I would like to start off by sort of introducing myself a little bit. My name is Mickey Pagels and I am a 17 year-old dance student from Chicago who also loves movies [ed. blatant lies]. The Playlist gives me more than ample opportunity to write about current cinema, which is great for when I have spare time.
10. “Hamlet 2”
For me, “Hamlet 2” was a surprise comedy hit for me, just because I thought it looked terrible. I went and saw it as a last hurrah before the new school year and fell in love with the zaniness of the film. Steve Coogan gave an understated performance which drives the film and makes it work even with the dozens of jokes that fell flat.
The following films, nine thru six, are all tied to me. I like them all equally and it is too difficult to call anyone of them better than the other. All have their flaws which is what makes it tough for me to decipher any true victor.
9. “Slumdog Millionaire”
Although ‘Slumdog’ is in my top 10, I feel that it has been played up way too much. I definitely think that it is the most overrated movie on this blog. If not for the film’s unsettling transition between the first and second stages of Jamal’s life, I would have liked this movie a lot more than I do now, but because of the drop in personality, spark, color, and dare I say it, cuteness, the second act which takes up a substantial amount of the film really made me want it to either go back to the times of the young Jamal or to fast forward to the present. But still resonating in my head is the first time we see the young Jamal playing baseball in the slums of India and the rush I felt, along with the characters, as the police chase the children throughout the neighborhood. Not to mention a person is set on fire in this one, so that also scores it some points.
8. “Rachel Getting Married”
I really liked ‘Rachel,’ but I completely understand how someone could completely hate it. Overly long toasts and constant bickering are two valid reasons why someone might hate this movie. I on the other hand really enjoyed the documentary feel that director Jonathan Demme gave to ‘Rachel’ and how real the whole experience of watching this movie felt. I nearly fell in love with both prominent male figures in this film, Rachel’s husband, Sidney, and her father, played with much enthusiasm by Bill Irwin.
7. “Milk”
Sean Penn gives his best performance since “Mystic River” and James Franco hasn’t been better. The film didn’t play out as good as I hoped it to be though. It was a well put together piece of film that just didn’t quite live up to what I wanted it to be and with a dreadfully laughable performance by Diego Luna and one of the worst displays of drunk acting by Josh Brolin, I can’t quite get myself to bump this one up any higher.
6. “Gran Torino”
In his supposed last on screen performance, Clint Eastwood portrays probably the most fun to watch character in movies this year. If Batman drank 10 beers a day and didn’t give a fuck, he would be Clint Eastwood in “Gran Torino.” The film mixes comedy with drama to some success, but the rapid shooting schedule gave cause for some untested talent which really hurts the film. The fresh new faces, while realistic people, don’t quite work in important scenes, but like I said, Clint just saves it with his bad ass performance.
5. “The Dark Knight”
I might take some slack from some of my friends for putting this film so low on my top 10, but ‘TDK’ is just less and less enjoyable for me the more I watch it. Certain films get better and better with each new viewing, but I feel like ‘TDK’s’ 2.5 hour running time just drives another nail into the coffin every time I see it. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the film. Heath Ledger gives probably the best performance this year, but now that the hype has settled, I’ve finally found a comfortable place for this film.
4. “The Visitor”
The simplistic nature of “The Visitor” really caught my attention. In general, it’s a movie about a guy who just wants to learn an instrument which makes the film enjoyable for the beginning, then it turns into a movie about being friends which is also enjoyable. When the drama kicks in, the film takes a simple message, doesn’t shove it down your throats and it isn’t too sweet to begin with.
3. “WALL·E”
Short, sweet, cute, smart, funny and not really for kids. The little things in WALL·E are what made it for me. The little details strategically placed in the background. There really wasn’t anything not to like about this movie in addition to it being completely harmless.
2. “The Wrestler”
The final moments of this film left me completely numb with emotion. Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” was the only film from 2008 that brought me to tears. Mickey Rourke is perfect in what should be an Oscar winning performance. As a non-fan of wrestling, I was thoroughly entertained. I didn’t expect the film to be funny in addition, but it had me laughing more than most movies to come out this year. It’s honest and heart warming not to mention the real “feel good movie of the year.” Forget ‘Slumdog.’
1. “In Bruges”
For me, not only was this the best film of the year, it was the funniest. I still crack up watching it on DVD. I’m glad that ‘Bruges’ has gotten some last minute recognition by the Golden Globes and hopefully come Oscar season, it will take one home. (It’s not gonna happen though.) I’m excited to see what director Martin McDonagh does next.
Honorable Mentions: Sam Rockwell’s performance in “Snow Angels.” “JCVD” for having probably my favorite scene out of any movie this year. I’m talking about the one take wonder at the beginning of the film. “Religulous” for making me laugh harder and more constantly than any other movie this year, but alas, as a real documentary, it kinda sucked. But I love real people. “The Go-Getter” and “The Wackness” two solid coming of age stories. “Young @ Heart” and “Bigger, Stronger, Faster*” two good documentaries. Especially the latter due to the use of Ben Affleck on steroids footage. Finally, “The Grand” and “Sex Drive” two surprisingly un-awful comedies that I thought were going to be terrible. Instead, just average.