thevoid99's Best of Films 2008 (Pt. III & IV)Mar 08 '09 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line 2008 was a mediocre year in films with few great movies in a sea of mediocrity.
Part III: Best Director, Actors, Screenplay, Debuts, & Special Awards Best Director: Gus Van Sant, Paranoid Park 2008 saw Gus Van Sant release two films in the U.S. First is the dreamy, experimental Paranoid Park and the second is the bio-pic Milk. Though the latter has Van Sant going for more conventional territory while doing unconventional things in the bio-pic of Harvey Milk. It's his work in Paranoid Park that really shows his broad talent as a director. Already an iconic and acclaimed director for films like Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, and Good Will Hunting. Van Sant's recent foray into experimental films has solidified his talents where in Paranoid Park, he engages the audience into the memory of a teenager dealing with tragedy. With shots described as dream-like and slow-motion shots that are poetic to watch, it's clear that among the crop of great living American directors out there. Gus Van Sant is truly the one that deserves to be on top. Runner-Up: Andrew Stanton, WALL-E 3. Steven Soderbergh, Che 4. Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler 5. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married, Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight, Werner Herzog, Encounters at the End of the World, Martin McDonough, In Bruges, and Thomas McCarthy, The Visitor. Best Actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler & Benicio del Toro, Che (tie) Two actors giving great performances yet hard to decide. Yet, Mickey Rourke and Benicio del Toro provide the year's most memorable performances as well as what it takes to give great performances in the art of acting. For Mickey Rourke, playing the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson is truly the defining role for the actor who was once the actor everyone idolized in the 1980s only to fall down by bad decisions and personal troubles. Though the role isn't as different to what Rourke went through in real life, it's one that is harrowing to watch through the pain that Robinson goes through both physically and emotionally. It's mesmerizing as a man trying to find redemption and a usefulness in the real world that he can't adjust to as Mickey Rourke gives the ultimate comeback performance. For Benicio del Toro, playing the character of Che Guevara has to be a massive undertaking but he did it. Playing the actor in different stages of his life, he exudes all of the drive, leadership, and iconography of the man in the film's first part in The Argentine. In Guerilla, we see del Toro convinced that he will start a revolution only to face odds that he didn't count on while reminding audiences of Guevara's asthma attacks which were shown in the previous part. It's truly a performance for the ages as del Toro shows why he is one of the world's greatest actors in cinema. Runner-Up: Sean Penn, Milk 3. Richard Jenkins, The Visitor 4. Colin Farrell, In Bruges 5. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Synecdoche, New York Honorable Mentions: Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges, Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man, James Franco, Pineapple Express, and Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married Already known for such light-fared projects like The Princess Diaries movies, The Devil Wears Prada, and Ella Enchanted while taking on more dramatic features like Brokeback Mountain, Nicholas Nickelby, and Becoming Jane. Anne Hathaway finally delivers her breakout performance as Kym, a troubled ex-model coming out of rehab to attend her sister's wedding. Raw, fiery, and at times, very unlikeable, Hathaway plays a character that's the antithesis of everything she's done. It's also a performance where she brings sympathy to a troubled character where Anne shows her range and versatility as an actress proving that she's one of the best young actresses of her generation. Runner-Up: Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona 3. Angelina Jolie, Changeling 4. Juliette Binoche, Flight of the Red Balloon 5. Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight In his penultimate performance, Heath Ledger's role as the Joker blows away all of the actors who had played the comical character before him. Reinventing the Joker as a darkly-humored nihilist hell-bent on bringing chaos to Gotham City. It's really the performance of the year as he steals the show from everyone including Christian Bale as Batman. With a grungy makeup, dyed green hair, a sinister laugh, and not a care in the world, Ledger's performance is a mix of offbeat humor, bravado, and terror that is never seen in a performance like this. Not only does he raise the bar for villains but also proves to be one of those guys you just can't ignore as it's an amazing role from the late Australian actor. Runner-up: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder 3. Bill Irwin, Rachel Getting Married 4. James Franco, Milk 5. Josh Brolin, Milk Honorable Mentions: Emile Hirsch, Milk, Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight, Jared Harris, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt, Burn After Reading, and Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges. Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married Known mostly for TV and stage work, Rosemarie DeWitt became the real discovery of the film in playing the title character who is getting married. Though her co-star Anne Hathaway might have the bigger role, it's Dewitt's performance as the older sister trying to deal with her younger's sister abrasive behavior that deserves more attention. Without any kind of high-drama, DeWitt matches Hathaway in every scene as she tries to keep everything together for her big day. It's really a breakthrough performance for the actress. Runner-up: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona 3. Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler 4. Hiam Abbass, The Visitor 5. Samantha Morton, Synecdoche, New York Honorable Mentions: Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man, Emily Watson, Synecdoche, New York, Melonie Diaz, Be Kind Rewind, Clemence Poesy, In Bruges, Tilda Swinton, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Alison Pill, Milk. Best Original Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married Jenny Lumet's script about a family drama surrounding a wedding is filled with humor, drama, and sadness concerning a family tragedy. With the wedding being a different kind of wedding with the Caucasian Rachel marrying the African-American Sidney with different cultures surrounding the wedding. It's the drama about Kym's arrival and the appearance of Kym and Rachel's mother that also looms large for Kym's emotional psyche about the elephant in the family's home. It's a phenomenal script from a first-timer proving there's promise from the daughter of the legendary Sidney Lumet. Runner-Up: Dustin Lance Black, Milk 3. Robert D. Siegel, The Wrestler 4. Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, & Pete Docter, WALL-E 5. Martin McDonough, In Bruges Honorable Mentions: Thomas McCarthy, The Visitor, Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York and Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, & Evan Goldberg, Pineapple Express. Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire Based on Vikas Swarup's Q&A novel, Simon Beaufoy's screenplay meshes the rags-to-riches determination of stories by Charles Dickens into an Indian setting with rich locations and struggles that works like a Dickens tale. While the script has a simple structure where audiences do know what happens, it's Beaufoy's determination for the protagonist and audiences rooting for him that makes it more compelling right to the end. It's well-crafted with humor, drama, and romance that brings audiences a story that is universal and something to cheer for. Runner-up: Gus Van Sant, Paranoid Park 3. Christopher & Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer, The Dark Knight 4. Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Arthur Marcum, & Matthew Hollaway, Iron Man 5. Eric Roth & Robin Swicord, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best Debut Film/Screenplay: Martin McDonough, In Bruges Already an accomplished playwright and novelist, Martin McDonough's first feature-film about two hitmen hiding in the town of Bruges is a mix of dark humor and mob-like violence. Yet, it's emphasis on the comradery of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson is what gives the film its heart and soul as they encounter various people including a racist midget. It's funny and also dark in its sense of tragedy and yearning for redemption. With McDonough's talents in various mediums, it's clear he's definitely a director to watch. Runner-Up: Dustin Lance Black (screenplay), Milk 3. Jenny Lumet (screenplay), Rachel Getting Married 4. Charlie Kaufman (film), Synecdoche, New York Best Newcomer: Gabe Nevins, Paranoid Park An unknown who is really a skateboard kid with no acting experience, Gabe Nevins brings a truly mesmerizing role as a kid dealing with tragedy that he got involved in. Whereas most teenagers are played by 20 and 30 year olds or whatever teen idol is on the screen. Nevins' performance brings realism to what a teenager is dealing with along with all of the things that kids go through. Even as he's trying to write everything he went through in a diary as it's a performance that is rarely seen in most films about teens. Runner-Up: Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire 3. Frieda Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire Best Ensemble Cast: Rachel Getting Married A truly amazing cast of actors with cameos from the likes of Robyn Hitchcock, Fab 5 Freddy, Roger Corman, and Sister Carol East at the wedding to a wide variety of people at the reception. With small cast members each making memorable appearance, it's the core cast of Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Anna Deveare Smith, and Debra Winger that really holds the ensemble together. Diverse