The PC has been out of pocket lately, working on lesson plans, taking a hubristic stab at a Dostoevsky-meets-McCarthy-meets-O’Connor novel, and just generally neglecting to review films. However, he has been watching movies and so would like offer a quick run-down of what he has seen (complete with ratings). He apologizes in advance for the lack of detail, but figures this is the best way to catch up:

1. Two Lovers (dir. James Gray, 2008): 4.5/5
2. We Own the Night (dir. James Gray, 2007): 3.5/5
3. The Yards (dir. James Gray, 2000): 4.5/5 (In general, Gray seems to borrow a lot from Scorsese, but that’s a good thing)
4. Henry Poole Is Here (dir. Mark Pellington, 2008): 3.5/5
5. Frozen River (dir. Courtney Hunt, 2008): 4.5/5 (Amazing performance here from Melissa Leo)
6. Eastern Promises (dir. David Cronenberg, 2007): 5/5 (Interesting, well-acted, and surprisingly underrated)
7. Adventureland (dir. Greg Mottola, 2009): 4/5
8. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (dir. Sidney Lumet, 2007): 4.5/5
9. In Bruges (dir. Martin McDonagh, 2008): 4/ 5
10. Mongol (dir. Sergei Bodrov, 2008): 4/ 5

I had a teacher that once said that drama is for feelings and comedy is for thought. At first I dismissed this idea because how can a movie like Little Nicky or Dickie Roberts: Child Star be thoughtful. But if you think about it, although they are horrible movies, they are indeed thoughtful. The former deals with living up to your father’s expectations, while the latter is about the effects stardom have on a child.

For this reason comedy is my favorite genre. Can you make a drama about a girl trying infiltrate a clique of popular girls to bring them down, and eventually becoming one of them? Yes you can, but it does not have the same effect as a comedy. So, I was quite excited about compiling a list of my favorite comedies of the decade, but it turned out to be harder than I thought. I’m sure I left out a few good ones, but I feel happy with the way it turned out.

Here’s my list for the 10 best comedies of the decade:

10. Shrek

Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson | 2001

I saw this without having seen any sort of promotional material for it (how I managed to do that, I don’t know), so imagine my surprise when the movie started. Shrek is a clever take on fairy tales that has jokes coming in very often, and they never get old. Will the movie age well? Probably not because of all the pop culture references, but I will always have fond memories of it.

9. I Love You, Man

John Hamburg | 2009

A great story about friendship sewn together by great chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. Together, they make some poorly written lines and situations work. The rest of the cast also does a pretty good job of making this work, among them the always reliable JK Simmons, Andy Samberg, and Rashinda Jones.

8. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Adam McKay | 2004

This movie came out at the peak of Will Ferrell’s popularity, that is when he used to do the things he still does, but with good scripts. The story is inpired and a perfect fit for Ferrell’s comedic abilities. The sight gag are great and the dialogue (which is rather good) is delivered perfectly by the cast. And I believe that this is still Ferrell’s best performance.

7. Ratatouille

Brad Bird | 2007

This movie is full of sophisticated and innocent humor. Prior to this it had been a while that I had not seen a non-Pixar animated movie that was hilarious and had clean humor. Yes, there is a poop joke, but that fits the personality of the character that is involved in the joke. Ratatouille made once again made the messy kitchen, the food to the face, slapstick feel fresh once again.

6. School of Rock

Richard Linklater | 2003

Jack Black gives his best and funniest performance here. Yes, the plot has been done before, but the way the story is told, and the earnest performances from the young cast, makes this stand above the rest of other movies with the same plot. Plus, the ending is pure magic.

5. Mean Girls

Mark Waters | 2004

Before “30 Rock” and Sarah Palin made Tina Fey a house-hold name, and before Linday Lohan started doing drugs and ruined her career, they made this movie. Lohan, along with Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfriend, and Lacy Chabert, make Fey’s creations come to life in a great way. The movie is full of your typical Fey dialogue, and that alone makes it stand above other comedies.

4. Hot Fuzz

Edgar Wright | 2007

The love that Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have for bad action movies shows here. And only them could they make an intentionally hilarious action movie like this. The biggest laugh, however, don’t come from the spoofing, but rather from the small moments, like the old man being stabbed in the foot, or the crossword puzzle dialogue exchange. Just great stuff all around.

3. Happy-Go-Lucky

Mike Leigh | 2008

Some do not think that this is a comedy, and I can see why they think that however, since this made me cry because of all the laughter, it definitely qualifies as a comedy. No other movie made me laugh this hard this decade. This is all thanks to Mike Leigh’s great writing and direction, which fleshed out every single character, even those who are on-screen for only a few minutes. The movie also works as a comedy thanks to Sally Hawkins’ amazing performance.

