FranksFilms

****** BEST OF 2008 ******

I know this is coming a bit late. It’s February, for goodness sake. But late is better than never, I always say – or, at least, I always say since this morning. I realize that by now you’ve put 2008 well behind you and possibly don’t want to be reminded of it – but for myself, I just can’t seem to get back into the rhythm of regular posts until I get this one out. Perhaps you can just consider this to be a whole bunch of film recommendations all in one go.

So you might ask, “Frank, you haven’t been publishing much lately. Haven’t you been watching any movies?” The fact is that I have been watching movies (205 last year – and I’m on track for even more this year), I just haven’t been moved recently to write anything about them. It’s hard! It’s hard to come up with interesting takes on films that you like. There’s only so many times you can say that a movie is “fresh” or “unusual” or “unlike any film you’re likely to see this year” or “exactly what a movie should be”, without getting a little repetitive. I have to give the guys who do this for a living a lot of credit. I’m considering making up a new vocabulary (e.g. an awesome and terrific = awesific). Let’s give it a go, shall we?

FIRST: the disclaimers

• These are not necessarily films that were released in 2008. They are the movies that I watched (usually for the first time) in 2008. Hey! I’ve got a day job and can’t see all the films at the cinema. Besides, my local cinema doesn’t show the very best films – only the most promoted ones.
• This is also why my best of 2008 list doesn’t look like the OSCAR Award or the BAFTA Award nominations. As of this writing, I haven’t yet seen any of those films.
• My idea of the best movies may not be the same as yours – in fact, I guarantee it. However, this is my site, not yours. So if you’re wondering why Beerfest is not on this list – that’s why.
• For the most part, I’m avoiding the wide release movies. Everybody already knows about these. So, if you loved say, Iron Man, and wonder why it’s not on my list – that’s why ……………….even though the movie was TOTALLY awesific!
• I have listed the films in order, although, in truth, they’re all equally good.
• That’s it!

SECOND: the films

1. THE DARK KNIGHT: (English) I know it’s a big budget film, but it was simply the most verawesrific (very-awsesome-&-terrific) film of the year, and not simply because of Heath Ledger’s performance (which was incredumous to say the least) but because of the screenplay and the direction. I admit that I’m a big fan of Christopher Nolan – ever since Memento.  Batman is always best when he’s played dark as opposed to campy.  I liked all the little moral dilemmas posed throughout the film in which either decision is the wrong one.  If you haven’t seen it yet, it is available on DVD.  Don’t let the fact that it’s based on a comic book convince you that it’s strictly for kids – it’s not.  As of this writing, IMDB top 250: #4,  tomatometer: 94%.
2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: (English) Our hero, the poor schmuck, stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad.  Of course he doesn’t know that for certain, but the fact that everyone is dead and that the drugs and the money are still there is strong evidence.  He takes the money.  The mob boss hires a tracker to find whoever took his money and get it back, hence setting up the conflict of the story.  There is no doubt that the tracker will eventually catch up with him.  He is relentless.  He is ruthless.  He is unstoppable as the tide.  He is perhaps the most unforgettable character in the Coen Brothers portfolio.  As of this writing, IMDB top 250: #97, and tomatometer: 94%.
3. IN BRUGES: (English) One of the all-time great buddy films.  A young hit man botches a job and he and his partner are sent off to Bruges to hide out until the heat cools down.  This dark comedy makes you care about these guys, and even though they’re killers by trade, you really hope that things work out for them.  Rife with profanity – almost to the point of absurdity.  This film didn’t play in wide release so you’re not likely to have heard of it – but it is available on DVD.  As of this writing, IMDB top 250: #209, and tomatometer: 81%.
4. JUNO: (English) You probably have heard of this film.  A young teenage girl finds herself pregnant and spends the ensuing months trying to find a good couple to adopt her baby.  It’s witty and funny and smart, in other words, it’s smartiphilic.  …..and I’m pretty sure it inspired a number of pregnancy pacts at high schools around the US.  The moral: don’t get pregnant, watch JUNO instead.  Scores a 100% on the tomatometer.
5. ATONEMENT: (English) Beautifully filmed adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan.  Keira Knightley’s little sister, in a jealous fit, initates a sequence of events that affects three lives over the course of the story.  Will she ever find atonement for what happened?  Boasts one of the most difficult and breathtaking sequences ever filmed all in one long unbroken shot.

