Top 101 Movies of the Decade (85-81)

85. Banlieue 13 (Pierre Morel, 2004)

Released in the U.S. as District B13, Pierre Morel (director of Taken) crafts one of the most energetic and enjoyable martial arts movies I've ever seen. Banlieue 13 was most of the world's introduction to parkour, something of a real life Spider-Man hybrid of cross country and kung-fu, seen now in other movies like Casino Royale. The plot is a series of nonsensical excuses for parkour master David Belle and martial arts pro Cyril Raffaelli to do their thing, but Morel is smart enough not to tinker and to let the actors put on some of the most impressive displays of stunt work and athleticism ever put to film. Banlieue 13 stands with the best the martial arts genre has to offer.

84. The Fall (Tarsem Singh, 2008)

The Fall tells the story of a movie stuntman, Lee Pace of Pushing Daisies, who ends up in the hospital after a botched stunt. While hospitalized he befriends a young girl, Alexandria, and tells her a story about five heroes trying to take revenge on an evil villain. The story comes to life in the girl's mind and we see it through her imagination - and it is within Alexandria's imagination that Tarsem Singh's film comes to life. Filmed over the course of four years in at least 20 countries, Tarsem has found and filmed some of the most interesting and arresting images ever captured. Many of the images are so fascinating and beautiful that it's nearly impossible to believe they weren't aided by the use of CGI. Try to see it on the biggest screen with the highest picture quality possible - it's worth it.

83. Spider-Man/Spider-Man 2.1 (Sam Raimi, 2002/2004)

This spot is more for the superior Spider-Man 2 than for its predecessor. Spider-Man was a fine introduction to the character, with a collection of likable performances. It is in the sequel that the characters really come to life, especially in the extended DVD director's cut (titled 2.1). Tobey Maguire was perfectly cast as Peter Parker, a high school nerd who learns the hard way that with great power comes great responsibility after the death of his uncle. Parker's struggles with the responsibility of his superpowers come to life in the sequel. Aided by the addition of Alfred Molina as the villainous Dr. Octopus, and an increased role for James Franco, Spider-Man 2 is the endearing image of the series. Blessed with exciting action sequences, particularly the aftermath of a battle between Spider-Man and Doc Ock on a moving train, a genuine emotional core and witty dialogue, Spider-Man 2 is a stellar action film.

It is best for all involved to forget that Spider-Man 3 ever happened. Considering Sony is rebooting the series from scratch (with perfectly named director Marc Webb of (500) Days of Summer fame attached to craft the project), the studio must agree.

82. The Last King of Scotland (Kevin Macdonald, 2006)

The Last King of Scotland is screenwriter Peter Morgan's third appearance on this list and director Macdonald's second. The film tells the fictional, but believable, story of a young doctor (James McAvoy) who ends up absorbed into the court of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). After the doctor treats Amin for a hand injury, the two form an initial friendship based on Amin's respect for the doctor's Scottish origins (and the Scottish resistance to British rule). McAvoy's character is impressed with Amin's charisma and grows to respect the man. Gradually the veil is pulled back, however, and the tension that builds between the two makes for compelling drama. Whitaker deserves all the accolades he has earned for his terrifying turn as Amin, but the film's emotional core is through the conflicted performance of James McAvoy.

81. Pineapple Express (David Gordon Green, 2008)

Set over the course 2 crazy days, Pineapple Express is the story of a process server (Seth Rogan) who goes on the run with his ever-stoned drug dealer (James Franco) after witnessing a murder. David Gordon Green deftly mixes broad laughs, stoner humor and absurdly violent action scenes to great effect. James Franco's work here is really noteworthy; it's one of the most lovably imbecilic performances I've ever seen. Every line reading is so well timed and delivered that it makes it impossible to leave the movie not liking James Franco just a little bit more than before you saw it...

Runner-Up: Blood Diamond (Zwick, 2006)
Runner-Up: Open Water (Kentis, 2004)
Runner-Up: Cinderella Man (Howard, 2005)
Runner-Up: Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000)
Runner-Up: Best in Show (Guest, 2000)
Runner-Up: Letters from Iwo Jima (Eastwood, 2006)
Runner-Up: Saw (Wan, 2004)
101: Big Fish (Burton, 2003)
100: State of Play (Macdonald, 2009)
99: Marley & Me (Frankel, 2008)
98: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher, 2008)
97: Sunshine (Boyle, 2007)
96: 8 Mile (Hanson, 2002)
95: 21 Grams (Iñárritu, 2003)
94: The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, 2009)
93: Y tu mamá también (Cuaron, 2001)
92: Breach (Ray, 2007)
91: Away from Her (Polley, 2007)
90: Stranger Than Fiction (Forster, 2006)
89: Old School (Phillips, 2003)
88: The Queen (Frears, 2006)
87: Garden State (Braff, 2004)
86: Miracle (O'Connor, 2004)
85: Banlieue 13 (Morel, 2004)
84: The Fall (Singh, 2008)
83: Spider-Man/Spider-Man 2.1 (Raimi, 2002/2004)
82: The Last King of Scotland (Macdonald, 2006)
81: Pineapple Express (Green, 2008)