2. Knocked Up

Judd Appatow | 2007

One would think that it would be hard to find comedy in an uncomfortable situation such as an unwanted pregnancy. However, Judd Appatow did, not in the actual situation, but in the fall out from it. Seeing these two people and their families trying either help them or trying to tear them apart is funny as well as seeing them trying to make things work when they are clearly not meant for each other. While his direction may not be the best, Appatow’s script makes the movie work, and one of the best comedies of the decade.

1. In Bruges

Martin McDonagh | 2008

Like Knocked Up, In Bruges finds comedy in a situation that would not necessarily require it. This time it is two killers hiding out after a job goes wrong. The comedy here is mixed in with the anguish that the main characters are feeling, and it works. On one hand we have Ray (Collin Farrell) feeling bad about what he did, and on the other we have him, and his partner Ken (Brendan Gleeson), getting into all sorts of trouble with their boss, a local drug dealer, Canadians, Americans, thieves and a midget. Even when things get awfully dark, the movie keeps it’s sense of humor, and that’s why it is the best comedy of the decade.

Honorable mentions: The 40-year-old Virgin, Role Models, Superbad, WALL-E, Amelie, Cheaper by the Dozen, Shrek 2, Blades of Glory, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Shaun of the Dead, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment about this list.

oamenii mor de frig… şi ţigările se scumpesc cu 60 de bani. e urît.

recomand cu drag un film foarte mişto: In Bruges cu Colin Farrell altfel. După filmul ăsta am decis că dacă ajung vreodată în Belgia mă duc în oraşul Bruges. E funny şi totuşi transmite o stare greoaie, greu de respirat.

iar în zona artistică puteţi să vă rupeţi vreo 3 ore din viaţă să vedeţi Rocco şi fraţii săi în regia lui Luchino Visconti. În rolul principal este Alain Delon (este superb!) şi povestea este cu tematică socială. deşi sperie 3 ore de film, reuşeşte să te prindă.

abia a nins puţin. abia a scăzut temperatura. abia pocnesc termometrele şi deja oamenii mor de frig. intru în starea aceea de sensibilitate acută şi constat cu stupoare că încă se mai moare de foame şi de frig.

mîine de la nouă la cinci am curs de regie. cam lung, nu?

dragă pifu mulţam fain pentru cadou. eşti o dulceaţă!

Yrkesmördarna Ray (Colin Farrell) och Ken (Brendan Gleeson) ställer till det för sig under ett uppdrag och skickas av sin gangsterboss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) utomlands tills läget blir lite lugnare. Av alla ställen att välja på hamnar de i belgiska Brügge där Ray genast får ångest och längtar hem, men Ken förälskar sig i den medeltida arkitekturen som genomsyrar hela staden.

Tanken är att de ska ligga lågt, men naturligtvis dröjer det inte länge förrän den rastlöse Ray ratar Kens sightseeingförslag, ger sig ut på stan och träffar en kvinna som han omedelbart börjar flörta med. Härifrån tar historien en ny twist och oplanerade händelser börjar att avlösa varandra.Långfilmsdebuterande Martin McDonagh lånar friskt från Tarantinos hejdlösa, studsande, replik-tempo och Guy Ritchies nyskapande brittiska gangsterstil, mixar ihop allt med sin egen lågmälda melankoliska touch och lyckas göra något eget av denna historia som rymmer allt från ironi, svart humor, filosofiska utsvävningar och uppdämd sorgsenhet.
I all sin enkelhet en av de starkare brittiska filmupplevelserna på senare tid. In Bruges överraskar faktiskt hela tiden vilket måste anses vara mycket bra i filmsammanhang.

Colin Farrell och framför allt Brendan Gleeson är lysande som de två torpederna, i början till synes så olika, men allt eftersom växer ett tätt brödraskap fram hos dem. Farrells Ray är ängslig, rastlös, nästan barnslig, för att i nästa sekund förvandlas till den stenhårde torped han nu är.
Speciellt märkbart när gangsterbossen Harry, skönt överspelad av Ralph Fiennes, dyker upp för att personligen styra upp situationen när det skruvar till sig som mest.

In Bruges bjuder på toppklassunderhållning och får mig att skratta högt, men låter mig aldrig vila i säkerhet att jag vet vad som ska komma härnäst.

M. fantastique Fox, as they would say over in le France, comes to visit in the studio as Sam and Tom discuss Wes Anderson’s stop-motion Roald Dahl adaptation. Against that, we get  to hear Sam make a clanger, a car crash happen outside the base, Tom argue that Hollywood doesn’t promote domestic violence and the pointless nature of remakes. The boys then lament the lost potential of FlashForward, praise In Bruges to the hills and then set out the movies their children will have to see.

