New in Town (2009)

Directed by Jonas Elmer

Starring: Harry Connick Jr. and Renee Zellweger





Typically I reserve reviews for those movies which a) I see in theaters b) I find really entertaining or c) are monumentally terrible.

This happens to fall into the latter. Now I should state that I am not much of a Renee Zellweger fan. I think her best performance to date was in Cinderella Man and she was adequate in Chicago and Me, Myself & Irene, but I think she is generally overrated and the fact she won an Oscar for Cold Mountain makes me cringe.

So as you can see leading into this movie there was not much hope for me liking this movie. I decided to try out the idea from my last post (Grading based on expectations) I expected this to grade out in the 4-6 range. Which means my expectations were fairly low though not close to being low enough.

Acting (4 - Below Average): I am sure there are days when I come to work and I do not perform as well as the day before. Everyone is like that and to some extent you could there are days when (by no fault of my own) little is accomplished. That describes the acting in this film. While I would not classify the acting portion as unwatchable it was definitely sub par. That said this is where this particular movie shines (that is not a good thing). In all honesty I liked JK Simmons, like always, and Siobhan Fallon did a decent job (above average for her).

Audio / Visual (1 - Unwatchable): While the camera work could be classified as average the polka music that plays throughout is a HUGE distraction and annoyance. Its not even the fact that its polka that's bothersome, but the particular songs that were chosen. The audio portion of this film lends itself to the rating chosen.

Plot (1 - Unwatchable): So a female business professional comes into the board meeting late, wearing 6 inch heels and a tight fitting dress and is provided the opportunity to become vice president by turning around the operations of a small food production plant. Oh if it were only that simple. This script contains pretty much everything a bad script should have, predictability, unfunny jokes, poor character background, and terrible dialogue. There is really no redeeming quality to this plot, at all. And will someone please tell Hollywood that the whole I "I don't like you, but I really do like you, but I am not going to tell you or show you until I get drunk and then I will try to hit on you thing" has been done about 5 billion times to many. And the whole widower raising kids is overplayed too (no offense to those people who are actually in this situation). For as many times as I have seen this in film there must be a huge population of guys in this situation that I don't know about...yes I am talking to you Disney.

Entertainment (2 - Terrible): I'm not sure there is anything else I can say about this film other than don't spend the $1 at red box to rent it.

Overall (2 - Terrible)

I do not know who would be more offended by this movie, female business professionals, people from Minnesota, or the people that actually watched this film. I tried hard to find an actual budget for this film to see how much Hollywood threw away, but I couldn't find it. It's sad to think that a movie like Slumdog Millionaire almost doesn't happen yet trash like this gets picked up and filmed all the time.

I Love You, Man

Directed by John Hamburg

Starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel


Acting (7): Rudd and Segel are natural fits for the bromance genre. They're equal parts everyman awkwardness, hollywood charm, and frat boy intellect. Though they don't have to stretch much, they play the roles well. Supporting characters played by JK Simmons and Jon Favreau also provide some laughs.


Audio / Visual (7): There is nothing special about the way this film was shot, but there was nothing distractingly bad either. Since a portion of the plot revolves around Rudd and Segel's love of the band Rush, plenty of their classic tunes are interwoven throughout.

Plot (7): The Bromance genre has found a niche over the last couple years and this film falls right in line with it's predacessors. The story is formulaic for the most part and the film ends with a rather cliche and corny wedding scene. However, the story is well executed. The pace is solid and the characters, particularly the two leads, are developed enough that the audience actually cares about the outcome.

Entertainment (7.5) While some of the more vulgar jokes fall flat early on, the film picks up steam as the relationship between Rudd and Segel's characters develop. The film manages a decent balance of vulgar college humor and sweet Rom Com charm. Despite most of the major laughs being given away in the trailer, there is still plenty of entertainment value here. Rudd proves, once again, to be one of the most likable comedic leads in the business.

Overall (7) GOOD

Styles of Movie Watching

Over the years of watching film I have come to realize that there has to be varying degrees of movie watching. With advertising and the internet being so prevalent it is almost impossible to watch a film without having some preconceived feeling of what the film will be or what ones response to the film will be.

