...In which our heroine presents 2008 in Film.

I still feel pretty terrible, and thus why the lack of updates. So far, mono is like a hangover (because I saw what that was like in a movie once)--exhausted, headaches, periods of nausea. 

I should've written this post a long time ago, earlier in the month but I had a couple more films that needed seeing. So, without further ado, here are my favorite films of the year, in some kind of order.

10/9. Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express

My two favorite comedies of the summer share a spot because while they were both hilarious, there were certainly flaws to each as well. Thunder is a lovely send-up of Hollywood conventions, and Express made stoners look, dare I say it, just a little bit smart. Nothing serious here, but lots of fun.

8. Burn After Reading

This is admittedly, not the best Coen Brothers film, or even close to the brilliance of last year's No Country for Old Men but it's still a whole lot of fun. Mix the typical Coen Brothers hijinks with the CIA, sex, murder, and gym rats, along with excellent performances by Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand especially, and this is certainly an enjoyable film.

7. Iron Man

Any other year and this would have been tops in the comic genre. (We'll be getting to that in a moment.) But still, Downey Jr. does great service to the role of Tony Stark and takes a totally believable plot and makes it thrilling, funny, and visually compelling. It was hard to buy El Duderino as a super villain, but I am quite looking forward to Iron Man 2.

6. Milk

There is not a damn thing wrong with this film--well-acted, well-shot, and well-scripted. But that's the problem, it is simply too typical for my tastes. I kept waiting for the convention to lessen and it didn't. But otherwise, this is a very good, topical film. Much is being made about Sean Penn's performance, but I think that he's overshadowed by the wonderful supporting cast. 

5. Revolutionary Road 

My, how this one stung. This was a tough watch, but Kate and Leo were absolutely outstanding. She deserves the Oscar for this, and I don't know why Leo's name isn't being thrown out more in all the awards talk. The sense of entrapment in 1950s life is palpable with Roger Deakins' cinematography and use of color. A really, really good character study of relationships, just don't watch it with your significant other.

4. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Okay, so this is a documentary and probably shouldn't be on the list, but no film affected me so profoundly emotionally this year. I absolutely sobbed at several points throughout and the end. I won't spoil the plot much because the less you know, the better. This is a wonderful documentary, an amazing assemblage of footage and editing. Basically, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne's childhood friend gets murdered by his girlfriend--who happens to be pregnant with his child. Kuenne then decides to make a film for the child, Zachary, about his father. Find this film and watch it. 

3. The Dark Knight

I got nothin.' Reinvention of the superhero mythology. Pitch black. Heath Ledger's Joker is beyond good. It's all been said. I love my Batman, and this is the best form I've ever seen him in. You better complete the trilogy, Nolan. 

2. The Wrestler 

I'll be rooting hard for Mickey Rourke on Oscar night. Robert Downey Jr. had a sizable comeback this year, but it was nothing compared to the pain that Rourke brings to Randy "The Ram" Robinson. I certainly don't care about the world of professional wrestling, but the character study of Randy created by Darren Aronofsky must be seen. Pathetically glorious is how I like to think of it. Rourke will absolutely break your heart.

And finally...

1. Slumdog Millionaire 

After seeing this film a second time, the choice was clear. In terms of overall filmmaking--from script to score to editing to performance, this is the best film of the year. I fell in love with Danny Boyle's vision of modern India, and the story is very Dickens. Most of the other films on this list are depressing, but Slumdog is inspiring and uplifting. It makes me cry to, but out of sheer joy. My favorite aspect of the film is the beautifully written script by Simon Beaufoy, and thus everything else falls into place. I'm really hoping that the Oscar buzz stays for this all the way to Best Picture, and just maybe even rewards Danny Boyle for his ever-improving body of work.

The honorable mentions: Wall-E (too preachy), Let the Right One In (too cheesy at times), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (too nice).