Download The Movie Overdose Episode 40

Clémence Poésy enjoys a post-prandial cigarette in the rather witty In Bruges.

I saw a piece the other day about the concept of Umami (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami). It is Japanese idea concerning a certain combination of flavours working to produce a stronger flavoured whole. The example they used was marmite being spread on bread, under cheese and then toasted. The overall effect was to exagerate the flavour of the cheese. There are other ingredients which, when added to meals, boost the overall flavour. The ones highlighted were worcester sauce, tomato ketchup, and parmesan. They said that the highest form of Umami is expressed through sushi where the flavours are balanced to perfection in order to highlight all the constituent parts.

Yum, sushi!

Somehow this got me thinking about the nature of taste and emotion, how I feel about certain film, music and art. Whether there is an equivalent of Umami in these fields because there are some films that produce an indescribable feeling of contradictions that gives the whole flavour much deeper impact. A life-affirming ennui or hopelessness seems to be the thing that really makes a film impact on me most severely and I can’t always pinpoint why.

Sickert's 'Ennui', from the Tate's Degas, Sickert, Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition in 2006 - which was amazing by the way.

Films like About Schmidt, Donnie Darko, American Beauty, Fight Club, Lost In Translation, Old Boy, Pan’s Labyrinth, In Bruges, The City of the Lost Children, The Motorcycle Diaries, Spirited Away, Clerks, Batteries Not Included (yes, really), Leon, and Ghost In The Shell all bring me this feeling that I love completely but that I find wholly unsettling and disturbing. It is not just in film that it can be found either. The novels of Knut Hamsun, George Orwell, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka, Nikolai Gogol, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Victor Hugo all have it. The art of Mark Rothko, Egon Schiele, Walter Sickert, and Vincent Van Gogh all have it. The music of Radiohead, British Sea Power (Man of Aran mainly), UNKLE, The Strokes, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Doves, Queens Of The Stone Age, Libertines, The Strokes, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday all have it at times. What is it that draws all of these together though?

Franz Kafka, does his strange surreal existentialism change the way I think?

For films it seems to be sadness and loss that particularly flick my switches. In literature there are few moments that have moved me so much as Prince Andrei’s death in War & Peace. The death of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables was another emotional one. Crime & Punishment was a terrifying one for me because I could feel it playing with my mind as I read it. I became so involved with Radion Raskolnikov’s plight and mental deterioration that my own mood changed. The starvation of the lead character in Knut Hamsun’s ‘Hunger’ and the Parisian exploits of Orwell in Down & Out make my heart yearn for something whether it’s a mythical and romanticised version of the past or something missing from my own existence and experience. It’s a struggle between these two poles and what balances it all out seems to be love in the middle. It’s hard to find the love in any of Orwell’s books but there is something there, perhaps a love of the poor and downtrodden people of the world. I’m not sure but everything else involves either a woman or God, or both. I’m certainly no Christian but the exhilaration of Jean Valjean’s piety was amazing to me. It invigorated me whilst simultaneously depressing and hurting me. A very strange sensation but one I do revel in when I discover it.

The pious, wandering ex-convict Jean Valjean.

Again and again I go looking for this feeling and it crops up in unexpected places. Certain key changes in a piece of music or a lingering shot of a normal room in a film will trigger it too. Something mathematical and related to the golden ratio I expect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio)? My thinking on this subject is so far only a week old but I will work on it and try to unravel exactly what it is that makes me tick in this respect. Other people must know this particular sensation too, perhaps someone else can help to explain it better than I am?

From the start of Lost in Translation

Here is the trailer for “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” directed by Terry Gilliam.

The film features the final performance by Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) and also stars Johnny Depp (Public Enemies), Colin Farrel (In Bruges), Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, and Lily Cole. Here is the plot synopsis according to comingsoon.net:

It tells the story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium’, a traveling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr Nick, in which he won immortality. Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the property of Mr Nick.

Valentina is now rapidly approaching this ‘coming of age’ milestone and Dr Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate. Mr Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr Parnassus promises his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man that helps him win. In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles – and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all.

What do you think?

Lukas Eggen

Este filme é de 2008 e não espere carros explodindo e coisas do tipo. É um drama com comédia meio negra, conta sobre dois caras que vão para na Bélgica e a história vai rolando, é um filme que precisa gostar dele, afinal é um tanto parado, mas cada um tem seu gosto. Aprovei e recomendo assistir.

A review of In Bruges

The subjects of In Bruges are two Irish hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, above) who are taking a vacation in a beautiful Belgian town after a particularly hot kill. They claim that they can leave “when it rains”, however, the reason for this is never explained. Farrell kills a priest — again, not explained — and somehow also kills a boy who came in for confession. Gleeson tells their boss (Ralph Fiennes) and then all the characters slowly start to die.

