comment #1

Mark says ...

Wall-E.
i hope the effen robot goes down, no joke.

comment #2

McClaneSveUs says ...

I certainly hope that The Dark Knight's momentum carries it through to some nominations. I think that a tentpole film like it, something that truly turns into a communal phenomenon, needs to be recognized. It's not a perfect film, no, but it is tremendously well done. I, for one, believe it is superior to The Departed, a film it resembles in some aspects.

In Bruges deserves some serious love, as well. It's script was inventive, surprising, and even found moments of sincerity that I found touching. Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, either of the two could get some recognition and I'd be satisfied. Of course, Ralph Fiennes is terrific, but his work elsewhere seems to be shining.

Rachel Getting Married was excellent. I think Rosemarie DeWitt is getting screwed. I found her work equal to, if not better than Hathaway's with a potentially more complex role. Bill Irwin was also quite good with a very unique spin on his character.

I thought that Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall was hysterical. I'm not saying his performance is awards-worthy, but I thought his timing and chemistry with the rest of the class deserved more attention than it received.

comment #3

lazarus says ...

Gran Torino and anything associated with it.

You asked for it, Jeff.

comment #4

loyal says ...

Probably Slumdog.

It's not a great film (not even Boyle's best) but its extremely lucky in timing. Years past, it wouldn't have much noise. But pickings are slim this year for whatever reason and so here we are.

comment #5

actionman says ...

I hope Gran Torino wins everything just so 85% of the readers on this site have a heart attack. And I haven't even seen the movie.

comment #6

Aris P says ...

I don't know what needs to go away (cough Torino cough), but I do know who needs to win an Oscar -- Mickey Rourke. Talk about a moving, solid, gut-wrenching performance.

comment #7

Josh Massey says ...

After reading how loose the as-yet-unseen Frost/Nixon played with the facts (on Huffington, no less), I'm itching to see that one burn. Apparently it makes A Beautiful Mind seem like a documentary.

comment #8

erniesouchak says ...

Would like to see Wall-E banished to animation category, where it belongs.

Would also like to see Christopher Nolan, Dark Knight and Gran Torino out of the running. Why, why, why?

comment #9

Chase Kahn says ...

FROST/NIXON -- completely solid in every way, but it wouldn't make my Top 20. It's amazing to me to see some top critics fall over for this thing, and another Oscar nod for Ron Howard = shoot me.

comment #10

EDouglasCS says ...

No, everyone who made these movies worked hard and deserved accolades...

except for Sam Mendes on Revolutionary Road. Now that my interview request has been turned down, I might as well stop beating around the bush about how much I hated the movie... worst thing he's ever done IMO, and that includes Jarhead (which I liked).

And I'm with Lazarus... Gran Torino isn't Oscar caliber by any means.

comment #11

CinematicallyCorrect.com says ...

Hopefully this doesn't elicit too much abuse...but I am so over "Milk". I am sick & tired of the docu-drama, biopic. Boooooring.

Mickey F'ing Rourke for Best Actor baby.

comment #12

Rich S. says ...

Aside from Heath Ledger, who I would like to see win, you could perform your services on Dark Knight. It would be fun to see you start a flame war with those websites that somehow think TDK has completely changed modern film.

Whether it's deserving or not is entirely beside the point. It needs to be taken down because these nuts need to get taken down. If Warner's gets upset, they can use all that cash to wipe their tears.

comment #13

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

I don't want to see any more noms for Happy-Go-Lucky. Nor do I want to see Slumdog for Best Picture, though I'm cool with it getting other stuff.

Revolutionary Road could get a nod for Michael Shannon, and I wouldn't mind. Anything else, though...

comment #14

DarthCorleone says ...

That Movable Type sign-in was killing me, but I managed to get TypeKey to work.

I'd answer this question, but it's just too difficult to pick one. I am so indifferent to this year's presumed crop that I can't muster the enthusiasm. They're all good; they're just nothing great there. (I haven't seen Slumdog yet.)

Frost/Nixon: very good performances, nothing particularly compelling visually, and it feels like something of a broad brush.

