TOP 10 of 2008

It's time for my annual Top 10 lists. I love lists. I'm a geek that way. For movies, it was sure hard this year. I didn't see as many movies as in the past, and I wasn't too impressed with what I saw. Nevertheless, there were some stand outs.

TOP 10 MOVIES of 2008

1. The Dark Knight
4 Heath Ledger’s tour-de-force performace as Joker. The eyes, walk, cadence and licking of lips. Wow! Give this guy an Oscar.
4 Strong supporting cast that adds gravity to the film, especially Aaron Eckart and Gary Oldman. Talk about fully-fleshed out characters
4 Christopher Nolan brings us great action sequences and a great story with some powerful messages about anarchy and the human condition

2. Wall-E
4 The beginning of the film is like a stylish silent film reminiscent of Chaplin’s early work. A brave idea for a family cartoon.
4 Some spot-on commentary on consumerism, the environment and survival.
4 So cute! The beautiful intimacy of holding hands still makes me smile and little misty eyed. A nice change of pace from our oversexualitzed culture.

3. Slumdog Millionaire
4 You can’t go wrong with an uplifting, inspirational tale that teaches that love will always be better than money.
4 The superb child acting, especially Ayush Mahesh Khedekar. You wanna take the kid home with you.
4 Danny Boyle’s cinematography and editing is captivating from beginning to end.

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4 David Fincher makes three hours fly by with compelling storytelling and beautifully dark visuals in this fantasy-driven epic.
4 Brad Pitt does amazing work as Button but don’t forget Taraji P. Henson as the only person who truly accepts Ben from the start.
4 Compliments to the make-up crew for aging Pitt & Blanchett and then making Brad look like his Thelma & Louise days. Such an important aspect for a film with a running commentary on aging.

5. Cloverfield
4 An ingenious concept of filming a monster movie from only the protagonist’s point of view. Less is sometimes more.
4 While the camera work is shaky, it’s completely justified and keeps you in each dizzying moment. Much better than The Blair Witch Project.
4 TJ Miller does an excellent job of providing comments that are filled with both sarcasm and dread. I was rooting for him the whole time.

6. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
4 Jason Segel plays the perfect everyday schlub you want to root for, even if you have to look at his penis for a couple of minutes.
4 Segel wrote a very funny script with some great jabs at relationships and the media, but there is still an emotional anchor to the story.
4 The supporting cast from the Judd Apatow gang and various TV comedies bring lots of flavour to this already rich script.

7. Iron Man
4 Robert Downey Jr’s natural charisma makes this movie what it is. He embodies the fun and emotional sides of Tony Stark.
4 Surprising great work from Gwyneth Paltrow, with some fun sexual tension. The helping robots are pretty fun too.
4 Jon Favreau does a great job of making Iron Man accessible to those who don’t know much about the superhero.

8. Frost/Nixon
4 Frank Langella is captivating as Nixon. Michael Sheen is impressive as Frost. Talk about power-house performances!
4 The interviews are a beautifully choreographed boxing match of dialogue. Not only the words but also the stares.
4 A stellar supporting cast of Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell and Kevin Bacon. It’s all about the acting people!

9. Horton Hears a Who
4 Stunning animation from Blue Sky Studios, the guys behind Ice Age. The field of clover flowers is amazing.
4 Excellent voice acting from Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Will Arnett who make sure their antics serve the story over getting laughs.
4 Appreciate an animated film that is directed at kids without having to result to more adult situations to please older audiences.

10. Yes Man
4 A fun concept that may not be Liar, Liar worthy but works well, nonetheless.
4 Jim Carrey is back to form and Zooey Deschanel holds her own with a fun performance. Nice chemistry.
4 Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, especially during a scene that involves a favourite Third Eye Blind song.

TOP 10 TV SHOWS of 2008

I’ve talked about most of these shows before. I thought this year I’d list three stand out episodes of 2008 that prove why they belong on this list. Download them or watch them online and see what I mean.

1. Lost
4 The Constant (Season 4 : Episode 5) Time travel jolts!
4 The Shape of Things to Come (S4:E9) Ben in the Desert!
4 There’s No Place Like Home, Part III (S4:E14) Sun screams!

2. The Office
4 The Dinner Party (S4:E9) Terrible charades!
4 Business Ethics (S5:E2) Battlestar Galactica talk!
4 Customer Survey (S5:E6) Trial phone call!

