thevoid99's Best of Films 2008 (Pt. I & II)Mar 08 '09 (Updated Jun 13 '09) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line 2008 was a mediocre year in cinema with not many great films shown in a sea of mediocrity.
Part I: The Year in Films 2008 2008 was a year that definitely didn't live up to expectations and hype. Instead, it was a lackluster year considering the anticipation of so many films and how little many of them lived up to expectations. It was a year that good films were becoming hard to find while it was dominated by mediocrity and movies that were just plain bad. 2007 was said by some, a lackluster year but that wasn't compared to 2008 that just didn't deliver at all. Despite some massive box office hits and some surprises, 2008 was just a year that didn't really get a lot of good films going. Instead, it was a year that celebrated mediocrity. 2008 began badly with a slew of mediocre films that included the widely-panned parody film Meet the Spartans, a spoof of 300, directed by the team of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The film proved that stupidity can sell tickets as audiences await the release of J.J. Abrams-produced monster film Cloverfield. The film divided audiences and critics over its hype and everything from a shaky hand-held camera's perspective. While that was going on, the Writer's strike helped cause problem in Hollywood as it helped cancel the Golden Globes. Chances that the Oscars would be cancelled as well were likely to happen but the strike was finally settled. With the year of cinema already troubled by strikes and a slew of mediocre films leading the box office. Something else happened that was unexpected. Heath Ledger's shocking death on January 21, 2008 due to an accidental overdose of prescription medicine sent shockwaves around the world. Leaving behind a great legacy of films and a two-year old daughter named Mathilda Rose that he had with ex-girlfriend and Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams. Ledger's death proved to be a sad moment for the film world as his upcoming role in The Dark Knight as the Joker was filled with lots of anticipation. Production for Ledger's final film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus by Terry Gilliam was suspended until Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell decided to step in and play various versions of Ledger's character. While The Dark Knight became the biggest grossing film of the year that eventually surpassed the $1 billion mark by early 2009 and was the second-highest grossing film of all-time with rave reviews. The success of the film was bittersweet to the people involved in making the film. While Ledger's death cast a huge shadow over the year, the film industry continued as it awaited for a big blockbuster summer led by Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Iron Man proved to be a big hit while giving its star Robert Downey Jr. the chance to carry a big film once again. With Downey already making good of his comeback that would get more praise over his controversial yet funny role as an Australian actor tanning his skin to play an African-American platoon sergeant in Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder. Another film that came out in that same month returned to the big screen but with some controversy. Despite some box office success for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the film received harsh reviews from fans and critics over its treatment causing a lot of the blame towards director Steven Spielberg and its creator George Lucas. With an episode of South Park that appeared months later with claims that Spielberg and Lucas "raped" Indiana Jones. It was the film that disappointed most audiences as even those who had praised it earlier realized how wrong they were. The summer blockbuster season continued with a barrage of films that didn't really win people over as well as a few surprises. Pixar's WALL-E proved to be a big hit but a surprising critical favorite with claims that the film raised the bar for animation. Judd Apatow also continued his winning streak with two films that he produced. The romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall that was released in the spring of 2008 and a surprising collaboration with indie auteur David Gordon Green for Pineapple Express. Despite Judd Apatow's success as well as another hit comedy with Tropic Thunder that featured a foul-mouthed Tom Cruise as a fat, balding studio executive. Comedies took a real big hit in 2008. Though some comedies like You Don't Mess with the Zohan was a commercial hit, the quality of humor proved to be in a real decline as critics and audiences felt disappointed. One highly anticipated comedy that proved to be a real flop was Mike Myers' return to the big screen with The Love Guru. The film ended up becoming one of the worst-reviewed films of the year with poor box office numbers with word that audiences walked out demanding refunds. The film eventually would win three Razzie Awards for Worst Film, Worst Screenplay and Actor for Mike Myers. Even blockbuster films like The Mummy 3 and Hancock faced serious critical drubbing and lukewarm response from audiences despite their own box office success. With audiences looking towards the fall film season for some serious fare, it would only turn out to be a real disappointing season with a few films not able to come out due to an overcrowded season. Baz Luhrmann's widely-anticipated Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman was supposed to be a big hit that even had support from Oprah Winfrey. Instead, the film didn't do well in the box office with lukewarm reviews providing Nicole Kidman with another high-profiled flop and Luhrmann dealing with some of the worst reviews he received as he tried to finish the film at the last minute. Even James Bond