Top 10 Movies 2008, Part 1 (#10 - 9 and Runner-ups)

Runner-ups:

1. Pineapple Express (because of James Franco’s amazing performance)

2. Gran Torino (because of the song “Gran Torino” which also should have been nominated for an Academy Award)

Top Ten of 2008:

10. Tropic Thunder:

“Tropic Thunder” has a remarkable ensemble cast but it is Robert Downey Jr. who steals every scene he’s in as an Australian method actor who undergoes a surgical procedure to play the platoon’s African American sergeant (Every line of dialogue uttered is pure gold)! 2008 can be considered the Year of Downey Jr. as he made more than a comeback by infusing “Iron Man” and “Tropic Thunder” with the kind of charisma and presence that is rare even in Hollywood. “Tropic Thunder” benefits from a biting yet still playfully understated satire of Hollywood, movie stars, and our consumer culture. The inimitable Nick Nolte has a perfect part as a grizzled “vet” and Hollywood newcomer Danny McBride continues to inject his brand of humor (see “Pineapple Express” and “The Foot Fist Way”) in a bit part as a pyrotechnic expert. One cannot do justice to this film without mentioning a cameo by an internationally recognized (for better and for worse) Hollywood star that is both hilarious and thoroughly “out of character”. A movie this outrageous can not possibly end with a satisfying conclusion so writer/director/star Ben Stiller chooses to go with a great gag for the end credits.

9. Man on Wire:

Framed as a thrilling heist movie, “Man on Wire” is a rare type of documentary that manages to keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing the fate of the protagonist. It’s virtually impossible not to root for Philipe Petit, the titular man on wire who plans from France to one day walk a tightrope between the Twin Towers in NYC. While portraying the insatiable quest of Petit, “Man on Wire” perfectly captures the unfettered ability of the human spirit to dream. And dream big. The minimalist music by Michael Nyman is haunting, somber, and uplifting at the same time. The film uses footage, photos, and reenactments to tell its tale but the acts performed by Petit are nothing short of special effects in their own right. Watching the different players recount the story with passion and real emotions gives the viewers a sense of the immensity of the stunt and how it was bigger than the sum of its parts.

Top 10 Movies 2008, Part 2 (# 8 - 5)

8. JCVD:

How many people expected a movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme to be on a Top Ten films list? You will once you see this film. JCVD is a very interesting experiment in filmmaking since it stars Van Damme as himself in a semibiographical light that is both illuminating and searing. It is not uncommon for a movie to portray an international “star” in a less than flattering way. However, JCVD goes a step further by having the star play himself at the lowest point of his career. Van Damme’s plight is compounded by the secondary antagonists (it can be argued that Van Damme’s past is his primary enemy) who use the cheap violent tricks used by many faceless villains from Van Damme’s filmography. However, here there are no fancy kicks or slow-mo punches from the Belgian hero to save the day. The movie is directed in a non-linear fashion and has a very real and no-frills look which suits the plot perfectly. Oh, and wait till you see “the scene”. It is impossible not to be stirred emotionally by that scene and develop a newfound respect for Van Damme’s acting chops (or, is it not really acting if it’s true? Hmmm).

7. In Bruges:

"In Bruges” is a dark comedy of the highest quality. What some of the films listed above were able to do with individual performances, “In Bruges” does it with a perfectly cast ensemble. The three main actors (Collin Farrell, Brandon Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes) are so perfect in their roles that it’s impossible to replace even one of them with any other performer. Shot mostly on location in Bruges, the film features beautiful locales and breathtaking backdrops. It’s impossible to reduce “In Bruges” to a single genre because the story, direction, and acting all give the same level of respect and detail to all the genres explored. Hilarious, thrilling, and poignant, “In Bruges” is one of the most underrated films of the year. Despite the wonderfully acerbic dialogue and the non-Hollywood ending, the most memorable moment of the film may be the revealing of the nemesis (you will know what I mean when you see it).

6. Wall-E:

Who would have thought that a day would come when “animated” films would make Top 10 lists? Pixar does it again with another highly acclaimed entry in “Wall-E”. The fact that this film gets you to care about what happens to a mute (mostly) robot is a testament to how much humanity the filmmakers were able to inject into the script and the nonhuman characters. The secret to why the film is so inspiring, charming, and impressive is that Pixar is not interested in making great animated films. They make great films. Period. “Wall-E” is one of the most uplifting movies of the year and the technical brilliance of the animation – as impressive as it is – takes a backseat to the sincere character development that pulls the viewers in. “UP” can’t get here soon enough!