And I mean slowly. One guy gets shot in the stomach, bleeds everywhere as he climbs the steps of a 30m-high tower, jumps off that tower, cracks his head on the cement below, and still has enough energy to have a dramatic conversation with another guy before passing away.

Rather than an original story, In Bruges feels like a tacked-on sequel, with no apparent plot but which focuses solely on the consequences of the events of a non-existent original movie. We are forever waiting for the character-building to finish and the actual movie to begin. But no — after general bigotry towards dwarfs comes general bigotry towards fat people. We get it already: Farrell’s character is a bigot!

I know what Martin McDonagh has done here, so don’t write me off as yet another thoughtless blogger. He’s created a film in which a lot happens in one’s own imagination. This is awesome. But he’s got it the wrong way around! Movies where a lot happens in one’s own imagination can be great when it’s just a crazy romp where all this plot is thrown at you without any character development, and you find yourself inventing crazy personalities, motives, and ambitions behind the people. You guess what they’re going to do next, and you can contradict yourself later when you’re wrong. In In Bruges you are given all too much character development and are meant to invent the plot.

And when, instead of that prequel I talked about, which is the main driving force of the movie, we are presented with a simple, two-minute clip of total stupidity from the main character, we stop caring about the characters. I, for one, hoped that they did die in the end. The slower, the better.

This trailer sets up the movie In Bruges in a completely inaccurate way. Written, directed and produced by Martin McDonagh, the brilliant author of the horrific “The Pillowman“, this movie about two hitmen sent by their boss to Bruges, Belgium: a place  described as the equivalent of hell on earth by the movie’s procrastinator. Having been to Belgium (I was in Brussels) I can say that the country does have its own interesting charm, in looking at its rich history and trilingual influences. In a strange way, the movie only makes me wish I had the time to go into Bruges as well. As one of the characters say, everyone should get to visit Bruges before they die.

The story has you amidst the incredible character struggles of Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), both of whom have to overcome obstacles in their tenuous line of work. Two weeks in Bruges could be like a fairytale for some, which is how McDonagh structures the movie as we meet the beautiful Chloe, a “poof skinhead,” an drugged up dwarf actor, and a few more random characters that surely make you curious about the populous of the Belgian city. My original point was that the trailer makes the movie look like a buddy cop, Rush Hour wanna-be, when in reality, such comparisons are simply not apt. McDonagh loves to use dark comedy as a means for moving his story along and keeping the audience on the edge of their seat, something that most movie makers and writers seem afraid to do. Overall, the movie is an excellent look into the horror story fairytale lives of hitmen on sabatical, but also allows we snotty Americans to take a fictional glimpse into what exactly is happening in a place like Bruges.

By PAT HARTMAN
News Editor

Andrew Hickey, a.k.a The Brooklyn Nomad, is into “Movies That Make You Want To Travel,” and he finds that In Bruges is one such movie. Along with the Matador site, where we found this, Hickey’s travel writing has been published by USA Today and The New York Times, among many others. Here, he unleashes his inner Siskel&Ebert, with an appreciation of a number of movies, based on their alluring backdrops. He names the feature films that made him want to visit Barcelona, Las Vegas, Tuscany, Provence, London, Dublin, Tokyo, and more. So anyway, back to Bruges. Hickey says:

If you can not have a good time in Belgium then something is seriously wrong with you. A place that is known for some of the best chocolate and beer on the planet? Perfect!

Ah yes, the chocolate. It’s said that one of the best places to find it is in the city’s famous Christmas Markets. The staff of Travelbite gives us the locations of Belgium’s four chocolate museums — one in Bruges, of course — along with some fascinating history. Examiner Susan Fogwell delineates the attractions of Belgian confections in what amounts to a lyrical piece of choco-porn. (You must be over 18 to view the page.) The author is a flight attendant and, naturally, a farflung traveler.

In The Third Tower Up From the Road, Kevin Dolgin calls this one of the most beautiful little cities in northern Europe, and recommends taking a carriage ride. We hear that the canal boat rides aren’t bad, either. Legend says a German general who was ordered to destroy Bruges in WWII refused to. Now there’s a war hero. Anyway, it’s one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and, some say, a little too well supplied with tourists. Well, how would they know, unless they were tourists, too? Hmmmm?

Kevin’s memoir of Bruges is titled “Les frites de la liberté,” which means Freedom Fries, and that’s what it’s mainly about. In this neck of the woods, the claim to fame made by frites is that they are served with more condiments than you’ve ever heard of.

But wait, there’s more, and no, we’re not talking about beer, although the brews of Belgium are well worth talking about. A traveler known as Velo Swiss says, “Bruges is also known for a soothing tonic called Leffe, which did take the edge off a long day.”

