen in The Visitor nominated for far more than just its leading actor, Richard Jenkins. People are all too often, too selfish and too absorbed in their own lives to connect with strangers. Walter (Jenkins) takes that leap with Tarek, a Syrian living in NYC, and it changes his life. Think of this as a mellower version of American Beauty.
3. Slumdog Millionaire - This movie is an absolute blast. It is intense and dark at times, balanced by love and light. What started as the underdog movie out of India has avalanched into the absolute front runner for Best Picture. I only wish the characters had a little more polish to them. It's not my number one of the year, but there's no way to root against it.
2. Milk - The Scots had William Wallace, the Indians had Mahatma Gandhi, the gays had Harvey Milk. Seriously, this movie parallels Braveheart in more ways than you could imagine. I know we've seen movies where one man or woman battles against injustice to fight for what is right, but this is one of the best. Not only did Harvey Milk inspire thousands of oppressed people but his is a battle that is still being fought today.
1. The Dark Knight - Few question that this is the best superhero movie ever made. That in itself should make the Academy feel ashamed for leaving it out of the Best Picture race. The best fantasy movie won the top prize just five years ago (LotR - The Return of the King). They have rewarded horror (Silence of the Lambs), thriller (The Departed), western (Unforgiven), and comedy (Annie Hall), but not The Dark Knight. I read once that the Academy Awards honor those achievements that advance the art and science of film making. Yes, TDK was nominated for eight awards, but despite being THE BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER MADE, it was left out of the Best Picture and Best Director races.
The Dark Knight is not only filled with memorable action sequences, it is filled with social commentary, and characters sincerely torn as to what is "right." And, of course, there's Heath Ledger's Joker who might be the best (or worst) movie villain ever (sorry, Darth Vader). But it's much more than that, Batman is the ultimate hero, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - not dying for a cause, but living for it after all his supporters become his enemies.
I never thought about it until this moment, but the Batman that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale have created is the Man described in Rudyard Kipling's "If" - "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you..."
Perhaps it is too soon to throw together a best of '08 list? But consider that not only have Academy members already voted, but votes have already been tabulated and released in the form of the Oscar nominations. (Don't think good movies fall through the cracks?)
So, here's the plan. I'll briefly mention several 2008 movies I considered (in no particular order) and close with the five movies I would have voted for had I been an Academy member.
Iron Man - Definitely a tier above your standard action movie and if it hadn't been for The Dark Knight's release just a month later, more people would be talking about it. The final confrontation was a little weak, but a solid show.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - What can I say? This was a really funny movie with interesting characters. Not your standard throw away comedy with no story.
Doubt - Loved seeing the behind the scenes world of the priests and nuns at a Catholic school. Four Oscar nominations for acting is not a fluke.
Burn After Reading - Even the people who said they didn't really care for this movie, laugh out loud when you remind them of some of the highlights. Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons steal the show.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - If it weren't for that damned voice over, this might have cracked my top five.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Enjoyed the ride, but can't forgive the weak final act.
In Bruges - Far from perfect but a lot to love here. Excited about its Oscar nom for screenplay, and happy for Colin Farrell's Golden Globe win.
The Wrestler - I watched the trailer 15 times. The movie was great, but the trailer actually moved me more. Springsteen not getting nominated for Best Original Song was one of the biggest Oscar snubs.
The Reader - I liked it, but nothing really surprised me here. It fills the roll of pretty good movie that boots better movies out of the Best Picture category (I'm talking to you Atonement and The Queen).
WALL*E - Brilliant. First 3/4 are absolutely revolutionary. Final quarter is solid, but drifts toward the more conventional. Don't be surprised to see it win for Best Original Screenplay.
I'm sure there are still others I forgot to mention, but moving on - here are my five "votes" for Best Picture of the Year:
5. Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella is amazing as Richard Nixon. This movie turned an interview with an ex-president into an epic battle for information. I could have watched these two battle it out for hours. Oscar moment - Nixon calls Frost in the middle of the night to rant about how "they" (the underprivileged), appreciate their success more and will rub it in the faces of the rich kids who stood in their way - a conversation Nixon has no memory of the next day.
4. The Visitor - If every film had the same resources to campaign during awards season, I think you would have seen in The Visitor nominated for far more than just its leading actor, Richard Jenkins. People are all too often, too selfish and too absorbed in their own lives to connect with strangers. Walter (Jenkins) takes that leap with Tarek, a Syrian living in NYC, and it changes his life. Think of this as a mellower version of American Beauty.
3. Slumdog Millionaire - This movie is an absolute blast. It is intense and dark at times, balanced by love and light. What started as the underdog movie out of India has avalanched into the absolute front runner for Best Picture. I only wish the characters had a little more polish to them. It's not my number one of the year, but there's no way to root against it.
2. Milk - The Scots had William Wallace, the Indians had Mahatma Gandhi, the gays had Harvey Milk. Seriously, this movie parallels Braveheart in more ways than you could imagine. I know we've seen movies where one man or woman battles against injustice to fight for what is right, but this is one of the best. Not only did Harvey Milk inspire thousands of oppressed people but his is a battle that is still being fought today.
1. The Dark Knight - Few question that this is the best superhero movie ever made. That in itself should make the Academy feel ashamed for leaving it out of the Best Picture race. The best fantasy movie won the top prize just five years ago (LotR - The Return of the King). They have rewarded horror (Silence of the Lambs), thriller (The Departed), western (Unforgiven), and comedy (Annie Hall), but not The Dark Knight. I read once that the Academy Awards honor those achievements that advance the art and science of film making. Yes, TDK was nominated for eight awards, but despite being THE BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER MADE, it was left out of the Best Picture and Best Director races.
The Dark Knight is not only filled with memorable action sequences, it is filled with social commentary, and characters sincerely torn as to what is "right." And, of course, there's Heath Ledger's Joker who might be the best (or worst) movie villain ever (sorry, Darth Vader). But it's much more than that, Batman is the ultimate hero, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - not dying for a cause, but living for it after all his supporters become his enemies.
I never thought about it until this moment, but the Batman that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale have created is the Man described in Rudyard Kipling's "If" - "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you..."
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