To be completely honest my viewpoint is almost always biased. When I hear that a movie is gaining Oscar buzz I tend to give the film more leeway as it relates to our critique points. When my cohort on this blog gives a raving review I go into the film with a positive light. Now that's not to say that I don't completely disagree with professional critics (i.e. I completely despise Pulp Fiction) at times or on the rare occasion Derek (Gran Torino), but I go into the movie looking for ways to find the good aspects of the film and not completely subjective as one should.

I think a case in point for this is Derek's review of The Happening. He had heard from me how horrible it was, and from everyone else for that matter, so he approached the movie expecting the absolute worst and he found the redeeming qualities instead.

So all that to ask, what is the resolution to this problem?

I am not sure there is an answer. I guess to get an absolute true opinion one must watch a film having seen no preview and having heard nor read a review of the film unfortunately for the average movie fan this is not an option. So maybe the answer comes from gauging our expectations. Maybe we set up a scale that we expect a movie to hit when we start and then rate the film based on what it provides based on that scale. This might keep us from finding that sneaky hidden gem (think Once or Diving Bell and the Butterfly), but it may also help us judge movies for what they are. Remember this is all a form of entertainment and all actors and actresses take different films for the paycheck. They all mail it in occasionally.

So obviously this whole thought process stems from something. Well, by my wife's choice I spent this evening watching Bride Wars, now my expectations going in were low and in the end even those expectations were too high. Even Anne Hathaway could not come close to saving this disaster of a film, but it got me thinking that maybe there should be a sliding scale for rating movies. Maybe going in for movies that we have a preconceived estimate in our head we rate how the movie did at meeting those expectations.

I don't think anyone goes into movies like the aforementioned Bride Wars or say Fools Gold, another Kate Hudson classic, expecting to see Oscar worthy performances, state-of-the-art camera work, or amazing special effects they just want to be entertained and some will find those films entertaining. I on one hand loved the first Mummy movie even though Brendan Fraser should not be seen anywhere near an Oscar stage (Yes, I have seen Crash and yes the rating is deteriorating for me daily). Watching the movie back there are lots of issues, but it is entertaining and maybe that should be rated on a different scale than say The Departed or Revolutionary Road. Of course as it stands our scale is open to all classes and varieties of film and unfortunately that means a VERY low rating for the likes of Bride Wars (it could be on a two point scale and it would still be rated poorly). I think though for someone out there if you based the scale not on the quality of the overall picture from a critical standpoint, but maybe completely how entertained they were for a film, that they were not expecting Oscar worthy performances, than someone out there might rate that move higher, but its not me.

YFG and the forgotten films of 2008

Making a quality film doesn't always ensure box office success or even critical acclaim during award season. Whether independant or backed by a large studio, all films rely on marketing to to create interest. As much as any other industry, film is a beauty contest. When a film does well at the box office or takes home an academy award it's no accident. Millions of dollars go into wooing both audiences and critics with the hopes of generating a buzz that will yield a significant return. Without this financial backing, even the best of films can go unnoticed.

2008's Oscar darling, Slumdog Millionaire nearly fell through the cracks when Warner Bros. shut down their Indie distribution division. Had Fox Searchlight not purchased and released the film, it would have almost certainly headed straight for DVD, killing any and all hope of Oscar glory.

Unfortunately, when financial disaster strikes, not all films are lucky enough to be rescued. In December of 2008, Yari Film Group's (YFG) movie distribution division filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. YFG had long been a major independent movie distributer with titles like Crash, The Matador, and the Illusionist to their credit. The company's financial woes left two films with legitimate award show aspirations, Nothing but the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You, in limbo.

What Doesn't Kill You was "fortunate" enough to receive a limited theatrical release in the US just three days before YFG went under. Directed by Brian Goodman, What Doesn't Kill You is a gritty, enthralling crime drama set in South Boston. In what could easily pass as a Dennis Lehane novel adaptation, the film chronicles two life long friends and their lives as theives, drug dealers, and runners for a crime boss. Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo are both quite convincing as small time Irish thugs. Amanda Peet, who plays Ruffalo's wife who is struggling to deal with her husband's life outside of the home and family, also gives a notable performance. While the film probably isn't Oscar worthy, it's certainly a very solid drama that had the potential to be a real crowd pleaser with a little marketing.