THIRD: the extras

TIED FOR 6^th PLACE: (no particular order)
THERE WILL BE BLOOD: (English) A virtuoso performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as a crazed and ruthless prospecter in the early pioneering days of the oil industry.   The film does a good job of capturing the greed, danger and excitement of oil drilling.  A war of will between Lewis and a local preacher dominates the arc of the story.  As of this writing, IMDB top 250: #114, and tomatoemeter: 94%.

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY: (French) The inspiring true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body.  He can only blink one eye, yet he was able, with the help of his nurse, to write his memoirs, on which the film is based.  I find it a tributr to the human spirit that though almost entirely paralyzed, he was still able to use his one good eye to look down the front of his nurses blouse.  As of this writing, IMDB top 250: #202, and tomatometer: 94%.

FUNNIEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR:
WALK HARD: THE DEWY COX STORY: (English) Chronicles the life and career of a Johnny Cash / Ray Charles / Brian Wilson / BobDylan – type character.  Could also have listed it as a musical, but it definitely belongs here.

Runner up: TROPIC THUNDER: Funniest ensemble cast, and filled with irreverent humor.  The cast of a war movie, filming on location, find themselves in a real war but don’t quite realize it.

FAMILY MOVIE OF THE YEAR
WALL-E: It’s really hard to beat Pixar, but these days nobody does it better. Much darker than most past films, the first 40 min or so is completely without dialog.  IMDb top 250: #35, and tomatometer: 97%.

Runner up: MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and a magic toy shop.  Not everybody liked, but I did.  It conveys wonder and imagination and an atmosphere reminiscent of the much malligned TOYS. 

DARK MOVIE OF THE YEAR
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD: (English) Two brother, each in need of money plan a robbery of a jewelry store.  It doesn’t go well.

Runner up: TEETH: (English) A teenage girl discovers that she has sharp pointy teeth in an orifice other than her mouth, to the dismay of several boys and her gynecologist.

SCI-FI/FANTASY MOVIE OF THE YEAR
SUNSHINE: (English) A team of scientists travel to try to reignite a dying sun.  Sounds like a bad sequel to The Core, but was directed by Danny Boyle (of this year’s Slumdog Millionaire) and deserves a watch.  Totally unbelievable, but that’s hardly the point, is it? 

Runner up: CLOVERFIELD: (English) A big ol’ monster attacks New York.  The interesting bit here is that the entire film is what is seen by a witness holding a hand-held camcorder, while he and his friends try to survive.

STRANGEST DAMN MOVIE OF THE YEAR
BLACK SHEEP: (English) Something has happened to turn the sheep population of New Zealand into murderous predators. Played for laughs, but still………

Runner up: FIDO: (English) The world had been threatened by brain-eating zombies, but humanity triumphed in the end.  Now, what to do with the surviving zombies.  Put them to work, of course!  Hilarity ensues.

Honorable mention: ZOMBIE STRIPPERS: (English) The name pretty much says it all.  Not for the squeamish.  …..but funny as hell.

QUIRKY MOVIE OF THE YEAR;
WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY: (English) Strange, funny, and allegorical film about a group of suicides, trying to navigate the afterlife..

Runner up: LARS AND THE REAL GIRL: (English) Feel good story of a troubled man doing what’s necessary to deal with life, and a town willing to do what’s necessary to help.  Then, of course, there’s Bianca.

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS: (English) The unbelievable and vastly entertaining story about the world of championship competitive Donkey Kong.  – yeah, you heard me!

Runner up: THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN: (English) Real life is almost always more interesting than stuff that’s made up.  John Peterson, farmer, American character, hippie, hero.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR
THE RULES OF THE GAME: (French) I looked forward to seeing this film since it’s so highly acclaimed by so many film critics.  I couldn’t get though the first 30 minutes.  There was no one in this movie interesting enough to hold my attention longer than that.

LEAST AWESIFIC MOVIE OF THE YEAR:
CEMETERY MAN: (Italian) You’ve probably never heard of this movie. That’s okay! I saw it and it looked like just the sort of dark comedy I was looking for. Instead, it was truly wretched – it was not in the least awesific.

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