Runners-Up
101-96
95-91
90-86

Top 101 Movies of the Decade (90-86)

90. Stranger Than Fiction (Marc Forster, 2006)

Stranger Than Fiction tells the story of an IRS auditor who, out of the blue, begins hearing a voice narrate his life. At the advice of a psychiatrist and a literary expert, he sets out to determine if his story as narrated will be a classical tragedy or comedy - all while falling in love with the woman he is auditing. Stranger Than Fiction of the quirkier love stories of the last decade and, easily, the finest performance of Will Ferrell's career. His great eccentricities seemingly corralled by director Marc Forster, Will Ferrell gives a focused and affecting performance. He is aided by a wonderfully creative and hilarious script by Zach Helm, suitably quirky direction from Forster and wonderful supporting turns from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman. Gyllenhaal, in particular, has wonderful chemistry with Ferrell that makes their love story touching and believable.

89. Old School (Todd Phillips, 2003)

On the other end of the Will Ferrell spectrum is Old School, the funniest 'dumb comedy' of the decade. Old School tells the tale of a trio of middle aged men (Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson) who open a fraternity at their local university. This film served as Ferrell's mainstream breakout role as his turn as the modern day Blutarsky, Frank the Tank, made him a household name. His success was well-earned as Ferrell delivers every line with such delinquent glee that it's difficult not to grab wrapped up in his performance. Todd Phillips, who also found success this past decade with The Hangover, is a great director for this sort of material - he paces each scene in a way that keeps the humor constant but leaves enough time to appreciate each joke.

88. The Queen (Stephen Frears, 2006)

Deservedly, many of the accolades for The Queen have been focused on Helen Mirren's performance as Elizabeth II. She is, of course, every bit as wonderful as advertised. But I argue there are two overlooked elements of The Queen that make the film so successful. The first is the stellar screenplay by Peter Morgan (who also worked on The Last King of Scotland, State of Play and will work on the upcoming 23rd James Bond film). Morgan's words bring Elizabeth II to life in a way that is flawed, but understandably so. Temporally, the film revolves around the death of Princess Diana and Morgan captures the conflict the royal family went through in dealing with the death of someone who had become an outsider, but was so beloved by the general public. The other critical element is the supporting performance of Michael Sheen. Michael Sheen has become one of the finest actors working today giving great performances that defy genre or cast-typing, from the Underworld series to Frost/Nixon, Sheen is almost always the most compelling element of any movie he is in. The focus of The Queen is, in large part, on the relationship between Mirren's Elizabeth and Sheen's Prime Minister Tony Blair throughout the Diana saga. While wonderfully mimicking Tony Blair, Sheen manages to put his own touch on the character and is the necessary foil to make Mirren's performance so successful. The scenes between the two have a spectacularly compelling energy to them that forms the heart of the movie.

87. Garden State (Zach Braff, 2004)

Zach Braff, of Scrubs fame, makes a startlingly effective directorial debut showcasing a gift for capturing a fascinating image, particularly in the use of color, and for the use of music to help the emotional weight of a scene. Braff gives a wonderful performance in the lead role as a young man confused about his purpose in life after his mother's passing. Natalie Portman is lovably quirky as the woman who helps Braff move forward and find himself. Peter Saarsgard is also strong as Braff's best friend. While the story does skew a bit into self-aggrandizing nonsense, Braff's strong sense of aesthetic and pace keep the film at a high level.

86. Miracle (Gavin O'Connor, 2004)

One of the finest 'cliche sports movies' ever made. Gavin O'Connor has a firm grasp on how to create the 'chill' moments that make these sort of movies so enjoyable. A number of scenes stand out: the team doing skating drills after a game until the lights are literally turned off on them, the coach flipping a table to motivate the team, the players bonding with a snow football game as Jimmy Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech plays in the background. At the core of the movie is the superb performance by Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks, one of the finest roles of his career. Oft overlooked is the fine work by Patricia Clarkson as Brooks' wife. She provides an emotional grounding that helps layer the Brooks character and provides a wonderful partner for Russell's performance. O'Connor also manages to create a team of distinct characters, something not easily achieved with 21 characters dressed identically in most scenes. Above all else, though, O'Connor captures the spirit and feel of the United States at the start of the 1980s: O'Connor structures the film in a way that builds and showcases a genuine American need for hope and how the 1980 hockey team met that need.