Bonus question: On your desert island, if you could have only one Belgian treat, would it be chocolate, beer, or fried potatoes?

photo courtesy of by Wolfgang Staudt, used under this Creative Commons license

Well, folks, much like Monday’s Chasing Amy review, it seems that I have to eat my poorly-timed words. I could lie and say that I was impressed with the trailer for this movie when it came out. I could say that on principle this independent feature HAD to garner some attention from me. I could also say that I’m a rakishly handsome black man from Barbados, but I doubt you would believe me. I looked at In Bruges with slight derision as it featured Colin “What’s My Line Again?” Farrell darting about a drab colorless Western European locale while complaining the whole time. Seriously, the trailer makes it look abysmal. Tell me that you couldn’t wait to see that after watching the trailer and I’ll tell you that you are a liar. But after just seeing it, I was more than pleasantly surprised about the outcome of this venture. It’s a black comedy/drama that plays fast and loose with the modern European identity but has enough emotional weight to be more than a droll indie guffaw.

It begins with a  hit gone wrong. Ray is a first-time hit man who has been ordered to kill a priest for some reason. Things go awry very quickly, and, to his dismay, amid all the turmoil of this hit he accidentally shoots and kills a young boy. Ray escapes, but his boss doesn’t want him coming back just yet, so he and his older partner Ken are sent to Bruges, Belgium to lay low and await further instructions. Ken is thrilled to take a break from the city life and go sightseeing, but Ray’s guilty conscience pangs him day and night, allowing him no comfort in what he sees as a dreary old town with nothing fun to do. Things gradually get better for him when a sexy romance starts between him and a local colorful character named Chloe, and for a time things seem like they might not be so bad. But a fight with a wacky Canadian couple, the nagging weight of his crime, and the eventual call back from pissed off hitman boss Harry all loom large to the small-time assassin. Can our hero take the time to enjoy his surroundings like protegé Ken, or is he doomed to be a sad little guy for the rest of his days?

The thing I enjoyed most about In Bruges is that there is so much variety, and yet it doesn’t seem scattered. It’s a comedy, it’s a buddy flick, it’s a gut-wrenching drama, it’s a shoot-em-up. It has all these elements and it keeps them all together like a house made out of extremely European cards. Nothing seems off-kilter for this film, even when the mood changes on a dime like it does in most scenes. Although I prefer the comedy here, personally, as it seems the most appropriate response for all the weird shit going on in Bruges.

Two actors really stand out here. Brendan Gleeson as Ken is a perfect choice. Bravo to whoever made that call! I love Ken! He’s one easygoing hit man. I like his attitude towards life, and especially Bruges. He acts around historical stuff the same way I would. When he tells Ray, “We shall strike a balance between culture and fun,” it makes me wish Ken would take ME on a vacation. I love that shit. Also, Jordan Prentice, one of my new favorite character actors, plays a filmmaker named Jimmy here who makes this picture 500 times funnier. He’s shooting the freakiest picture I’ve ever seen, and while it doesn’t seem to be working out for him too well, it’s working out for me perfectly.

Oh, and Colin Farrell? Eh. I could’ve done without him, but I know more than a few girls who would gladly kill a large animal with their bare hands to sleep with that man, so maybe I’M the crazy one. He’s not as jaw-droppingly awful as he was in, say, Daredevil, but him being the main character is hardly a treat for me. let’s just say he doesn’t fuck it all up here.

If watching cinematography this whole time has taught me anything, it’s how to look at things in a completely different perspective. Bruges is one of those cities that, at first glance, appears lifeless and listless. But in the hands of someone with a good head on their shoulders, in this case Martin McDonagh, Bruges really came alive for me. It’s cozy and majestic at the same time. Between the medieval and 19th century French architecture, the bruised and wind-battered skies, and a few fancy cobblestone streets, it’s a town that I would visit in a heartbeat. The town seems to slowly transform from a backwards yokel town to a beautiful and cozy nook in Western Europe seemingly before my eyes! What do you know; it’s a movie and a Travelogue!

But in all seriousness, In Bruges is another movie I might have judged prematurely. It’s actually pretty good, if you can get behind a Colin Farrell vehicle. There’s a lot of good human drama and machine-gun rapid European humor. You’ll enjoy yourself the whole way through, with the impressive juggling of genres and the delightful rapport between Farrell and Gleeson. If you have to see one movie with big movie stars set in Belgium this year, make it In Bruges. I give it 8 Belgium assassins out of 10!

Tomorrow I’m going to the River’s Edge! Until then!

Editor’s note: Taken from the old blog and posted here. Anachronisms removed.