Milk: great performances, but - again - it has that broad brush biopic feel that has been discussed here as of late, although not as much as F/N.

Benjamin Button: an impressive technical achievement, I suppose, but I was very underwhelmed. I guess I'm in the minority, but I felt that thematically and narratively it's severly lacking. The central conceit of the film is wasted.

Dark Knight: again, technically impressive, and no one can argue with Heath. But too much of it is a muddle for me.

So, I guess what I'm looking for is a complete surprise for all the major nominees. Good luck with that, right? This is the least compelling awards season I can remember.

comment #15

Ben C says ...

I don't need or want a takedown.

But it would be mighty nice if people could just realize and admit that MAN ON WIRE was simply the best film of the year, get over their "documentary" willy-nillys, and be done with it.

comment #16

loganX2 says ...

I would have to say Sally Hawkins for Happy go lucky. I have nothing against her and the movie was good, but I dont get all the hype she is getting.

comment #17

The Winchester says ...

Angelina Jolie.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, why don't you ask what things need to be talked UP more. Like Synechdoche, NY for example.

comment #18

Aris P says ...

I agree. Man on Wire was the best thing I saw this year, BY FAR.

Darth -- although it's not an earth-shattering film, I think The Wrestler stands out. It's gritty and almost like a documentary. A great slice of life film.

Also, Rachel Getting Married would round out my top 3.

comment #19

DarthCorleone says ...

Ben C >> I'm with you there. MAN ON WIRE was my best picture for 2008 (thus far).

comment #20

The InSneider says ...

Fuck Milk, Wall-E and Revolutionary Road. All good, 3-star films but not particularly awards-worthy.

comment #21

bmcintire says ...

Mickey Rourke. That whole ridiculous "Witness the Resurrection" line of bullshit did THE WRESTLER in for me. And I actually like Aronofsky and Rourke.
GRAN TORINO can go away as well.

comment #22

DarthCorleone says ...

Aris P>> I still need to see both The Wrestler and Rachel Getting Married.

I guess after Man On Wire I'd go with 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days (if that counts as 2008 - it's when I saw it at least) and In Bruges...maybe Let The Right One In and Wall*E after that. I went to the theater as much in 2008 as I ever have, but nothing else really grabbed and shook me.

comment #23

Ben C says ...

But they're ALL 3-star films this year. Be it 3-star movies with a 4-star performance, like MILK or NIXON, or a 4-star pedigree, (ie REVOLUTIONARY-BUTTON), there's simply nothing that stands head and above beyond the pack. They're all nice enough, but still boring and mass produced just to fill perfunctory spots on perfunctory lists from a lackluster year. So fuck em all.

MAN ON WIRE is a great film. And if its not getting the recognition it deserves, then it's the system itself that needs to be taken down.

comment #24

Ray says ...

There's no way GRAN TORINO deserves a nomination for Best Picture. NO WAY IN HELL. It's a fine movie, but seriously ... it's in the running solely due to Eastwood's age and standing in Hollywood. It's like giving Peter O'Toole a nomination every time he stands in front of a camera and farts.

comment #25

p.Vice says ...

I'd like to see the Oscars, Globes, and all critics awards get put out to pasture. If nobody can make films worthy of accolades, there's no reason to give 'em out.

comment #26

T. S. Idiot says ...

Love Streep but why reward her for bad performance in bad film--no, not Mama Mia!

comment #27

qwiggles says ...

I'd like to see Slumdog recognized as the solid B+ effort that it is. Not even with Crash have I been this baffled by a major contender's meteoric rise -- at least there, I could understand its backers' lame attempts to make a 'statement.' Slumdog, as I see it, makes no statement apart from: "Some things are just destiny. Anyway, women have no agency."

Although I thought Boyle did a solid job of keeping the whole thing moving at a decent clip and glossing over huge holes in the narrative, I'm also baffled by all his wins over Nolan, who I feel has done much better, much more impressive work at turning similarly pulpy material into an epic narrative of a city. Is no one bothered by Boyle's obsession with funky filters, jittery film stock and tilted cameras? With the exception of the beautifully shot sequences at the Taj Mahal, Slumdog looked to me like vintage Tony Scott shot through with a pinch of Battlefield Earth -- not at all the visually consistent, original effort it's been hailed as.

