Year-end Top 10 Revue!

Please to take a trip with me down Memory Lane, as I rank and comment on my top 10 favorite movies of 2008!

1.The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button tops this list and many others because it delivers old-fashioned movie-making combined with dazzling new techniques, an intriguing, beautifully told story, stellar acting, a touch of magic realism, and genuine human emotion. Brad Pitt, who continues his search for Oscar gold, has never been better, although the role requires a quiet, almost passive touch, which may cause award voters to overlook him. Cate Blanchett brings her customary excellence to bear in the role of Daisy, Benjamin's long-time love. The aging effects in this movie are shockingly realistic and believable. The digital de-aging of both Blanchett and Pitt as young people is excellent...they almost glow with youthfulness. The more traditional aging makeup is also superbly done.
2. The Dark Knight - It has been said that The Dark Knight transcends the comic book movie genre, similar to the way "The Watchmen" transcended its predecessors in the graphic novel genre. The Dark Knight certainly deals with its themes of evil, madness, moral relativism, revenge, and chaos in a mature and nuanced way, which is a rarity for comic book and superhero movies. For that alone it would very likely have been a success, both critically and financially. Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker, however, has driven the whole film to unexpected heights. It is one of the most electrifying tours de force I have ever seen, and I will be surprised if he doesn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In a movie that featured Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Cane, Aaron Eckhart, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who are all charismatic, excellent actors, Ledger stole the show.
3. WALL-E - Pixar continues its unprecedented run of excellence with WALL-E, a story that follows the logical progression of Americans' cultural habits to a future where the Earth is a garbage dump and humanity survives in bovine comfort on a giant ship in space, serviced by artificially intelligent robots. Aside from the more thought-provoking themes, WALL-E features cross-platform romance, slapstick comedy, music from Hello, Dolly!, exciting twists and thrills, and (of course) beautiful art.
4. Speed Racer - For reasons unfathomable to me, Speed Racer was a critical and box office failure. I personally went to see it three times, and the friends I saw it with all enjoyed it. Speed Racer is set in a hypercolored, kinetic, campy universe, but if you accept its basic un-realism, I am confident you will be entertained. The story is a driving force of heart-thumping racing excitement, fists-on-hips hi-jinks, cooing romance, sincere family dynamics, mustache-twirling villains, and mind-blowing explosions of color and form. The final race will definitely blow a few of your circuits.
5. Tropic Thunder - Robert Downey, Jr., in his second memorable role of 2008, is pitch-perfect in this send-up of Hollywood, producers, directors, actors, writers, assistants, action movies, Oscar-bait movies and performances, and closeted actors (and rappers?), among other things. There are in-jokes for the informed "Variety" reader, but even those who don't follow Hollywood closely will recognize some of the broader targets and enjoy the over-the-top acting by Downey, Jr., Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, and (in one of the most talked-about cameos of the year) Tom Cruise.
6. Iron Man - Probably the best action movie of the year, and certainly the second-best superhero film of 2008, Iron Man is an exciting origin story in the vein of Batman Begins. Robert Downey, Jr. achieved movie stardom (as opposed to notoriety) with this role, which fits him like a glove. The special effects, flight scenes, and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts are all spot-on, as well.
7. Milk - Sean Penn has a well-deserved reputation as an actor, but his taste in roles has often leaned toward the gloomy, solemn, and/or depressing. In Milk, though, he delivers his sunniest performance since Fast Times at Ridgemont High, despite the fact that this is a story with a less-than-happy ending. Along the way to that ending, Milk touches on the moments, large and small, public and private, joyful and tearful, that kept Milk, his close friends, and the gay rights movement going in 1970s San Francisco.
8. Australia - Australia is another movie that inexplicably ended up on some critics' year-end "worst" lists. Baz Luhrmann has created a sweeping romantic epic the likes of which are rarely made anymore. Set in the days leading up to World War II, Australia is a fairy tale "Western" that segues into a war movie and tackles themes of family, betrayal, the treatment of Aborigines, and reverence for the majesty that is Australia. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman attack their movie star-caliber roles with gusto, and Brandon Walters as half-Aborigine Nullah is perfection.
9. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Based rather faithfully on a little-known book from the 1930s, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day would have been a small delight even without the performances of the lead actors. Frances McDormand and Amy Adams continue to build up a stable of wonderfully realized roles, while Ciarán Hinds and Lee Pace ably match them as romantic foils, and the supporting actors make the most of their time on-screen. The film is the touching story of a whirlwind day in the life of Miss Pettigrew, erstwhile governess, whose common sense and newfound sense of adventure serve her well as she suddenly finds herself in unexpected situations.
10. Horton Hears a Who - Unlike the live-action Jim Carrey and Mike Meyers Dr. Seuss movies of recent years, Horton Hears a Who retains the spirit of Dr. Seuss's original story. While there are some embellishments and plot adjustments, the basic story and characters remain, enlivened by the voice acting and colorful animation.

Bonus!
11. Priceless (French title: Hors du Prix) - This romantic comedy was actually released in France a couple of years ago, but I saw it in 2008. It's a wonderful, farcical love story featuring Audrey Tautou as a gold-digger who falls in love with an assistant bar tender whom she believes is wealthy. Through the convolutions of the story, he ends up taking on the role of a gigolo and hilarity, bitterness, jealousy, remorse, and reconciliation ensue.

These Are Some Videos I Like

Here is one of my favorite recent videos. It really made me smile and get a little teary, watching all of these disparate people having fun doing the same thing the world over. Matt is spreading joy...isn't that wonderful? This video is actually a sequel to a video created in 2006, which you can view
here.
Click here! (Be sure to watch it in HD!)

Proposition 8, which rescinds the right of gay marriage in California, passed in November. This hilarious video was created in response. It features music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and performances by John C. Reilly, Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Maya Rudolph, Kathy Najimy, and others. Enjoy!