First, let me say that this year was not as strong as last year (2007). Last year I had trouble just picking ten, and while I’ve seen plenty of movies this year, few have had a lasting impact, which is somewhat required of all great movies. A movie has not done its job unless you’re still pondering about it 24 hours later. This year, lots of films need to be fired. These are the ones that will last.

1. WALL-E

I struggle with this choice, because choosing an animated film as my number one of the year seems taboo. Well, rules be damned, this is a spectacular film. Pixar has achieved such a significant level of storytelling that they scarcely even need dialogue anymore. WALL-E, both the robot himself and the film, possess an overwhelming compassion. WALL-E, with more determination than any robot has ever had before him, begins by pursuing his love for EVE, and ends up saving humanity. At first he tries to recover the plant to impress EVE, but along the way, somewhere, he realizes his purpose. Similarly, EVE transforms from a simple one-track robot to a real character, capable of more emotion than most characters in most other films. For these reasons, along with perfect animation, a great soundtrack, and a high ‘cute’ factor, WALL-E is the best film of the year.

2. Slumdog Millionaire

In my ‘review’ I copped out, saying that to reveal any plot details at all would dishonor the film and ruin the experience. I stand by that. This is not a film that is watched, but a story that is experienced. There is no better reason to go to the movies this year than to see this film. We shall discuss it later.

3. Revolutionary Road

Unlike Slumdog Millionaire, this is not a film for everyone. Revolutionary Road is a story likely to hit emotional chords with specific viewers because its characters have big dreams and even bigger falls. The truth about life is that not everyone finds their happy ending or meets their one true love — some people end up living in the suburbs and slowly die little by little every day. I have a feeling this is one of those films that will be praised ten years from now, but until then, be passed off as mediocre. Trust me, it is a great treasure.

Editor’s note: Revolutionary Road is written about in details as a Movie to Study

4. The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke, as The Ram, struggles deeply with his identity, his past, and his addictions. What is so touching in this story of one man’s life is not the actual wrestling, but how far his life has gone past its prime and how determined he is to make it right, even after he blows it one time after the other.

5. In Bruges

I recently watched this again, and am thrilled that the film has a screenplay nod for the Oscars. Sure, the politically incorrect humor is funny, but behind the vulgar comedy is a fine layer of weaving between the characters and their actions that makes the film work. Each viewing leads to the picking up of something new, for instance, when Ken drops the coins from the top of the tower toward the end, he doesn’t just happen to have coins (like most people), but they are the coins the clerk would not take way earlier in the film. Excellent.

6. Gran Torino

Can we all agree on something? Clint Eastwood is The Man. Not only is he one of the best actors to ever live, but he has directed many GREAT films — not ‘good’ films, but great ones. Just counting recent years, we have: Million Dollar Baby, Letter From Iwo Jima, Mystic River, and now Gran Torino. Dealing with aggressive racial issues (sort of like In Bruges, but in its own way), Gran Torino is a spectacular film about acceptance, forgiveness, vengeance, and doing the right thing. No matter what you read, it will still not be what you expect, but you will enjoy every minute of it.

7. Iron Man

Yes, there is a superhero movie on this list. No, it is not the overrated Dark Knight. Iron Man is such a success because — and this is fundamental to all stories — we care about the protagonist, the man, the hero. Tony Stark, while kind of a jerk, makes us laugh, and laughter is the way to the heart, right? I think that’s a proverb. This is a superhero film done extremely right, and the best since Spidey 2.

8. Rachel Getting Married

Seeming strangely like a documentary, this film is a treasure. It uses a unique pacing style to include the audience as a member of the family, and by the end we still don’t completely understand the dysfunction, but we appreciate it. Anne Hathaway has not been better, but the whole cast is perfect in this little film about what chunks of our past belong to us, which chunks are community canon fodder, and why some people can’t stop being selfish, just for one day. But why should they have to?

9. Religulous

Bill Maher makes fun of every religion, pointing out all of the contradictions and implausible theories behind creationism, the virgin Mary, Jesus, etc. Not perfect, but very funny.

10. Milk

A film that is moving, because Harvey Milk was not just fighting for gay rights, but for the rights and equality of all peoples. He was beaten election after election, but through perseverance, determination, and a little luck, he succeeded. Again, not a perfect movie, but one that everyone could benefit from seeing.

Irish playwright Martin McDonagh is primarily known for his theatrical endeavors, however, his one cinematic effort, “In Bruges”, has enough skill, black humor, and heart in it that I eagerly await his next effort.