In what is perhaps the best film about print journalism since 1976's All the President's Men, Kate Beckinsale stars as a reporter who, despite pressure from the federal government, refuses to give up her source that broke the biggest story of her career. Beckinsale, along with Alan Alda and Vera Farmiga deliver very strong performances worthy of acclaim on any stage. While Beckinsale and Farmiga were nominated for Critic's choice awards, the straight to DVD release of the film killed any chance they had of Academy Award or Golden Globe nominations.

Both Nothing but the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You are exceptional films worthy of a wide audience. However, with the troubles of YFG and the lack of financial support behind these films, even their recent DVD releases are bound to go unnoticed by most.

The Fall

The Fall made its way through the film festival circuit during 2006 and 2007. It finally recieved a limited US release in the spring of 08. There was very little buzz about this film and it recieved very modest accolades. However, when my good friend and highly respected movie critic, Justin Newsome named The Fall his top film of 2008, I had to see it.

Acting: (7) An unknown Lee Pace was an interesting choice for the lead. While he handled emotional hospital scenes quite well, the fantasy action sequences were really a stretch. Whether it was an artistic choice or folly, he appeared almost comical as the "Blue Bandit." The little girl added a great deal of depth and reality to the film. She obviously struggled with English and her lines. However, Pace played off her so naturally that her stutters and repeats flowed like natural conversation.

Audio / Visual: (9) There can be no debate that the film's visuals are astonishing. During the fantasy sequences, the screen is filled with wide landscapes, elaborate sets, and choreograhped movements that are quite enchanting. Tarsem's vision and imagination are the stars of this film. In fact, the film's visuals could actually be criticized for overpowering both the characters and the complex story. The only complaint I would raise involves the costumes of the bandits. Again, I'm not sure whether this was intentional or not, but the costumes reminded me of a low budget community theatre play.

Plot: (8.5) There is really a lot going on in this film. There are so many stories within the story. Tarsem skillfully weaves the story of the stunt man and the young girl together through the telling of the epic revenge saga. The film runs the risk of becoming muddled and confusing when it attempts to fuse storylines occuring in both the fantasy and real world simultaneously. By the end of the film the stories have all been told fairly well. If you're able to avoid being distracted by the events happening on the screen, you may actually be able to follow each of them.

Entertainment: (8) This film would have been engaging as a silent movie. The visuals are that powerful. The stories (all of them) are worth a listen. I always tend to give extra credit to original, bind benders, as is the case with The Fall.

Overall: (8) - Very Good

Rachel Getting Married

Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Directed By: Jonathon Demme
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin

Well as stated in my previous post it has been tough getting the time to watch movies lately, but the fact that a Red Box just opened in the local grocery store will hopefully help things out.

Acting: (9.5) It is funny how quickly someone can become a favorite. All it took was The Devil Wears Prada and Anne Hathaway jumped to the top of my list of favorite actresses, and this performance gives credence to that view. The movie truly shines through the acting displayed by the entire cast. This is probably one of the best ensemble performances I have ever seen. Everyone for the most part nails their parts and as a whole it doesn't get much better. My favorite aside from Anne was actually Mather Zickel, who I thought stole most of the scenes he was featured in.

Effects / Cinematography: (7) Camera shots for the most part were great, but I have to complain about the length of the wedding scenes. I thought it was a poor choice of editing and it dragged on....and on....and on. They could have easily cut 10 minutes out of the post wedding without impacting the overall movie in any way. Its my opinion that every scene should have a purpose and there was just way too much filler. I hear Derek say that it was to bring a balance of joy to all the sorrow of the film, but it was just too much for me.

Plot: (8.5) A modern day adaptation of the prodigal son, or in this case the prodigal daughter. I thought the script was well written and flowed effortlessly.

Entertainment: (7.5) The unending wedding scenes really brought the movie down a notch for me on an entertainment level. I thought the feeling portrayed of actually being a part of the festivities was done pretty well, but both the rehearsal dinner and the post vows parts were extremely tedious.

