The Best and Worst Films of 2008

What a year 2008 shaped up to be in the world of movie making. This was perhaps the first time i've ever had the top 5 films nailed down by the mid point of the year, as nothing was going to change my love for these films. In fact, they quickly became the first 5 Blu-ray discs purchased in my household, confirming and reconfirming their greatness through the excellent visual display and the informative extras included on the discs. Three of the films i actually saw more than once in their theatrical release, as they were even better the second time around than what the other screens had to offer.

The only trick was narrowing down the final 5 films of the year, culled mostly from 2007 carry overs that i was able to catch on DVD. Perhaps it is this inability to catch flicks in their most fantastic format (the big screen) which skews my perception from time to time. In 2008, i saw nearly half as many movies (39) as in 2007 (61), and that still includes TMN premieres and DVD releases. However, the films of 2008 seemed so much better than the year prior, maybe due to the results of quality over quantity. Believe me, i still saw my share of sad sack films (the hazards of having a toddler susceptible to persistent advertising and a complete lack of any imagination in most studio attempts at children's films). Granted, if it weren't for the small fry, i probably would have missed out on some of the best 2008 had to offer. And with that being said,

The Top 10 Movies of 2008 are...

10. Juno

The little indie that could for 2007 (one of the first i saw in a theatre in 2008), Juno got a lot of praise and Oscar attention, as the independent entry with all the critical push behind it. Often times, these types of films are overblown, over hyped, and overpraised just so the movie going mass will actually go and see them. By the time they come out on video, the hype has reached such gigantic proportions, that the usual response from renters is, "Mmah, I don't know what all the hype was about. It was good, but not that good." Well, Juno was, and is, that good. Not just for getting the teen dialogue (somewhat) right (I credit Page's delivery over Diablo Cody's script--which gets a little too precious at times), but for tackling some very big moral issues at the level at which it happens, to a small town girl and her immediate friends and family. The supporting cast brings a lot, but Page's performance is a real tour de force.

9. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Funny, irreverent, unbelievably bizarre, in one of those "you can't make this stuff up" kind of ways, The King of Kong is a documentary about the world record for the arcade version of Donkey Kong. The "players" are set up wonderfully as if they were wee Mario the plumber and King Kong himself. The challenger practices in his garage while his child screams from inside, and the reigning champion goes about his celebrity filled life, like he's King of his castle. What lends credence to this chase of an 80s record is the number of people hung up and impacted by the chase of the record itself, from the self-proclaimed referee to the entourage of geeks that follow the King and his record, to the family that supports the challenger, this is a human interest story told as a David vs. Goliath tale. If you never could care less before, after a few minutes spent in this record obsessed world, you'll be rooting for the little guy in no time!

8. Once

Even quieter than Juno, Once is what real independent film making is about. Non-actors, getting their roles for their musical abilities, end up making sweet music and an even sweeter film. The power of song propels these two strangers to confront their own fears, doubts and desires. Made with barely any budget at all, it's the love of a simple tune, sung with such heart that breathes so much life into this tale that you can't help but be uplifted. To watch these two on their journey is to spend some time with the street busker and flower peddler, as their dreams become our dreams. Nothing was more pleasurable than watching these two accept their Oscars at last year's ceremony for giving us the gift of their song.

7. Shoot 'em Up

My, oh-too-brief review of this film (click on the film titles to go to the original reviews) really says it all. As superlative as a review can get, this silly, appropriately named Shoot 'em up, takes the begging to be spoofed action genre and catapults it to the most ridiculous extremes imaginable. Even the stars are superlative, with Clive Owen's coolness so profound he makes carrots look carnal and evil. Not to be out done, Monica Bellucci brings the role of brunette bombshell to new heights, and Paul Giamatti makes all other screen villains seem like the Purple Pie Man by comparison. Once you've committed to going along for this ride, you won't be disappointed by the extremes they will go to surprise and shock you. You'll be too busy laughing to care how preposterous it all is. Check your brain at the door.

6. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Lush in production design, lavish in costume, and larcenous in acting talent, it's amazing that this Tim Burton musical didn't sweep up more Oscar gold, however, given it's serial killer subject matter, i'm amazed it got the attention it did. All the leads do not disappoint, but even more so, their singing is quite well suited for the score. Sacha Baron Cohen is especially good, stealing his scene from Depp, being part Bugs Bunny from the Rabbit of Seville and part Ricky Bobby villain, Jean Girard. This may not be for everyone's tastes, but if your tastes tend to be tailored to the darker side of things, this is a tasty delight to be savoured. Definitely better than the best pies in London.