“In Bruges” concerns the exploits of two hit men when they are forced to relocate to a quaint Flemish town in lieu of a job gone wrong. What could be a film that resembles many of the Tarantino knock-offs of the late 90s is instead a surprisingly bleak, thoughtful existentialist journey that is full of irreverent humor and beautifully drawn characters. The writing is, as you can expect from McDonagh, excellent, with a great sense of economy in storytelling and a series of wonderful dialogue exchanges. Numerous little throwaway moments throughout the film, from two people arguing over change to an exchange involving “dum-dums”, all come into play thrillingly in the films Grand Guignol finale.

However, as good of a writer as McDonagh is, it would be disingenuous to not mention how skillfully he directs the film too. He has a natural sense of timing and composition, and he does a great job of turning the film’s setting of Bruges into it’s own character. The film also shows how cinematically literate McDonagh is, such as a terrific homage to the famous tracking shot from “Touch of Evil”, or numerous references to “Don’t Look Now” director Nicholas Roeg.

So yeah I really, really love “In Bruges”. However, Martin McDonagh has proved he has a natural cinematic deftness with more than his debut film. Take for instance, his Oscar-winning short film “Six Shooter”, which similarly to “In Bruges” balances existentialist themes with violence and black humor. Both “Six Shooter” and “Bruges” feature soulful performances from Irish character actor Brendan Gleeson. In fact, McDonagh consistently gets great work from his actors. In “In Bruges”, Ralph Fiennes reveals within him a natural gift for comedy as the employer of the hit man who enjoys expressing himself with profanity. And Colin Farrell, who’s career seemed to be sputtering out, gives the best work I’ve seen of him in the film.

McDonagh has said that he will return to theater for now, and it will be sometime before he makes another film, however I shall be waiting for his next project eagerly. He has shown that he is as adept behind the camera as he is with a writing instrument and a blank page, and I sincerely await his next cinematic effort.

In Bruges is a dark comedy. Collin Farrell and three harry potter stars (Brendan Gleeson (Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody defense against dark arts Professor), Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour tri-wizard tournament participant) and Ralph Fiennes (our favorite Lord Voldemort). This movie starts with Collin and Brendon reaching Bruges where he is attracted by Clemence Btw Collin and Brendon are hit men they work for Ralph.

Collin in is first assignment shoots a boy while killing a priest. Ralph asks Brendan to kill him in turn Brendan refuses i am not disclosing final events of the movie to ruin the surprise element.

This movie is aptly shot in Bruges where life is like a fairy tale as described in the movie. This movie is rated at 203 at imdb’s top 250 so don’t miss this movie.

United 93

[Munich title screen]

Munich

Cry Freedom

In Bruges

wΔz

Once Upon A Time In The Midlands

In The Valley Of Elah

The Great Ecstasy Of Robert Carmichael

Blackball

High Heels And Low Lifes

The Cottage

Bedrooms And Hallways

Another day in Bruges. We went on a boat tour through the canals and the tour guide was saying everything in at least three languages. Now, that takes talent. Sometimes I pretend I can speak a little French but there’s no way I could get away with doing that here. Pretty much the only word I’ve understood so far is “chocolat.” Yeah, baby.

Speaking of chocolate, there are literally chocolate shops on every corner. Sometimes two. And they make everything in the weirdest shapes. I’ve seen lots of ducks and things and today we were walking down a street and we saw some chocolate boobies. Out of nowhere. This is not Amsterdam, this is an old medieval town with a lot of history, beautiful cathedrals and chocolate boobies. Weird.

We finally saw an old-fashioned wind mill today which was one of my goals for this trip. And making my mom take pictures of me has produced some hilarious results.

I told my mom to take a picture of me in front of the windmill and she kept making me march further up the hill, saying she couldn’t get both me and the windmill in the picture. Well, she did it! And now I’m the size of my baby toe. Oh, mommy.

Our other feat of the day was climbing the Belfry tower, all 366 steps. Let me tell you, the stairs are narrrrrow. And I have a thing with stairs to begin with, certain ones just freak me out. Once in college I was looking to sublease an apartment for the summer and I immediately dismissed one because I didn’t like the stairs. So, needless to say, as we were trekking up these super steep, super windy and super narrow stairways, I was a little nervous. I just don’t like it when I can’t see around me, I’m just surrounded by endless steps above and endless steps below. Freaks me OUT. But we made it.

Now, in the movie, “In Bruges,” (which I am talking about again because my mom and I seriously just watched it on my computer) you can see the main square by looking down from the tower. Well, I sure didn’t see the main square when I was looking! I think maybe you can see it from some of the lower levels, but you just can’t look straight down from the top. And also they have those barriers, which I’m wondering if they’ve been added since the movie or if they were there before. Anyway, it was QUITE a long way to the top and the hardest part was that people were using the same staircase to go up and down so sometimes it seemed almost impossible for you to pass someone without knocking them (or yourself) down all 366 stairs. Somehow, we survived.

And here’s a picture of exactly what we conquered.