3. Pushing Daises
4 Circus Circus (S2:E2) Talking mimes!
4 Bad Habits (S2:E3) Religious fun!
4 Comfort Food (S2:E8) A vengeful Olive!

4. Chuck
4 Chuck vs the Seduction (S2:E2) Smarmy John Laroquette!
4 Chuck vs Tom Sawyer (S2:E5) Asteroid Kill Screen!
4 Chuck vs the Ex (S2:E6) Mouth-to-Mouth!

5. Mad Men
4 The Gold Violin (S2:E7) You’re garbage!
4 A Night to Remember (S2:E8) Joan’s disappointment!
4 Meditations in an Emergency (S2:E13) Pete now knows!

6. 30 Rock
4 MILF Island (S2:E11) What a reality show!
4 Believe in the Stars (S3:E2) Oprah and a Princess Leia costume!
4 Reunion (S3:E5) Liz’s flashbacks!

7. How I Met Your Mother
4 Sandcastles in the Sand (S3:E16) Cheezy music video!
4 Intervention (S4:E4) English accent intervention!
4 The Naked Man (S4:E9) The poses!

8. House
4 House’s Head (S4:E15) The piecing together!
4 Birthmarks (S5:E4) Road trip!
4 Last Restort (S5:E9) Hostage situation!

9. Eli Stone
4 Something to Save (S1:E6) Defending Eli!
4 Waiting for the Day (S1:E12) Golden Gate Bridge collapse!
4 The Path (S2:E1) Eil cured?!

10. Dexter
4 The Lion Sleeps Tonight (S3:E3) Protecting his young!
4 Go Your Own Way (S3:E10) Miguel yelling!

4 I Had a Dream (S3:E11) Trunk of the car!

There you go. Hope you enjoyed the lists. Did your favourites make it on my list? What's in your top ten? Feel free to let me know. Happy New Year!

Film: Valkyrie

STARRING: Tom Cruise (Lions for Lambs, The Last Samurai); Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates 2 & 3); Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton, Batman Begins)
DIRECTOR: Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Superman Returns, X-Men)
WRITERS: Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) & Nathan Alexander
PLOT: The dramatic account of an unsuccessful plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the height of WWII.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 I was pretty excited to see Singer and McQuarrie together again. I love The Usual Suspects. I didn’t expect the same quality of story but was ready for an nicely complex conspiracy film. I thought they delivered. It was well put together and nicely paced. I knew the ending (knowing that they failed their mission) but I was intrigued by the first attempt and how far these soldiers got with the second try. It was a good time at the movies. Wonderfully shot and choreographed.
4 It was interesting to see serious turns for some of the supporting actors who I’m usually accustomed to seeing in comedic roles. Bill Nighy often has roles with tongues placed firmly in cheek. He was highly effective as the waffling General Olbricht. Eddie Izzard is known for his comedy specials, in Valkyrie, he is almost unrecognizable as General Fellgiebel, an officer who reluctantly helps out. Nice job men.
4 I don’t know why people have such a problem with Tom Cruise. Sure, he did some stupid things a couple of years back, but he’s a darn good actor. I don’t know why people were giggling during previews when they saw his Claus von Stauffenberg character wearing an eye patch. He inhabited the role well. I don’t know what audiences are expecting from Cruise.
4 Tom Wilkinson continues to blow me away with his acting skill. He brings so much depth and gravitas to his roles. He can play intelligent, ruthless roles so well. I’m glad this film was filled with high quality actors. On that note, I wish Kenneth Branagh was more in the movie. He was gone far too soon.
4 The end of The Usual Suspects has this beautifully sound edited scene that goes through snippets from Verbal’s story. I don’t know if editor John Ottman is to be credited for that. In Valkyrie, there is this wonderfully sound edited scene a top of the film, where the audience hears the German language morph into English so we can understand what is being said. It’s smartly done and makes the audience aware that while we may hear English, German is being spoken and written throughout the film. A simple, yet clever, concept that works beautifully.

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the Theatre
(It’s a fun time at the movies, though the
content probably won’t interest younger people.)