Runner-Up: Blood Diamond (Zwick, 2006)
Runner-Up: Open Water (Kentis, 2004)
Runner-Up: Cinderella Man (Howard, 2005)
Runner-Up: Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000)
Runner-Up: Best in Show (Guest, 2000)
Runner-Up: Letters from Iwo Jima (Eastwood, 2006)
Runner-Up: Saw (Wan, 2004)
101: Big Fish (Burton, 2003)
100: State of Play (Macdonald, 2009)
99: Marley & Me (Frankel, 2008)
98: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher, 2008)
97: Sunshine (Boyle, 2007)
96: 8 Mile (Hanson, 2002)
95: 21 Grams (Iñárritu, 2003)
94: The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, 2009)
93: Y tu mamá también (Cuaron, 2001)
92: Breach (Ray, 2007)
91: Away from Her (Polley, 2007)
90: Stranger Than Fiction (Forster, 2006)
89: Old School (Phillips, 2003)
88: The Queen (Frears, 2006)
87: Garden State (Braff, 2004)
86: Miracle (O'Connor, 2004)

Runners-Up
101-96
95-91

Top 101 Movies of the Decade (95-91)

95. 21 Grams (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2003)

21 Grams overcomes its overly convoluted structure (the film is told out of order in intersecting style - think Crash + Memento) thanks to the power of its performances. Telling the story of three lives brought together by a tragic accident. All three of the lead actors, Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, give some of the finest work of their careers. Watts, in particular, gives a fascinating and deep performance as a woman grieving for her recently lost family and struggling with the desire to succumb to her prior problems with drugs.

94. The Hurt Locker (Katheryn Bigelow, 2009)

The Hurt Locker tells the story of a squad of American soldiers in Iraq tasked with disarming bombs. Jeremy Renner gives one of the best performances of 2009 as a soldier addicted to the danger of the war. The screenplay comes from reporter Mark Boal who actually followed a crew of bomb disarming soldiers around Iraq to gain inspiration for this story. Boal's dialogue has a believable and immediate quality that always suits the moment. Aided by the great supporting turns of Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty, director Katheryn Bigelow creates a believable and compelling squad of soldiers. Bigelow also wisely cast respected actors (among them Guy Pearce, Evageline Lilly, Ralph Fiennes and David Moore) in small roles throughout the movie, lending a gravity and excitement to their brief scenes. Of special note is the film's opening bomb disarming attempt - it's one of the most intense and well constructed scenes of the decade.

93. Y tu mamá también (Alfonso Cuaron, 2001)

At its simplest level, Y tu mamá también tells the story of two friends, one upper class and one lower-middle class, who go on a road trip with an older woman. Complimentary to their journey is the general divide in Mexican society: the scenic beaches the trio journey toward are juxtaposed with military roadblocks and dilapidated shantytowns. The film also acts as a study of friendship and sexuality. The ending is the perfect closing moment for this story. Deservedly, this role helped springboard Gael Garcia Bernal into one of the most interesting actors in Mexican cinema. This film was my own introduction to the work of Alfonso Cuaron who is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting directors today - you can expect to see his name again on this list.

92. Breach (Billy Ray, 2007)

Breach is one of only two films on Billy Ray's resume as a director (the other, Shattered Glass, was a near-miss for this list); but he is also an accomplished screenwriter, as a writer his credits include #98 on this list: State of Play. Breach, written and directed by Ray, tells the true story of a young FBI employee (Ryan Phillippe) assigned to spy on his boss (Chris Cooper) who is suspected of being a sexual deviant. Finding no evidence of such deviance, Phillippe's Eric O'Neill begins to form a respect for the regimented lifestyle of his boss. Ray subtly and effectively ratchets up the tension as O'Neill learns his real purpose is to catch his boss in an act of espionage against the United States. Special note must go to the absolutely fascinating performance of Chris Cooper as Robert Hanssen. Cooper's resume is filled with stellar performances, but for my money this might just be the best: his Hanssen is a fascinating contradicted mix of fanaticism and self-interest. His performance, especially in the film's tenser moments, is a thing to behold. I'm very excited that Fox has hired Ray to write and direct the upcoming 24 film adaptation.

91. Away from Her (Sarah Polley, 2007)

Led by one of the finest performances of the decade, Away from Her is one of the most touching movies I've ever seen. Away from Her tells the story of how a married couple deals with Alzheimer's. Julie Christie gives an astoundingly touching and nuanced performance in the lead and shows the devastation of Alzheimer's in a way that never devolves into the maudlin sap a lesser director might produce. Gordon Pinsent, playing Christie's husband, also gives a wonderful performance. The director here is Sarah Polley who was just 28 years old when the movie was made. Polley seems to have a preternatural understanding of the workings of a long married couple.

Runner-Up: Blood Diamond (Zwick, 2006)
Runner-Up: Open Water (Kentis, 2004)
Runner-Up: Cinderella Man (Howard, 2005)
Runner-Up: Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000)
Runner-Up: Best in Show (Guest, 2000)
Runner-Up: Letters from Iwo Jima (Eastwood, 2006)
Runner-Up: Saw (Wan, 2004)
101: Big Fish (Burton, 2003)
100: State of Play (Macdonald, 2009)
99: Marley & Me (Frankel, 2008)
98: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher, 2008)
97: Sunshine (Boyle, 2007)
96: 8 Mile (Hanson, 2002)
95: 21 Grams (Iñárritu, 2003)
94: The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, 2009)
93: Y tu mamá también (Cuaron, 2001)
92: Breach (Ray, 2007)
91: Away from Her (Polley, 2007)

Runners-Up
101-96

Top 101 Movies of the Decade (101-96)

101. Big Fish (Tim Burton, 2003)

Tim Burton captures the magic of a great novel while instilling it with his own unique style and visual zest. The image above is one of many insane, but beautiful, ideas that Burton captures - right on for a story about the power of story telling and imagination. Ewan McGregor is the perfect leading man for this sort of story as he works to derive fact from fiction in the stories he grew up hearing from his father. The ending, as well, strikes a perfect note.