Cumulative: (8.125) Overall a solid movie and one that should be studied in film classes across the country. The acting was phenomenal, but editing choices brought the overall score down a bit for me. I haven't gotten through all of the 2008 movies that Derek has, but I would place this near the top of my list as well.

10 Movies for 2009

It has been a while since I have posted any updates and its about time I rejoin the action. My movie watching days have dwindled with the arrival of a daughter in September so movies happen few and far between nowadays. That said I have scanned a few lists and here is a of ten movies that, like my cohort, I don't necessarily anticipate being award winning or even potentially good, but the actors involved, the story told, or a peak at the trailer has gotten me interested.





In order of release:



10. The Brothers Bloom - limited release May 15th. Despite the wide variety and quality of roles Rachel Weisz is still one of my favorite actresses. Add in Adrien Brody and this being Rian Johnson's follow up to Brick and I am intrigued.



9. Away We Go - limited release June 5th. I am usually a fan of Sam Mendes and I am a big fan of The Office so I am hoping this will be a decent movie for John Krasinski who gets a chance to finally break out after being stuck with roles in License to Wed and Leatherheads. I am worried about the casting of Maya Rudolph, who I typically deem as one of the least funny people on SNL, but the trailer has me hoping this might be worth seeing.



8. Public Enemies - release July 1st. I love Johnny Depp and I love gangster movies. The trailer has me worried a little bit about the quality of this film. I tend to like my gangster movies dark (think Road to Perdition) and this seems like it may be a little lite but we shall see.



7. Bruno - release July 10th. Don't know if it will be the hit that Borat was, but it is guaranteed to offend and entertain.



6. The Cove - release July 31st. Big praise from Sundance has me intrigued about exposing the dolphin trade in Japan.



5. Inglorious Basterds - release August 21st. While I dislike most everything Quentin Tarantino the inclusion of Brad Pitt in this film has me hoping that I may enjoy this, despite his ridiculous mustache in the movie. Sure to be a big money maker with Tarantino's cult following.



4. This Side of Truth - release September 25th. Huge fan of Ricky Gervais and after being pleasantly surprised by Ghost Town I am excited for this arrival.



3. Shutter Island - release October 2nd. I think Derek explained this one well enough and I was going to avoid any overlap in our lists, but this has too much potential.



2. Amelia - release October 23rd. Though I despise Hillary Swank I am excited about the return of Ewan McGregor to the main screen. This has early Oscar buzz and imdb.com properly describes it as "The Aviatrix" as it follows the life of Amelia Earhart.



1. All right I am running out of slots and two movies I just discovered both have me intrigued. Despite the subject matter, The Wolf Man - release November 6th, has me intrigued by the inclusion of Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Benicio Del Toro. Also Nine - release November 25th has Daniel Day-Lewis and Penelope Cruz.



There, 11 movies to choose from and I am most excited about the fact that none of them include Seth Rogen and am most disappointed that, with the exception of Bride Wars (which I won't see), my life will have no Anne Hathaway in 2009.



I also can't complete this list without mentioning that I am excited, curious, and baffled that two of my favorite childhood books (Where the Wild Things Are and Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs) are supposed to be released as movies this year. Considering you can read both in less than 10 minutes, how they will be able to stretch the stories into a feature length film is beyond me.

Gattaca (1997)

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Starring: Jude Law, Ethan Hawke, and Uma Thurman

Acting (7.5): This is where the film surprised me most. Outside of Alan Arkin, who has a small role in the film, I am not a fan of any actor in this cast. In this film, however, each actor seemed to fit their given role quite well. For the first time ever, I actually found Uma Thurman attractive. She has somewhat of a futuristic android look to her that fall right in line with her character.

Plot (9): This is one of the most intelligent and socially relevant Sci Fi movies I've ever seen. It doesn't take a giant leap with it's dipiction of DNA alteration. Medical ethics and "playing God" are examined closely and criticized subtley. The story, though set in the future, also holds up a critical mirror to today's society regarding discrimination. This is where I think the casting of someone like Ethan Hawke was crucial. As the all American white kid with a heart condition, Hawke makes for a sympathetic protagonist. The fact that he's discriminated against for a lack of perfect DNA feels completely unjust and shows just how ridiculous discrimination in our own society is.