I'd also be happy to see Frost/Nixon disappear from the BP radar, though I think it's impeccably crafted (more so than Slumdog!) and beautifully acted. The problem I had with it is that it was so damned insistent upon its historic cultural importance that it seemed...I don't know, ashamed of its rather humble material? It's a major tonal problem: the little movie that wants to be big but has nothing big to justify the scope.

comment #28

Richard_Stone says ...

The only movie I have any affection this year for is Synecdoche, NY, which doesn't really need an Oscar push. It will be a nice little cult film anyways. Tropic Thunder was the most fun Hollywood movie this year, but I couldn't even begin to justify an Oscar push for it either.

Fuck The Dark Knight, an over-hyped crassly commercial and souless product directed by a bland hack. Fuck Wall-E, an hypocritical subliminal ad for Apple. Fuck Gran Torino.

I guess that only leaves Benjamin Button.

comment #29

dobbsy says ...

if you read this it's a miracle because typekey has kept me out for weeks.

comment #30

Matthew Lucas says ...

GRAN TORINO not only deserves to be nominated for Best Picture, it deserves to win.

There, I said it.

comment #31

dobbsy says ...

Now that I'm in (whew!) I don't know where to begin. I'l focus on the positive and note that CHANGELING is underrated and THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX is a lesson to our American biopic makers on how to make an exciting, fresh docudrama.

WALL E is groundbreaking cinema of the first order. Sorry, haters.

GRAN TORINO and SEVEN POUNDS are terrific populist fare that do what they set out to do, though in a normal year they would have to get past more ambitous creations that are well-crafted. This year, the ambition may be there, but the excecution is lacking. Fill in the blanks here.

Loved the BUTTON experience, admired the audacity of HAPPY GO LUCKY, moved by THE VISITOR carefully calibrated ensemble work. Dug the sturdy craftsmanship and sure hand of DEFIANCE.

Pound for pound, can't think of a smarter and more entertaining film than VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.

Also, there are a couple of key films I still haven't seen, ie the Charlie Kaufman and Demme pics.

You can deduce from all this what I wish would get taken down a few or in some cases, many many pegs.

comment #32

Chase Kahn says ...

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK?? Really? What a piece of crap...(you can take that literally with that movie, too)

comment #33

Matthew Lucas says ...

Dobbsy, great point about there being more ambitious films than TORINO. There are certainly more daring and artistically meritorious works out there this year, but none were quite so perfectly constructed. For me anyway.

Many films shot for the stars and only reached the moon...or never got out of the atmosphere. Eastwood knows what he wants and created a sparse, simple tale that is strong, solid American filmmaking at its best. No pretension, no nonsense...just good filmmaking.

comment #34

D.Z. says ...

I'm with Mark and ernie. That panda flick is more deserving of Best Picture than that "Average Americans are lazy, but not our bosses who like to make sequels to classic animated films" CG flick. Oh, and I loved the "Hard work is its own reward" message from a company which allowed Disney to lay-off 2-d animators in exchange for more stock options.

comment #35

Matthew Lucas says ...

I loved KUNG FU PANDA, but the only animated film I would ever dream of putting above WALL-E is WALTZ WITH BASHIR.

comment #36

Dan Revill says ...

I agree on Frost/Nixon. Solid film but it's sorta baffling that it is getting so much award attention as far as end of the year lists go.
For all of TDK's shortcomings, I must admit that I love it so. I really like the overall themes and the tone of the piece.
And I went in thinking I'd hate Slumdog Millionaire, but it won me over in the first few minutes. I'm in the tank for it, and not ashamed of it.

comment #37

Chapman Carruthers says ...

Synecdoche New York was hands down the best thing I've seen all year, and I hope the Academy turns a blind eye to it and nominates every mainstream piece of tripe it can think of -- Wall*E. Batman. Seven Pounds. Anything staring and/or directed by Clint Eastwood because he's oh so great and powerful (also because I'm secretly hoping the cameras pan to Spike giving him the finger during his acceptance speech. Not to mention, Clint would be a fitting "winner" given the other low-grade films/directors that have won Oscars this past decade -- I'm looking at you Marty)

comment #38

Bix B-Roll says ...

