Really, Son of Rambo? - NO! Rambow!
Shubbo chimes in with his picks:
While I still haven’t seen everything, I don’t think what’s left on the roster has any chance of cracking the top 10. But still, things could change.
While films 2 through 9 are in no particular order, number one has remained my favorite all damn year.
SON OF RAMBOW - No other film this year left me this giddy. I am a huge sucker for stories like these, and Garth Jennings does an amazing job at not only capturing childhood, but the magic of imagination and the power of films. For some reason, you can only buy this DVD at Best Buy, but you can rent it on Netflix/Blockbuster. It’s also the only movie I saw twice this year.
WALL-E
THE DARK KNIGHT
MILK - I may be biased because I find the story to be so damned important. But it’s an incredibly moving, touching, and wonderful film. I’ve never been a fan of Sean Penn, but he is glorious here.
O’HORTEN - I saw this with Andrew at AFI fest. This little Norweigen comedy isn’t set to come out in the US until March, but I had to put it on here now. I was hoping to laugh, but I never expected such a odd, side-splitting, and surreal film.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - One of the best experiences you can have in a theatre this year. It demands to be seen with a crowd and on a big screen. Danny Boyle is one my favorite directors, and he only solidifies that with this film.
THE VISITOR - Chances are you missed this little drama while it was out in…um…May? It’s on DVD now.
GRAN TORINO - Get off my lawn you Hmong bastard.
THE WRESTLER
HELLBOY 2 - It was hard deciding on a tenth film for the list, but I figured something that was pure popcorn flick, blockbuster bliss needed to be on here. Guillermo del Toro (another one of my favorite directors) really delivered.
Honorable Mentions:
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON - Character and story flaws hurt my opiion of the film in retrospect, but that’s not to say it isn’t worth watching. Its consumate direction, production design, special effects, and performances make it a wonder to behold.
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD and RELIGIOUS - Two docs that got me in two very different ways.
THE TRANSPORTER 3 - My guilty pleasure of the year.
IN BRUGES
GOMORRAH
THE CHASER - This Korean action film will blow you away. It is awesome.
Dishonorable Mentions:
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Don’t understand what all the fuss was about. I mean, yeah, he was really good but otherwise it was just an average action film:
IRON MAN
Favorite performances:
Sean Penn - MILK
Robert Downey Jr. - TROPIC THUNDER
Mickey Rourke - THE WRESTLER
Penelope Cruz - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marsan - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Heath Ledger - THE DARK KNIGHT
Frank Langella - FROST/NIXON
Most cantankerous director:
Mike Leigh - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Best impression of a water buffalo:
Pierce Brosnan - MAMMA MIA!
Most egregious use of wind:
DOUBT
Really? That came out in 2008? Seems like last year…:
CLOVERFIELD
You didn’t see it…did you?
CHOKE
BLINDNESS
THE VISITOR
SON OF RAMBOW