The movie shows a future in which perfection is strived for in every person. Even the slightest "defect" can make one an exile. The fact that an "Invalid" or "God child" was able to outsmart everyone and excel in this dystopia creates great drama and real inspiration. Hawke's character is an underdog in every sense; and one we root for.

Audio / Visual (8): Unlike many futuristic thrillers, this film used much more subtle methods for defining it's futuristic environment. The technology was advanced, but not over the top. Much of the mood in this film was created from the lighting. The outdoors always seemed to have yellowish tint acting as an ever present reminder of the sun and space while the inside of buildings were sleak, metallic, and sterile.

Entertainment (8): The story is very fascinating and engaging. It challenges the view intellectually while still managing to stimulate with excitement. As the plot unfolds and nears it's climax there is true suspense. It's really a fun, intellectual picture.

Overall (8) = Very Good

10 Most Anticipated films of 2009

The blockbuster movie season is near. Since recently completing my top 10 list from 2008, I've changed focus with an eye on 2009. After scanning many lists of proposed theatrical releases, I've selected the ten films that seem most intriguing on the surface. I certainly don't expect these to be the ten best films of the year. Many of the featured films are simply intriguing because of the people they involve or the stories they continue.


10. X Men Origins: Wolverine: First off, I really enjoyed the first two X Men films. The third one felt like overkill and really lacked substance. Also, Wolverine is easily my favorite mutant. That being said, I'm very apprehensive about this film. Rumors of numerous re-shoots haven't done anything to disperse my doubt. Thankfully, Brett Ratner, the man responsible for X-Men Last Stand will not be directing this spin-off. Unfortunately, neither will Bryan Singer. Gavin Hood (Rendition, Tstosi) gets a crack at this potentially profitable film. Rumor has it, a sequel is already in the works. It remains to be seen whether Hood can capture the same magic that Singer did in the original films. The trailer looks action packed and I'd expect nothing less. It's the cultivating of a good story that always seems to be the biggest challenge in these types of films.



9. Sherlock Holmes: Perhaps no actor had a bigger 2008 than Robert Downey Jr. His roles in Iron Man, Charlie Bartlett, and Tropic Thunder cemented his place among Hollywood's elite. This year looks quite promising for the formally troubled star as well. Sherlock Holmes could be another huge role for Downey. The film also features Rachel McAdams and Jude Law and is set for a late year release which could suggest anticipated award circuit consideration. Though I'm a bit worried about Guy Ritchie's consistency as a movie maker, when he's on, he's really on; which gives this film a lot of potential.



8. Sunshine Cleaning: This film was actually released in NY an LA last week and is set for wide release on Friday. As I, however, have not seen the film, it is still highly anticipated for me. Sunshine premiered at Sundance and received moderate accolades. It's a project from several of the people responsible for 2006's Indie darling, Little Miss Sunshine. According to many of those that have seen both films, the similarities almost distractingly glaring. Regardless of what type of reviews this film receives, I have two reasons for being very excited, Emily Blunt and Amy Adams. They are two of my absolute onscreen favorites. I expect the cuteness level to be alarmingly high.


The trailer for the film looks promising. Blunt and Adams play sisters looking to make their own paths by starting a cleaning business. Alan Arkin plays their father in a role that certainly looks reminiscent of his Oscar winning Little Miss Sunshine turn. No doubt hilarity will ensue.



7. Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince: This series of films has already exceeded my expectations. The films have managed changing production crews and directors, and still maintained fluidity from story to story. The best part about the series is that the films have grown up with the characters. Each film has become increasingly darker. I think the quality of the films has increased with each installment as well. David Yates, who directed Order of the Phoenix, will be running the show for Half Blood. If the 2007 film was any indication of what viewers can expect, I'm quite excited about the possibilities. Unlike many viewers, I have never read the books and have no idea how the story continues. I look forward to more quality Harry Potter films and completing an onscreen story that began in 2001.


