Milky's Best and Worst Films of 2008
2008, what a year. For gaming it was perhaps one of the best years in history but for films the year had a very bad start. In fact many would argue that it wasn't until September or October that 2008 started to improve and so here I am with my summary of what I considered the best and worst of 2008. Kicking off with the best...
01. The Wackness
This film went under everybodies radar, I doubt many of you have even heard of it. The idea was simple, set in 1994 New York, the story revolves around a young drug dealer called Luke (Josh Peck) and his last summer in his city before he goes to college. It follows his crazy antics with his therapist (Ben Kingsley) and the girl of his dreams (Olivia Thirlby). Thirlby proves that she was the best thing in Juno and Peck shows that he isn't a Disney kid anymore. Perhaps the best performance comes from Kingsley, he plays the part with dark comedy and is great as the drug addicted therapist. If indie cinema is your go, then this film is right up your alley or if you want to watch a film thats a bit different from your norm, then don't go past The Wackness.
02. Gone Baby Gone
Although this technically should be considered as 2007, it wasn't released here until mid-year due to the whole Madeline McCann story affecting the UK. This is the stunning directorial debut from Ben Affleck and clearly shows that he is recreating himself and showing his chops. What I loved about this film is that is reminded me of David Fincher, who has made some of the greatest thrillers during his career (Seven, Zodiac and Fight Club). It features a blistering, career making performance from Ben's little brother Casey and Michelle Monaghan becomes an even bigger acting force with her great support acting. An aboslutely brilliant thriller that should not be over-looked.
03. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I'm a massive David Fincher fan, and in actual fact he is my all-time favourite director. When I first heard he was making this film I groaned, "WTF is he doing?!", but as it turns out Benjamin Button turns out to be the most beautiful film of 2008 and luckily it was released 5 days before years end, otherwise you'd be hearing about this next year. Fincher's direction is key here, he has an incredible sense of detail, he has had it his whole career. He makes epic films which contain more detail in a single frame then some films have in entire scenes and it's because of this that Benjamin Button is so brilliant. Fincher has only ever done thrillers but he has thrust himself into this epic romance and the film is absolutely amazing to watch. Give the man his Oscar now.
04. The Strangers
Why was The Strangers a big hit with critics but disliked by consumers? Critics love directors/writers that have some balls and are willing to show a more artistic side to film-making. They also love horror films that are dark, dirty, depressing and tense. These are all qualities that The Strangers had and it's why it's on my list. The film was nerve rattling and I came out of this cinema completely horrified at what I had just seen. Held together with great direction and highlight performances from Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, the film reminded me of what horror should be. It's not all about gore, it should be about tension and this was a great throwback to what horror films were in the early days of film-making.
05. 3:10 to Yuma
What's not to like about this movie? It features great performances all across the board, from dark humour behind Crowe's character, to the sadistic nature of Foster's. It features great direction from James Mangold, who handles his film with such grace and such attention to detail. It features brilliant action sequences, many of which better the action films that were released during this years blockbuster season. 3:10 to Yuma should introduced a whole generation to westerns, in fact this is the first real western in many, many years and if you haven't yet seen this modern day classic, then run down to your local video shop and hire it. Watch it with your dad and have a great blocks night in!
Honorable Mentions
Ok so I know what your thinking. Where is The Dark Knight? The Dark Knight would get my #6, but doesn't scrap it in due to it's overlong ending and to be honest, I don't think it's better then Batman Begins, espically on repeat viewings. Other honorable mentions include Stop-Loss, a film ignored by auidences but features brilliant performances from it's young cast. Speed Racer was one of the most fun films of the year, very silly but mind-blowingly enjoyable. Cloverfield because of it was so unique. RocknRolla was great fun. David Gordan Green made 2 great movies this year, starting off with the mega depressing Snow Angels, a small time indie drama with Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Olivia Thirlby, he also made Pineapple Express, perhaps the funniest film of the year which attracted all kinds of dope addicts for a high time.
The worst films of 2008, where do I start. There was quite a few of them, but instead of just doing a list on what everyone expects (Meet the Spartans or Disaster Movie), I have decided that I am going to do the worst movies of 2008 that people expected more from.
01. Max Payne
Everybody knows that Max Payne was a great video game, but like all video game adaptations, this one was lost in translation. What I failed to understand is why Marky Mark would go from The Departed to starring in 2 of the years worst movies. At least his brother is consistant in his films, but Marky Mark is more up and down then a YoYo. John Moore yet again proved that he cannot direct and adds this to his remake of The Omen and his remake of Flight of the Phoenix as adaptations that have gone wrong. Moore, please go into early retirement.
02. Babylon A.D.
I saw this in cinemas for some unknown reason and it's probably the worst $16 I have spent in my life. It is probably worse then Max Payne, but it gets my #2 spot because somewhere there is a much better cut of the film and I'm sure that the director's take is a much better one then what the studio shipped out. It is also another film in a long line of Vin Diesel disappoints. Once labelled as the next action hero, he has failed miserably and can be next seen in the reboot of the Fast & the Furious.
03. Funny Games
I remember reading a review for this when it was released and the reviewer said "the only thing worse then seeing torture in films like Hostel is seeing art-house torture in Funny Games" and he was spot on! The films major hurdle was the fact that the victims were not likeable, I personally hated them and wished them a slow painful death (mwahaha) and unlike other torture films, you didn't like the killers either, they weren't cool, just 2 young kids with no friends. So what happens when you get a film with not one likeable character? You get a film with bad direction and this film was a massive disappointment cause it promised so much.
04. The Happening
For anybody that has seen it, then they know why this film is present. More unintenionally funny then what it was scary, it proved to the world that M. Night has really fallen off his perch and it's time for him to have a rest. This was also Marky Mark's first fail of the year and he and Zooey Deschanel produced the worst performances of their careers. Wooden and lacking any heart, the film feels like some cool little idea for short film that has been turned into a feature film and it is just lacking in all areas. Apart from the occasional giggle, this film has nothing going for it.
05. The X Files: I Want to Believe
Perhaps not worthy of being on the worst list, but it was easily the biggest disappointment. For any X Files fan, like myself, this film was a big kick in the nuts from Chris Carter. What we have here is a bad idea that has been turned into an 100 minute film full of dark lit talky scenes which send you to sleep. Carter managed to write and direct some of the great X Files episodes, so why he let himself get carried away with this is a mystery to me, but I think you will find money had something to do with it. I hope this is the end for the classic show.
Dishonorable Mentions
I don't see many bad films through-out the year, in fact I tend to avoid them like the plague, so luckily enough I don't have many dishonorable mentions. 10,000 B.C was a big budget fail, bad direction, bad story and wooden acting. I saw Meet the Spartans and Superhero Movie and both were terrible, as expected. Strange Wilderness just plain sucked and it sucked even more to see Steve Zahn, Justin Long and Jonah Hill star in such a bad movie. Diary of the Dead, Dan in Real Life, 27 Dresses and Jumper were also pretty bad.
And that's that! 2008 is over and 2009 has just began and I'm looking forward to see what the year produces.
Until next time,
Milky