100. State of Play (Kevin Mcdonald, 2009)

Almost entirely overlooked in its theatrical release thanks to a horrid marketing campaign, Kevin Mcdonald's follow-up to Last King of Scotland is an incredibly well acted and tense thriller. Ben Affleck is at his best as a smarmy senator with some baggage. Russell Crowe finds a motivation and purpose in his performance that stands with his best work in The Insider, L.A. Confidential and Gladiator. Helped by a witty script from Tony Gilroy (the Bourne movies, Michael Clayton), the movie also serves as a fitting reminder to the power of the print media in a time when newspapers are forced out of business at a frightening rate. Good supporting turns from Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jeff Bridges and Jason Bateman all help make for one of the best thrillers of the decade.

Fun fact: Originally Brad Pitt and Edward Norton were attached to play the Crowe and Affleck roles - I can't imagine the movie being nearly as effective with that combination.

99. Marley & Me (David Frankel, 2008)

This is a movie that, by all rights, should have been unbearable. But, thanks to a fun script, great acting and effective direction, the movie becomes a great symbol of why people love pets. The movie is not simply the 'crazy dog flick' the previews suggested, but rather is a study of a family growing through life and how a dog is a part of that. Career best performances from both Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston help make the film incredibly emotionally effective. Wilson and Aniston make for a believable and likable couple who deal with the struggles of life in ways that make sense. [Spoiler] One scene of particular note is following the miscarriage of the family's first attempt at a child. When the young couple returns home and Mrs. Grogan (Aniston) is understandably devastated, habitual hellion Marley provides the perfect support she needs. Sensing her sadness the dog simply rests his chin on her knee and sits with her, calmly, lovingly. It's the perfect encapsulation of why human beings love pets. [End spoiler]

98. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Fincher, 2008)

Benjamin Button tells the story of the life of a man born as a child in the body of an old man whose body ages backwards - more importantly it tells the story of the love of that man's life. Everything about the movie is gorgeously constructed. From the subtle and effective CGI to the evocative score by Alexandre Desplat, Benjamin Button is one of the most sumptuous experiences of the decade. But at its core is a touching love story that manages to overcome a potentially unsettling premise. Pitt and Blanchett are well paired as the time-crossed lovers and Fincher's direction creates the perfect tone.

97. Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007)

Director Danny Boyle reunites with his 28 Days Later... writer, Alex Garland, for this science fiction-horror movie. Tasked with preventing the Sun from expiring, a team of 8 astronauts is launched into space as a last hope. A strong multinational cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Cliff Curtis, Rose Byrne and Mark Strong, is led by the stellar performance of Chris Evans. Known for likable but unremarkable performances in movies like Fantastic Four, Cellular and Push, Evans does truly great work here as the rather unhinged engineer of the space shuttle Icarus. Of even more note are the stellar visuals: presented with a budget of under $40 million Boyle and cinematographer Alwin Kuchler create some startling and impressive space imagery.

96. 8 Mile (Curtis Hanson, 2002)

While the movie is also responsible for one of the best rap songs of the decade, Lose Yourself, it also serves as a hell of a good character drama. Coming off of the stellar Wonder Boys and L.A. Confidential, Curtis Hanson's choice to make a rap drama, including the acting debut of the controversial Eminem, was somewhat curious. But Hanson brings great performances out of his actors, particularly Eminem who, despite the autobiographical underpinnings of the work, actually acts. There is genuine emotion behind his performance, particularly in the scenes with Brittany Murphy. The two strike a believable chemistry. Finally, the rap 'battles' are every bit as exciting as the game scenes in most sports movies.



Runner-Up: Blood Diamond (Zwick, 2006)
Runner-Up: Open Water (Kentis, 2004)
Runner-Up: Cinderella Man (Howard, 2005)
Runner-Up: Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000)
Runner-Up: Best in Show (Guest, 2000)
Runner-Up: Letters from Iwo Jima (Eastwood, 2006)
Runner-Up: Saw (Wan, 2004)
101: Big Fish (Burton, 2003)
100: State of Play (Macdonald, 2009)
99: Marley & Me (Frankel, 2008)
98: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher, 2008)
97: Sunshine (Boyle, 2007)
96: 8 Mile (Hanson, 2002)

Runners-Up

Top 101 Movies of the Decade (Runners-Up)

Runner-Up. Blood Diamond (Edward Zwick, 2006)

Blood Diamond tells the story of a Rhodesian diamond smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio) whose life is changed by his interactions with an American reporter (Jennifer Connelly) and a Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou). As usual, director Edward Zwick crafts compelling action sequences, gets great performances from his actors and constructs a variety of gorgeous and lasting images. DiCaprio is convincing and forceful here, but the most resonant performance is Djimon Hounsou. Hounsou's character is motivated to find and recover his son who has been captured and absorbed into the RUF - the raw emotion and potency of his performance is a thing to behold. His is one of the great supporting performances of the decade.

