There are still a few important and celebrated films I need to see, such as “Dark Knight”, “Frozen River”, and “Vicky Christina Barcelona”. But I’m ready to offer a top ten, as I usually do on the day the Oscar nominees are announced.
1. “The Wrestler”
2. “Milk”
3. “Rachel Getting Married”
4. “The Reader”
5. “Slumdog Millionaire”
6. “Last Chance Harvey”
7. “Frost/Nixon”
8. “Wall-E” “Gran Torino”
9. “Doubt”
10. “W.”
I didn’t think that this was as strong a year as recent ones; no one film swept me away, though I did think that “The Wrestler” came the closest.
My best actor: Mickey Rourke
My best actress: Kate Winslet or Anne Hathaway, but Winslet only for her wonderful work in “The Reader”, and not in the lamentable “Revolutionary Road.”
My best supporting actor: JamesJosh Brolin or Bill Irwin (not nominated by the Academy, but marvelous in “Rachel.”)
My best supporting actress: Emma Thompson (not nominated for a great performance in “Harvey”) or Marisa Tomei or Rosemarie Dewitt (for “Rachel”)
And give Benjamin Button the technical awards it deserves and send it away.
Still not a fan of the comedies are you?
“Last Chance Harvey” has comic moments, and W. certainly does.
And “Gran Torino”, which ought to be my #9, has funny bits. But straight up comedy never appeals. Never has.
BTW, I was weraing a clown suit when I made that last comment.
I think we’ve discussed this before, but what is it about Benjamin Button that you disagree with so much. My boyfriend and best friend felt the exact same way. I agree that it’s not really deserving of anything else but the technical awards, but there were still parts of it that moved me deeply.
As far as my # 1 film of 2008? Slumdog Millionaire, hands down. But then again, I haven’t seen The Wrestler. :)
I don’t “disagree” with the film’s premise — I thought it was much too long, too tedious, with side stories that needed to be left on the floor. The pacing of the film left me squirming and staring at my watch. Great opening ten minutes, very moving last twenty minutes, but in between… yikes.
I have yet to meet anyone who actually saw Button and liked it.
“But straight up comedy never appeals. Never has.”
interesting. and not even a gategory for comedy
I can’t believe you don’t have Slumdog as your #1! And though I also liked the Wrestler, I disagree strongly about “Rachel Getting Married” and “The Reader.” There was no plot to Rachel, and I was totally icked about the age discrepant relationship between the characters in “The Reader”, which you ought to have written about.
Mickey Rourke was awesome. But you really also need to see the “Dark Knight.”