When I think back on 2008, all I can think about is Heath Ledger's Joker riding through the streets of Gotham City, basking in all of the chaos he caused/was causing. Much like Miley Cyrus will be remembered for her antics in 2013, 2008 was arguably the year of Ledger. Unfortunately, he left us too soon to continue delivering the awe-inspiring performances like the one he gave us in Christopher Nolan's masterpiece "The Dark Knight", but what a note to go out on, an achievement capped with an incredibly rare posthumous Academy Award win.
Though there were many other incredible achievements in film that year, despite the fact Oscar gave us one of the weakest years in nominee/winner history; Robert Downey Jr. gave us a comeback for the history books in "Iron Man", while Anne Hathaway finally shed her "Princess Diaries" image for good, and became a true star.
At the request of some of my readers I've decided to post my top 10 from 2008. So let's take a trip back in time, shall we?
#10. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (dir. Peter Sollett; Starring Kat Dennings, Michael Cera, Ari Graynor and Alexis Dziena)
Remember when Michael Cera was pegged to be the next big thing? Yeah, me too. Post- "Juno" hype bolstered Cera to the top of the young actor list and found him headlining films, and while we later found out that audiences weren't nearly as in love with dorky Paulie Bleeker as we all thought we were, one of the brightest spots in Cera's career after Juno was "Nick and Norah". Perhaps the only film (besides "Scott Pilgrim") to successfully capture Cera's unique screen presence (or lack thereof), it's hard to deny the film's obnoxious charms. Though a large part of the film's success is in thanks to not only co-star Kat Dennings (who challenges Ellen Page for Cera's best on-screen partner), but supporting player Ari Graynor's hilarious performance as the hot mess Caroline. Complete with an amazing soundtrack, Nick & Norah is an ode to timeless, seemingly endless nights spent wandering the streets of the city with the people you love (and some people that you may not be able to tolerate). Director Peter Sollett is able to accurately capture a moment in time that is a worthy addition to the teen romance genre.
#9. The Strangers (dir. Bryan Bertino; Starring: Liv Tyler & Scott Speedman)
I always feel bad for "The Strangers", because it's a film that never gets the credit it rightfully deserves. Though it was instantly dismissed as "another slasher film", I found The Strangers to be something different altogether. Where most horror films these days are so focused on scaring you right out of the gate with cheap tricks, predictable character deaths and fake blood, The Strangers is more concerned with setting up tension and suspense. The minimal use of a soundtrack and music makes every loud noise louder, and more jarring and terrifying. But besides the film's refreshing execution, at its core is just a story of 2 people, alone in the middle of nowhere, being hunted by 3 masked individuals with knives. That in itself is a terrifying enough concept, but what follows is a haunting, tense and all around memorable experience.
#8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (dir. David Fincher; Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormand and Tilda Swinton)
There are many reasons why "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a bit of a disappointment when compared to the rest of David Fincher's filmography. For one thing, it's an odd re-telling of "Forrest Gump"; both films are freakishly similar in story, execution and even right down to some of the plot devices. But for all of its faults, there's still a magic to Benjamin Button that makes it a delight to watch. Brad Pitt in the titular role, aided by amazing visual effects, carries us through the story of a man aging backwards, as the love of his life (Blanchett) ages normally. For that alone, the film should be commended; there are not many actors that could carry entire films on their shoulders. Fincher's masterful fingerprints are all over the film, something that if it was lacking, would hinder it immensely. But perhaps the best thing about it, is the very obvious chemistry between the 2 leads, which fuels the engine of this very epic narrative, cloaking the film in a mystical veil that leaves the viewer feeling profoundly emotional by its end.
#7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (dir. Nicholas Stoller; Starring: Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Russell Brand)
It's laugh out loud funny, and while most of the attention the movie received was focused on Jason Segel's full frontal scene, Segel's hero Peter recalls comedienne Lucille Ball; someone that uses urges the audience to laugh at the expense of their own personal humiliation (something executed in sharper form by Kristen Wiig in "Bridesmaids"). There's a reason why this film was Segel's breakout film; his screenplay (and performance) channels the actor's own insecurities and his (often adorable) clownish humor. Without it, the film would be instantly forgettable; his charisma sets it apart from other male-oriented comedies, allowing the film to walk the tight rope between raunchy comedy and romantic comedy. Bonus points for the hilarious cameos from Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Jack McBrayor, Maria Thayer and great supporting work from Mila Kunis. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is that rare mainstream comedy that wears its heart on its sleeve.
