31 December 2008

Best of 2008: Film

Revisions since original publication indicated in bold.

MOVIES:
The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan)
The ultimate sequel, comic book movie, crime epic, morality play, summer movie, et al. Any questions?


Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father (dir. Kurt Kuenne)
The documentary of the year: part murder-mystery, part touching anecdote, all told with the emotional heft of the pain of losing a loved one. Bring the tissues.


Doubt (dir. John Patrick Shanley)
Can you name another movie recently this chock full of this many spectacular performances? Neither can I. But beyond the performances is another movie that causes you to wrestle with your preconceived notions, your perceptions, your faith.


Forgetting Sarah Marshall (dir. Nicholas Stoller)
The year's best comedy, which out-Apatows Judd Apatow. Funny, smart, sweet, and extremely relevant to anyone who's gone through a breakup recently.


Iron Man (dir. Jon Favreau)
If Dark Knight was $100 steak, this is the burger from the joint around the corner. The former may be better overall, but the latter is so much more laid-back and enjoyable.


Milk (dir. Gus Van Sant)
So much more alive than most biopics of recent years, Milk adds context, visual flair, and timeliness to the generic life story, to give a riveting history lesson, made all the more relevant in light of recent political events. Sean Penn and Josh Brolin are riveting.


Slumdog Millionaire (dir. Danny Boyle)
In a world where every other release is a remake of something that wasn't that good to begin with, here's a truly original story that'll sweep you up with its unique storytelling device and genuinely uplifting message.


U2 3D (dirs. Mark Pellington and Catherine Owens)
Some of us may never get to see the great band in concert, but this truly is "Even Better than the Real Thing," with cameras taking you onstage, backstage, and front row center. The best moviegoing experience of the year.


WALL·E (dir. Andrew Stanton)
Not content to make an animated movie that merely reaches the heights of great cinema, Stanton (Finding Nemo) went into the great beyond to create a work of art that's part Chaplin homage, part vicious satire of lazy humanity.


The Wrestler (dir. Darren Aronofsky)
Aronofsky's simplest yet most powerful film. Mickey Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a pro big in the 80s and now clinging to his glory days, a shell of his former self.


Runners-Up: American Teen, Burn after Reading, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Ghost Town, Gran Torino, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Kung Fu Panda, Run Fat Boy Run, Tropic Thunder

PERFORMANCES:
Russell Brand as Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Riffing on his own bad-boy persona, Brand delivered one of the all-time great supporting comedic performances as the lead singer of rock band Infant Sorrow. He's a one man Spinal Tap.


Ben Burtt as WALL·E in WALL·E
What? A sound mixer can't land a spot on this list? Well, truly any human voice would have cheapened the beautiful emotions of the robot in Pixar's latest masterpiece.


Robert Downey, Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder
A bravura performance from Downey, as self-serious Oscar hound Kirk Lazarus, who "never drops character 'til the DVD commentary." The best time anyone's played a "dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."


Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino
If this really is the legend's final onscreen performance, what a way to go. As the grizzled, racist, but ultimately heroic Korean War vet, Eastwood delivers his all-time greatest acting work.


Everyone in Doubt
It's just too hard to single out any one performance from this ensemble, with Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all in top form as people affected by weighty allegations.


Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon
Blowing all previous attempts to portray the disgraced President out of the water, veteran actor Langella gives the crown jewel in his lustrous career in Ron Howard's biopic, a role he previously owned (and won a Tony for) on Broadway.


Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight
Not only the best villain of all-time, but deserves a spot alongside the all-time great cinematic performances in history.


Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk
Going beyond mere imitation, this Oscar winning performance from notorious hot-head Sean Penn is truly inspiring, just like the man himself. Exuding charisma and hope, it's a wholly captivating performance.


Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This award could also go to the F/X wizards who pasted Pitt's face on younger, smaller bodies as he ages in reverse, but it's really Pitt's career-topping performance that's the glue that holds the vast landscape of the film together.


