Look to DVD for Best of 2008
by Mike Long
Some of the biggest movies of any year aren’t in wide release until January, so some of us don’t see all them until much later. As of this week, I think I’ve seen what passes for “everything” from 2008. Herewith, my list of the Top Ten for the year just passed:
10. Sex Drive. Hilarious, under-seen, low-budget comedy starring the creative partner of the funny Michael Cera. Defeated at the box office because of its name, it features a few show-stopping scenes with Seth Green and a live-action pair of Beavis-and-Butthead types who steal the whole thing. This’ll do great on DVD.
9. Appaloosa. Another under-seen gem, this time a Western. Ed Harris directs.
8. Revolutionary Road. Most saw this as a nasty swipe at those of us who live in the suburbs, and I’m sure that’s how it was intended. Yet the picture was an even more powerful statement about the challenge of and virtue in pursuing dreams. Read my original review here.
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. A hilarious romantic comedy from the Judd Apatow mafia.
6. Burn After Reading. A Coen Brothers comedy. Funny, tight, message-free.
5. Gran Torino. Walt Kowalski isn’t a bad guy or even particularly bigoted. He’s just a certain kind of typical person in changing times. The point of the picture: people do adjust, sometimes heroically so. Bonus: The theme was the best movie song of 2008, criminally ignored for an Oscar in favor of some PC world-beat junk. Clint Eastwood is a national treasure–for his entire body of work, not just because this picture is popular with those of us on the Right.
4. Iron Man. What a treat. Action, excitement, humor, snark. Pure joy. For big fun, there was nothing better all year. Nothing.
3. Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The best comedy of the year. Anathema to some because of the title and the crudity, Zack and Miri nevertheless promotes the most wholesome, life- and love-affirming message since, well, Knocked Up. (Dissonance doesn’t play too well in some circles, does it?)
2. Wanted. Biggest surprise of the year: an actioner that pulls you along every second without a pause to catch your breath. Special effects built around a supernatural kind of physics. Directed by the Russian Timur Bekmambetov, who made the equally wonderful Night Watch, another bizarre action picture that was at one time (might still be) the highest-grossing picture in Russian history.
1. The Dark Knight. For the first time, the superhero story as allegory carries all the heft of real literature. Plus–and this is what matters in movies–the thing is wildly entertaining and completely engaging at every turn. Among the best pictures I’ve seen in the past several years.
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45 Comments
6. Burn After Reading
I used to be a Coen Brothers fan, but after Fargo I started to lose my starry eyes about these two. I watched "Burn After Reading" last month and after a night to dwell on it decided that it was a mean-spirited little movie that I could lived without seeing altogether. I will admit, however, that J. K. Simmons made me laugh my tail off.
I just saw Sex Drive over the weekend, and I think I broke something laughing so hard.
I don't care to see Revolutionary Road or Burn after Reading, and I thought Appaloosa was horrible.
I'd add The Wrestler, Rambo, Prince Caspian, and Hellboy II to my list.
Glad someone else appreciated WANTED for its non-stop action! Awesome. I think you forgot Transporter 3 in your list though.
P.S. Yes, this is Denise your old movie-reviewing friend!
Wrong, wrong, wrong about Ironman! It is the worst kind of action movie. Like many of you I was sucked in by the great action, special effects, and gadgets-heck even the plot was suspenseful for the first 35 minutes. But who was the villian? The worst nemisis Hollywoos could come up with? A white, male, corporate pig. What a tired and false cliche. That is why I hated this movie-it was so fun and fresh for 40 mins and then they revealed their liberal dreamscape: The evil white american businessman-nobody can be more evil than that!
To avoid sending your money to lefty performers, directors, etc, buy used dvds.
I am so glad someone else discovered this great comedy. It really is an overlooked gem.
Yes, T3 was a good one, for sure. Wanted was so well done. Just amazine to look at. If you haven't seen the director's great Night Watch, go get it. You'll be glad ya did.
Yes, T3 was a good one, for sure. Wanted was **so** well done. Just amazing to look at. If you haven't seen that director's great Night Watch, go get it. You'll be glad ya did.
They should fire the marketing team of Sex Drive. I netflixed it and its so good i want to go out and buy it eventually. You got a pretty nice list there.
Also want to add that Speed Racer was underrated. Saw it in iMax and enjoyed it. Pineapple Express and Hellboy 2 were also good.
Damn one more thing, Got Netflix exactly one year ago the other day. HIghly reccommened if anyone here doesnt have it. Now i just have to get on the DVR bandwagon.
Coen Brothers always like to write stylishly weird characters, but they went too far with "Burn After Reading." They must have instructed the actors "Play these roles as unbelievably as possible." In their best film, Fargo, the quirkiness was high, but the characters were entirely plausible. Not so with B.A.R.