Runner-Up. Open Water (Chris Kentis, 2004)

Director Chris Kentis paid out of pocket to make this movie on weekends over the course of a year, telling the story of a couple left behind by their boat on a SCUBA diving trip. The couple are played by unknowns (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), but they bring a panicked believability to their roles. The longer the couple is left in the water, the more panic begins to overtake them and Kentis does a magnificent job crafting palpable tension. Eventually, the couple attract the interest of various sea creatures, in particular the sharks, making for one of the most harrowing and intense film going experiences of the decade.

Runner-Up. Cinderella Man (Ron Howard, 2005)

Cinderella Man tells the true story of Bayonne, NJ native boxer James Braddock. Braddock had been a middling fighter in the time leading up to the depression, but he gets the opportunity to get back in the ring and makes the best of it. Paul Giamatti and Renee Zellweger are effective in support, but the soul of the movie is in Russell Crowe's stirring and authentic performance as Braddock. He has the look and physicality of a prize fighter, but brings a humanity to the role that makes the film so effective.

Runner-Up. Tigerland (Joel Schumacher, 2000)

Joel Schumacher, best known for junk like Batman & Robin, The Lost Boys and 8mm, crafts his most effective story about the infantry training at Ft. Polk, LA during the Vietnam war. One of the best performances of his career sees Colin Farrell play a ne'er-do-well compelled to serve in the army. Farrell is incredibly believable and magnetic in the role as a soldier resistant to his training and the film is aided by strong supporting turns from Cole Hauser, Clifton Collins, Jr. and Matthew Davis. One of the better boot camp movies ever made, Tigerland has been tragically overlooked.

Runner-Up. Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)

Christopher Guest's mockumentary style is pitch perfect in this satirical look at dog shows. Led by hilarious turns from Guest himself, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey and Eugene Levy, Best in Show is certainly the best dog show movie ever made. Special note goes to the uproarious dog show commentary by Fred Willard - one of the funniest performances of the decade.

Runner-Up. Letters from Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood, 2006)

Eastwood takes on a brave experiment in attempting to tell the battle of Iwo Jima from both perspectives in 2006 pair of Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fatehrs. While the American side (Flags) is muddled by some strange editing issues and some sloppy acting, the Japanese side is where Eastwood seems to have found his stride. Led by stellar work from Kazunari Ninomiya and Ken Watanabe (of The Last Samurai and Batman Begins), Letters really takes life. Ninomiya's performance is perfectly understated and has some real emotional impact, especially in the last moments the character spends with his wife before being sent to war.

Runner-Up. Saw (James Wan, 2004)

And right about now you're wondering what on Earth I could be thinking with this selection, but hear me out. The first Saw, which is now overlooked because of 5 messy sequels (and a 6th coming this Halloween), is actually a damn fine horror movie. Nowhere near as exploitative as the series, and the torture porn genre it inspired, have become, director James Wan masterfully manipulates the audiences comfort level and tension throughout the movie. Thanks to strong work from Tobin Bell as the villainous Jigsaw and Cary Elwes as a trapped doctor, Saw builds tension throughout the entire film up until its effective twist ending. Wan, unlike future Saw directors, allows the tension of the horror trap situation to build for over an hour before reaching a startling climax. One of the best horror movies of the decade...

Runner-Up: Blood Diamond (Zwick, 2006)
Runner-Up: Open Water (Kentis, 2004)
Runner-Up: Cinderella Man (Howard, 2005)
Runner-Up: Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000)
Runner-Up: Best in Show (Guest, 2000)
Runner-Up: Letters from Iwo Jima(Eastwood, 2006)
Runner-Up: Saw (Wan, 2004)

Forthcoming: Top 101 Movies of the 2000-2009 Decade

Coming soon will be my posts for the Top 101 movies of the decade, expect 5-10 movies posted per day. I'll also include some honorable mentions and guilty pleasures after the series is finished. Enjoy...

2008 Movie Review List

2008 Top 10 (so far):
Honorable Mention: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
10. Visitor, The
9. Gran Torino
8. Revolutionary Road
7. In Bruges
6. Iron Man
5. Frost/Nixon
4. Defiance
3. Rachel Getting Married
2. Wall-E
1. Wrestler, The