COMING SOON
Film review of Revolutionary Road

Film: Doubt

STARRING: Meryl Streep (Devil Wears Prada, Lions for Lambs); Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, Charlie Wilson’s War); Amy Adams (Junebug, Enchanted)
DIRECTOR: John Patrick Shanley (Joe vs the Volcano)
WRITER: John Patrick Shanley (Congo, Alive, Joe vs the Volcano)
PLOT: A nun confronts a priest after suspecting him sexually abusing a student.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman give power-house performances. Not only when they are yelling at each other but also in the quiet times. Streep’s glances, rolling eyeballs and stern demeanor are chilling; way more than her Prada role. Hoffman’s facial expressions leave you guessing and truly instills doubt. Watch the film to revel in their talent.
4 The supporting actors are no slouches either. Amy Adams often plays happy individuals who seem a little too naïve. She fits perfectly in this cast as the nun who brings up the charges, and Adams holds her own with Streep and Hoffman. Viola Davis (Law & Order: SVU, Jesse Stone) gives a remarkable performance as the black student’s mother. She is only in about ten minutes of the film but her emotions are on her sleeve as she discusses the issue with Streep’s Sister Aloysius. It’s a great scene to watch.
4 The dialogue is fantastic. The quick paced interchanges mixed with accusatory stares pull you into each scene. The writing is fantastic. I would have loved to see the play on Broadway, the following observation explains why.
4 John Patrick Shanley can write but he’s a terrible director. There was no rhyme or reason to a lot of the shots in the film. He did okay with his high and low angles but made too much use of the Dutch angle (usually 45 degrees). The Dutch angle is used to create uneasiness and tension. The dialogue does plenty of that, so we don’t need to be beaten over the head with a shot that takes us completely out of the scene. Amateur hour. Also there’s this feather scene which is poorly put together. The movie should have opened with the scene so that when is gets referenced, the audience could remember the opening shot’s significance. This way it was done here was lame. Again, amateur hour. Stick to the writing Shanley.
4 The music was odd in Doubt. For many of the scenes, there was no soundtrack (much like a play), but every now and then you could hear hymns in the background. For most of the time this effect worked well. Sadly, the last scene squandered its subtlety. 'The First Noel' is played over the final sequence which is severely misplaced. 'It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas' or 'Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring' would have been a bolder choice.

RECOMMENDATION
Wait for the DVD
(Terrible visuals but the acting is compelling)

COMING SOON
Film review of Valkyrie

Film: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

STARRING: Brad Pitt (Babel, Fight Club, Ocean’s 11); Cate Blanchett (Babel, Indy 4, Elizabeth)
DIRECTOR: David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club, Seven)
WRITER: Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Munich, Good Shepherd)
PLOT: The life story of Benjamin Button, a man who is born old and ages backwards which creates some issues for his love life.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 I’m a big fan of David Fincher movies. I love the way he tells stories and the beautifully dark way he shoots them. Fincher often films with a dark palette of grays and darker colours. He also peppers the narrative with mind-blowing visuals that enthrall the audience (Zodiac’s bridge scene, Fight Club’s Ikea scene, Panic Room’s through the coffeepot handle shot). Button is no exception. In fact, even the opening of the Warner Brothers logo is masterfully done with buttons.
4 It’s no shock that Benjamin Button gets compared to Forrest Gump. Eric Roth did write both screenplays. Both stories are also epic in scale. Button moves at a slower pace but the three hour running time is hardly noticeable. At least for me. The story is captivating and full of heart-breaking moments. There are also some great insights on the process of aging. I’m not sure if that’s thanks to Roth or F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose short story this film is based on.
4 I’ll be shocked if Benjamin Button doesn’t get an Oscar for make-up. Part of the fun in this film is seeing Brad Pitt get younger and younger. Through special effects, Pitt’s aged face was placed on a scrawny wrinkled body and it works surprisingly well. Near the end, Pitt actually looks twenty years younger than his present 45-year old mug (something that Milk had a hard time accomplishing with Sean Penn). The aging backwards and forwards is essential in this film, and the make-up crew does a fine job of making it seamless.
4 Of course, Brad Pitt does an amazing job as Benjamin Button. He plays the ages effectively and pulls you in almost instantly. His accent seems more pronounced at the end of the film, but may have just been me. Cate Blanchett also does great work, but the standout for me was Taraji P. Henson as Button’s adoptive mother, Queenie. She had the perfect mix of motherly love and sass.
4 There’s this great running gag about a guy who gets hit by lightning seven times. Funny stuff amidst all the heart-ache and drama. A welcome distraction.

