My Top 10 Films of 2008

I totally have to qualify this by saying that when I started thinking about all of the 2008 movies I saw, I realized that I only saw about 20 and that there were a ton of movies that I wanted to see, but haven't gotten to yet. So, take this list with a grain of salt or a grain of grain if you don't like salt. It will probably change once I see more 2008 films, but all of these I at least enjoyed a lot. Please feel free to tell me which great films I missed out on. Seriously. I want to know.

My Top 10 Favorite New Movies of 2008 by me

10. Cassandra's Dream
I know what you're thinking...Colin Ferrell, really!? Yeah, he doesn't make this film aweful and for that it deserves a Top 10 appointment. Plus, Woody Allen paid me $50 to have it on here...

9. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
A small qualifier to start out with again, I'm a fan-boy of defunct show Arrested Development and have, thus, been dealing with a non-sexual crush on Michael Cera. He was really funny in the movie and I probably would have liked it even more if I was 18.....and not watching it with my mom...

8. Get Smart
Well, I wasn't around for the original show, but this film was as enjoyable as Hollywood re-makes can be I suppose. Steve Carrell was surprisingly funny and the movie bested my expectations by a long shot. Plus, it had Bill Murray in it, which means that it is better than 98% of the movies made last year.

7. The Foot Fist Way
Now, I wasn't blown away by this movie as much as Will Ferrell and all of those Hollywood folks, but to be fair, if I was Will Ferrell and had made as many mediocre comedies as he has, then I would get pretty excited about this movie too. It does have some genuinely funny moments, and for the fact that it gave Danny McBride a well-deserved leading man role, I am a fan.

6. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This is another entry from the Apatow clan, and I'm not a fan of everything they've done. BUT, this movie was actually pretty funny, and I have to admit I'm a sucker for movies when the total loser guy gives the proverbial finger to the pretty girl and then runs to the loving arms of the other pretty girl. And the Dracula puppet musical....classic.

5. Son of Rambow
This one came from across the pond and is one of those heartwearming movies that make you feel good all over. While it wasn't perfect, it was actually really well done, and I did actually feel good all over.

4. Role Models
Believe it or not, this movie was actually pretty good! I try to stay pretty far away from anything Sean William Scott does, but this movie is a hilarious vehicle for one of the most under-rated actors in H-wood, Paul Rudd. He totally carries this movie, and it definitely gets bonus points for the epic battle scene in the end.

3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
This is the best film that Woody Allen put out this year. It is actually one of the better ones he's done in a long time. The casting was perfect and Penelope Cruz is a fireball in this movie and totally takes the movie over when her character is introduced. The cinematography was beautiful and the script was different for Woody, but incredible none-the-less. I think it deserves bonus points for the weird narration, and for introducing me to the talented Rebecca Hall.

2. Snow Angels
This one probably wins the award for saddest movie I can ever remember seeing. It is also in the running for one of the most beautiful movies I've seen. David Gordon Green is a master at what he does, and this is proof.

1. The Dark Knight
OK. No big surprise here, but let's be honest, this movie was really, really great. No matter how many movies I would have watched this year, I still think this one would be at the top. It was Hollywood at its best. It was artful, intense, action-packed, and chock-full of grandeur. Too bad they don't churn movies like this out all the time instead of the standard fare.

Netflix Nebulous: Vol 4

It is now time to get back to the good ole movie summarizing that this fella likes to do so much. I have been a busy boy and haven't had much time for movie watching, but I snuck in a few here and there and in between moments and have lived to tell about it. I have to say that sometimes you just don't feel like watching a movie. Sometimes I want to read a book (like It Still Moves or Kevin Zraly's Windows of the World Wine Course)

Jean Luc Godard's Band of Outsiders (1964)
I know, I know what you're thinking..."French movies are so unbearable to watch!" and "These old movies are so sloooooooooow" or even "I can't stand having to read subtitles". ANYWAY, now that we have that out of the way, please understand that this movie is an absolute delight in every way. Godard was a big fan of the dime-store novel crime stories and this is what came out of his fascination. It is a crime story involving a love-triangle-plagued group of restless young adults who aren't quite sure what to do with themselves. It is gorgeously shot, meticulously written, and funny as all get-out (I don't really know what "all get-out is", but I think it's REALLY funny.) This is a bona-fide classic movie for all the right reasons. Perfect cast, perfect script and the dancing scene which has been cribbed by a boat-load of folks, especially Tarantino in Pulp Fiction, is one of the most fun scenes ever put onto magnetic tape. And that's no hyperbole.



Garth Jennings' Son of Rambow (2007)
I hadn't initially heard a whole lot about this one other than the fact that it had made quite the splash on the festival circuit and that it was quickly becoming a critical darling. The basic premise of the movie is that this boy is in an uber-conservative family that suppresses him on every angle and he rebels and starts re-making the classic testosto-fest Rambo. He enlists the help of an unlikely friend and the movie chronicles the making of their movie. I'm sure Jennings' didn't intend for it to be this way, but the movie comes across as a near-retread of the recent Michel Gondry flick Be Kind Rewind in style (editors note: Gondry's flick only came out 2 months before so the idea that it directly steals from it is ludicrous but the similarities are definitely there). All that aside, it was quite the fun little movie and I think it was a good idea with an even greater execution. Definitely worth seeing.



Jody Hill's The Foot Fist Way (2006)
I am one who distrusts hype. The nature of the great hype-machine is a false sentiment. Most of the time, the hype about a movie or song or whatever can be traced back to a benefitting party (i.e. a studio, label, etc). But, there are times when I let some hope in my heart that a movie or record or whatever will be as good, if not better, than I hear it is. I had heard quite a bit about The Foot Fist Way and was excited about it mostly because I think it's lead character Danny McBride is downright hilarious. He was in the brilliant All the Real Girls by David Gordon Green, and this supposed-star-turning vehicle for him was so well recieved at the festivals that Will Ferrell himself financed it's wide release. To make a long story longer, it was pretty disappointing. That's not to say that it had its moments of pure hilarity for sure, but the film lacked a definitive character development and played out much like the man-child disintegration story that Will Ferrell has bank-rolled on. Also, the adult-themed nature of some of the segments kind of killed the fun of it at times as well. Oh well.


Band of Outsiders- Rating: A

Son of Rambow- Rating: B

The Foot Fist Way- Rating: C+

Enjoy.