took a hit when he returned with Quantum of Solace were despite its box office success, Bond purists and critics felt that the filmmakers were trying to hard to make Bond more relevant in comparison to the Bourne film franchises that didn't work at all. Clearly, the franchise is once again losing touch with audiences as it only furthered audiences disappointment with films this year. With award seasons approaching with films like Clint Eastwood's Changeling only getting modest return and reviews while the widely-anticipated Coen Brothers comedy Burn After Reading also received mixed response from longtime fans. The world of art house and foreign films managed to fare better as the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in May premiered highly anticipated features from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, Woody Allen, Steven Soderbergh, and Clint Eastwood. Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York divided critics and audiences over its dense plot with some dazzled by its originality. Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona gave Allen another hit despite some mixed reviews. One big event that shocked audiences at the festival was Steven Soderbergh's four-and-a-half hour, two-part bio-pic Che about Che Guevara. Though reviews weren't spectacular, the film won Benicio del Toro the Best Actor award that year. Che was eventually released in late 2008/early 2009 as a roadshow feature before being officially released in two parts though it wouldn't get any awards consideration. The Venice Film Festival provided a few surprises that year as it premiered Jonathan Demme's new film Rachel Getting Married that starred Anne Hathaway, who would receive the best reviews of her career as well as awards buzz. Yet, the surprise film of that festival is Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler that won the Golden Lion that announced the resurrection of Mickey Rourke playing the title role. Buzz for that film grew as it arrived in Toronto weeks later while another film got surprising attention in Danny Boyle's Bollywood-drama Slumdog Millionaire. The film would become a real hit with audiences and critics carrying over huge awards buzz right through the Oscars were it would win 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle. While art house films did OK with hit films like Milk from Gus Van Sant, the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, and Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky. The award film season for 2008 proved to be troubling as some films like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, Stephen Daldry's The Reader, Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon, Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road, and David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button created a competitive season where the films didn't exactly live up to expectations. In many ways, 2008 ended with a whimper for audiences. With studios trying to for Oscars and box office success while films involving the Iraq war or political subjects continue to fail with the public. It's clear that 2008 was not a very good year for films with teens going ga-ga over teenage vampires and pop idols with nothing much to offer. If the film world and audiences were going through problems that year. Another group of people in the film industry that took a serious hit is world of film criticism. Film critics in the 1970s used to be very important as through the 1980s, critics like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert hosted a show that carried a devoted cult following. In 2008, film criticism took real serious hits as Roger Ebert, who had been through some serious illnesses and surgeries that has made him unable to talk, hadn't been hosting his show At the Movies with the late Gene Siskel's replacement Richard Roeper. With fellow Chicago critic Michael Phillips taking Ebert's place, the show was trying to keep going until the spring of 2008. With Ebert out of the picture and writing reviews on his website and blog, it became clear that audiences are no longer paying attention to what critics had to say. With newspapers deciding to get rid of some film critics with blogging and online film criticism being the people to keep things going. Film critics took a major hit when At the Movies was revived with two new hosts in Turner Classic Movies personality Ben Mankiewicz and E! News reporter Ben Lyons. The new show took serious criticism over its critique of films, most notably the responses from Ben Lyons who has managed to anger serious film buffs and film critics. Roger Ebert himself managed to take shots at Lyons in his blog over the things he did like text-message during a film screening, posing with celebrities, and suck-up to them even if he panned their films. With Roger Ebert being one of the few that audiences can count on, it's clear that film criticism is in big trouble thanks to the likes of idiots like Ben Lyons, Shane Edwards, Pete Hammond, and Armond White. In the end, 2008 was a bad year for movies as audiences hope for better films. Yet, with films like Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince and The Soloist finally to be released in 2009 as they were originally slated for 2008. Many hope that 2009 will be better though it's likely that it won't be much of an improvement as quality is starting to decline. In retrospect, 2006 and 2007 ended up being very good years while 2008 just ended up being a year that was largely mediocre. Part II: The Best Films of 2008 10 2008 Films That Won't Make the Final Cut: 1. Wendy & Lucy 2. The Class 3. Let the Right One In 4. I Loved You For So Long 5. Gomorrah 6. Happy-Go-Lucky 7. Doubt 8. Frozen River 9. Man on Wire 10. Waltz with Bashir The Top 20 Films of 2008 1. WALL-E Directed by Andrew Stanton. Screenplay by Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon. Story by Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter. Featuring the Voices of Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberg, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Garlin, and Fred Willard. Of all of the films of 2008, no film raised the bar for not just animation and science-fiction but movies all around the board like WALL-E did. The Pixar studio company that helped introduce the film world to 3-D computer-animation that began with 1995's Toy Story proved once again why they're the best. The story of the last living robot on Earth in a futuristic world finds love in another robot arriving to Earth to find life. Going on an adventure to retrieve the robot he loves, he ends up making a difference to the new world around him as humanity had become distracted by bad foods and TV. Directed by Andrew Stanton who previously helmed Finding Nemo in 2003 bended various genres to the film from silent film, musicals, romance, drama, and adventure in a sci-fi setting. The film's remarkable achievement featured little dialogue in the first 30 minutes while its heartfelt musical moments were provided by Thomas Newman, Peter Gabriel, and songs from the 1969 musical Hello, Dolly! Along with reference to sci-fi films of the past with help from legendary sound designer Ben Burtt providing all of the noises including WALL-E's voice. Stanton also brought in the services cinematographer Roger Deakins as a visual consultant and visual effects master Dennis Murren to create a film that is definitely like no other film as Pixar proves that they can do more than just animation. 2. Paranoid Park Written for the Screen & Directed by Gus Van Sant. Based on the novel by Blake Nelson. Starring Gabe Nevins, Jake Miller, Scott Patrick Green, Taylor Momsen, Lauren McKinney, and Daniel Liu. Though it originally premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival which won Gus Van Sant the festival's 60th Anniversary prize. The film was finally released in the U.S. in 2008 to art house theaters. Leaning towards the technique of his most recent, experimental films of Gerry, Elephant, and Last Days. Van Sant creates a poetic, dreamy tale of a young teenage skateboarder who gets involved in the accidental death of a security guard. Told based on memory, the film features a wonderful performance from newcomer Gabe Nevins as the protagonist. The film features superb, dream-like cinematography from Christopher Doyle and Rain Kathy-Li plus amazing stock footage of skateboarding as Gus Van Sant proves to be one of cinema's premier directors. 3. Che Directed by Steven Soderbergh. The Argentine written by Peter Buchman. Guerilla written by Peter Buchman & Benjamin A. van der Veen. Starring Benicio del Toro, Demian Bichir, Rodrigo Santoro, Victor Rasuk, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Lou Diamond Phillips, Edgar Ramirez, Santiago Cabrera, Roberto Luis Santana, and Julia Ormond. Steven Soderbergh's two-part, four-and-a-half hour film about Che Guevara is probably the director's most ambitious project to date. Yet, the result is truly a film that is one of a kind featuring Benicio del Toro in a performance for the ages as Che Guevara. Along with a huge ensemble cast, the film was done in very different styles for each part. The Argentine was a traditional film of sorts about Guevara's first meeting with Fidel Castro, his arrival to Cuba to start the Cuban Revolution, and his 1964 speech to the United Nations. The second part Guerilla was shown in a different aspect ratio where the film was more in a cinema verite style with less plot about Guevara's failed attempt to start a revolution in Bolivia where he would meet his demise. 4. The Wrestler Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Written by Robert D. Siegel. Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, and Todd Irwin. Darren Aronofsky's fourth feature film finds him stripping away from the sprawling visuals of his last film The Fountain for something simpler but engaging in its subject. The film about an aging pro wrestler who used to be big back in the 80s is now struggling to keep by in doing independent, hardcore wrestling gigs only to succumb to a heart attack. Hoping to reconnect with his estranged life and adjust to life after pro wrestling with help from an aging stripper, the film is a tale of redemption but also criticizing the pro wrestling industry. The film features a spectacular performance from Mickey Rourke as the aging Randy "The Ram" Robinson in what is truly a comeback role for the actor. 5. Rachel Getting Married Directed by Jonathan Demme. Written by Jenny Lumet. Starring Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Anna Deveare Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, & Debra Winger. Jonathan Demme's first fictional feature film in five years has the director employing the Dogme 95 cinematic style of the late 1990s. For his story about a troubled woman's visit to her sister's wedding, it's a film about the dynamic of family as they deal with tragedy and old wounds. Featuring a wonderful first script from Jenny Lumet, the film features a break-out performance from Anne Hathaway who brings a chaotic yet sympathetic role as the troubled ex-model Kym. In the character of Rachel is Rosemarie DeWitt who is a woman dealing with her sister as it's one of the most compelling films of the year. 6. Slumdog Millionaire Directed by Danny Boyle. Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy. Based on the Novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup. Starring Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, and Irfan Khan. Danny Boyle's Charles Dickens meets Bollywood tale about a young man playing an Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in hopes to have the woman he loves watching is truly one of the year's big surprises. Co-directed with casting director Loveleen Tandan, the film has a kinetic style that is truly colorful with Boyle going into the slums of Mumbai as the film's protagonist takes on the odds as he's even accused of cheating. Yet, it's a powerful film with a Bollywood-style ending that definitely deserves all of its accolades. 