Alright, next stop: Brussels!

This end-of-year list was initially conceived back in January of 2009 as a rough guide to my favourites from the previous year. It has since been revised to include most of the titles I didn’t manage to get to until later on, so while it seems rather late in coming for those who’ve been following the blog, I assure you it’s worth it! While many opinions on the filmic crop of 2008 have already been divulged on these pages, I still find it rather exciting to lay them all out and come up with some kind of order. Some of you will notice that I won’t yet be mentioning the five (or so) honourable mentions; that info will be saved until the latter part of the list, just so as to keep things interesting. I hope you enjoy reading through it as much as I enjoyed creating it, and be sure to look out not only for the second part of this list but also the 2009 edition which should be posted around January/February of next year.

20. Man on Wire | James Marsh

The first thing we are greeted with when embarking on James Marsh’s Oscar-nominated documentary Man on Wire is the enthusiasm of its subject, French wire-walker Philippe Petit. His broken English, wild hand gestures and frequently-disappearing eyebrows are somewhat infectious, and it is this wonderful personality that raises Man on Wire from a documentary about a single passion to… [MORE]

19. The Chaser | Na Hong-jin

Based on a true story, the recent Korean box office smash Chugyeogja or The Chaser has caused quite a stir since debuting at the Berlin film festival back in February of last year. It took a while but the film finally made its European release in September and has already been picked up by Warner Bros. for a 2010 remake that will involve Leonardo DiCaprio and The Departed writer William Monahan… [MORE]

18. Waltz with Bashir | Ari Folman

As with James Marsh’s Man on Wire, Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir is an interesting and unique take on the documentary genre that positively shook critics’ circles upon release, scooping a truckload of awards and an Oscar nomination to boot. Man on Wire plays with the  genre to create something that could only be described as a heist-documentary film, whereas Waltz with Bashir refines it through… [MORE]

17. Lake Tahoe | Fernando Eimbcke

A father dies, a mother mourns. A son wanders the streets. This is not Lake Tahoe, but the Yucatán, Mexico – specifically a tranquil little peninsula town defined by its expansive pale blue horizons, crumbling architecture, weed-infested streets and curious, somewhat over-friendly locals. It is an unfortunate telegraph post just outside this small town of Chicxulub that our young protagonist, Juan, the Son… [MORE]

16. Snow Angels | David Gordon Green

David Gordon Green’s overlooked and under-celebrated fourth full-length feature Snow Angels is a film about adults lost – lost in love upon a landscape buried under never-ceasing snowfall. It is a tale as bleak as this pure white landscape; purity that violently contradicts the lives of our two central characters Annie and Glenn. Divorcees with a child in tow, their relationship has run aground upon rocky… [MORE]

15. My Winnipeg | Guy Maddin

“Winnipeg. Winnipeg, Winnipeg. Snowy, sleepwalking Winnipeg…” So begins Guy Maddin’s ninth feature film and quaint tribute to his home town of Winnipeg, Manitoba. My Winnipeg is by far the most personal of Maddin’s work to date, lacking the abstract blurriness of Brand Upon the Brain but excelling thanks to a certain breed of self-analysis that the director has long-since perfected. Indeed if… [MORE]

14. In Bruges | Martin McDonagh

It is a rare occurrence when a modern playwright turns his hand to film directing, and rarer still when said candidate has not yet escaped his thirties. British-born Martin McDonagh is rather an emphatic exception to this notion it would seem. After scripting numerous acclaimed theatrical and radio plays (and being nominated for a Tony Award on four separate occasions), the playwright shifted his gaze to film… [MORE]

13. The Fall | Tarsem Singh

Tarsem Singh’s The Fall is one of those filmic curiosities that come along every so often and at the same time not often enough. An elaborate project that has been years in the making, it has struggled to find investment and, subsequently, an audience to which it could be marketed to, before becoming stuck in a seemingly never-ending run of festival screenings. Since its conception almost half a… [MORE]

12. WALL·E | Andrew Stanton

In this day and age where theatrical releases are commonly referred to as ‘international events’, it baffles me that the staggered release is still so widely implemented. Pixar, just like their parent company Disney have always made their money in the hot summer months. A time when kids are experiencing a waning need to be entertained, and their parents are looking for the perfect way to fulfil… [MORE]

11. Let the Right One In | Tomas Alfredson

It’s a shame that the expression ‘knocked for six’ is largely unknown outside England and Australia, for it describes rather well the feet-swept feeling one may experience with a well-made thriller every so often. “Stunned, shocked, astounded or overwhelmed” are some of the synonyms offered for this cricket-oriented idiom, which is exactly how I felt after sitting through the Swedish vampire flick… [MORE]

The second part of this list can be found here >>>