"For the first time"??? You don't get out very much, do you? Man… pathetic. It's that sort of close-minded attitude that the left thinks the right has. Thanks for proving their point.
Where's 'Quantum of Solace'? the sequel (first Bond sequel ever- maybe that's why so many missed the point) was a solid, and oft-time inspired film with some spectacular imagery, most notably the revenge sequence in the floating opera in Austria… it will, like "On Her Majesty's Secret Service', be remembered far more fondly than other more 'poplar' entries…
Oh, I agree! Everyone was so upset about how broody and humorless the new Bond is. I wanted to ask, "Are you watching this story???" He had a lot to be broody about. I'd bet in the next installment you'll see more Bond humor, although I really don't think they need to return to some of the more excruciating cheesiness from the earlier Bonds. I really loved how the end of "Quantum of Solace" drew everything together. It was very satisfying.
Actually Obidiah Stane was a villain in the Iron Man comics for several years (early 80's). He wasn't anything new for the movie. It might be interesting to see if the main Iron Man villain, The Mandarin (Chinese character along the lines of a super-powered Fu Manchu) will make an appearence and what his nationality will be.
The terrorists were 'ten rings' or Mandarin's guys which might be a not-on-purpose jab at what I suspect is a real world truth–China is behind a lot of the terrorists as the ultimate sponsor/instigator. I've suspected the terrorists are proxies for Iran/Syria/others and those are proxies for the Chicoms.
And while I agree with swendleman, I still say IM was #1 movie of the year. (Haven't seen Gran yet….)
I probably could have enjoyed Wanted if I had read the comic book it was based on. The only thing it shares with the comics are the names of some of the characters. I enjoyed the comic book much more.
That should read- "if I hadn't read the comic book"
Another Sex Drive fan–yes! For me, the title seemed to be the chief problem–and yes it needed tons more marketing. It just feels funny saying you're going to see "Sex Drive." I do hope it finds an audience on DVD, and I hope there are lots of deleted scenes and extras. The first time I saw it (yes, I saw it twice in the theater) I was the only one there.
While I agree with your list (haven't seen Sex Drive, will definitely check it out), I can't help but feel sad that this is the best 2008 had to offer. For me, there's no LA Confidential, no Ronin, no Usual Suspects, no Pulp Fiction… nothing that I would consider a potential top ten classic of modern cinema. Maybe Gran Torino, but probably not.
I know people will defend Dark Knight to the death, but to me it just didn't hit the level that I would want to see it again and again. I can watch Dirty Harry ten times a year, Jaws twice a day… I don't fell that way about anything on the list.
At first I thought the same, but on reflection, it was a knee-jerk "I can't stand the way the libs are ruining everything for me" response. Obidiah was the same sniveling, bureaucratic, non-entrepreneur REMF that we hated in the military. Stark was the hero, and he, far more than Obidiah, was the corporate icon who had the drive, creativity, intelligence, and (eventually; it was a journey) moral compass that the best of the US embodies and encourages. This one was anti-ass kissing, back-stabbing, too-stupid-to-do-it-yourself-so-steal it, but definitely pro-business (without private-enterprise, who could have developed the IronMan?)
Of those on the list, I have seen only Apaloosa, Iron Man, and Dark Knight and enjoyed all three. My favorite film of 2008 was In Bruges. Although the language is atrocious (and I'n not one to normally be bothered by that) it is an incredible first time effort for this director. In some ways a European "Pulp Fiction," it explores the dynamics of good and evil that make up all of us.
The problem with Quantum of Solace for me was the direction. Watch the chase scene at the beginning of Casino Royale and then watch the chase at the beginning of Quantum. Where Martin Campbell used long shots and choreographed the action beautifully Marc Forster chose to go the lazy route and used quick-cuts and the shaky cam. If you don't know how to choreograph an action scene then stay away from the Bond franchise. If I want to get motion sickness I'll go watch Bourne.
Mike,
Check this one out:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452711/
It's Sean Anders first effort, called "Never Been Thawed." It's a quirky comedy he made by maxing out his credit card, about a guy that forms a Christian Rock Band, to pay for the electric bill on his Vintage TV Dinner collection.
Agreed. This was a particularly weak year for pictures. I feel that way at the end of a lot of years, but then re-group and find more positive than I realized. Not this year. Dittoes on Dirty Harry, by the way. Favorite moment: When Harry confronts the mayor about that suspect "running through the park with a butcher knife and …" followed by that priceless reaction shot from the Mayor, the truly great character actor John Vernon: "He's got a point."
Tim–Oh, man, thanks for that. I'll check it out. By the way, I wonder if our paths crossed in the late 80s/early 90s? I was a house emcee at Zanies Nashville and I remember that you closed there more than a few times, but I don't recall any particular gig. Just sayin'.
That was a great moment, one of those — "hey, that's how I think", moments that are often so rare in movies.