5. Iron Man:

Just like “The Wrestler”, Robert Downey Jr. was an inspired casting choice that resulted in a performance that made a good film even better. Downey Jr. was able to capture the complexities and nuances of Tony Stark perfectly and thereby introduced viewers to a different kind of superhero (if you can call him that). Despite featuring a man encased in hi-tech armor flying at supersonic speeds, “Iron Man” offered a level of realism that spanned from its mostly accurate use of current international political climate and the sophistication of both practical and special effects. The film also delivers one of the best endings of the year because it has the best ending line of the year (not going to spoil it!) and the second best end credit sequence of the year (behind “Slumdog Millionaire”, of course).

Top 10 Movies 2008, Part 3 (#4 - 1)

4. The Wrestler:

Speaking of performances, “The Wrestler” is a case where a good film is elevated to greater heights by the awe-inspiring performance of its lead actor. While, Heath Ledger disappeared completely behind the Joker, Mickey Rourke embodies the titular role with a palpable degree of self-awareness. The striking similarity between Rourke’s turbulent career and that of Randy “The Ram” Robinson gives the film an undeniable biographical feel. No one else could have played the role of “The Ram”. Interestingly, this is not the only film on this list that offers a painfully biographical look at its star on this list (more on that later). Bruce Springsteen wrote and performs the title song “The Wrestler” which plays over the end credits. There is one other film in 2008 that can claim a song titled after the film that captures the spirit of the movie as well as The Boss does for “The Wrestler” (more on that later too in the Runner Ups list below). It’s a mystery why this song was not nominated for an Academy Award.

3. The Dark Knight:

This was the 800-lbs gorilla of 2008. A fantastic film in its own right (from the plot to the direction and from the stars to the effects), “The Dark Knight” is going to forever be remembered by the disturbingly brilliant performance by Heath Ledger manifesting the Joker. Ledger was able to surpass “mere” character acting by creating a type of anarchic villain that cannot be reasoned with or understood but resonates with viewers today because of the geopolitical climate of the world we currently live in (I will let you decipher who or what I am referring to). Such an instinctive feel for the zeitgeist produces a terrifying villain who, in essence, is a little too close for comfort and more real than his lowly comic book origins would imply. Director Christopher Nolan (of Memento fame) has crafted a film completely respectful of its source material and totally aware of the world we live in today. The plot plays out like a Greek tragedy and poses difficult questions that are not neatly squared away at the end. In the final analysis, not only is it virtually impossible to envision another actor besides Ledger portraying the Joker, it is also difficult to see how Nolan can craft another Batman film such as this.

2. Let the Right One In:

This Swedish film is the best film released in 2008 that no one saw. “Let the Right One In” is as different from “Slumdog Millionaire” as it gets with three exceptions. Firstly, just like “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Let the Right One In” features remarkable performances delivered by child actors. The best compliment I can offer is that after you see this film, it is hard to imagine how any of the scenes could have been acted better or performed by any other actors. Secondly, both films cannot be labeled as belonging to any particular genre. Just like labeling “Slumdog Millionaire” as a romantic movie is not fully accurate, one cannot label “Let the Right One In” as horror. Finally, both films conclude with perfect endings (even though, the ending for “Let the Right One In” is as far from the uplifting ending of “Slumdog Millionaire” as one gets). A triumph of subtlety and the complexities of human relationships, “Let the Right One In” gets under your skin and stays there long after the movie is over.

1. Slumdog Millionaire:

From the script to the direction and from the acting to the music, “Slumdog Millionaire” is pitch perfect. It succeeds as a Rocky-style underdog tale, a true rags to riches story. The film boasts classic elements of a fairy tale mixed with the very real in its ability to transport the viewer to a foreign land and then inhabit the foreign land with characters that are far from foreign. The fantastic music score is by the great Indian composer A.R. Rahman (known as the Mozart of Mumbai) and has elements ranging from classical Indian music to the most eclectic fusion of Western composition. The perfect execution of filmmaking culminates in one of the best feel-good endings ever captured in a movie. Oh, and don’t leave when the end credits start rolling. Jai Ho, indeed!

A Look Ahead to 2009:

2008 was a great year for film and I can't wait for 2009. Here are the most anticipated movies of 2009 so far:

Wolverine, A Serious Man, Sherlock Holmes, Green Zone, Nine, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Road, Funny People, Bruno, Inglorious Basterds, Up, Public Enemies, Shutter Island, The Tree of Life, and Avatar. We will see if these (and others) make it on the Top Ten Movies of 2009 list!

See ya at the talkies!

Ibad