#6. Boy A (dir. John Crowley; Starring Andrew Garfield)
A film partly told in flashbacks of the protagonist Eric, "Boy A" is the story of one man's attempt at assimilation into normal life after being released from prison for a crime he really didn't have a part in. The main reason the film is so spectacular is for Andrew Garfield's star is born performance, so utterly captivating in the role it's hard to imagine that this is the same actor currently acting in the joyless "Spiderman" reboot films. Garfield is so much more than a spandex wearing superhero, something he proved again in David Fincher's "The Social Network", but its here that he shows you exactly what he's made of. Though it's certainly a tale of redemption and atonement, the film is truly an acting showcase, something aspiring leading men should take notes on when starting out their careers.
#5. Burn After Reading (dir. The Coen Brothers; Starring Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins)
Where "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was a sweet romantic comedy disguised as a raunchy Judd Apatow movie, "Burn After Reading" is a pure, primal raunch-fest straight from the always amazing Coen Brothers, channeling their inner Judd Apatow. The film centers on several individuals who are loosely connected but whose story lines come crashing together by the films end. It can best be described as an "anti-spy thriller" in the sense that not one of these characters acts with an ounce of intelligence, leading everything to end badly. It creeps on the edge of black, almost meta, comedy, but Burn After Reading manages to appeal to a wide audience looking for straight up laughs with its use of subversive comedy. I don't think there's been a time that Brad Pitt has been
this hilarious on screen, in a complete 180 from his nuanced, textured performance in "Benjamin Button", Pitt perfectly embodies the high-paced, brainless comedy the Coen Brothers were going for, and is backed up by an equally able ensemble turning in great work. In typical Coen Brothers fashion, the film is as tight as a clock, packing restraint, but also unrelenting mindlessly funny humor.
#4. Iron Man (dir. Jon Favreau; Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwenyth Paltro, Terrance Howard and Jeff Bridges)
The reason "Iron Man" is a step above your average Marvel film is Robert Downey Jr's performance as the titular hero Tony Stark. Never in his career has a role encompassed both Downey's handsome charisma and star power; by becoming Tony Stark, the actor not only saved Marvel from being eclipsed by Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight saga, but his own career as well (he continued his career renaissance by nabbing an Oscar nomination for "Tropic Thunder" later in the year). Filled with fast paced dialogue, tight direction, and equally entertaining supporting performances (specifically from Gwenyth Paltrow, who makes what could have been a thankless role into something special), Iron Man surpassed not only critic's expectations, but many of the other films in the Marvel canon; today it remains the best of its own trilogy, and one of the best superhero movies ever made.
This is what summer blockbusters should aspire to be.
#3. The Wrestler (dir. Darren Aronofsky; Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood)
"Black Swan" is Darren Aronofsky's masterpiece, but it's "The Wrestler" that remains the director's most heartfelt and personal effort. Known mostly for his psychological thriller-esque character studies, Aronofsky took that element out and simply set out to tell the story of a broken man. You could say that the film is even a commentary on lead actor Mickey Rourke's own career and life in a sort of poetic, meta-twist; a washed up former wrestling superstar suffers a heart attack and realizes that once he can't wrestle anymore, he doesn't have anything left waiting for him outside of the ring. With the help of his friend Cassidy (Marissa Tomei, never better), he attempts to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). The film, according to Aronofsky, is a companion piece to Black Swan; The Wrestler details a performer in the "lowest" art form, while Black Swan studies a performer of the "highest" art.
Rourke throws his mind, body and soul into the role, sometimes painfully so; there are many stunts that push the actor to his limit, but in a testament to message of the film, he gets back up ready for more. Both Rourke and his character (Randy "the Ram" Robinson) have been chewed up by life and spat back out, but much like Randy seizes his opportunity at a comeback later in the film, we realize we are also witnessing the rebirth of Rourke's career, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It is this insanely personal element of the story that gives The Wrestler its heart, and although its bleeding and a little beat up, its still beating. The world may have given up on Mr. Rourke, but is clear from his tour de force performance that he still has a lot to give us, and this is far from being his swan-song.
#2. The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan; Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman)
The Dark Knight became that rare film that escaped the vacuum of simply being a summer blockbuster, or a movie for that matter. It became the most talked about thing of 2008; The Dark Knight in a word, is iconic. Not since Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather II" has a film been so heavily praised and well received. The Dark Knight was also able to escape the confines of being a "genre" film, or a comic book movie. What makes the film such an achievement, is the fact that while it centers on a superhero, at its core, The Dark Knight is a crime drama.
