Seems to be a staple of any blog to have a rundown of the writer’s favorites from the previous year, so without further a due I present my 2008 favorites in film!
Being a film major and a person who tends to take in a fair amount of films each year this is a tough category with some fierce competition. Those at the top are deserving of their place there and worth every bit of critical and existential praise a learned man can muster.
1. The Wrestler (2008) – Not difficult to set this as my number one, grew up with wrestling, Bret “The Hit man Heart” was my hero, and the sharp shooter, as my little brother well knows, was my finishing move. Two great performances given by Jesus, Mickey Rourke and Mary Magdalene, Marisa Tomei punctuated by a Springsteen song, written specifically for Mickey Rourke’s resurrected career. The sum of The Wrestler’s parts are simply stunning.
2. I’m Not There (2007) – The topic of my second semester essay in Film studies and easily one of my top films of the year. Beyond having Uncle Bob as its subject material, its complexity involving postmodern themes and play on identity were enough to make any modernists head come clean off.
3. Låt den rätte komma in/ Let the right one in (2008) – I’m not normally a fan of Swedish films, even after having lived here for 8 years. They tend to be fairly dark, realistic and depressing albeit technically brilliant, just not my cup of tea. Let the right one in displays what I would call a progressive restraint in being technically brilliant, capturing the essences of its setting but also weaving together a sublimely dark and unconditional love story as its shinning light.
4. Slumdog Milliionare (2008) – One part popular game show, one part Mega Cities (2005) overall a tremendous way of telling a simple love story. Nice to see another appropriate use of M.I.A.’s paper planes other then Pineapple Express’s (2008) beloved trailer!
5. Milk (2008) – I like the word, I like the substance (that is barring those occasions when I’ve drank too much of it early in the morning). Sean Penn should win an Oscar for his role, not to mention James Franco for his moustache! Somewhere someplace in a lounge he is teasing it!