Mickey Rourke as Randy "The Ram" Robinson in The Wrestler
The kind of role that comes along once in a lifetime. Sometimes actors can simply BE real people (Jamie Foxx and Helen Mirren come to mind), but so rare is the performance that makes you feel the actor truly IS this fictional character. The Best Actor trophy belongs to him.


QUOTES:
American Teen
Hannah Bailey: "All we have to do is figure out who we are and where we're heading in life. Holy s***!"

The Dark Knight
The Joker (Heath Ledger): “I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve."

Doubt
Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman): "There are people who go after your humanity, that tell you that the light in your heart is a weakness. Don’t believe it."

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Rachel (Mila Kunis): "It's a metaphor for, you know, for society, for reliance, on technology."
Aldous Snow (Russell Brand): “It’s a metaphor for a crap movie.”

Kung Fu Panda
Po (Jack Black): “Skadoosh!”

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Thom (Aaron Yoo): "See, the Beatles had it all figured out."
Nick (Michael Cera): "What are you talking about?"
Thom: "I want to hold your hand..."

Role Models
Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson): “F*** you, Miss Daisy!”

Run, Fat Boy, Run
Gordon (Dylan Moran): "That's the second-most disgusting fluid I've ever gotten in my eye."


Tropic Thunder
Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.): "Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man, look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump. Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, Being There. Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, I Am Sam. Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed..."

The Wrestler
Randy "The Ram" Robinson: “The only place I get hurt is out there.”

DVD RELEASES:
12 Angry Men (50th Anniversary Edition)
One of the 10 greatest films ever made got the deluxe DVD treatment. If you haven't seen it yet, drop whatever you're doing and pick this up.


A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Stephen Colbert's hilarious send-up of Christmas specials should become a new tradition, and the DVDs interactive Advent calendar is a genius extra.


The Dark Knight (Blu-ray Limited Edition Gift Set)
Really, any edition will do, and Lord knows every retail outlet had their own spin on the disc (some with a collector's coin, some with a mask, and the Blu-ray set, complete with replica Batpod).


The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration
A stellar update of an already essential box set. The films have never looked better.


Iron Man (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition)
The perfect movie to debut your new HDTV, Blu-ray player and Surround Sound system. I am Iron Man, indeed.


My Boys: The Complete First Season
The best sitcom on TV deserves to be treasured, and keep you caught up with its short seasons.


The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Jack Skellington's rich, dark adventure has never looked better. Look here!


The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season
Despite the standard edition's hideously impractical packaging, and despite the eleventh season containing two of the worst episodes in the show's history ("Bart to the Future" and "Kill the Alligator and Run"), this is the last season worth owning. Nab it, and get the collectible Krusty packaging while you can.


Sleeping Beauty (50th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
Another of Uncle Walt's true treasures, the fairy tale looks simply stunning. Add it before Disney does something stupid like put it back in the vault.


Spaced: The Complete Series
Until this year, I had only heard of this BBC series, the precursor to Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright's brilliant films. Whip-smart and British to its core.


SPECIAL AWARDS
BEST TRAILER (REAL):
Cloverfield


BEST TRAILER (FAKE):
Satan's Alley


BEST SONG:
Bruce Springsteen - "The Wrestler"
From the film The Wrestler


BEST POSTER:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall

30 December 2008

Best of 2008: Music

Revisions since original publication indicated in bold.

ALBUMS:
AMERICAN TEEN: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE (Almost Gold)
Of all the albums in 2008, this is the one I listened to the most. A pitch-perfect compilation that flows just as well outside of the context of the movie.


Coldplay - VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS (Parlophone)
With just the right amount of ambition and grandiose musicianship, the best band in Britain rebounded sensationally from the lackluster X&Y.


Death Cab for Cutie - NARROW STAIRS (Atlantic)
Still in top form, Ben Gibbard and co. continue to make one great album after another, defying even their own expectations.


Fleet Foxes - FLEET FOXES (Sub Pop)
While My Morning Jacket got too weird for their own good experimental and Kings of Leon went all-out for arena rock, the Seattle band claimed the throne of the Best Southern Rock Band.


