Noyes' Top 10 for 2008

Features

2008 was not a year for hard hitting dramas. They were out there but none of them were able to impress like 2007’s No Country For Old Men or 2006’s The Departed. Instead we received a cornucopia of hilarious comedies and fantastic comic book and action movies, the perfect escapism for these hard depressing times. Sadly there are a handful of films that I feel could have made it on this list had I the chance to see them, but of the films I saw, here are the ten best for 2008.

10. Iron Man

While no Dark Knight, John Favreau’s Iron Man is a wonderful, entertaining film that you don’t have to be a comic dork to enjoy. Favreau created a very believable world for his unbelievable hero and the fantastic performance by Robert Downey, Jr. locks this film in as one of the best of the year. With the success of this film and the much improved relaunch of The Hulk we can only hope that forthcoming Avengers film can stand up to its predecessors

9. In Bruges

Most years it’s the indie films that bring up the caliber of films for the year, sadly the 2008 indie world had little to offer. But that’s not to say that had nothing to offer. The best indie film this year is easily In Bruges, a dark comedy about two hit men who have to hide out in the Belgian town of Bruges after a bungled job. It manages to pull off being sad and funny and it is also a great character study. Both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (both nominated for Golden Globes for their roles in this film) are fantastic in this film and play very well off each other. Well acted, well shot and all around well made film. Definitely worth you time.

8. Zack And Miri Make A Porno

This film is everything Jersey Girl wasn’t. As Kevin Smith’s second attempt to make a film outside his Jay & Silent Bob universe he finally succeeds, and very admirably to boot. Smith weaves an entertaining comedy that is both raunchy as is his signature style, while underlying that with an endearing romance that is sure to make you smile. Seth Rogan and Elizabeth banks are both fantastic here and actually have great chemistry together.

7. Role Models

If you read my review of this film, you know I loved it, so it should be no surprise to see it on this list. The State alumni, David Wain directs his third film and first “Hollywood” film to wonderful results. Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott are both hilarious as they unwillingly become big brothers to two troubled kids. It’s a simple comedy filled with tons of laugh out loud humor.

6. Tropic Thunder

Ben Stiller delivers his fourth and greatest directorial outing yet with Tropic Thunder. The story of a bunch of full of themselves actors head into the jungle to film a war movie and end up getting involved in something all too real. It’s a great idea that is only improved by the stellar cast, best of which is Robert Downey, Jr. who has two films on this list. For a man who only a few years ago had all but disappeared of the Hollywood radar he has certainly done well by himself in 2008. And of course the small role of the asshole producer played by Tom Cruise warrants mention. I’m sick of Cruise and his crazy Scientologist antics, but man is he hilarious in this film.

5. Pineapple Express

While I loved this film I’ll be the first to admit it’s probably not for everyone. It’s a prefect blend of a stoner buddy comedy and an 80’s action movie. Think Cheech and Chong meets Hot Fuzz only with Seth Rogan and James Franco (who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance) as the leads. The film also plays out like a Romantic comedy with Rogan and Franco’s relationship. It is laugh out loud hilarious and at times brutally violent, if that sounds appealing to you then you’ll love this film.

4. Mongol

Here is a film most of you have probably not heard of, let alone seen. Mongol is the first part of a trilogy that will tell the life of Genghis Khan. In the skilled hands of Russian director, Sergei Bodrov, this Mongolian language film tells the story Temudjin, the young Mongol who will one day grow up to be Genghis Khan. But that’s getting ahead of the story. This film that perfectly blends drama and action shows us his brutal childhood and his eternal struggle of growing up and evading all his enemies and trying to be with the woman he loves. Do yourself a favor and see this film.

3. Burn After Reading

Leave it to the Cohen Brothers to follow their Academy Award winning drama with a goofy slap stick comedy. Still, the Brother’s prove, like that have many times before, that they are masters of both genres. What’s so great about this film is that it works on several different levels. All the actors at the top of their comedic game and they do so by playing their characters completely straight. The stand out performance here is Brad Pitt and the simple and clueless Chad who floats his way through the story never quite knowing what’s really going on. Even in scenes where he’s only in the background he manages to make you laugh out loud. It’s filled with tons of very obvious physical humor and laugh out loud jokes but there is a lot going on underneath as well to make this the second best film of 2008.

2. Milk

Amongst all the comedies and comic book movies one drama managed to stand out above the rest. Milk is a bio pic about Harvey Milk, a man who was the first openly gay man to become an elected official and his subsequent assassination. Gus Van Sant directs this very engaging film about this amazing civil rights activist. And while Van Sants directing is quite good, it is the performances that lock this film in at number 2. Sean Penn, who I generally don’t like, gives the performance of his career, completely losing himself in Harvey. Penn is also surrounded by fantastic supporting actors with James Franco as his long time partner, Emile Hirsch as one of his fellow activists and the always amazing Josh Brolin as Dan White, Milk’s fellow City Supervisor and murderer. This is an important film and you’d be foolish not to see it.

1. The Dark Knight

Forget for one minute that Heath Ledger died before the release of this film. That aside this is without a doubt the best film of 2008. Chris Nolan has crafted not only a perfect comic book movie out doing his previous effort, but he has in fact crafted a perfect movie. Period. It’s a fantastic story that continues the arc of both Bruce Wayne and Batman and it delivers some fantastic performances including Ledger’s Joker which is easily the best performance of the year and best performance ever of this truly dark and twisted character.

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years