Nolan's "Batman Begins" operated on a level of pungent realism that separated it from other superhero movies. Much was made about the origins of the man behind the mask, rather than the mask itself. The Dark Knight continued that formula, by adding a terrific performance by Heath Ledger; the film takes the legend of Bruce Wayne, and becomes a character study between these 2 men, who turn out to be not as different as we'd like them to be. It's every bit as thrilling as it is compelling; the car chase through Gotham city continues to have me on the edge of my seat every time I watch it. Filled with iconic imagery (The Joker riding through the cop car, Batman overlooking the destruction after his love interest Rachel dies in an explosion [pictured above], the list goes on). Though Oscar passed on handing it a (deserved) Best Picture AND Best Director nomination, Heath Ledger's performance was (rightfully) rewarded with a win in Best Supporting Actor, an act that served not only as a reward for a great performance, but an ode to an actor that was taken from us too soon. Tragic as that may be, The Dark Knight stands as the greatest superhero movie ever made, one of the best films ever made, and an iconic achievement that will be remembered for its transcendence of the genre; it really was that movie that surpassed the hype that preceded it.
#1. Rachel Getting Married (dir. Jonathan Demme; Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie Dewitt, Bill Irwin and Debra Winger)
But for all the heart and emotion The Wrestler gave us, combined with The Dark Knight's masterful precision, the most amazing film achievement of the year was certainly Jonathan Demme's "Rachel Getting Married", for many reasons. Criminally underrated (the film received 1 nomination at the Oscars, instead of a deserving several), the film manages to tear under my skin in every way possible, every time I watch it. Dare I say, it's more tense and emotionally taxing than Demme's own "Silence of the Lambs".
Hathaway's Kym is allowed home for her sister Rachel's (Rosemarie Dewitt) wedding. What ensues can best be described as an operatic showdown between Kym and evert member of her family, who are finally forced to deal with the many skeletons hidden in their closets. Besides a bunch of incredible performances (specifically from Hathaway and Dewitt), Demme's directional choices serve the film well, adding a level of realism and intimacy to high tension scenes that with a more present hand, could have been too unbelievable to take in. One critic described it as, "the best home move never made", and I really can't sum it up better than that; Demme and his team step back, and by doing so, allow the actors to tell us the story. The camera always seems to be in the right place at the right time, as if these are real people, and not actors performing for the camera.
The film is worth seeing for Hathaway's work alone. Though much was made of her supporting performance as Fantine in 2012's "Les Miserables", her work is Kym remains her greatest work yet, and some of the best acting ever captured on screen. Dewitt matches her tit for tat, with Debra Winger making the most of a very small, but pivotal role as the mother. Even the non professional actors Demme hired for the film bring their A-game. What starts out as an engrossing family drama, becomes a commentary on the pain and joy of being a human being. You'll laugh, cry, and laugh some more through your tears as this story unfolds, but feel all the better for doing so.
The Long List: Those that came close, but didn't crack the top 10 (Alphabetical Order):
11. Bolt (dir. Chris Williams & Byron Howard; Starring John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman and Mark Walton):
Bright, colorful animation with a strong line-up of voice talent. Though hardly the most memorable Disney feature, the film is one of their strongest in recent years. Hilarious industry related satire that rings all too true.
12. Doubt (dir. John Patrick Shannely; Starring Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis):
One of the better stage to screen adaptations in recent years. Powerful, powerful acting; Viola Davis steals the show in her short, 7 minutes of screen time, while Adams quietly challenges Streep and Hoffman, both of whom are entrapped in an operatic showdown of acting.
13. Sex & the City: The Movie (dir. Michael Patrick King; Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Kristen Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth and Jennifer Hudson):
A touching commentary on the strength and endurance of female friendships/relationships. All the best parts of the iconic television series are here. Sends the series off on a high note.
14. Tropic Thunder (dir. Ben Stiller; Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Steve Coogan, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson and Bill Hader):
A brilliant, raunchy comedy that delves deep into the psyche of Hollywood and actors; poignant satire and committed, hilarious performances make it a memorable experience.
15. Wall-E (dir. Andrew Stanton):
Perhaps the most emotionally affecting, and mature animated film in recent history, and the oddest, but sweetest love story that will be remembered for years to come. Intricate animation and a strong script separate this from your ordinary animated film, and even challenges some live action films.
Honorable Mentions (Films I liked but didn't love; Alphabetical Order):
- Baby Mama (dir. Michael McCullers; Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard and Steve Martin)
- The House Bunny (dir. Fred Wolf; Starring Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Colin Hanks, Kat Dennings, Katherine McPhee and Tyson Ritter)
- The Other Boelyn Girl (dir. Justin Chadwick; Starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Kristen Scott Thomas and Andrew Garfield)
- Revolutionary Road (dir. Sam Mendes; Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates and Michael Shannon)
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