Girl Talk - FEED THE ANIMALS (Illegal Art)
Arguably superior to NIGHT RIPPER, DJ Gregg Gillis sampled over 300 tracks for the year's best party album.


The Hold Steady - STAY POSITIVE (Vagrant)
Perhaps a level down from BOYS & GIRLS IN AMERICA, but still a collection of raw energy and emotion.


Kings of Leon - ONLY BY THE NIGHT (RCA)
When an album is this good, who cares that it's more of a lateral shift than a step up? Leaving Southern rock behind for the sunny shores of mainstream guitar-pop, the Followill clan became the best act in a whole new genre.


Lecrae - REBEL (Reach)
It's not everyday one man legitimizes and entire sub-genre of music, but Denton's own Lecrae Moore brought gravitas and genuine talent to Christian rap.


Sigur Rós - WITH A BUZZ IN OUR EARS WE PLAY ENDLESSLY (EMI)
The Icelandic group decided to get folky, yet the new batch of tunes is every bit of glorious as any of their previous efforts.


Kanye West - 808s & HEARTBREAK (Roc-A-Fella)
The BLOOD ON THE TRACKS for the iPod age. Kanye surpassed anything else he's ever recorded with this, his most intimate album ever.


Runners-Up:
The All-American Rejects - WHEN THE WORLD COMES DOWN, Beck - MODERN GUILT, Bloc Party - INTIMACY, Bon Iver - FOR EMMA FOREVER AGO, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - DIG!!! LAZARUS DIG!!!, Fall Out Boy - FOLIE á DEUX, Keane - PERFECT SYMMETRY, Leeland - OPPOSITE WAY, MGMT - ORACULAR SPECTACULAR, Snow Patrol - A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS

SINGLES:
Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
From the album VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
Here's a true testament to a song's power: it still resonates, even after it's been "overplayed."


Does it Offend You, Yeah? - "Dawn of the Dead"
From the album YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO
While the album couldn't live up to this track, the steel drum-tinged ballad of doomed love should be played again and again.


Elbow - "Grounds for Divorce"
From the album THE SELDOM-SEEN KID
Unsurprisingly, the video features the band performing this stomper in a seedy bar. Raise a glass and feel the raw energy.


Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"
From the album SHINE
While Beyoncé and Leona Lewis ruled the airwaves, this British babe quietly released the year's best R&B track.


Keane - "Spiraling"
From the album PERFECT SYMMETRY
Prepare yourself. The lead single from their latest album is a complete 180 from anything they've done before. But it's just as good as any of their winsome ballads.


Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
From the album ONLY BY THE NIGHT
Only a band this dirty would choose this as their lead single. Great driving music, just don't try to act out the lyrics.


M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
From the album KALA
Technically, this song came out in '07, but soared to popularity thanks to David Gordon Green's Pineapple Express. The only downside? The radio edit, which featured video game explosions in lieu of gunshots. Wussies.


MGMT - "Time to Pretend"
From the album ORACULAR SPECTACULAR
Another late '07/early '08 entry, the duo provided us with this generation's "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades." Only, you know, good.


Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"
From the album VAMPIRE WEEKEND
If you were in Austin during SXSW, this track was inescapable. Even if their hype preceded them, this track was truly indispensible.


Kanye West - "Heartless"
From the album 808s & HEARTBREAK
A song that would have come across as whiny in any other hands, 'Ye bared his soul and listeners responded.


VIDEOS:
(All NSFW are outbound linked, not embedded)

The Black Keys - "Strange Times"
Directed by Lance Bangs

Who wouldn't want to play laser tag with the Ohio rockers?

The BPA featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal - "Toe Jam"
Directed by Keith Schofield
Fatboy Slim's new side project proved he still knows how to make clever videos, this one featuring the most creative use of censor bars in history.

