Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Favorite Movies of 2008

Note that these are not in any order. Each of these films have their own merits that need to be dealt with separately. Overall a good year for movies. However, the runaway four for me this year were Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, WALL-E and Revolutionary Road.

Burn After Reading

A hilarious follow-up to No Country for Old Men from the Coens. Both Brad Pitt and John Malkovich turn in hilarious performances making this one of the best comedies of 2008.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

A bit of a different type of Woody Allen film, yet his presence is still (quite obviously at times) there. Penelope Cruz also is gives her best performance to date. A study on the complexities of love in two different settings--Spain and The US--Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a very sophisticated and entertaining piece of filmmaking.

The Visitor

The movie from nowhere. What a beautiful film that covers so many issues. Immigration, loneliness, the power of music. Richard Jenkins gives a beautifully subdued performance finally earning him the recognition he deserves. Hopefully now he will get more leading roles like he should!

The Dark Knight

The best comic book adaptation ever made. Period. The film ends up being more of a psychological crime-drama in the vein of Heat than anything else. Heath Ledger was nothing short of breath-taking. We will all miss him dearly.

The Wrestler

Darren Aronofsky gets personal...and it's a success. Perhaps one of the most human and realistic stories of the year. The film is only improved upon with Mickey Rourke's portrayal of a broken-down man, who goes down a road of loss that only celluloid has the ability to capture.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A beautiful study of aging and all that goes along with it, including death, love, and loss. This movie will be remembered for years to come, not only for it's innovative use of technology, but for it's deeply potent story as well.

WALL-E

Perhaps one of the most socially important family-oriented films ever made. The film's strong point lies in it's writing, in which it's critique on contemporary society is beautifully woven into one of the sweetest love stories of the decade.

Revolutionary Road

A sharply written, painful, yet altogether beautiful commentary on the complexities of marriage. The simplicity of the story is what makes this film so powerful. Sam Mendes lets the camera quietly capture both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's best performances to date. A film that sticks with you for days after you leave the theatre.


Milk

Released in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8, Milk is one of the boldest, and most important films to be made in years. Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk with such ease that he disappears into the character. Strong acting across the board makes this the best acted film of the year. A extremely devastating drama about the power one person can have to change the world around him.

Slumdog Millionaire


The stand-up-and-cheer movie of the year. My favorite film of the year. See my last post to read what I really think about this one.


Have yet to see: Frost/Nixon or Waltz with Bashir...both of which seem pretty promising

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I think you are the most adorable thing ever created. You write beautifully about all of these films! It makes me want to watch them all over again with you!

Just something to think about... Do you really think that Mickey Rourke's character was robbed of everything he once loved, or was he so wrapped up in wrestling that he carelessly let them all slip away, and one day, woke up and realized that with the decline of his life's passion, he had nothing left?

;) i love you

David Dangelico said...

Thanks babe. Even though I know you are being sweet ;-).

I think you hit the nail on the head. Obviously Ram was a much more complex character than either of us can put into just one sentence. For instance was it really just wrestling that he was wrapped up in. Or was it the glory? Or the money? Or the women? Or even just himself? Ram had a heart...as the movie shows so well. It's just that Ram is...well...complicated.

But you're right.I think i got it a little bit off. I was writing in kind of a hurry:-)