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As 2008 comes to a close (and sort of glad to see it go) I thank the filmmakers who gave us a reason to get out, turn off the news and escape to a movie theater to be whisked away for a couple of hours to someplace other than our daily lives. Some filled the bill exceptionally taking us to places we would never even get an opportunity to go to while others took us to a moment in time where history really happened. A few surprised me in the animation department not just how beautifully drawn (be it computerized or actually penned) they were but the storyline too. There are a few here that just made it under the wire for 2008 for Oscar consideration but won’t be released in some places (like Tahoe) until later in January. If you haven’t seen any of these half are available at your local video store on DVD. Next week I present you with the movies that took hours out of my life and not in a good way. In other words the worst of ’08 but for now I hope you check some of these out.
Dark Knight
Movies such as “The Dark Knight” never seem to win Oscars because for whatever reason are not considered artful. But Christopher Nolan’s sequel to “Batman Begins” plays out like a classic Greek Tragedy. Heath Ledger’s Joker was one of his biggest challenges and set against Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne/Batman steals the scenes making it almost worthwhile playing the bad guy over the hero any day. Adding to an already excellent cast are Gary Oldman) as Lieutenant Jim Gordon and Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent.
Slumdog Millionaire
Just when you’ve lost faith in Hollywood that only the small independent films are of any value comes a movie that will lift your spirits and have you wondering, “Why don’t they make movies like this anymore?” I too wondered but “Trainspotting” director Danny Boyle gives us a great movie with actors nobody has ever heard of. It doesn’t matter because the story grabs you at the heart. “Slumdog Millionaire” chronicles the life of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) a poor orphan from the slums of Mumbai who wins over the populous as he wins a fortune on India’s most popular quiz show. As to why and how he wins is amazing but at times disturbing when the movie delves into Jamal’s childhood upbringing. He is questioned by a police inspector (Irfan Khan) that launches into the flashbacks of his youth and will make you have a new understanding for this part of the world.
WALL-E
Director Andrew Stanton (of “Finding Nemo” fame) will probably snag the Oscar for Best Animated Feature with this moving tale revolving a robot known as WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class) who is left behind in the far distant future when Earth is evacuated of all humans. Earth has become a wasteland and its humans fat in space in a spaceship waiting one day to repopulate the planet. The movie has some pretty stark messages about the environment and our species in particular but more important has less dialogue than Arnold Schwarzenegger had when he played “The Terminator” but this movie says more with its visuals than with any dialogue.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull
Hey, just to have an iconic figure back after some twenty years in a summer of superheroes was worth waiting for. This time out there are no Nazis as it 1957 and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) this time around has to deal with the Russians. His top nemesis is played by Cate Blanchett and the movie reunites us with Karen Allen and a surprise that even Indiana can’t escape from (Shia LaBeouf).
Milk
Director Gus Van Sant brings to the big screen a project whose time has finally arrived. Sean Penn doesn’t just play the title character Harvey Milk but becomes him as well. Even their resemblance is uncanny. The true life story of San Francisco’s first openly gay public official and his subsequent death in 1978 is a story not just about his being gay but how he transformed a fragmented population and transformed it into an impressive voting block. As Supervisor Dan White Josh Brolin turns in a chilling performance as the man who would turn Milk into not just a local legend but captured the rest of America as well. Van Sant does an incredible job of recreating the City to look retro from the 70s and with archival footage you feel as if Penn and company went through a time machine and told Harvey Milk they were going to do a movie about him.
Iron Man
Hard to believe now but Robert Downey Jr. had to campaign and convince the director just to get an audition for the part. Hard to imagine that anyone else could have filled the role playing Tony Stark now. As a billionaire industrialist/genius inventor who finds himself behind enemy lines “Iron Man” lived up to all of the hype as one of the first big blockbusters out of the gate this past summer. Terrence Howard as his military confident, Rhodey is also a good reason this film works. Director and co-screenwriter Jon Favreau keeps the movie going at an accelerated pace with a set up that cries out, ‘sequel’ at the end of it.
The Wrestler
A great story accompanied by a worthy director (Darren Aronofsky) can rescue an actor from obscurity and remind us that he was always a good actor if not a great one. Like the character he portrays beaten and over his prime Mickey Rourke pours himself into the role that is Randy “The Ram” Robinson. Like the boxer “Rocky” it appears everyone finds it easier to say, “loser” then to encourage you. When you’re so down and out and can’t even hear what others are saying about you it really doesn’t matter what others think or say. It’s all about that last fight to prove what it is you already know. His lifestyle has cost him his marriage, has distanced him from his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) and life has pretty much given him up for dead. His only solace is that of nightclub stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). They may not be perfect each other but when the odds are already that stacked against you who cares?
Gran Torino
In his first role since 2004’s “Million Dollar Baby” Clint Eastwood returns in a movie that only he could have starred (and directed) in playing the cantankerous Walt Kowalski. Maybe it’s because of his age but Eastwood is a reminder of those still holding on to a long forgotten past except that Walt hasn’t adapted to those changing times. Here Eastwood plays a retired assembly-line worker in Michigan and because of the economic changes and time in general his old neighborhood which once looked familiar decades ago is now inhabited by working-class immigrants. Walt’s prized possession is also the title of the movie and becomes the focal point when his ’72 classic is used as a sort of gang initiation. In other words it has to be stolen. Won’t say too much as the movie is out this week but suffice it to say Walt becomes a symbol, a hero if you will for his stance but along the way there’s quite a bit of bigotry involved but believe it or not a sentimental tale to the story too.
The Visitor
Thomas McCarthy follows up his acclaimed debut, 2003’s “The Station Agent” with my first 5 out 5 bagel rating for his second feature, “The Visitor.” Sophomore jinx my tush. The movie stars a relative bunch of unknowns but one of Hollywood’s most enduring character actors ever, Richard Jenkins. Jenkins playing Walter Vale, a 62-year-old professor of economics in Connecticut who has all but given up on life. He recently lost his wife, has lost interest in his studies and has no close friends to turn to. Walter and his late wife kept a barely used West Village apartment in Manhattan so imagine his shock when he finds out that a couple has been staying at his place. The two are illegal immigrants who have been renting the place and never realized that they were victims caught up in a real estate scam. The couple are played beautifully by Haaz Sleiman as Tarek from Syria and his girlfriend from Senegal, Zainab (Danai Gurira). As gesture of thanks Tarek, who is an accomplished percussionist offers lessons to Walter on the African drum in return. This turns out to be very therapeutic for the somewhat uptight Walter. What follows is a lesson on compassion and knowing life doesn’t necessarily end just because you think it’s time.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Okay so it is my second animated feature on the list here but when I found myself laughing hysterically one moment and then actually getting a little tearful the next it never dawned on me that this was animated! And talking animals too? Director/writers from of the first “Madagascar” (Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath) are back along with the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith. There are some new voices too including that of the late Bernie Mac who lends his voice playing the father figure, Zuba to Stiller’s character of the lion, Alex. What can I say? When the sequel outdoes the first one then you have a real gem of a movie.
Honorable Mention:
“Religulous”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Burn After Reading”
“Body of Lies”
“The Bank Job” |