Evangelicals - "Midnight Vignette"
Directed by Matt Leach

Norman, Oklahoma's own Evangelicals paid tribute to '70s slasher flicks. Keep the Grindhouse dream alive, guys.

Girl Talk - "Still Here"
Directed by Chris Beckman

YouTube user BunnyGreenhouse made a whole series of videos to Greg Gillis' stellar album, all of them brilliant labors of love. Here's a taste.

Lenka - "The Show"
Directed by James Gulliver Hancock/Lenka

The Australian actress-turned-singer's buoyant energy is hard to ignore. One view and you'll be bouncing around yourself.

The Lonely Island - "Jizz in My Pants"
Directed by Akiva Schaffer

The SNL Digital Short/lead single from 2009's Incredibad, this ode to all things premature and immature gets funnier every time you watch it.

She & Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Directed by Ace Norton

Subtext, schmubtext. It's two and a half minutes of Zooey Deschanel!

Usher featuring Young Jeezy - "Love in This Club"
Directed by Chris Thrash

The owner of one of the only complete line-ups of the original Rock-afire Explosion (the animatronic band from Showbiz Pizza), Alabama's Chris Thrash takes requests for his band to perform pop hits. This is the best.

Weezer - "Pork and Beans"
Directed by Matthew Cullen

With this, the lead video from their best album in years, Rivers Cuomo and co. brought all viral videos full circle.

Kanye West featuring Dwele - "Flashing Lights"
Directed by Spike Jonze
With this mini-film noir, Spike Jonze again proves that he needs to make another feature already.

LYRICS:
The All-American Rejects - "Damn Girl"
When he's inside you/Know there's no room for me


Coldplay featuring Jay-Z - "Lost+"
If you succeed, prepare to be crucified

Death Cab for Cutie - "Your New Twin-Sized Bed"
You look so defeated lying there in your new twin-sized bed/With a single pillow underneath your single head

The Hold Steady - "Constructive Summer"
Let this be my annual reminder/That we can all be something bigger

The Lonely Island - "Jizz in My Pants"
When Bruce Willis was dead at the end of Sixth Sense, I...

Keane - "Spiralling"
When we fall in love/We're just falling/In love with ourselves

Lecrae - "Truth"
What if my truth says yours is a lie? Is it still true?

Vampire Weekend - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"/"Ottoman"
This feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too

Butch Walker - "3 Kids from Brooklyn"
I grabbed shots in Decatur with a girl who's on my block/She's the best drummer that I know/Her band's always struggling and they always say they're juggling/All their schedules just to play a show/Working at American Apparel selling women's clothes to guys/She got a call to play in someone's band I don't know well/She don't wan't to do it, she's so broke that she said screw it/Then I never spoke to her again

Kanye West - "Heartless"
How could ya be so Dr. Evil?/You're bringin' out a side of me that I don't know

SPECIAL AWARDS
BEST NEW ARTISTS:
Black Kids (Jacksonville, FL)


Fleet Foxes (Seattle, WA)


MGMT (Brooklyn, NY)


She & Him (Portland, OR)


The Ting Tings (Manchester, England)


BEST MIXTAPE:
Rhymefest - MARK RONSON PRESENTS: MAN IN THE MIRROR


MOST OVERRATED ALBUM:
TV on the Radio - DEAR SCIENCE (Interscope)


MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM:
Scarlett Johansson - ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD (Atco)


ALBUM THAT WOULD SOUND 10x BETTER ON VINYL:
She & Him - VOLUME ONE (Merge)


GUILTIEST PLEASURE (ALBUM):
Fall Out Boy - FOLIE á DEUX (Decaydance)


GUILTIEST PLEASURE (SINGLE):
Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours"
From the album WE SING, WE DANCE, WE STEAL THINGS


BEST COVER SONG:
The Swell Season - "Astral Weeks"


BEST ALBUM TITLE:
Martha Wainwright - I KNOW YOU'RE MARRIED BUT I HAVE FEELINGS TOO (Shock)


BEST ALBUM COVER:
The Walkmen - YOU & ME (Gigantic)