Mid-Year Report

As we are now past the Fourth of July, I figured it would be a good time to look back at the first half of 2008 and see what were some of the better films released, that are worth noting, maybe as a solid buy or rental. But while looking at the better films, we must look at some of 2008’s worst films. I want to add, before we began, that this list is created out of the 52 films I personally saw theatrically so far. Some movies I have missed obviously, but I have caught a lot to make this a worth while read. So let’s begin, shall we?

Depending on your market or which city you live in, sometimes when a new year rolls around, you’ll have some of last year’s films finally coming out. So just to recap some of the 2007 films I finally caught and highly recommend are: “There Will Be Blood”, “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days”, “Diving Bell and the Butterfly”, “Persepolis”, “Taxi to the Dark Side”, and “The Counterfeiters”. All of these are out now on DVD, sans the latter two, and I would highly recommend seeing them, if not owning. You can also read my reviews of each here at Killer Film.

On to 2008…

Worst Films

Okay, let’s get these out of the way. Now, there’s some films I haven’t seen, so there will be more bad films out there that came out, but here’s some I wouldn’t waste anymore time with that I already did.

Love Guru: Perhaps the worst film I’ve seen in the last few years, as it is so unfunny and recycled, that it gives a new definition to the word suck.

The Happening: I’ve been off of the M. Night bandwagon after “Signs”, but the trailer gave me hope that this film would get him back on track. Um, no. Silly and anti-climatic, filled with unintentional humor, bad dialogue, and a poor excuse for a rated R film. Not scary, just silly.

10, 000 B.C.: Now in years to come I could see this become a “so bad, it’s good” camp classic, because it has the makings of it. Our hero travels through frozen tundra, a rainforest (filled with killer Ostriches!), and enters a desert, in the time span of 15 minutes. Let alone, the He-Man and Battle Cat routine with him and the Saber-toothed, oh and the nod of respect the Mammoth gives him, and oh the…well, you get my point.

Jumper: As proven with the “Star Wars” prequels Hayden Christiansen can’t act, let alone hold an action film on his own. Doug Liman loses a lot of cred with this turd.

Be Kind, Rewind: This film’s best parts can be seen online. Gondry’s worst.

Doomsday: Might have been accepted better if it were apart of “Grindhouse”, but Neil Marshall just throws everything into this film in which nothing sticks. Its best parts are seen in better movies.

Deception: Perhaps 20th Century Fox gave Hugh Jackman this opportunity to let him choose a project to quiet him before they get him to do “Wolverine”, but why this? Admit tingly, it had an interesting cast, Jackman, McGregor, Michelle Williams, but the film is handled so generically. Not really a bad film, just an uninspired one.

Speed Racer: Same with this one, not a horrendous film like we all feared, just an orgy of CGI that lacks character and space. I appreciated how the Wachowskis tried to bring an anime cartoon to live action; it’s just too long and too silly.

Now, let’s get the better films of 2008 so far.

Top 10 Best Films

1 – Wall*E: The cliché answer is that nobody does animated films like Pixar, but it’s true. Great characters, good old fashion comedy, and just pure magic that films rarely get to have, this one has it in spades. Fantastic.

2 – Young@Heart: A documentary made it this high, for the simple fact than no other film was filled with more emotion, more drama, more laughs and tears than the Young@Heart choir group. You will remember this one long after viewing, please, do yourself a favor and seek it out.

3 – In Bruges: This was one huge surprise to me. Two hit men take some down time in Bruges, Belgium. Dark humor, action, and just great lines of dialogue make this one a must see. Brendan Gleeson is always good and this one features a fabulous performance by Colin Farrell. Oh, wait to you see the racist midget and Ralph Fiennes appearance.

4 – Chicago 10: Another fabulous documentary about the Chicago Democratic National Convention in the late sixties married with popular music like Eminem and Rage Against the Machine. This film makes you wish our generation cared this much about civil right and politics in this country. Wow, what a time.

5 – Iron Man: This is perhaps the pinnacle of what a superhero film can be, when constructed in pop culture; it’s funny, adventurous, and crafted by people behind the camera who just get the character. Plus, Robert Downey Jr. just sizzles on screen. I can’t wait for the sequel and the Blu Ray.

6 – Son of Rambow: We all have that one film that just sparkles are imagination and for these characters it’s “First Blood”. Despite the novelty of them making a sequel to “First Blood”, the film is filled with an exploration of religion and friendship in England during the late 1980s. Powerful film, with laughter and heartfelt emotion, this is what “Be Kind, Rewind” wanted to be.

7 – Paranoid Park: Gus Van Sant has now, with this film, mastered the cinema verite aspects of a narrative film. It’s haunting and beautiful.

8 – Redbelt: Mamet’s martial arts film is anything but, in action terms, but in philosophical terms it is marvelous to think about. A film not for everyone, but if you appreciate the art of martial arts and great acting, then this might be for you.

9 – Sputnik Mania: Another great documentary (it’s like I’m repeating myself) about that turbulent time in the ‘50s when the Red Scare was all the rage. Unlike most documentaries, this one relies on archival footage to tell the story, and that makes it all the more powerful.

10 – The Promotion: While most critics where split on this one, I found it engaging and funny beyond all belief. Most 9 to 5ers should relate to this one.

It’s been a decent year so far, yes, most of the better films you have to attend your local art house theater, but these top films I highly recommend in anyway of seeing: theater, DVD, Netflix, just see them.

Now, as July rolls on and the start of the second half of 2008 begins, will any of these films still be in my top best or worst of 2008? Come back in six months and see, but until then keeping coming back to read reviews and DVD reviews of these films and more throughout the rest of the year, only at Killer Film! See you at the movies!