7. Milk Directed by Gus Van Sant. Written by Dustin Lance Black. Starring Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, Victor Garber, and Josh Brolin. The story about the life of Harvey Milk from 1970 through his shocking death in 1978 has Gus Van Sant playing against the conventions of traditional bio-pics. With Sean Penn in the role of Harvey Milk, Penn plays a lively character who went from being a regular gay man to an unlikely leader in the Gay and Lesbian rights movement. Featuring archival footage of 1970s San Francisco, the film is both a compelling bio-pic and a time capsule into an important period in American history. Along with a great supporting cast including Josh Brolin as Milk's assassin Dan White, the film provides another masterpiece for Gus Van Sant. 8. Encounters at the End of the World Directed by Werner Herzog. Werner Herzog's documentary about Antarctica and the people who work at the land is one of the most fascinating documentaries from the legendary yet eccentric German director. Exploring worlds that hadn't been done in any documentaries about the land, Herzog makes sure that it doesn't become another fluffy penguin movie or another boring nature documentary. Along with an eccentric group of people living and working at the place, it's a mesmerizing film with places that are truly jaw-dropping. Most of all, Herzog dedicated the film to film critic Roger Ebert, whom Herzog had always been championed by. 9. The Dark Knight Directed by Christopher Nolan. Screenplay by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan. Story by Jonathan Nolan & David S. Goyer. Based on the DC comic. Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eric Roberts, Michael Jai White, William Fichter, and Morgan Freeman. The sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan and company create a film that's bigger than its predecessor with themes that are more broader than any comic book film. With Christian Bale returning as Batman and Bruce Wayne, Batman finally meets his match in the nihilistic Joker played with intensity and dark humor from Heath Ledger. Along with amazing action sequences, intense character study, and adult themes that were truly engaging. Featuring a great ensemble cast, it's a film that raises the bar for comic book movies as it's truly a spectacular film that can't be ignored. 10. In Bruges Written & Directed by Martin McDonough. Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Clemence Poesy, Jordan Prentice, Jeremie Renier, and Ralph Fiennes. The feature film debut from acclaimed playwright Martin McDonough, the film is a part-crime drama and part-buddy comedy about two hitmen hiding in the medieval Belgium village of Bruges. Filled with lots of humor that involves a racist midget, a profanity-laden crime boss, a beautiful drug dealer, and amazing locations, the film's high point revolves around the chemistry between Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as the two hitmen with Gleeson getting a chance to co-lead the film with Farrell displaying his sense of humor. It's definitely of the year's most surprising gems. 11. The Visitor Written & Directed by Thomas McCarthy. Starring Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira, and Hiam Abbass. Thomas McCarthy's follow-up to 2003's The Station Agent provides a rare leading role for famed character actor Richard Jenkins as a widowed professor whose life seemingly has no meaning. Until meeting a couple of immigrants living in his NYC apartment, he strikes a friendship with one of them until he's taken by the authorities. When that man's mother arrives, he reveals to her his lack of passion while finding new passion in African drums that he bangs on. Along with a great supporting performance from Hiam Abbass, the film's real star is Richard Jenkins as he gives an amazing performance that truly allows his talent to shine. 12. Iron Man Directed by Jon Favreau. Screenplay by Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Arthur Marcum, & Matthew Hollaway. Based on the Marvel comic book. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub, Jon Faverau, Leslie Bibb, Faran Tahir, and Jeff Bridges. The comic book hero story about Tony Stark and how he became Iron Man provides one of 2008's most entertaining blockbusters of the year. Filled with lots of humor, action, and great performances led by Robert Downey Jr. It's a film that opens the door for a franchise while works around the cliches of traditional origin stories. It's a film that is a lot of fun to watch while not pandering down to make it safe for kids. 13. Synecdoche, New York Written & Directed by Charlie Kaufman. Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson, Tom Noonan, Hope Davis, Michelle Williams, and Dianne Weist. The directorial debut of renowned screenwriter Charlie Kaufman comes this original tale about a playwright staging a play about his life as it goes on for 40 years while dealing with his own mortality. Filled with unconventional shots, amazing art direction from Mark Friedberg, and an extremely eccentric cast led by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It's a film that definitely divides audience while proving that Charlie Kaufman is one of the most original storytellers in cinema. 14. Pineapple Express Directed by David Gordon Green. Screenplay by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg. Story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, & Judd Apatow. Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny R. McBride, Amber Heard, Ed Begley Jr., Nora Dunn, Craig Robinson, Rosie Perez, and Gary Cole. What has to be one of the weirdest collaborations in America cinema in pairing comedy kingpin Judd Apatow with American independent cinema auteur David Gordon Green. A stoner action comedy inspired by Brad Pitt's stoner character from True Romance makes this film one of the funniest and insane comedies of the year. With Seth Rogen as the straight man and James Franco as the stoned drug dealer comes a delightful buddy comedy about a man and his dealer on the run from a corrupt cop and a crime boss. With scenes that are memorable and off the wall, it's definitely raised Green's profile to the public while proving that Judd Apatow is still the king of comedy. 15. Tropic Thunder Directed by Ben Stiller. Written by Ben Stiller, Etan Cohen, and Justin Theroux. Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Danny R. McBride, Nick Nolte, Jay Baruchel, Reggie Lee, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, Tom Cruise, and Robert Downey Jr. Ben Stiller's satire comedy about the film industry centering around a troubled film production over a Vietnam film proves to be another comedy hit for Stiller and company. With Stiller playing a has-been action star desperate for one more hit film with Jack Black as a drug-addicted comedy actor and Robert Downey Jr. as an Australian method actor who darkens his skin to play an African-American platoon sergeant. It's a film that's politically incorrect as it makes fun of stereotypes, actors, films, and everything else while taking shots at everyone including Ben Stiller himself. With Tom Cruise as a fat, foul-mouthed studio executive being one of the funniest performances. It's Robert Downey Jr. who steals the show from everyone in giving rules about playing mentally-challenged people and playing to every stereotype concerning African-American characters. 16. Forgetting Sarah Marshall Directed by Nicholas Stoller. Written by Jason Segal. Starring Jason Segal, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, and Paul Rudd. From producer Judd Apatow comes a hilarious comedy about a TV music composer whose big TV-star girlfriend Sarah Marshall breaks up with him. Distraught, the man goes to Hawaii for a vacation only to find out that Sarah Marshall is dating a rock star. With a lively receptionist to help him, he realize there's life after Sarah Marshall. Written and starring Jason Segal, the film has all of the raunchy humor and sweetness of other Apatow films while featuring breakout performances from Mila Kunis and British comedian Russell Brand. 17. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Directed by David Fincher. Screenplay by Eric Roth. Adaptation by Eric Roth & Robin Swicord. Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Julia Ormond, Jared Harris, and Elias Koteas. David Fincher's dreamy tale of a man aging backwards through the 20th Century is a fascinating from the director known for dark tales. While the film carries many similarities to Forrest Gump whose adapted script was written by Eric Roth. Starring Brad Pitt as the title character, we see Benjamin Button as a baby looking like an old man to witness several events while pining for his childhood friend Daisy. Along with a great ensemble and superb technical work, it's one of the most beautiful films of the year. 18. Changeling Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by J. Michael Straczynski. Starring Angelina Jolie, Jeffrey Donovan, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Kelly, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan, and John Malkovich. One of two films from Clint Eastwood in 2008, the other being Gran Torino, Eastwood goes for a period drama set in the 1930s about a woman whose son is missing only to get the wrong boy due to corruption by the LAPD. When a discovery is made from an officer about a serial murderer of children is revealed, it brings in a troubling case as the woman fights the LAPD with the public at her side. Featuring Angelina Jolie in a powerful though flawed performance. It's proof that Clint Eastwood still has some juice in him. 19. Hellboy II: The Golden Army Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola. Based on the comic book by Mike Mignola. Starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, the voice of Seth McFarlane, Jeffrey Tambor, and John Hurt. The sequel to the 2004 hit film Hellboy based on Mike Mignola's comic book has director Guillermo del Toro going for another round following the surprising success of 2006's El Laberinto del Fauno. Going for a broader story about an underworld threatened by progress as a banished prince wages war on humans. He ends up facing Hellboy as he tries to stop the prince from unleashing an unstoppable army. More entertaining than its predecessor, the film allows Perlman more depth to his character while Doug Jones provides more development as Abe Sapien who discovers love with the underworld's princess. 20. Be Kind Rewind Written & Directed by Michel Gondry. Starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Melonie Diaz, Mia Farrow, Sigourney Weaver, and Danny Glover. Gondry's fourth dramatic feature film about a guy who gets hit by a radioactive magnetic field accidentally erases his friend's videos from a video store he works for. Deciding to create their own versions for the locals to see, they gain an unexpected following. The film that fuses the humor of Jack Black along with Michel Gondry's wild imagination, the film is filled with lots of innocent, love for films, and communities rallying to save a video store upon the arrivals of DVDs. Honorable Mentions: Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Flight of the Red Balloon, & Burn After Reading. Best of Films 2008 (Pt. III & IV)  |
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