5. Iron Man

This super hero flick has all the right things going for it. Spot on casting by director Favreau placed some of the most talented (yet underrated) actors in a summer F/X film and allowed them to do some of their best work. Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, and Robert Downey Jr. are all superb, and they even manage to make Gwenyth Paltrow come across as sweet and charming. Unafraid to shy away from what makes Iron Man a flawed superhero, Favreau gives us a super hero film that is fun, dangerous, and unexpected. Perhaps the best super hero movie this year. Or is it?

4. Tropic Thunder

Director/writer/actor Ben Stiller went out on a limb, once again, creating what very easily could have been a career killing comedy. Instead, his lampooning of Hollywood from his insider angle, actually gave us a war film that we wanted to watch this year. Like Zoolander and The Cable Guy, Stiller's risks can easily spell disaster, or comedic gold. In Tropic Thunder, there's more gold than ever, supplied by some of the most unlikely sources. Jack Black channelling Farley and Belushi. Obscenely funny. Best Tom Cruise cameo since Magnolia. Hilariously obscene. But the coup d'etat has to be Robert Downey Jr.'s OTHER career performance of the summer (even more fun than he was in Iron Man) as an Auzzie actor (think Russell Crowe) so method that he undergoes skin pigment surgery to play a Black man. What could surely have set cinema back about a century, instead gives us the best comedic performance of any actor in this century. Downright, gut wrenchingly hilarious, without seeming obscene. A must see if there ever was. That's why it's in our Blu-ray collection, and it's true, Kirk Lazarus doesn't break character until AFTER the DVD commentary.

3. WALL-E

At first watch, I actually wasn't all that impressed. I was expecting a more riotous, fun and silly time from PIXAR, much like they accomplished with movies like Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. Instead, this is a film not unlike Finding Nemo, and not surprisingly, from the same director. Similar in tone and scope, WALL-E takes us into a bleak future of an abandoned Earth, sole for the cleaning operative of the titular robot. His daily life passes by like any other, until he meets his technological counterpart, EVE, sent to search for life on other planets. The story seems simple, a love story on the surface, but the precision and execution is anything but simple. What PIXAR achieves is a near silent movie masterpiece, that delights and enthralls anyone from 2 to 102. The animation is spectacular, the minimal cast extremely effective, as is the wizardry of the sound and direction. This may just be the best animated film of the year. Or is it?

2. The Dark Knight

All the reviews that are calling this "the greatest super hero movie ever made" are really doing The Dark Knight a disservice. It is getting pigeon holed as the best of a genre, when in fact, it is perhaps the best of a medium. Dark and brooding, complex and compelling, director Christopher Nolan recreates every aspect of what makes the comic book franchise so superior to its peers. The film marries the best of the comic book lore (no better villains, and subsequently, performances, can compare to the film's Joker and Two-Face) with Nolan's own gift for subtlety layering his films with moralistic dilemmas and psychological underpinnings. The talent involved cannot be understated (Oldman, Freeman, Caine play supporting roles that show you why they are Hall of Famers if there ever were any) yet the Bat remains central to it all, and Bale does fine giving us both sides of the Batman/Bruce Wayne character. Each act brings dramatic tension, superbly shot action, and intense moments that seem relevant to our world, while firmly placed in the mythical fabled city of Gotham. So beautiful, it makes me want to cry, because I can't imagine it getting any better than this. A tough act to follow. Or to beat, for that matter. Which brings us to...

The number one film of 2008 is...

1. Kung Fu Panda

WHAT!?!?, you say? A cartoon about a panda who does kung fu? Number one film? Better than The Dark Knight? Don't knock it, until you've tried it. Though it may not be cinematically better than The Dark Knight, Kung Fu Panda, for all intents and purposes, is my favourite film of 2008. Remember, this is MY list. And i love Kung Fu. And i love to be surprised. And each and every time i sit down and watch this with my wife and daughter, i am continually surprised at just how good it is. How the animated characters actually mimic the kung fu styles they are created after (or is that the other way around?). How awesome the awesomeness is of the awesome action scenes. How the gags and one liners manage a chuckle each time i hear them, not unlike the best Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker films. But most importantly, i am amazed at how faithful the film is to a classic Kung Fu storyline, complete with every element of the genre, yet in an animated form that allows for the fighting to be just that much more awesome. Sure, many of the other films on this list may appeal to others more, have more prestige or credibility. But for me, the most rewatchable, the most entertaining, and the most wonderfully surprising film for my entire family this year, without a doubt, is the Kung Fu Bear. Best animated film. Best film period.

Honourable mentions: The Darjeeling Limited, Balls of Fury, American Gangster, Horton Hears a Who, No Country for Old Men, Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa, Gone Baby Gone, I Am Legend, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Incredible Hulk, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Bolt (both in 3-D). All worth renting.

And now, the 5 Worst movies of 2008 are...