How is it that nobody is really thrashing Revolutionary Road? I thought it was kind of hysterically terrible, starting out just awkward and eventually crossing all the way over into total camp/garish territory in the second half.

I don't think you even have to be a fan of Mad Men to find this one of the stalest, goofiest movies of the year, loaded with whacked out acting and crazy-pinched direction. But it seems to be getting (admittedly muted) respect, with some people going nuts over it. What's up? Where's the intelligent take-down?

comment #39

Phatang! says ...

I can't wait to see Rev. Road now! I assumed it was just run of the mill bad. But these posts have me believing it's spectacular train wreck bad. As a great fan of the book, I look forward to the outrage it will inspire in me.

I'd like to see some Sean Penn backlash. I thought he robbed a great man of his charisma and complexity. And humor (are there two less funny people in Hollywood then Penn and Van Sant?). Also, of course, Slumdog needs to disappear.

comment #40

K. Bowen says ...

But it would be mighty nice if people could just realize and admit that MAN ON WIRE was simply the best film of the year, get over their "documentary" willy-nillys, and be done with it.

I was going to say "second." But obviously a number of other posters have beaten me to it.

comment #41

K. Bowen says ...

"I'd also be happy to see Frost/Nixon disappear from the BP radar, though I think it's impeccably crafted (more so than Slumdog!) and beautifully acted. The problem I had with it is that it was so damned insistent upon its historic cultural importance that it seemed...I don't know, ashamed of its rather humble material? "

Exactly. F/M isn't comfortable being what it is. So it has all these little cutaway interview deal in part to try to convince you that this was the biggest moment in the history of journalism, and that it's some great cinematic achievement. It's not satisfied being a nice little film about an interesting event.

I actually like F/N more than Slumdog, but for some reason, the end-of-year and awards attention going to Frost/Nixon bugs me more.

comment #42

luca says ...

dark knight. the second most overated movie of all time.

comment #43

Hardy says ...

I very much enjoyed Revolutionary Road, esp. the performances. It comes to show the broad the differences of opinion people have on it, I guess.

comment #44

lipranzer says ...

Right now, there's nothing I really wish ill to, because none of the major disappointments of the year are in the running for awards, and I still haven't seen biggies like THE WRESTLER, DOUBT, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, and BENJAMIN BUTTON. As others have said, it's been a meh year (I'm leaning towards naming MAN ON WIRE my fave of the year as well - that or EDGE OF HEAVEN), but while I do think GRAN TORINO, MILK, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE are slightly overrated, they aren't making me angry when I think that.

I will get angry if the Academy pulls a HOOP DREAMS and doesn't even nominate MAN ON WIRE. Bad enough ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED didn't even make the short list.

comment #45

K. Bowen says ...

On the positive side, I would like to see Rachel Getting Married get more attention. Based on advanced word, I went in expecting a very good film with great performances. What I got was a completely outstanding movie. A truly moving experience, with great scene after great scene.

I'm surprised that Hathaway hasn't gotten a major FCA award yet, besides NBR. As good as DeWitt is, I think this is one case where the loud performance really is better than the quiet one. NO slam on DeWitt, though.

As far as Sally Hawkins, she's definitely good. I don't resent her recognition. But I do think that the role is mostly limiting in range. It's pretty one speed, with the occasional departure into something a little different.

Snow Angels has gotten lost, due to early-year release. I'm also curious about the absence of Entre Les Murs, the Palm d'Or winner, which is just terrific.

comment #46

D.Z. says ...

Bix: Actually, I called RR a 20-something American Beauty from the trailers, but I don't think anyone cares about it anymore enough to talk about it much.

comment #47

TVMCCA says ...

Phatang wrote:
I'd like to see some Sean Penn backlash.

