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Movie Reviews

by Brian Miller

Every year, the Academy Awards are broadcast to millions of homes across the globe, and at the end of the night, the Best Picture Oscar is announced. As the proud filmmakers take the stage, the film community rejoices, and celebrates the movie of the year. Or does it? Each year, five projects are nominated for this prestigious category. For the 81st annual installment of the ceremony, the nominees were: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, FROST/NIXON, MILK, & THE READER. And, while arguments could be made that some of these deserved to be in the mix, there are plenty of others that earned an equal shot at the prize. In that spirit, I have created a list of the top 10 films of 2008 that were NOT nominated for Best Picture.

10. Young At Heart
There are those who are still resigned to the belief that documentaries are suited for classrooms and lecture halls. For years, I have yearned to obliterate these feelings of resentment, and illustrate the fact that sometimes (often times) these films show unwavering heart and soul. I can think of no better example in 2008, than this wonderful, sad, brilliant, heart-breaking, joyous little movie. By showcasing a group of ready-and-able senior citizens as they prepare for a choral concert, the audiences expectations are shattered with each passing scene. If you think they’re going to be shuffling along, cantankerously singing church hymns and lullabies, you have another thing coming. From the ensemble rendition of David Bowie’s “Golden Years” and the Ramones “I Want to be Sedated”, to Fred Knittle’s hauntingly unforgettable performance of Coldplay’s “Fix You”, this is the type of movie that will literally make you laugh, make you cry, and make you stand up and cheer.

9. Iron Man
It was quite a year for Robert Downey Jr. While the actor has been toiling in Hollywood for years, it seemed as if he could never escape his past. Despite dynamic supporting turns in films like WONDER BOYS, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, KISS KISS BANG BANG, and ZODIAC, it appeared as if Tinsel Town was still reluctant to give him a shot at a headlining role. That all changed when Jon Favreau cast him as the eccentric Tony Stark in IRON MAN.
In a summer that was highlighted by a number of excellent comic book adaptations, there were none that was more surprising than this superb actioner. By focusing heavily on character development, Favreau made it easy to fall in love, and fully accept, Stark’s unlikely creation. Highlighted by seamless special effects, and Downey’s deliciously sarcastic brand of humor, IRON MAN was one of the most beloved, and buzz-worthy movies of the year. Rest assured that we haven’t heard the last of this phenomenal super-hero, or from the man who plays him.

8. Ghost Town
When you scroll through the top box office draws of 2008, there aren’t many major Hollywood productions that made less money than GHOST TOWN. It’s unfathomable to me that we live in a world where ONE MISSED CALL can outshine a hilariously funny feature like GHOST TOWN, but there is still time to discover it’s tragically ignored ingenuity.
Starring Ricky Gervais as a smug, spiteful, hateful little dental hygienist, this movies seems as if it would be rife with convention, and yet it is anything but. Consistently hilarious, and infectiously likable, it’s the type of movie you always pray you’ll stumble across: that one movie that sits on the shelves of the video store, curiously calling out your name. The gem that no one saw, and yet deserves to be seen. If you’ve seen the trailers, or have read the plot, you’ve probably already dismissed it, because you feel as if you’ve seen movies like this a million times before. Give Gervais, and this movie a shot, and they’ll gladly to prove you wrong.

7. Cloverfield
When reading this compilation, you won’t find another movie as polarizing as this CLOVERFIELD. What starts as the documentation of a New Yorker’s going away party, dissolves into a first-hand account of a night of unimaginable terror. Through a handheld camera, we follow a small group of people as they try to rescue a friend while a monster pulverizes New York City.
Much was made about the film’s first-person point of view, and the dizzying effect it had on the viewers. I felt the same way about the feature, but it had nothing to do with a wavering equilibrium. It had to do with the fact that this was a fast-paced, entertaining, frightening, and funny slice of escapist heaven. What infuriated some viewers, is one of the reasons I loved this film. Despite the carnage it is causing, we see very little of the monster itself. This allows open-minded viewers to let their imagination to wander freely, because as THE BLAIR WITCH STORY taught us, it’s what you don’t see that is the scariest thing of all. By allowing the characters to take center stage, we are drawn into their world, and their plight becomes even more important. Eagle-eyed viewers were able to take even more away from the movie, as a second glance showcased even more of the subtle brilliance that made this monster mash a cut above.

6. Frozen River
You need to look no further than my current review of FROZEN RIVER to realize how moved I was by this unforgettable film. Set in the bleak backdrop of an Upstate New York winter, a desperate mother reluctantly becomes involved in the trade of human trafficking. Fuelled by a sense of defeated hopelessness, she chooses to put her life in danger in order to provide a better future for her two young sons.
Anchored by an Academy Award nominated performance by Melissa Leo, this is a quiet film of stunning intensity. Dramatic in nature, but thrilling in its content, it’s the type of movie that stays with you for days and weeks after its initial viewing.

