The Top Ten Films of 2008
10. The Incredible Hulk
Yeah, I’m going to get flack for this but I honestly enjoyed “The Incredible Hulk” more than the audience favored “Iron Man.” Maybe it was Edward Norton’s great portrayal of Bruce Banner or possibly because I really really hated the original “Hulk,” but either way, I found it to be a successful adaptation of a great comic book series.
9. Wall-E
Who thought you could feel so much sympathy for a little metal robot? Wall-E not only told a great tale of science fiction but also created some of the most beautiful animation I have ever seen.
8. Tropic Thunder
Rarely do I consider a vulgar, violent, and gross out comedy worth any top ten list, but Tropic Thunder made me laugh till I fell over. Robert Downey Jr. stole the show with the most politically uncorrected role in ages.
7. Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog is one of few films to weave such a solid plot mostly through flashbacks. With an unknown cast to Americans, the film vibrates with new talent that I can only hope to see more out of.
6. Doubt
Talk about a powerhouse cast. Subtle sparks fly between Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams for the entire 104 minutes of the film and all they ever do is talk. While the story is fantastic, future acting students will treat this like a textbook.
5. Frost/Nixon
The best biopic of the year, Frost/Nixon is able to show both the political prowess and rarely seen humanity of the infamous Richard Nixon. While Michael Sheen does a creditable job as Frost, kudos goes mainly to Frank Langella for making Nixon more than just a slim caricature of the real man. Rarely have I seen such a great depiction of a publicly shamed individual doing his best to save the last amount of honor he has left.
4. In Bruges
Easily the best “under the radar” comedy/drama in a long time. Yeah, you’ve probably never heard of it, but the surprisingly funny Colin Farrall leads a cast through a laugh out loud, smash bang, and poignant story of hitman, midgets, and standards with fatal consequences.
3. The Dark Knight
I’ve got to show some love for this little gem. Though wrought with a somewhat irregular plotline and a Batman who could use a lozenge, “The Dark Knight” is still the best comic book movie there ever has been. And before you tar and father me for not mentioning it, Heath Ledger’s performance not only stole the show, but was the show. If somebody would have told me ten years ago that Patrick from “10 Thing I Hate About You” would make a great Joker, I would have laughed in their face. Boy, was I wrong.
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Loosely based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” stands on it’s own as a great piece of storytelling. Rich with both interesting characters and gorgeous locations, this film plays to the gentlest spirits in all of us and shows how a life can really be lived to it’s fullest, even if lived backwards.
1. Synecdoche New York
Though not the most obvious choice for best film of 2008, Synecdoche New York, starring the always amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman, did something which is almost unheard of in today’s cinema—it made me think…for days. A mix of jumbled thought and events, Synecdoche New York tells the story of Caden Cotard, a theater director struggling with both work and woman as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York for his newest play. If there is one thing I can promise, you will leave the theatre feeling numb with mixed emotions. Some will find this experience frustrating, others refreshing, but one thing is for sure, it certainly is unique.