Favorite movies of the year (incomplete list)
5. Doubt- Absolute fantastic acting by Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis, Amy Adams and company. Play transformed well to the big screen and the script is filled with bristling arguements that make a seemingly simple issue into a complexity of many levels. On the short side, but never slows up for a moment. Confrontation between Meryl Streep and Viola Davis could be best scene of the year. Unresolved and beautiful becuase of that.
4. The Dark Knight- Christopher Nolan is the man, plain and simple. The "superhero" movie has a new peak due to its breathtaking atmosphere and action sequences combined with a (gasp!) intelligent dialouge and top notch acting. The Joker will be the legacy of Heath Ledger and deservingly so. It brings more to the table than just a fun evening, philosophy and art arise in this film out of the darkest reaches of Gotham City.
3. Slumdog Millionaire- This is just a "wow" movie that tells a story in an unique format from a land most of us only know from National Geographic (if even that.) Read my earlier review for more thoughts on Danny Boyle and Devi Patel.
2. Wall E- More than just a childrens movie. More than just cute robots and slick animation. More than just another Pixar movie. More than just another movie to keep the kids entertained while mom and dad go away in the evening. In fact, mom and dad should bag the dinner dance to stay home and watch this absolute gem of a film. This is the start of a new age of animated movies, no longer can one assume that a film needs an R rating along with several highly qualified actors to be considered quality. Wall E sets a new bar due to its revolutionary sound(of lack there of), fantastic emotional appeal, and noteworthy observations on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. This film was a joy ride on the surface, yet still mantained a strong message warning of the harms of consumerism. Maybe I look too much into it. But at least Wall-E opens itself up to be examined and that is what seperates it from any animated feature done before.
1. Synecdoche New York- Synechdoche means a part of something referring to the whole thing. The part here is the life of Caden Cotard and the whole thing is the human condition. Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, etc.) created every part of this epic "tragicomic", the script, the direction (first time director I might add), the theme song. This film watches like a novel with sophisticated dialouge, strong imagery, brilliant characters, and, most of all, the overwhelming sense of a structure that is wholy prevelant while just exceding our grasp. It goes from rabbit hole to rabbit hole, plays games with our minds, but still remains connected to the audience every step of the way. Kaufman may very well be considered a genious in my book simply for his ability to combine the utterly complex and incomprehendable thoughts of our minds within the framework of everyday human life. If you want a great opinion of this film, check out Roger Eberts review. See it, think about it, see it again (repeat)....-AT
To See: Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married, and more. Always more. (just in case you think I have weak opinions..)
Most Bizzare Film of the Year
Inland Empire (David Lynch)- Yes, this wasn't this year, but I felt it was worth mentioning. Woah. Step back. Adjust frame. Look again. Am I awake? No, couldn't be. Are those real bunnies or just suits? Is that Polish? Welcome to the land of zoom ins and white noise interrupted by feminine screams of angst. I feel dizzy. So, how many people is Laura Dern supposed to be? I feel like I'm on a sinking ship and I'm the only one who still thinks we're in the harbor. It's kinda like watching a Dali painting. Was there supposed to be a point or was that the point?
Watch it. Three hours later, you might get the idea. Really though, it's a fun time.
Worst Film of the Year
The Love Guru- Ugh. Double Ugh. Now I enjoy a good comedy and it doesn't have to be "politically correct" by any stretch of imagination. It just has to be funny. Watching this felt like all the peverted middle schoolers of the world got together when their hormones were racing and dumped their collection of filthy ideas and fantasties into a sack of human feces. How else could it be explained that (Sir) Ben Kingsley is throwing piss onto Buddhist monks? I will go no further down this road of defilement and bad taste. To paraphrase a far great comedy, "On what day did the Lord create the Love Guru and why not did he himself rest on that day as well?"
Man of the Year
Philip Seymour Hoffman- The Big Lebowski. Magnolia. Almost Famous. Punch Drunk Love. Capote, where we finally saw the magnitude of Mr. Hoffmans greatness. Last year he had an all star performance with Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, the Savages, and Charlie Wilsons War. This year he has hit a high with absolutely stellar, first rate, dauntingly beautiful roles in Doubt and Synecdoche New York. The slightly chubby blond philosopher who can shout and scream, quietly whisper, or do a carbon copy of a historical figure. He takes his roles as seriously as the movies he choses to be in. And he has picked some great ones. When I look at Philip Seymour Hoffman, I see the faces and lives of all the characters he has created over the years, each standing out in its own distinct way. Bravo, may you continute to craft men out of that magnificent soul of yours that has done so much in so little time.
Favorite Albums of the year (as I have listened to so far)
5. She and Him- Volume One
4. TV on the Radio- Dear Science
3. Girl Talk- Feed the Animals
2. Frightened Rabbit- The Midnight Organ Fight
1. Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
As always, there is so much incoming music to digest, and I only have one mouth and the sands of time are against me..
Some Good Reads of my year (both old and new)
5. The Elephant Vanishes (Short stories)- Haruki Murakami
4. The Corrections- Jonathon Franzen
3. The Great Gatsby- F.Scott Fitzgerald
2. Steppenwolf- Herman Hesse
1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay- Michael Chabon
There are so many more books to add and my stack to read is always growing. If only time could be stopped.
= Have a merry year filled with fine art, loving family, and steadfast friends=
-AT
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