6. Avatar: I've heard rumblings about this James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator) project going on 4 years. The buzz regarding the ground breaking special effects has been especially high. I know very little about the plot, but that really doesn't matter. James Cameron only makes BIG movies. I'm a little surprised that this will be a winter release, but it only increases my curiosity.


5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Few films in recent years have surprised me like 2007's Transformers. Michael Bay + Robots was sure to equal box office success, but I didn't have high hopes for the film. I was blown away by the entire audio / visual experience of the film. The story wasn't half bad either. It was really a sleek, entertaining, action film. I only wish I would have seen it on the big screen.

2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, features many of the same characters and promises even more destruction and alien robots. When speculating about what we can expect from this summer's sequel, a look at Bay's track record isn't encouraging. Lightning rarely strikes twice in same spot (this spot being Michael Bay's brain). Hopefully, I'm wrong and this film exceeds the first in every aspect.


4. The Lovely Bones: Anytime you attach Peter Jackson's name to a film, I'm going to get excited. Bones will mark Jackson's first directorial work since 2005's King Kong. Based on the popular young adult novel by Alice Sebold, the film stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci.

The book was a really good read and I have pretty high expectations for the film. The people involved and the source material are just too goo for anything but a good movie to be produced. Early Oscar polls list Bones among the favorites.


3. Public Enemies: Johnny Depp, Billy Crudup, and Christian Bale in a period gangster flick...what's not to like? Throw in the fact that Michael Mann (The Insider, Heat) is directing, and you've got the formula for a truly great guy movie. I know very little about guys like John Dillenger or Baby Face Nelson so I could care less about historical accuracy in this film. I just want to see Depp, Bale, and Crudup at their best.



2. Terminator Salvation: Box office domination is almost a given for this film, but I'm hoping for some substance as well. It will be hard to watch the film without thinking about Bale's outrageous rant that was released to the public months ago. This will up the unintentional comedy level tremendously. Let's hope the film is good enough to overcome that.

I'm really surprised the Bale was willing to take on the lead role in another huge franchise, but I couldn't be happier. He seems like the perfect fit for John Connor. Though I'm a bit concerned about McG's direction, I'm confident that Bale's involvement will produce a solid action / Sci-fi thriller.


1. Shutter Island: Great books don't always get adapted into great movies, but Dennis Lehane has to be pleased thus far. His two previous adaptations, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone were both critical and commercial successes. With names like Scorsesse and DiCaprio attached to Shutter Island, this one could be the best.

Lehane is my favorite current author. His books are incredibly gritty and powerful. Shutter Island is somewhat different from most of his work, but I expect this to be one of the best films of 2009.

Top 10 Movies of 2008

As has become my custom, I have ranked the films from the previous year. It is my goal each year to have a credible top 10 completed by the end of March. This gives me plenty of time to view the late season releases either in the theatre or on DVD. I've seen 118 films with US theatrical releases dating from the calender year of 2008. While I still have 10 films, most notably, Waltz with Bashir, Ballast, Wendy and Lucy, and Elegy to view, I feel confident that I have seen enough of what the year had to offer to present my final top 10.

Before I get into the countdown, I'd like to give special mention to the following films; Appaloosa, The Changeling, Revolutionary Road, The Reader, Frost Nixon, Role Models, Iron Man, The Visitor, Mongol, Surfwise, and Cloverfield. I really enjoyed these movies and each was given serious consideration for the top 10.


10. Burn After Reading: The Cohen Brothers' brand of humor is not for everyone. However, if you happen to appreciate their particular style, you'll love this film. It's serious movie stars playing ridiculous comedic characters involved in a nonsensical plot with ultimately little meaning. This may not sound appealing, but it absolutely works. Malkovich, Pitt, Clooney, and McDormand excel in what I thought was one of the most under appreciated films of the year. Each one of them deserved Golden Globe nominations. If you've seen The Big Lebowski, you'll no doubt recognize the writing style that has made the Cohen brothers so respected.