5. The Dark Knight
There is not a whole lot more that can be said about the film that has grossed over $1B worldwide. Christopher Nolan, who had already resurrected the Batman franchise with is visionary BATMAN BEGINS, took it to a whole new level with THE DARK KNIGHT. Proving that a comic book adaptation could be every bit as thrilling and dramatic as any other feature in Hollywood, he crafted a stunning masterpiece that will live on forever.
Though the film allowed us to delve further into the darkening soul of the Caped Crusader, it was Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker that became the focal point of the movie. Despite the fact that this character has been around for decades, Ledger not only brought him back to life, but he reinvented him. In the moments he was onscreen, he was terrifying, and in the scenes where he was absent, we wished he were there. It’s a sad fact that Ledger passed away before he could enjoy any of the accolades bestowed upon him now, but he left behind a legacy, and a character, that will never be forgotten.

4. In Bruges
Colin Farrell is the type of actor that could have his pick of any project in Hollywood. For me, that’s what makes his performance in IN BRUGES, all the more impressive. Dark, and insanely funny, Farrell is a magnetic force that commands the screen like very few can.
As a tortured hit-man vacationing in a small Belgium town, Farrell, along with sidekick Brendan Gleeson, are a blissfully funny and absurdly twisted odd couple. Akin to blowing the heads off of any target that is named, they take in the sights and sounds of a quiet town, while a swelling sense of doom wafts over the land. Shockingly vulgar and stunningly violent, it’s the type of movie that will appeal to some, and horrify others. In the end, the most surprising thing about the film is that it is chock full of deep reflection and soul baring moments. Farrell won a Golden Globe for his performance in this pitch-black comedy, and deservedly so.

3. The Wrestler
Everyone loves a comeback, and in 2008, there was no greater than Mickey Rourke. Even grander than the rebirth of Robert Downey Jr., Rourke has resurrected a career that had long been left for dead.
In Darren Aronofsky’s THE WRESTLER, Rourke plays a man who used to have it all. At one point, he found himself on the top of the professional wrestling world, but 15 years later, he was bruised, broken, and forgotten. Fighting in high school gyms, and attending autograph signings at the local VFW, he lives a life of emptiness and regret. Desperate to reconnect with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and yearning for the affections of an aging stripper (Marissa Tomei), he is shocked when an unexpected offer gives him one last chance at redemption. For me, Rourke was the epitome of Best Actor. He is a talented performer who rose from the ashes, and proved that it’s never too late for a second chance. His portrayal of Randy “The Ram” Robinson mirrored his own life in so many ways, that you couldn’t help but feel that Rourke was baring his soul, and exorcising his demons. Six months ago, who would have thought that the star of ANGEL HEART would be sitting in the front row of the Oscar’s? Not many could have predicted that, but now that he’s back, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

2. Wall-E
From its first feature, TOY STORY, Pixar Studios has been revolutionizing the way we look at animated films. Their latest venture, WALL-E, was not only the best animated film of 2008, but one of the most unforgettable films of the year.
What sets this masterpiece apart from many of its contemporaries, is the fact that it contains very little dialogue. Director Andrew Stanton took a daring chance by allowing the audience to align themselves with the lovable little bot through his actions, and not his words. Toddling across a garbage-filled planet Earth, he relishes in the simple joys of life, from old-time musicals to broken light bulbs. It’s not until an intergalactic robot named Eve arrives, the Wall-E discovers the true meaning of being alive. As absurd and unlikely as it sounds, their courtship was, by far, the most endearing, honest, and believable romance of 2008. Highlighted by breath-taking animation and combing the right mix of drama and laughs, WALL-E a treasure that can be appreciated by children and adults alike.

1. Changeling
While Clint Eastwood received a great number of accolades and recognition for his ultra-personal GRAN TURINO, it was his stunning directorial work in the CHANGELING, that proved to be the highlight of 2008. Starring Angelina Jolie as a single mother whose beloved son goes missing in the late 1920s, the film is a masterful dramatic thriller.
Every performance in CHANGELING is electric. From John Malkovich’s fiery preacher, to Jolie’s tortured mother, the big names do not disappoint. But, it is Jeffrey Donovan who steals the show. As the hot-headed Captain J.J. Jones, he tries to silence Jolie when she insists that the returned child is not her own. In doing so, he does something that only the best actors (and characters) can do. Through his demeanor, his words, and his actions, he makes you loathe him with every fiber of your being. When you can get the audience to feel such raw emotion, then you are helping them realize the true beauty of film.
Engaging, enthralling, disturbing, and unexpectedly suspenseful, this is Eastwood’s best directorial venture since THE UNFORGIVEN, and for my money, the crowning achievement of 2008.

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