5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The exact opposite of Kung Fu Panda, this film was a total letdown, an event that failed to be eventful, a franchise that failed to deliver on the franchise's promise. A movie sequel so anticipated and anxiously awaited that it was the biggest disappointment since the second coming of Star Wars. At least Harrison Ford wasn't involved in that Lucas fiasco. Shame on you, Ford, for allowing Lucas (and Spielburg for that matter) to trash yet another beloved treasure from our collective childhood, to the point where we don't even care anymore. Hell, i wouldn't have minded if they just cast LaBeouf as Indy himself and went in a new direction. At least my expectations wouldn't have been crushed.

4. Wanted

A film that wanted to be so cool, that you could almost hear the cool points being counted. Or was that the seconds ticking by, as "bullet-time" after "bullet-time" from the Matrix was revisited in Fight Club wanna-be narration, while sucking the life out of the fine pairing of Jolie and Freeman. Maybe with a better leading man, or a less earnest desire to be liked, Wanted could have succeeded in delivering on the promise of its trailer. Instead, it was more like Sally Field's bridesmaid, reminding us of the films we liked, we really, really liked, better than this one.

3. Beverly Hills Chihuahua

So, two unexpected disappointments that looked promising in the number four and five slots. Number three, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, had stinker written all over it before i even walked into the theatre. Just read the title. Taco Bell ads have more cinematic integrity and comedic promise. I had absolutely no expectations for this film, other than inane dialogue synced to canines that resemble rats more than dogs. So how bad could it get? Believe me, despite my limited (nay, zero) expectations, Beverly Hills Chihuahua managed to be insulting to entire ethnic groups, the audience's intelligence, and several different species. Quite an accomplishment if you ask me. It wasn't even that entertaining for the three year old. My new year's wish is that studios release something family oriented worth watching at least once every season in 2009. Otherwise, i'm taking my child to see Shoot 'em Up 2. It can't be anymore psychologically traumatizing or damaging as this sorry excuse for a film.

2. What Happens in Vegas

Back to disappointing flops that deserve better. Though Kutcher and Diaz aren't regularly recognized for providing the most thought provoking performances in films with serious subject matter, they have proven rather reliable in the romantic comedy genre. Diaz triumphed in There's Something About Mary, while Kutcher usually illicites laughs at his co-star's expense. Both actors have seen better days alongside Bernie Mac (Charlie's Angels 2 and Guess Who), so to have these two go toe to toe in a sadly contrived rehash of arranged couple comedies, while exhibiting zero chemistry and even less plausability as a couple, was real torture to watch. What is even more painful is that there were several directions this film could have gone, moments that seemed funnier in the viewer's imagination, that simply went unattempted or misguided, in favour of the lowest common denominator joke. In order to enjoy two people tussle, it helps to either want the two of them to fall in love in the end, or be able to root for one over the other. 15 minutes into this film, I wanted both of them to die and leave their Vegas winnings to someone more deserving. Like the chihuahua in Beverly Hills.

And the worst movie of 2008 is...

1. Across the Universe

This is everything the other worst films are and then some. Full of promise, like Indy and Wanted, this film's imagination and style is more than enough reason to enjoy it. Visually splendid and choreographed, it confirms the director, Julie Taymor, as a unique artist that paints with celluloid. Sadly, even the finest artist can do wrong when asked to paint with the materials of classic artists such as the Beatles. Normally, it would be a dream job to be handed the musical library of pop gods and given free reign to weave their magic with a cinematic lens. I mean, how can you screw up the fab four's timeless melodies? A chihuahua movie is screwed from the beginning. A Beatles film is almost impossible to screw up. But indeed, Taymor does everything in her power to desecrate and destroy all the power and pleasure found in the Beatles' catalogue. From weepy renditions of peppy tunes sung through whiney voices of good looking but bad singing actors to tripped out remixes of songs that need not be touched, ruined by honest to goodness rock stars (apparently Bono can perform acts that border on human rights violations), Across the Universe doesn't exactly fail on it's individual parts (though some moments are horrific). Rather, it's the sum of the parts, the overall arc of the film, that leaves us wanting for something more, something better, something more worthy of the film's soundtrack. Despite some good artistic flourishes and some decent renditions (Martin Luther and Dana Fuch's songs create new and bold stylistic impressions), as a whole, Across the Universe leaves a sour taste in our mouths and an infection in our ears. I wouldn't mind seeing this film again, with the volume turned down and the original versions blasting through my stereo. Now that would be something worth seeing and hearing, rather than the nauseating effect this film had on me, not unlike my eyes feasting on candy while my ears are slowly bleeding from an aural assault of sinful proportions. A visual feast, but an audio attrocity.

Dishonourable mentions: P.S. I Love You, Jumper, Igor, The Tale of Despereaux