9. Gran Torino: If this is indeed Clint Eastwood's final appearance on the silver screen, what a satisfying final act it was. This was an absolute showcase for a weakened, weathered Eastwood to deliver a vintage performance. The supporting cast were mostly amateurs and their lack of experience was glaring at times, but Eastwood controlled every aspect of the film and ultimately created an emotionally rewarding experience.

While some have claimed this role was nothing more than a geriatric Dirty Harry, I found the type of depth in his performance that can only come with age and experience, both good and bad. Gran Torino was a mainstream crowd pleaser with a pseudo Hollywood happy ending. Without spoiling the climax, let's just say that the film ends the only way the final act in a Clint Eastwood saga could.

8. Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Of all the films I saw this year, none caused me more deliberation and contemplation than Ben Button. Part of me loved the film while another part of me was left so unsatisfied, that I almost felt duped by this dazzling Hollywood production.

Make no mistake about it, this movie is the epitome of a Hollywood film. Big stars, tangled in a larger than life story being played out in spectacular scenes. The film is truly a marvel from every technical aspect. The visuals, including the actors themselves, are stunning. The sets, camera work, and effects were the best of the year. At times, the movie was truly mesmerizing.

That being said, after the nearly three hour run time, there actually seemed to be something missing. Despite the brilliant story telling, beautiful visuals, and two of the best leads in the biz, the film somehow seemed hollow.

Obvious comparisons have been made between Ben Button and Forrest Gump. While it's true, there are several unmistakable similarities, Button fails to strike the same emotion cord that Gump did. While you can argue the merits of Gump as a film, no one can argue the emotional and inspirational impact it had during the year of 1994 and even today. Somehow, despite the earnest efforts of all involved to convince us that Ben Button is an epic love story, we as an audience never really make a connection with either protagonist and therefore fail to invest emotionally in their lives.

Despite the surprising lack of chemistry between Pitt and Blanchett and the subsequent lack of passion that it inspires in it's audience, Ben Button still stands as a must see. It has all of grandeur of the classic epic romance and is greatly enhanced by some truly magic technical accomplishments.

7. Doubt: Doubt is an adaptation of a stage play that keeps very close to its origins. There are very few characters and even fewer sets. The story relies entirely on the performance of it's four stars (Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Viola Davis) and the ever present title that permeates the entire story. There is no mystery where the story is headed. In fact, the trailer sets the scene almost entirely. The intrigue lies in the unanswered question. The question that thankfully remains unanswered.

I've stated many times that I found this to be an incredibly strong year for lead performances, both by actors and actresses. In no other film is that more apparent than Doubt. All four crucial characters justly earned Oscar nominations. This film is cast perfectly. It's difficult to picture anyone else as successful as Adams, Streep, or Hoffman in their respective roles. The casting of little known Viola Davis turned out to be one of the year's great surprises.
Like a stage play, doubt relies on the actors, themselves to carry the film. The dialogue is tight, tense, and often explosive. There is little time to let your guard down. Streep dominates the screen like few others ever have. Had it not been for Kate Winslet winning the sympathy vote, Meryl may have very well taken home another Oscar.

6. The Dark Knight: 2008's most significant contribution to film may be the re-invention of the comic book movie. Along with Iron Man, The Dark Knight dominated the box office and drastically stretched the boundaries of what a super hero movie can be. The Dark Knight proved to be an intense, beautifully filmed crime drama that actually featured superior acting.

While still providing the typical comic visual flair, the Dark Knight featured one of the most haunting on screen villains of all time. Heath Ledger's Joker, partly due to his death, takes its place along characters like Hannibal Lector as one of the truly giant villainous performances.

The great thing about The Dark Knight is that it provided real drama outside of explosions and saving the girl and / 0r the world. At it's core is a dark, gritty crime drama that is only enhanced by the gadgets and pageantry of the Batman character.

5. In Bruges: Oh, how I wish more people had seen this film. Rarely has a movie been able to balance tragedy and heartbreak with cutting clever humor as well as In Bruges. I was so happy to see both Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson earn Golden Globe nomination for this little Irish film. Ralph Fiennes was quite deserving in a supporting role as well.