2008 Movies:
10,000 B.C.: 2/10
21: 5/10
24: Redemption: 7/10
27 Dresses: 4/10
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days: 7/10
88 Minutes: 2/10
Appaloosa: 7/10
Australia: 4/10
Baby Mama: 6/10
Babylon A.D.: 3/10
Bangkok Dangerous: 3/10
Bank Job, The: 7/10
Batman: Gotham Knight: 5/10
Be Kind Rewind: 4/10
Bigger Stronger Faster*: 7/10
Black List, The: Volume One: 5/10
Bolt: 8/10
Burn After Reading: 8/10
Cassandra's Dream: 4/10
Changeling: 8/10
Charlie Bartlett: 6/10
Chronicles of Narnia, The: Prince Caspian: 4/10
Class, The: 8/10
Cloverfield: 8/10
Counterfeiters, The: 7/10
Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The: 8/10
Dark Knight, The: 8/10
Day of the Dead: 3/10
Day the Earth Stood Still, The: 4/10
Death Race: 5/10
Defiance: 9/10
Definitely, Maybe: 7/10
Diary of the Dead: 6/10
Doomsday: 3/10
Doubt: 5/10
Drillbit Taylor: 4/10
Duchess, The: 6/10
Eagle Eye: 6/10
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed: 1/10
Express, The: 6/10
Eye, The: 4/10
Eye of the Beast: 4/10
Fall, The: 8/10
Finding Amanda: 5/10
Flash of Genius: 7/10
Fool's Gold: 5/10
Forbidden Kingdom, The: 6/10
Forgetting Sarah Marshall: 8/10
Four Christmases: 4/10
Frost/Nixon: 10/10
Funny Games: 4/10
Futurama: Bender's Game: 6/10
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs: 7/10
Get Smart: 5/10
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control: 4/10
Goal II: Living the Dream: 6/10
Gran Torino: 9/10
Hamlet 2: 7/10
Hancock: 4/10
Happening, The: 3/10
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay: 5/10
Hellboy II: The Golden Army: 8/10
Horton Hears a Who!: 5/10
Hottie and the Nottie, The: 2/10
House Bunny, The: 6/10
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: 4/10
How to Rob a Bank: 2/10
In Bruges: 9/10
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale: 2/10
Incredible Hulk, The: 7/10
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: 8/10
Iron Man: 9/10
Journey to the Center of the Earth: 6/10
Jumper: 4/10
Justice League: The New Frontier: 6/10
Kung Fu Panda: 7/10
Leatherheads: 5/10
Love Guru, The: 2/10
Mad Money: 3/10
Made of Honor: 4/10
Mamma Mia!: 3/10
Man on Wire: 8/10
Marley and Me: 8/10
Max Payne: 3/10
Married Life: 5/10
Meet the Spartans: 1/10
Midnight Meat Train, The: 4/10
Milk: 8/10
Miracle at St. Anna: 4/10
Mirrors: 4/10
Mummy, The: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: 3/10
My Best Friend's Girl: 6/10
Never Back Down: 7/10
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: 7/10
Nights in Rodanthe: 4/10
One Missed Call: 3/10
Other Boleyn Girl, The: 5/10
Outpost: 5/10
Over Her Dead Body: 3/10
Pathology: 3/10
Pineapple Express: 8/10
Pride and Glory: 5/10
Prom Night: 3/10
Punisher: War Zone: 7/10
Quantum of Solace: 8/10
Rachel Getting Married: 10/10
Rambo: 5/10
Reader, The: 5/10
Recount: 8/10
Redbelt: 5/10
Religulous: 6/10
Revolutionary Road: 9/10
Righteous Kill: 4/10
Rocker, The: 5/10
Rogue: 7/10
Role Models: 7/10
Romulus, My Father: 7/10
Ruins, The: 4/10
Run Fatboy Run: 7/10
Savage Grace: 3/10
Saw V: 5/10
Scorpion King 2, The: Rise of a Warrior: 4/10
Semi-Pro: 7/10
Senior Skip Day: 3/10
Seven Pounds: 7/10
Sex and the City: 4/10
Shine a Light: 8/10
Slumdog Millionaire: 8/10
Smart People: 5/10
Speed Racer: 4/10
Spirit, The: 1/10
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: 5/10
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder: 3/10
Step Brothers: 7/10
Step Up 2 the Streets: 4/10
Stop-Loss: 4/10
Strangers, The: 6/10
Street Kings: 5/10
Superhero Movie: 3/10
Teeth: 5/10
Traitor: 8/10
Transporter 3, The: 6/10
Tropic Thunder: 7/10
Twilight: 6/10
U2 3D: 7/10
Untraceable: 7/10
Valkyrie: 7/10
Vantage Point: 3/10
Vicky Cristina Barcelona: 7/10
Visitor, The: 9/10
W.: 5/10
Wackness, The: 7/10
Wall-E: 10/10
Wanted: 8/10
What Happens in Vegas...: 6/10
Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?: 4/10
White Noise 2: The Light: 5/10
Wrestler, The: 10/10
X-Files, The: I Want to Believe: 7/10
Yes Man: 7/10
You Don't Mess with the Zohan: 6/10
Zack and Miri Make a Porno: 7/10
Zombie Strippers: 2/10

007 Rankings

Having now seen Quantum of Solace for the second time I finally feel comfortable unveiling my revised James Bond film rankings:

1. Casino Royale (2006)
2. Goldeneye (1995)
3. Goldfinger (1964)
4. From Russia With Love (1963)
5. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
6. Dr. No (1962)
7. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
8. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
9. Thunderball (1965)
10. Quantum of Solace (2008)
11. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
12. The Living Daylights (1987)
13. Live and Let Die (1973)
14. You Only Live Twice (1967)
15. Never Say Never Again (1983)
16. The World is Not Enough (1999)
17. Die Another Day (2002)
18. Licence to Kill (1989)
19. Diamonds are Forever (1971)
20. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
21. Moonraker (1979)
22. Casino Royale (Climax!) (1954)
23. Octopussy (1983)
24. A View to a Kill (1985)
25. Casino Royale (1967)

Best Bond:
1. Sean Connery
2. Daniel Craig
3. Pierce Brosnan
4. George Lazenby
5. Timothy Dalton
6. Roger Moore
7. Barry Nelson
8. David Niven (et al from '67 Casino Royale)

Academy Award Predictions

I know, I know, it's been forever since I've posted and I'll return with a review binge soon. For now here are my personal rankings of the nominees in each category and my prediction for who will win each. NB: Films I've yet to see are not ranked, just arranged alphabetically...

Best Picture

Ranking:
1. Frost/Nixon
2. Milk
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Slumdog Millionaire
5. The Reader
Prediction:
Slumdog Millionaire
Should've been a contender:
The Wrestler; Wall-E; Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor

Ranking:
1. Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
2. Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
3. Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
4. Sean Penn, Milk
5. Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Prediction:
Mickey Rourke
Should've been a contender:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road/Body of Lies; Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man; Colin Farrell, In Bruges; Daniel Craig, Defiance; Don Cheadle, Traitor

Best Actress

Ranking:
1. Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
2. Kate Winslet, The Reader
3. Angelina Jolie, Changeling
4. Meryl Streep, Doubt
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Prediction:
Kate Winslet
Should've been a contender:
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road; Rebecca Hall, Vicky Christina Barcelona; Diane Lane, Untraceable; Jennifer Aniston, Marley and Me

Best Supporting Actor

Ranking:
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
3. Josh Brolin, Milk
4. Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
5. Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Prediction:
Heath Ledger
Should've been a contender:
James Franco, Pineapple Express/Milk; Brad Pitt, Burn After Reading; Michael Sheen, Frost/Nison; Bill Iwin, Rachel Getting Married; Brendon Gleeson, In Bruges; Jamie Bell, Defiance; Viggo Mortensen, Appaloosa; Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire; Said Taghmaoui, Traitor; Doug Jones, Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Best Supporting Actress

Ranking:
1. Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
2. Amy Adams, Doubt
3. Viola Davis, Doubt
4. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
5. Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Prediction:
Penelope Cruz
Should've been a contender:
Hiam Abbass, The Visitor; Rosemarie Dewitt, Rachel Getting Married; Clemence Poesy, In Bruges; Isla Fisher, Definitely, Maybe; Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

Best Director

Ranking:
1. David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
3. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
4. Gus Van Sant, Milk
5. Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Prediction:
Danny Boyle
Should've been a contender:
Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married; Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler; Andrew Stanton, Wall-E

Best Original Screenplay

Ranking:
1. Martin McDonough, In Bruges
2. Andrew Stanton, Wall-E
3. Dustin Lance Black, Milk
4. Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
UR. Courtney Hunt, Frozen River (NB: Still need to see Frozen River)
Prediction:
Dustin Lance Black
Should've been a contender:
Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married; Robert Siegel, The Wrestler; Tom McCarthy, The Visitor; Joel Coen/Ethan Coen, Burn After Reading; John Kamps/David Koepp, Ghost Town

Best Adapted Screenplay

Ranking:
1. Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
2. Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
4. John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
5. David Hare, The Reader
Prediction:
Simon Beaufoy
Should've been a contender:
Clayton Frohman/Edward Zwick, Defiance; Justine Haythe, Revolutionary Road; William Monaghan, Body of Lies

Best Editing

Ranking:
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Frost/Nixon
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Milk
5. The Dark Knight
Prediction:
Slumdog Millionaire
Should've been a contender:
Defiance; Rachel Getting Married

Best Cinematography

Ranking:
1. Claudio Miranda, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Wally Pfister, The Dark Knight
3. Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
4. Tom Stern, Changeling
5. Chris Menges/Roger Deakins, The Reader
Prediction:
Anthony Dod Mantle
Should've been a contender:
Colin Watkinson, The Fall; Guillermo Navarro, Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Eduardo Serra, Defiance; Roger Deakins, Revolutionary Road; Mandy Walker, Australia

Best Art Direction

Ranking:
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. The Dark Knight
3. Revolutionary Road
4. Changeling
5. The Duchess
Prediction:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should've been a contender:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army; The Fall; Defiance; Australia

Best Foreign Language Film

Nominees:
1. The Class (France)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)
Prediction:
Waltz with Bashir
Should've been a contender:
Gomorrah; Let the Right One In

Best Documentary

Nominees:
1. Man on Wire
2. Encounters at the End of the World
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
The Garden
Trouble the Water
Prediction:
Man on Wire
Should've been a contender:
Standard Operating Procedure; Bigger, Stronger, Faster*

