New Article: The Best (And Worst) of 2008 in Film

[AwallaceUNC]

Hi everyone,

My newest article is a look at 2008 in film, including a Top 10 List and a look at some of the worst. It's up at DVDizzy now: http://www.dvdizzy.com/aaronstop102008.html

-Aaron

[PeterPanfan]

I pretty much agree with your list. Doubt, Benjamin Button, Changeling, and most of the other definitley belong on there. I'm happy you didn't put Iron Man on it. I still think I'm one of the few that really disliked it.

Great job, Aaron!

[Widdi]

Not surprising to see you call Milk an "Agenda Piece". Way to completely miss the point of the movie, but like I said, not surprising.

Otherwise I agree on many of your top ten, Tropic Thunder aside.

[SpringHeelJack]

Not surprising to see you call Milk an "Agenda Piece". Way to completely miss the point of the movie, but like I said, not surprising.

Mmhmm.

Also I would not have included "Benjamin Button" on my top ten at all, and would have easily swapped "Mamma Mia!" for "Twilight". At least "Mamma Mia!" had good music, even with Pierce Brosnan's braying. And "Fireproof" on a runner-up list? I mean, the only noteworthy thing about it is that it made some money. I mean, "Mamma Mia!" made like all the money in England and sold about twelve tons of DVDs, but that didn't seem to make it worthy of noting.

[Simba3]

Not surprising to see you call Milk an "Agenda Piece". Way to completely miss the point of the movie, but like I said, not surprising.

My thoughts too. "Milk" certainly was one of the best films of the year and is absolutely deserving of it's Best Picture nomination. For once, I think the Oscar's nailed the Best Picture category, "The Dark Knight", "Wall-E" and "Doubt" were all good, close contenders though. It was just a great year for movies.

[Ting Ting]

Am I the only one who actually enjoyed <i>The Love Guru</i>?! I don't understand all the bad reception!

[AwallaceUNC]

Thanks, everyone! I was excited to finally put together my Top 10 list and I really appreciate the feedback.

Also I would not have included "Benjamin Button" on my top ten at all, and would have easily swapped "Mamma Mia!" for "Twilight". At least "Mamma Mia!" had good music, even with Pierce Brosnan's braying. And "Fireproof" on a runner-up list? I mean, the only noteworthy thing about it is that it made some money. I mean, "Mamma Mia!" made like all the money in England and sold about twelve tons of DVDs, but that didn't seem to make it worthy of noting.

You didn't like Benjamin Button? Or just thought it falls short of the top ten?

I have to disagree even with the music in Mamma Mia being good. With the exception of "The Winner Takes It All", which Streep knocks out of the park (vocally, at least -- the scene is kind of ridiculous), they're badly sung and too poppy in their production for my taste. It doesn't help that I'm not much of an ABBA fan to begin with. The biggest problem with the movie, though, is not the music -- it's the paper thin story that just barely connects the dots in order to turn unrelated songs into a unified narrative. This always happen when musicals try to make one story out of one artist's catalog of music. (See Across the Universe, where at least the songs were performed well and the visuals were satisfying).

My point with Fireproof has more to do with its remarkable achievement than its artistic merits. It isn't unusual or surprising for Mamma Mia! to turn a big profit, but Fireproof's success has the potential to turn industry heads. It's my hope that that is exactly what happens so that future movies in this vein get more attention, both industrially and artistically.

I'm happy you didn't put Iron Man on it. I still think I'm one of the few that really disliked it.

You might be! Box office suggests so, anyways. I can't say I "really disliked" the movie but I do think some of the attention is unwarranted. The high praise for Downey Jr.'s other high profile turn this year, however, is definitely earned!

Am I the only one who actually enjoyed The Love Guru?! I don't understand all the bad reception!

Well it's just really low-brow comedy and there's not much of a story. I think I point out in my review that there are a couple of fun moments but I think most people's frustration is that we can and should ask more from a comedy than that. (For the record, I really enjoy Austin Powers and was pleased to see AFI include it as a contender for its new 100 Greatest Films list).

Otherwise I agree on many of your top ten, Tropic Thunder aside.

Not a TT fan?

-Aaron

[Disneykid]

Great article, Aaron! I admit I disagree on a couple of things. I wouldn't rank Tropic Thunder so highly. Downey completely stole the show on that one to be sure, and I loved the cameos and jabs at Hollywood. That said, there was too much stupid humor thrown in (especially from Jack Black's character), and the film loses steam as it goes along. It's definitely a good movie; I just don't think it's deserving of the praise it's gotten outside of Downey's performance. Basically, I think my viewpoints on Iron Man and Tropic Thunder are the flip flop of yours.

I also was shocked to find Mamma Mia! on the worst list, but I honestly can't do much to defend it. It's corny, sloppy, and amateurish, but I can't help but love it. I will agree with SpringHeelJack that Twilight really should be in that spot. At least the creators of Mamma Mia! were aware that they were making something ridiculous. The fact that Twilight takes itself so seriously just makes it even more laughably bad (the sparkling scene alone deserves mockery, if nothing else).

I've only seen a measley 3 films out of the top 10, but agree on the WALL-E and Dark Knight opinions. I have a feeling I'll feel similarly about Benjamin Button, Doubt, and Slumdog Millionaire. I also agree on The Happening as part of the worst list. I'm still trying to wonder what the heck Shyamalan was thinking.

No matter how our opinions compare, the article was fantastic. I'm hoping this becomes an annual thing at UD.

[BelleGirl]

I did not see many movies on the list, so it's a bit hard for me to say how far I agree with it.

However, I agree with Disneykid on "Mama Mia": though artistically almost everything is wrong with it, I really enjoyed it.
Of course if you are not an ABBA fan to begin with, you won't like this movie even if it's well executed.

I think I would agree with Aaron's pick of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in his top ten, because I have just seen this movie and I love it. But it might have been possible that it would drop out of my top 10 if I had seen 10 other new movies last year that turned out to be superior to CCofBB - but no, fat chance!

I know that critics and the general audience are divided about TCC of BB so it's no surprise to me that not everybody lists it in their top ten.

It's all a matter of taste of course.

[TM2-Megatron]

I'm happy you didn't put Iron Man on it. I still think I'm one of the few that really disliked it.

For what it was supposed to be, Iron Man succeeded brilliantly. It was certainly one of the more enjoyable superhero movies I'd ever seen.