Let's hope 2009 puts 2008 to shame!
"I don't recall any particular gig"
I don't recall a lot of gigs. Those were the days when comedy was the new rock and roll, and I deluded myself into believing I was a rockstar.
We probably did brush paths.
This scene was also wonderfully parodied in The Naked Gun:
Drebin: "Well, when I see five weirdos dressed in togas, stabbing a man in the middle of the park in full view of a hundred people, I shoot the bastards. That's my policy!"
Mayor: "That was a Shakespeare-In-The-Park production of Julius Caesar, you moron!"
I just saw all the Dirty Harry movies for the first time (on Blu-Ray!). I enjoyed them all very much.
So, what prior superhero movie qualifies: "For the first time, the superhero story as allegory carries all the heft of real literature"? If you want to claim he hasn't been out enough, you really should provide an example of what he has missed.
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the directing on the "Quantum of Solace." I told my date the directing was awful within the first five minutes of the movie, based on the action scene you're describing. Thankfully the whole movie wasn't that bad. I really hate when action scenes are so chopped up as to be incomprehensible. The pity is that you could clearly see they got some spectacular footage. I like to be able to focus on a scene before they cut to the next one.
In any case, you got closer to being the comedy "rock star" than I did. But I have yet to attempt anything more difficult or more satisfying than stand-up. I doubt I'll ever try again–I did it off and on for maybe nine years–but I won't say "never." I'm a more competent writer today than I was back then–maybe I *could* do it. That would put a bit of unfinished business to bed. (And I think this public forum is a curious choice for me to do this mental work, lol.)
You are right about it getting better. After the opening sequence I was able to get into the story and mostly enjoyed the rest of the movie. I just hated that whole opening scene, especially when compared to Casino Royale. This is a Bond film, I want to sit back and enjoy myself, I don't want to be thinking "Wait, are those cars chasing Bond or is Bond chasing those cars? Is Bond on the same roof as the guy he is chasing…is he in the same city as the guy he is chasing? Did M just get shot??? What the hell is going on?"
Iron Man is the only film of those that I actually saw. I just don't care about the movie industry anymore. It doesn't seem relevant at all anymore.
I do every chance I get. Or pirated ones.
You didn't think Burn After Reading had a message? I'm sure if you give it a re-watch you might pick up the Coen's bros rather scathing indictment of a self-involved culture that mistakenly believes morality an unnecessary tool to get by in life…A lot of reviewers had adverse reactions to this one labeling the Coens elitist, I found the movie very interesting. Look forward to re-watching it myself…Have you seen Shotgun Stories?
[...] ENVIRONMENTAL REPUBLICAN added an interesting post on Look to DVD for Best of 2008Here’s a small excerpt4. Iron Man. What a treat. Action, excitement, Bhumor/B, snark. Pure joy. For big fun, there was nothing better all year. Nothing. [...]
I'm not sure if this year will top last years. With the writers strike, i assume tv rebounds much quicker than movies. It's only now that were seeing the result of the strike, i.e. scripts that were on the table that otherwise would not have been made. Just look at the Street FIgher that just flopped and Dragonball Z next month that i dont think will do good.
Interesting you say that. I read the comic after I saw the movie, the opposite of your experience, and I expected to be even more impressed with the book. As you noted, the only thing they had in common was a set of character names and some of the setting. I got what the author was shooting for in the comic but for whatever reason it did not connect with me. I'm probably in a minority on that one.
I really liked Appaloosa, and am glad it made your list.
Just saw In Bruges and hated it with a passion. Nice scenery and good cinematography couldn't make up for either the continuous America-bashing (though the Belgians got it even worse) or the stunningly contrived ending. I was surprised to see how many people loved it on Netflix. BTW, I'm a huge fan of Pulp Fiction, and shudder at the idea of the two films being mentioned in the same sentence.
Mike, I don't know if you'll get this but thank you so much for the recommendation on Sex Drive. At about the ten minute mark I was doubting you (when he left the girl at the party), but it was the funniest movie I've seen in forever. There were more laugh out loud moments than I could believe (and what a perfect role for Seth Green!). I didn't even recognize James Marsden until the credits. Now I have to go buy a copy.
Mike,
I rented "Sex Drive" based on your recommendation.
It was hilarious! I watched it late last night and tried so hard to stifle my laughter — my girlfriend was asleep — I almost blew out an eardrum. And I rarely laugh out loud when watching movies. I loved the subversion of stereotypes — the ladies' man, the Amish — the witty throw-away lines, the energy, and the affection the filmmakers obviously had for all their characters, even the minor ones.
It's a crime this was marketed so poorly. It's much more deserving of box office success than "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," a similarly raunchy sex comedy, which seems cynical and stale in retrospect (much as I like Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan).
I'm looking forward to what Sean Anders and John Morris are going to do next.
Thanks for spotting this gem.
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