Best Animated Film

Ranking:
1. Wall-E
2. Kung Fu Panda
3. Bolt
Prediction:
Wall-E
Should've been a contender:
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Best Song

Ranking:
1. Down to Earth by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Wall-E
2. Jaiho, Slumdog Millionaire
3. O Saya, Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction:
Down to Earth
Should've been a contender:
The Wrestler by Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler

Best Score

Ranking:
1. James Newton Howard, Defiance
2. Thomas Newman, Wall-E
3. Alexandre Desplat, Benjamin Button
4. Danny Elfman, Milk
5. A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction:
A.R. Rahman
Should've been a contender:
James Newton Howard/Hans Zimmer, The Dark Knight; Danny Elfman, Hellboy II: The Golden Army; David Arnold, Quantum of Solace; Clint Mansell, The Wrestler; Geoff Zanelli, Ghost Town

Best Visual Effects

Ranking:
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Iron Man
3. The Dark Knight
Prediction:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should've been a contender:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Quantum of Solace

Best Makeup

Ranking:
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
3. The Dark Knight
Prediction:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should've been a contender:
The Fall

Best Costume Design

Ranking:
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Revolutionary Road
3. Australia
4. The Duchess
5. Milk
Prediction:
The Duchess
Should've been a contender:
The Fall; Hellboy II: The Golden Army; The Other Boleyn Girl; Changeling; Defiance

Best Sound Mixing

Ranking:
1. Wall-E
2. The Dark Knight
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Wanted
5. Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction:
The Dark Knight
Should've been a contender:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Defiance; Quantum of Solace

Best Sound Editing

Ranking:
1. Wall-E
2. Iron Man
3. The Dark Knight
4. Wanted
5. Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction:
The Dark Knight
Should've been a contender:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army; The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Best Animated Short
Nominees:
1. Presto
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
This Way Up
Prediction:
This Way Up

Best Live Action Short
Nominees:
Auf der Strecke
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Prediction:
New Boy

Best Documentary Short
Nominees:
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306
Prediction:
The Conscience of Nhem En

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder Review

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder returns the series to its action/war roots (after a diversion into horror in the first sequel) as Casper Van Dien returns as Johnny Rico back to kill more bugs. Jolene Blalock also stars.

Pros:
- It sure is nice to have Casper Van Dien back as Johnny Rico and I like that they've (somewhat) logically aged the character since the first movie's events. Van Dien is easily the best part of the movie.
- The story itself is silly but it's better to have the war against the bugs than the awful horror story of #2.

Cons:
- It's really a backhanded compliment to say that Casper Van Dien is the best thing about this movie...it's never a good thing if Casper Van Dien is the best thing about your movie.
- Jolene Blalock and all the supporting actors for that matter are simply terrible.
- Subtlety is not something one would often accuse Starship Troopers 1 director Paul Verhoeven of being good at, but Edward Neumeier (who wrote and directed this one) makes Verhoeven seem to have a master's touch. The film's politics are so blatant, and out of place, that it's hard to be anything but disappointed. The Federal Network 'news segments' intercut during the original film are the best parts of the movie, here they're nearly intolerable as Neumeier beats you over the head with his agenda.

Verdict:
- The original Starship Troopers is one of my all time favorite guilty pleasure movies (and I really don't think it's anywhere near as bad as its reputation) so I'm really disappointed at how this one turned out. The first sequel turned its back on the first film's formula, embracing a silly horror movie-esque scenario, and it turned out terribly. I was sadly disappointed that this 'return to form' failed to recapture really any of the magic of the first film. I can't really recommend this at all.

Overall Score: 3/10

Journey to the Center of the Earth Review

Journey to the Center of the Earth is the newest adaptation of the famed Jules Verne novel, this time in 3D. It stars Brendan Fraser as a man searching for his brother, Josh Hutcherson as Fraser's nephew and Anita Briem as their tour guide.

Pros:
- The movie has a great and enjoyable sense of energy and wonder. It's really a theme park ride expanded to full feature length.
- Special effect guru Eric Brevig's touch at director allows the movie to embrace silly VFX to a surprisingly enjoyable effect.
- Fraser, perpetually exuberant and youthful, is the perfect lead for a somewhat absurd story like this.
- This movie has given me faith that 3D is viable. The Real3D system (which uses 3D glasses that aren't uncomfortable to wear) is far more effective than the mediocre displays of the past. The 3D here, though gimmicky, makes the whole experience so much more fun. Dinosaurs, mutant venus fly traps, rocks that float on air and lava explosions are all more fun in 3D.

Cons:
- While it's nice to see someone try to come up with a 'new' take on Journey to the Center of the Earth, the notion of Vernians (yes, people who follow the writings of Jules Verne as true) is pretty silly.
- The screenplay is mediocre and the supporting performances are nothing to write home about.
- I can't imagine this would have been half as enjoyable in 2D.

Verdict:
- It's not a 'good' movie, but I found Journey to the Center of the Earth perfectly enjoyable. It's also a nice showcase for the future of 3D.

Overall Score: 6/10