It's already here, but for a different reason. Patrick Goldstein of the INCREDIBLE SHRINKING LOS ANGELES TIMES brought out his reliable column-filling punching bag about how Penn's (and, by extension, other showbiz liberals who speak up) a knownothing actor for having written an article about Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro--a piece that THE ADVOCATE apparently brought to Goldstein's attention.

comment #48

OregonEd says ...

I want to give a shout out to Hellboy II as one of the best pics of the year.

comment #49

TVMCCA says ...

Re my earlier comment, here's a link to Pat Goldstein's article:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/12/milk-star-sean.html

The specific context of the article in THE ADVOCATE has to do with R. Castro's role in the deaths of gay Cubans.

comment #50

Ben C says ...

God this whole end of year list is depressing.

And the next few months don't seem to promise anything better.

When's HUNGER coming out again? Could we make it Friday, please?

comment #51

DarthCorleone says ...

Or the lack of discussion could be that fewer of us have seen Revolutionary Road (I haven't yet) and the fact that it isn't a presumed Best Picture nominee.

I will say this. It's encouraging to see so much universal love for MAN ON WIRE, including from at least one of you with whom I have had some very stark disagreements recently. That film completely leveled me; nothing else came close to moving me in the way that it did. When it comes to best essence of the human spirit and all the complexities it can bring, that film simply IS truth incarnate.

comment #52

Dan Revill says ...

TonyR FTW

comment #53

Aris P says ...

I mentioned this somewhere... Revolutionary Road is the equivalent of pulling your nails off your fingers. The acting is stilted and robotic, Winslet's character comes off as seriously nuts, and the entire film is dour from the first frame to the last. I'm sorry but watching 2 people wallow in their own imagined despair for 2 hours is not my idea of a movie. I didn't care about this couple for one second. And the ending? Was i supposed to feel bad for anyone? I've read that the book realy captures the intended narrative much better... fine. But it sure as hell didn't come off that way on the screen. IMO. (Kathy Bates and her freak son were great though).

comment #54

smarty says ...

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD is brilliant. Everything works. Leo and Kate do stuff beyond any previous work. Its a 4 star film all the way. Sam Mendes did a great job. The script is fantastic (from a very hard book to adapt).
I hope this gains more momentum. Winslet or DiCaprio will prob win.

comment #55

fredderf says ...

DarthCorleone -- Completely agree with you on Benjamin Button and Dark Knight. in the Dark Knight, loved the joker scenes, like the noise or high pitched hum that would play before every attack, some great stuff in this film, BUT the film as a whole...NO. The plot especially was so incredibly annoying, the constant state of climax ruined the ebb and flow of the entire film for me.

Would love it if Robert Downey Jr got a nomination at least, he was pitch perfect in Tropic thunder, and it would be ironic. don't think he will get one, one of the reasons being that most comedic roles aren't really recognized.

comment #56

irvingberlinalexanderputz says ...

What the hell? What is this drive people have to take down something popular, something that makes it big? The nominations haven't even been made and we're having this discussion? This isn't anywhere near film criticism, this is just shrill, smirking gossiping. Come on, folks, this site used to be better.

comment #57

BurmaShave says ...

SYNECDOCHE needs to go down, hard. A consolation Best Original Screenplay nom would be the worst travesty of all, especially if it comes at the expense of someone like Tom McCarthy.

On the flip-side, I would love to see some major acknowledgment for IN BRUGES, certainly Best Original Screenplay, Farrell in Supporting Actor (it's arguable if you say Gleeson is the lead) and Best Original Score.

Also irivingberlinalexanderputz is the best handle I've seen in awhile.

comment #58

Aris P says ...

Ok Sam, um, I mean Smarty.

comment #59

mpneeb says ...

I haven't seen too many pictures I want to take down the way I did with MUNICH or ATONEMENT...
But I live in San Diego. We just got SLUMDOG... and Milk...
I'd love to see 'Let the Right One In' take Best Foreign and BATMAN TDK take Best Cinematography, but I'm not excited by anything else (I am angry that most (80%) of the films making 'Best of 2008' lists have not been released here- by mid-December.)

comment #60

K. Bowen says ...

I might as well say it. Robert Downey Jr. did as much or more for Iron Man than any actor did for any major film this year. With Random Next Big Thing Leading Man in the role, it would have been a dud. In a relatively weak Best Actor grouping (who hasn't been dreaming all these yearss for a showdown between Richard Jenkins and Frank Langella?) a nom would hardly be an injustice.

comment #61

D.Z. says ...