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the theatres
(Go to the bathroom beforehand)

COMING SOON
Film reviews of Valkyrie, Doubt

Film: Frost/Nixon

STARRING: Frank Langella (Good Night and Good Luck, Dave); Michael Sheen (The Queen, Blood Diamond )
DIRECTOR: Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Da Vinci Code, Beautiful Mind)
WRITER: Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland)
PLOT: A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 I just saw the play (also written by Peter Morgan) performed a couple of months ago at The Vancouver Playhouse. And while the story is still captivating, and the performances extraordinary, there’s something about seeing live theatre. There’s more intimacy and immediacy associated with plays that cannot be captured in film. So the movie was at a slight disadvantage in my eyes.
4 The things a movie can do, that live theatre cannot is show more impressive visuals and backdrops. It can also stir emotions with a compelling musical score. Ron Howard failed in this attempt. Some of the settings work well enough, but there was nothing really visually stimulating in this movie. Howard tries different things like using quick camera pans and focusing on different details but not enough to applaud the cinematography. Same goes for musical score. The beginning had some almost conspiracy-tinged elements but it very quickly falls by the wayside. It’s too bad really. So much potential.
4 Of course, the reason to watch Frost/Nixon is to see the amazing work of Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost. Langella sure has come along way from playing Skeletor in The Masters of the Universe. He commands the screen as Nixon and does a great job impersonating without becoming a caricature. There is such depth to his performance. He should win the Oscar. Sheen is also impressive as the charismatic Frost. He perfectly plays the role of a charming host who is in over his head. Both actors do a fantastic job of showing and covering their true emotions. It’s a treat to watch.
4 The supporting cast is also stellar. Oliver Platt (A Time to Kill, Don't Say a Word) channels his Oliver Babish character from West Wing as Bob Zelnick, one of the researchers. Sam Rockwell (Matchstick Men, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) also gives a fine performance. I find Kevin Bacon (every other movie) plays military roles very well. He reminded me of his character from A Few Good Men. It’s amazing how intimidating Bacon can look when he wants to be.
4 Along with acting, the story takes center stage. The lead up to the interviews are filled with great moments of tension and posturing. The interviews themselves are a well-choreographed boxing match of dialogue. If I had the time, I’d go and look at the real footage from the interviews. Colour me intrigued.

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the theatres
(Just for the Oscar worthy performances.
Visually you can wait for DVD)

COMING SOON
Film review of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Film: Yes Man

STARRING: Jim Carrey (Liar,Liar, Bruce Almighty); Zooey Deschanel (Elf, The New Guy); Bradley Cooper (Alias, Wedding Crashers)
DIRECTOR: Peyton Reed (The Break-Up)
WRITERS: Nicholas Stoller (Fun with Dick & Jane); Jarrad Paul & Andrew Mogel (newcomers)
PLOT: Carl Allan changes his whole life around when he begins to say ‘yes’ to absolutely everything.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 They had me at the concept. A man who has to say yes to everything. Jim Carrey excels in these outrageous comedies based on simple but fun concepts. A lawyer can’t lie for 24 hours. A newsman becomes God for a little while. Granted the other two films are far superior to Yes Man, but this one still has a great positive message and it’s nice to see Jim Carrey back to form after his disastrous Number 23.
4 Zooey Deschanel works great with Jim Carrey. They have surprising chemistry and Deschanel has some great comedic timing up her sleeve. In fact, this movie seems a lot more like a romantic comedy than a straight-up comedy thanks to her endearing presence. I do find it funny that they pair Carrey (age 46) with someone like Deschanel (age 28) to make the rubber-faced actor appear younger.
4 The supporting roles in Yes Man are not given much to work with. Rhys Darby is pretty funny as Carl’s nerdy, desperate boss who throws monthly costume parties. But the character is almost exactly like his Murray role from Flight of the Conchords. Funny but not much of a stretch. Bradley Cooper just comes off lame. It’s a weird on-screen friendship. Danny Masterson (That 70’s Show) seems miscast in this movie, but it’s nice to seem him working. Terrence Stamp and John Michael Higgins are funny as the mentor/disciple of the ‘yes’ philosophy but they’ve played these kind of roles countless times before.
4 While some of the critics are blasting this movie, I found it pretty funny. There is consistent humour. Some predictable, some not. Some of the initial yes responses seem random but there is a nice pay-off, especially in the airport. There’s also this fantastic scene that uses a beloved Third Eye Blind song that left me laughing pretty hard at the lunacy of it all. This movie is chock-full of laugh-out-loud moments.
4 Unfortunately, there is one pretty gross scene in the first third of the movie. You’ll know it when it comes. It is reminiscent of a Van Wilder gag and kind of makes this film a little bit harder to recommend to everyone. Although, it is still easier to recommend than the likes of Superbad and Knocked Up.