yet chaotic, no actor is wasted as everyone gets a moment to shine while letting Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt to take charge of the film. Runner-Up: Che 3. The Dark Knight 4. Synecdoche, New York 5. Slumdog Millionaire Honorable Mentions: In Bruges, Tropic Thunder, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Iron Man. Robert Altman Award for Best Cast-Director Collaboration: Milk Gus Van Sant has always known for bringing the best in actors and with Milk, he does an amazing job in utilizing a superb cast assembled by Francine Maisler. With Sean Penn taking the lead as Harvey Milk, it's Maisler and Van Sant's use of a young cast with James Franco as Milk's first lover Scott Smith, Diego Luna as shambolic second-boyfriend Jack Lira, Emile Hirsch as the energetic Cleve Jones, Alison Pill as campaign manager Anne Kronenberg, and Josh Brolin as the troubled assassin Dan White. With Van Sant making sure the actors look like the real people they play and showing their contribution to history, it's definitely a great collaboration between Van Sant and his cast in the spirit of Robert Altman. Special Award: Steven Soderbergh & Benicio del Toro for Che American films that run over four hours is rare nowadays, especially about a controversial historical figure and in Spanish with English subtitles. Yet, Steven Soderbergh and Benicio del Toro managed to do the impossible in attracting an audience into a seeing a film as big as this. Especially in two-parts with an intermission for its roadshow presentation. With most bio-pics often playing to conventions, Soderbergh chose not to give into conventions by just focusing on a few periods about Che Guevara's life. With Benicio del Toro also serving as a producer and taking great lengths into getting this film as accurate as it is. It's truly a film that no director or star in Hollywood would take as Soderbergh and del Toro deserves commendation for taking huge risks with a project as huge and as controversial as this film is. Part IV: Technical Awards Best Cinematography: Christopher Doyle & Rain Kathy-Li, Paranoid Park For the film's dreamy, evocative tone, Gus Van Sant brought in Christopher Doyle whom he previously worked with in the 1998 remake of Psycho. With Rain Kathy-Li, Doyle's photography on the Portland locations is truly fascinating along with the slow camera movements he creates to capture the skateboarding scenes including some rich, grainy Super 8 footage of skateboarders. Yet, the work that Doyle and Kathy-Li did in this film is truly gorgeous in every scene shot with Doyle even making a cameo as the protagonist's uncle. Runner-Up: Maryse Alberti, The Wrestler 3. Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire 4. Harris Savides, Milk 5. Peter Zeitlinger, Encounters at the End of the World Best Editing: Gus Van Sant, Paranoid Park Serving as his own editor in some of his recent films, with the exception of Milk, Gus Van Sant definitely takes great work into what he wants to do as an editor. Since Paranoid Park is a film based on memory, Van Sant creates a film that moves back and forth of how a kid thinks while slowing the action down for dramatic effect. Using old-school editing machines instead of computers, Van Sant goes for a unique pacing approach to the film as he proves to viable as an editor just as he as a director. Runner-Up: Chris Dickens, Slumdog Millionaire 3. Lee Smith, The Dark Knight 4. Andrew Weisblum, The Wrestler 5. Pablo Zumarraga, Che Best Art Direction: Mark Friedberg, Lydia Marks, & Adam Stockhausen, Synecdoche, New York Production designer Mark Friedberg along with set decorator Lydia Marks and art director Adam Stockhausen created a set piece that is definitely like no other film. Since part of the film is set in an old warehouse, the genius to recreate scenes from previous scenes of the film is astounding of how the sets are built and then having something else go on. Freidberg's art direction with his team of decorators, designers, and art directors is a marvel to watch to the point that it becomes a film shot in a warehouse within a warehouse within a warehouse. Runner-Up: Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo, Tom Reta, & Kelly Curley, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 3. James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis, & Patrick M. Sullivan Jr., Changeling 4. Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando, Kevin Kavanaugh, & Simon Lamont, The Dark Knight 5. J. Michael Riva, Lauri Gaffin, & David F. Klassen, Iron Man Best Sound: Ben Burtt & Matthew Wood, WALL-E Already a legend in the work of sound design and editing, Ben Burtt was hired to create voices and various noises for the Pixar animated film WALL-E. Along with sound editor Matthew Wood, Burtt's work is truly amazing in its layer of sounds and the voices he creates for the WALL-E character that he voices himself. Along with the use of computers and other devices including household appliances, Burtt's work in the sound design with Wood's superb editing makes WALL-E a phenomenal film for its sound. Runner-Up: Richard King, The Dark Knight 3. Leslie Shatz & Felix Andrews, Paranoid Park 4. Frank E. Eulner & Shannon Mills, Iron Man 5. Larry Blake & Gabriel Guttierrez, Che Best Visual Effects: Dennis Muren, WALL-E With help for its visual effects and look, director Andrew Stanton hired cinematographer Roger Deakins help for shooting while he also got the help of renowned visual effects artist Dennis Muren. Muren's work to help the computer animation create images that aren't seen in previous 3D computer animated films with the look of planets, outer space, and the space ship as it's visual pallette is just gorgeous to watch. The overall animation and visual effects work created to the film truly raises the bar for what animated films can do as well as science fiction. Runner-Up: Ben Snow, Edson Williams, & Anthony Mabin, Iron Man 3. Eric Barba, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 4. Nick Davis, The Dark Knight 5. Mark Russell, Synecdoche, New York Best Costume Design: Jacqueline West, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Jacqueline West's work in the various period look of the costumes is magnificent from its early 20th Century look to the early 21st Century and how it evolves from decade to decade. The suits that Brad Pitt wears along with the clothes he wears on the ships and hats to the contemporary clothes he wears when he's young. The dresses of Cate Blanchett are just as astonishing from her Parisian clothes she wears and ballet garbs to more contemporary clothing as she gets older. It's definitely some fantastic work as Jacqueline West's work is truly phenomenal. Runner-Up: Bina Daigeler, Che 3. Deborah Hopper, Changeling 4. Lindy Hemming, The Dark Knight 5. Danny Glicker, Milk Best Makeup: Jean Anne Black, Carla Brenholtz, Alison Gordon, Stacy Herbert, Elaine L. Offers, & Paige Reeves, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The makeup work in this film to have Brad Pitt start out as an old man in a boy's body to being younger is great. Even where at times, he looks like an older Marlon Brando while the way he ages does give the film a fascinating look. The makeup on Cate Blanchett works just as well as she ends up getting older as the film progresses. The overall makeup work to age characters without making them look ridiculous or a gimmick is amazing by its team of makeup artists. Runner-Up: Mike Elizade & Thomas Floutz, Hellboy II: The Golden Army 3. Naomi Donne & Michael Marino, Synecdoche, New York 4. John Caglione, Latrice Edwards, Lisa Jelic, & Vicki Vacca, The Dark Knight 5. Michele Burke, Barney Burman, & Heather Plott, Tropic Thunder Best Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire Already renowned in the Bollywood film industry, A.R. Rahman scores his big international breakthrough with his award-winning score for Slumdog Millionaire. Filled with energetic, electronic-driven styles of music mixed in with vibrant Indian rhythms, it's a score that is truly one of its kind. With romantic themes and pieces that are very dramatic, it's Rahman all the way as he creates one of the most memorable and vibrant film scores of the decade. Runner-Up: Thomas Newman, WALL-E 3. Danny Elfman, Milk 4. Alberto Iglesias, Che 5. Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best Soundtrack: Slumdog Millionaire Filled with Rahman's energetic film score plus songs ranging from Indian hip-hop to the unique sounds of M.I.A., the film's soundtrack is truly unique with music that is truly out of this world. Featuring the award-winning Jai-Ho by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, it's an album that is really unexpected with music that audiences can remember. Runner-Up: WALL-E 3. Rachel Getting Married Best Original Song: Bruce Springsteen-The Wrestler from The Wrestler Bruce Springsteen's somber ballad about Randy "The Ram" Robinson is one of the Boss' most heartbreaking songs. Stripped down in its acoustic setting along a piano and a soft string orchestra, it's Springsteen's gravelly voice that exudes the pains and hardship that Robinson goes through. It's easily one of the best songs ever made for a film as the Boss clearly still has the magic touch. Runner-Up: A.R. Rahman & Gulzar-Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire 3. Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman-Down To Earth from WALL-E 4. Robyn Hitchcock-America from Rachel Getting Married 5. A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.-O, Saya from Slumdog Millionaire Quick Picks: Best Animated Film: WALL-E Best Comedy: Pineapple Express Best Foreign Film: Che Best Documentary: Encounters at the End of the World Funniest Scene: Brad Pitt rocking the treadmill, Burn After Reading Best Line: "I know who I am! I'm the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude" (Tropic Thunder) Best Action Scene: Batpod vs. the Joker's truck (The Dark Knight) Best Nude Scene: Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler and Jason Segal in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (tie) Best Cameo: Matt Damon (Che) Best of Films 2008 (Pt. I & II)  |
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