Bowen: Have to agree. Ledger was a good Joker, but I didn't feel like he was *the* Joker. Too much of an emphasis on scare tactics and psychopathic tendencies than on the morbid humour he's best known for in the comics. Though I have to say that TDK is the opposite of Batman Begins, in that it gets better with repeat viewing than the latter flick. I'm not sure I'd feel that way with Iron Man.

comment #62

diesel says ...

I just preordered Man on Wire on Blu-ray on Amazon.co.uk, hopefully I'll have it before this year ends.

All of a sudden a Heath Ledger backlash? Really? That's insane.

comment #63

Gordie Lachance says ...

Wow, some of you guys take this stuff waaaay too seriously.

Believe it or not, I read this blog because I LIKE films. Some I like more than others, but there's usually something good to be found in just about anything.

Boy would I love to read / see / listen to any creative work done by a member of this blog to find out where all this anger is coming from.

comment #64

D.Z. says ...

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/081216k.php

comment #65

D.Z. says ...

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/081216c.php

comment #66

Howlingman says ...

Put me in the "this has been a 3 star year at best" camp. Some good films but nothing truly GREAT that I'm going to revisit in years to come --

Except MAN ON WIRE.

It speaks volumes that a documentary takes the "Howlingman" (a 30% off coupon at Borders FYI)

comment #67

Rich S. says ...

Speaking of takedowns, check out what's going on over at AICN with The Spirit. Even the talkbackers are wondering what Frank Miller did to Harry to deserve it. Must have peed in his cornflakes (or made him use skim milk or something).

comment #68

TheJERMSguy says ...

I haven't seen some of these award-bait movies yet, but having seen Dark Knight again on DVD, I'd be upset if it didn't get nominated for Picture. I'd like to shoot down Standard Operating Procedure from Best Documentary talk. It was the most overly produced doc I've ever seen. Any doc that has more renactments than actual footage should be disqualified.

Frost/Nixon finally comes to a theater near me this week. If Ron Howard pulls the same crap he did with A Beautiful Mind, I'll be on the anti-F/N train.

comment #69

actionman says ...

Right on, Gordie. Right on.

comment #70

Jamieson says ...

"How is it that nobody is really thrashing Revolutionary Road? I thought it was kind of hysterically terrible, starting out just awkward and eventually crossing all the way over into total camp/garish territory in the second half.

I don't think you even have to be a fan of Mad Men to find this one of the stalest, goofiest movies of the year, loaded with whacked out acting and crazy-pinched direction. But it seems to be getting (admittedly muted) respect, with some people going nuts over it. What's up? Where's the intelligent take-down?"

Absolutely 1000% agreed. I was very much looking forward to Revolutionary Road but thought it was an embarrassing train-wreck. It came across as over-the-top, on-the-nose, and completely phony and wildly overacted. What a piece of tripe.

comment #71

fattyhadaparty says ...

Couldn't agree with you more, Burma.

SYNECDOCHE is about what every Charlie Kaufman film is about: Charlie Kaufman. That's not necessarily a bad thing (MALKOVICH & ETERNAL SUNSHINE are brilliant), it's just that this one is executed in a particularly lackluster manner. By the end of the second act, you're left wandering around a blimp hanger looking for the script (along with the cast). If you want to give any kind of award to SYNECDOCHE, give it to the agency that designed the one-sheet. It's the most fully-realized aspect of the film and it's doesn't take two hours to sit through.

On the other hand, it's good to see IN BRUGES getting some love. If I had to call it right now (not having seen FROST/NIXON, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, BENJAMIN BUTTON, or DOUBT), I'd say it was easily the most moving film of the year, with MAN ON WIRE a close second.

And yeah, the negativity on this site is starting to wear me down a bit, too. You folks sure spend a lot of time seeing movies you hate!

comment #72

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