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the Theatre
(A perfect pick-me-up during the holiday season. However, there
is nothing ‘big screen’ worthy so you can also wait for DVD)

COMING SOON
Film review of Frost/Nixon

Film: Milk

STARRING: Sean Penn (I Am Sam, Mystic River), James Franco (Spiderman, Pineapple Express), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men)
DIRECTOR: Gun Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant)
WRITER: Dustin Lance Black (Big Love)
PLOT: The true story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, whose fight for civil rights was tragically cut short.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 I’m not a big Sean Penn fan. I liked him in I Am Sam, but that’s about it. So I went in a little biased, but I have to say Sean Penn rocks this film. He’s the reason to watch Milk. His performance is solid and full of life. I did notice, however, that Penn has a wrinkly face when animated. In his opening scene with Franco, you can count at least ten wrinkles around his eyes (39 years old, I don’t think so!). But that’s a minor thing compared to his stellar performance.
4 While Penn steals the show; the supporting actors are not too shabby. Brolin gives a conflicted essence to assassin Dan White; much different than his Bush role in W. Hirsche plays Cleve Jones pretty flamboyantly, it at first seems overdone but it works pretty quickly. It was nice to see James Franco in a strong role at Milk’s lover Scott Smith. A daring move for an up and comer. Alison Pill, Victor Garber and Joseph Cross all give fine performances. The only actor I couldn’t stand was Diego Luna (The Terminal) as Jack, Milk’s codependent leech of a rebound guy. What was Milk thinking?
4 I didn’t like the way Gus Van Sant shot this movie. He tries to make the film look authentic in it’s seventies portrayal but that means grainy film and boring camera movement. The only two shots that worked for me were shot on location in San Francisco’s city hall using its beautiful indoor staircase.
4 The pacing of the story is well-done. The film captures a lot of the highlights and lowlights of Milk’s aspirations and career. What’s clunky is the narration done by Milk via tape recorder. In the beginning, it’s kind of obtrusive and then thankfully peters out as the film progresses. Its only saving grace is the message of hope that it gives after the brutal assassination.
4 As a Christian, the film got my guard up. Not with the homosexual behaviors shown on film (although some shots were a bit much), but with the way the church compared gay teachers to pedophiles. I hate being lumped in with a group of intolerant, judgmental religious zealots who have no love for their neighbors. It puts a bad taste in my mouth.

RECOMMENDATION
Wait for DVD
(No need to see grainy footage on the big screen, unless
you want to watch Sean Penn go for another Oscar.)

COMING SOON
Film review of Frost/Nixon

TV: How I Met Your Mother

STARRING: Josh Radnor (newcomer), Jason Segel (Freaks & Geeks), Alyson Hannigan (Buffy), Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) Cobie Smulders (newcomer from Vancouver)
CREATORS: Carter Bays & Craig Thomas (Late Show, MTV Movie Award parodies)
PLOT: Ted is telling his children how he met their mother. It’s a really long story and it involves his close friends. (Why would he be telling his children about his sex life and times he got drunk? Little creepy.)

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4The cast is so natural together. These are people you would want to hang out with on a regular basis. Even more so than the cast of Friends. They all have great chemistry together and play off each other extremely well.
4The writing is very quick paced and non-linear. This jumping around is perfect for the ADD folks out there. The storylines often feel very different from each other but manage to be linked thematically. Almost like Seinfeld or Scrubs.
4After four seasons, Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney still manages to steal every scene he is in. He mixes smarm with charm quite beautifully. His theories, his put downs, his clever phrases are the secret ingredient to this already well-written show. Give this guy an Emmy already! He’s definitely paid his dues.
4They reward faithful viewers of the show with references to earlier installments. Their ongoing slap bet (two to go!) is one of the greatest inside jokes known to series television.
4Being from Vancouver, I am often rooting for Cobie Smulders who is both sexy and extremely funny. They have definitely played up her Canadian heritage by making her backstory include hockey practices, ‘weird’ Canadian phrases and traditions, and making her a teen star (ala Tiffany or Debbie Gibson) named Robin Sparkles who sings about hanging out in the mall and building sandcastles in the sand. These cheesy music videos are hysterical and worth looking up on YouTube.

RECOMMENDATION
Must See (not enough people talk about it, but they should)

COMING SOON
TV reviews of 30 Rock, House