Have I fallen out of love with film?
There was a time where I’d watch hundreds of movies a year, attending several festivals and meticulously reviewing each one and creating top ten lists for the end of the year. This year, I’ve only watched twelve movies since the Toronto International Film Festival — most telling of all, I’ve only watched 73 feature films in total this year.
Among those 73, there have been some gems. Instead of trying to enumerate the best of them, I want to share with you a short list of the films that I enjoyed this year and that I feel that you should watch if haven’t done so already.
I’ve learned that I haven’t fallen out of love with film — I have fallen in love with enjoying film instead of analyzing it.
The movies below aren’t necessarily the “best” films of the year when it comes to artistic merit. They aren’t all going to win Academy Awards or be on critics’ top ten lists. They are, however, movies that have struck a chord and have entertained considerably.
In the end, I feel that this is much more valuable to all of you, and to me as well, than any attempt to classify and order a so-called “best of” list based on arbitrary criteria. I hope you agree.
Film in 2008
Here’s my list of some of the movies that I enjoyed this year, in alphabetical order.
The Dark Knight: Never has the comic book movie been treated with such care, precision, and depth as it has here with Christopher Nolan’s new take on Batman. Heath Ledger is legendary in his performance as The Joker, but what truly stands out here is the examination of the internal struggles between good and bad and the fine line between them.
Hunger: British visual artist Steve McQueen’s exposé on the last six weeks in the life of Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands is powerful, difficult, wrenching — but also breathtakingly beautiful. Crafted with intricate attention to detail and a visual palette that attacks each scene with elaborate artistry, McQueen’s filmmaking debut blends beauty with despair in an inescapable way.
Medicine for Melancholy: Everyone has experienced the awkwardness that is the morning after a one-night stand. What Barry Jenkins’ film does is take that awkwardness and use it to build a story of friendship that is honest and real. The film may be too preachy at times, but in the end what draws me to it is the complete frankness with which he approaches the relationship between his two main characters — a relationship that many of us will be able to relate to.
Milk: Sean Penn is truly one of the greatest actors to grace the screen, and nowhere is this more evident than in Gus Van Sant’s film about Harvey Milk. The movie is worth watching for many reasons, but the most compelling reason is Penn’s nuanced and resonant performance. It’s always great to see a master at work.
Rachel Getting Married: If there’s anything that draws you to Jonathan Demme’s film other than Anne Hathaway’s tour-de-force performance as Kym — Hathaway continues to prove herself as one of the most talented and versatile actresses in Hollywood — it is probably the intimacy between the characters on the screen and you, the audience. There are few films today that engage the audience in such a powerful and pervasive way.
Slumdog Millionaire: Game shows, romance, and a rags-to-riches story are always great cinematic tropes, but Danny Boyle’s real success in this film is in the infusion of hope into the humor and drama that permeate every scene. A movie that fills even the most despairing scenes with hope is one that is guaranteed to lift the spirits.
Synechdoche, New York: You know a film is successful when you not only need to watch it several times to truly grasp its intricacies, but when you want to keep watching it because it keeps unveiling new surprises every time. A movie impossible to summarize, Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut is bafflingly powerful and addictive.
WALL·E: The first third of this film — almost thirty minutes containing more humor than the entire golden age of physical comedy combined and more ill-fated romance than even the end of Casablanca — is a shining example of all that is good in cinema. Andrew Stanton’s animated lead robot portrays more emotion and is more human than the majority of the characters that we are forced to watch on the big screen these days.
That’s it for now. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of great films here, so help me: what are some of the movies that you really enjoyed this year?
A “so-called “best of” list based on arbitrary criteria?” Why would anyone make a list based on “arbitrary” criteria? It think the criteria most critics use and that certainly you or I might use (for example in compiling this list you have here) to evaluate films are very carefully selected for good reasons. And I think this list you made gives some examples of some of the best review-writing I’ve seen in a while. So just because it isn’t typical, doesn’t mean it isn’t a film review. Good job! And good choices! Other films I loved this year: Burn After Reading, and Let the Right One In, OBVS!!!
Learning to stop analyzing and start enjoying is a key distinction. Sometime around 2005 or 2006, I noticed that my process of watching a movie had become simply one of pre-composing my review in my head while the reels unspooled. Where’s the fun in that? The signal problem (for me anyway) of reviewing anything is the way it limits us from our emotional understanding, or more importantly, our willingness to accept whimsy. I’ve reviewed far less films in the last 2 years, but I feel like I’ve enjoyed a lot more, and been receptive to more things.
This year’s been a nasty bit of business, though, which is doubly disappointing after the strength of 2007. Still, Dark Knight is on my list, as is Wall-E. Did you see Let the Right One In?
Good on you for picking Medicine for Melancholy, a film that few will see, but is among the best-made, and most lovingly-made, movies I’ve seen this year.
You’re right Jenna, perhaps I wrote in haste. I am not deriding the work of critics; in fact, I still believe that the film critic is a dying breed that needs to be resurrected in order to further enrichen the industry.
I think I have just become disenchanted with the importance that “best of” lists seem to command at this time of year. Thanks for knocking my head back into place.
And Matt, you’re right. Ever since I stopped writing my review as I watched the film, I’ve learned to have much more fun at the cinema. I was missing that.
Didn’t get to see Let the Right One In. Recommended?
I think the distinction you are trying to make, tederick, is actually between good and bad film reviewing.
And, yes, Sameer, Let the Right One In is phenom. You will enjoy it. It’s what Twilight wishes it could be.
Honestly Sameer, Let the Right One In was one of the most tender depictions of youthful romance I’d seen in a long time. While it had the entire undercurrent of anticipation and anxiety, at the heart it is unexpectedly touching.
Treeless Mountain which I saw at TIFF has had me raving since I watched it as well, simple, extremely realistic (no non-diegetic sound, WHATSOEVER) and not too saccharine or too dismal.
Alright, I think I definitely need to get my hands on a copy of Let the Right One In. Anyone know where I can find it?
And Danielle, I definitely did like Treeless Mountain. Might need to watch it again because by the time I saw it at TIFF my head was exploding with exhaustion.
Definitely watch Let The Right One In.
Kia ora Sameer
Over the years my reason for going to movies has changed. Used to be I’d go watch the ‘in’ movies - the ones that the critics raved about and that won Oscars. Now I go to be with my family.
This century a movie theatre was built in the suburb where my family and I live. It has three theatres and is a luxuriously comfortable and splendid theatre complex - we can walk to and from the theatre during the summer - magic on a fine summer’s evening.
I now go to the movies as a family outing, following the films that my children want to see. Their taste is not bad, I hasten to say, and they have taken me to movies I’d never have seen left to my own choice.
The Lord Of The Rings trilogy was one set of movies I probably would not have seen but for my fanatical daughters and their love of Peter Jackson’s movie making.
Best wishes for Christmas and the coming New Year
from Middle-earth
Ken, I’m sure that having children definitely changes movie-going habits. Still a long way away for me yet though!