Hit men have somehow become favorites in the world of dark comedy. No other film in the genre to my recollection has produced a better balance of action, drama, and comedy. I hesitate to call this the funniest movie of the year because it's a bit misleading in regards to the plot. There is some genuine heartache and this film. However, no film in the last several years has made me laugh out loud quite like this one.

The teeter totter between comedy and drama required a great deal of depth and range from Ferrell and Gleeson. Both handled it wonderfully. If you can get by the heavy accents and incredibly obscene language (which is half the fun), you'll find an incredible film that's as entertaining as anything I saw all year.

4. Slumdog Millionaire: A foreign film laced with family tragedy and brutal child abuse doesn't normally garner mainstream appeal. Breaking cultural boundaries to win the hearts of it's audience was one of many challenges the makers of Slumdog faced. The movie was nearly sent straight to DVD or possibly dumped altogether by Warner Bros. before being rescued by Fox Searchlight.

Despite moments of brutality, this film is really uplifting. It's a film about perseverance and love. In what can only be described as a fairy tale, the young leads form a bond during early childhood in the slums of Mumbai only to be separated by the harsh world that they were raised in. Their eventual reunion is both tear jerking and joyous.

Though Slumdog wasn't the best film of the year, it was the one film that nobody disliked. Earning a best picture Oscar, it cemented itself as one of the great underdog stories of all time.


3. Man on Wire: I have never been so mesmerized by a documentary. The premise itself is incredible. The idea of tight rope walking between the world trade center towers is mind boggling. Even more impactful was the fact that through pictures and endless spools of home movies, we actually get to see the performance first hand.

When I hear stories of people doing miraculous stunts, I rarely think about the preparation leading up to the event. This film chronicles the countless hours of training as well several years worth of planning trips made to NYC from France. The suspense is built like any good thriller with the payoff being even better than imagined. Despite hearing commentary from Petitte himself, I was still on the edge of my seat expecting the worst.

I found the aftermath of the event to be the most poignant part of the film. The way the "mission" affected and changed the people involved was astounding. The engineers of this stunt were closely bonded and the emotion of the journey was overwhelming for some even to this day. It's also impossible to watch the film without considering the events of September 11th. Seeing the magnificent towers from their genesis added a layer of complexity to entire experience.

2. The Wrestler: What made this film so special was Mickey Rourke's performance and the way it mirrored his life. Nobody could have played this part better. I'm not sure Mickey could do any other part better either. In Randy the Ram, we saw not only your typical sympathetic screen hero, but we also saw a broken man trying to hold on to what he loves by delivering the performance of his life. Mickey didn't win the Oscar for best actor. It was an exceedingly good year for male lead performances. However, he still delivered one of the most potent, organic performances of all time. Mickey's performance was accented and even enhanced by Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Both of whom are startling in their heartbreak.

Nothing about this film felt Hollywood. It was only fitting that even in a comeback story, the Hollywood ending that we craved was not delivered. While the movie of course ended, no real conclusion was ever reached. Perhaps this was a choice of director, Darren Aaronofsky, not because of the possibility of sequel, but because he recognized the parallels between Randy and Mickey. Mickey's story is still very much open ended. I suspect the fate of both the character and the man are one and the same.

1. Rachel Getting Married: It's tough to describe what makes this film so special so we'll start with the obvious. The acting, by the entire cast is superb. Anne Hathaway delivers a performance that warranted serious Oscar consideration. I'm still not sure whether I would have given her or Meryl the nod for best Actress, but the fact that I'm even questioning who was better says enough about Anne. The supporting cast was magnificent as well. Rosemarie Dewitt stole my heart with her soft smile that masked the cyclone of emotions she was feeling. Debra Winger commanded every scene she was in with incredible strength and dignity.

Jonathan Demme's direction is so fluid it truly feels like you're viewing the most spectacular multi-cultural wedding party ever given. There is so much pain in the movie that only a party full of love and joy could balance the emotions. There are truly equal parts of both.

It was the second time seeing the film, that the power and emotion of the story really hit me. I focused on the anguish on the faces of each character. It feels so intimate. It's like hovering in your neighbor's house as they experience both tragedy and triumph. It's voyeuristic and gut wrenching all at the same time. It's a draining experience at times, but emotionally buoyant at others.