I realize that I'm, of course, a tad late to this whole shebang, but I wanted to throw my two cents in. Why not have another opinion to the billions out there? Enjoy.
10. Ghost Town
Yes, you probably didn't see it, and for shame. If you don't already know Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest people alive, then you have obviously missed his appearances on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, the Golden Globes, the Emmys, the British version of The Office, Extras, Stardust, Night at the Museum, and, by the way, you can thank the massive popularity of podcasts on him and the shaved chimp known as Karl Dil--Pilkington. Turns out he can bring his off-kilter charm to a romantic comedy co-starring Tea Leoni and Greg Kinnear. Without him, the movie's not bad, but Gervais makes this thing soar.
9. Iron Man
Though Robert Downey, Jr. has always been a brilliant actor, this was his Johnny Depp year, the year when American audiences accepted him as a raffish leading man. Though his role in Tropic Thunder was almost more memorable than Tony Stark, this film has the advantage of working consistently and having some seriously cool effects. And now that Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, AND Emily Blunt are all close to being in the sequel, I can't wait for 2010.
8. In Bruges
So Colin Farrell, it turns out, can act (I'm considering his acceptance speech at the Globes didn't happen). This early-quarter entry was marketed as a wacky comedy, but its frequent bursts of pained drama weren't only shocking, but moving. Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes are all on the tops of their game, and I eagerly await the next from writer-director Martin McDonagh.
7. The Visitor
Probably the best example of the unsung character actor, Richard Jenkins gets a chance to shine here as Walter Vale, a sad-sack college professor whose life is revived when he meets two squatters in his New York apartment. Jenkins' face tells a story by itself, but director Tom McCarthy's script works well; what's more, the emotional outburst Vale has at the end, while being a bit predictable, works thanks to the awkwardness conveyed by the craggy-faced lead.
6. Revolutionary Road
Almost in spite of itself, I thought this film worked extremely well. As disillusioned Frank and April, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet take some heavy work and do the best they can. Though Sam Mendes' direction lacks an extreme amount of flair, the acting (especially from wild-card Michael Shannon) is powerful and painful, so much so that I honestly don't need to see this movie ever again, which may be the highest compliment I can pay it.
5. Frost/Nixon
No, not a lot of people will declare this as one of the best of the year, and I understand why. But I can't deny the strong acting from Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, even if I get frustrated with Ron Howard's decision to add in some superfluous talking-head interviews from only a few supporting characters, instead of hearing from the title characters. Also, I can't get Langella's drunken rant out of my head, so that's saying something, and nothing creepy...at all.
4. Man On Wire
Having just seen this film, and having just written about it, it's hard to repeat the praise I've already given this one. Fast-paced, breathless, this one works as a heist film more than a documentary, especially considering the lack of backstory or postscript we're given. James Marsh corrals the half-crazy and charismatic Phillippe Petit into reenacting his story of how he walked across the World Trade Center in 1974, and we're the better for it.
3. The Wrestler
A profoundly moving and sad character study about a man spiralling downward with nothing left, this is a hard film to watch, as I've already said. Mickey Rourke, with arguably the biggest comeback role in Hollywood (or at least the biggest of the past few decades), isn't just brilliant here as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, he's both playing himself and someone else as fully as a person can. We believe him when he makes that final speech, that he's talking as the character but that he's pointing his finger right at us. That's what makes the final decision so painful to see, perfect in its logic yet destructive all the while.
2. WALL-E
Best Pixar movie. Ever. Best Pixar character. Ever. Who else could make a movie about robots and captivate audiences for 30 minutes without any decipherable dialogue. Who else could make us believe we gorge ourselves so much in the future we can't walk and still make humans somewhat lovable? The folks at Pixar. I am unashamed of my love for these people and the films they make; this movie did not let me down.
1. The Dark Knight
This film's predecessor, 2005's Batman Begins, was good. This movie is an instant classic (as much as I hate using that phrase, I do know it's a film I'll treasure for years to come). The Joker and the Batman face off here, face-to-face and through proxy, and it's brilliant, soaring stuff. Let's sign Chris Nolan onto a sequel, right? Right? Pull a dump truck full of money to his house!
Coming this weekend, an analysis into the best part of the best show on television, and the first of my looks back on the films that are Pixar.
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