27 response about Ebert’s Top… 20 Films of 2008 »

1. 

   I like when people break tradition, the more films the merrier!

   Then again, I’ve never succumbed to making a top ten list.

   Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — December 8, 2008
2. 

   Yeah, the funny thing is, last year was difficult to put together a top 10. But only because there were about 5 other films I really wanted to include.

   I think Kurt and I ended up doing a top 22:
   http://www.rowthree.com/2008/01/02/cinecast-74-year-end-special/

   Comment by Andrew James — December 8, 2008
3. 

   That’s a fabulous list. A few in there I still need to catch up with but overall, no major surprises. Happy to see he really liked W. I didn’t love it but it did leave me with a lot to think about when I walked away. Looking forward to revisiting that one on DVD down the road.

   Comment by Marina Antunes — December 8, 2008
4. 

   And I forgot to mention… that does look like a good list. I gotta get out to see Ballast while it’s playing here!

   Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — December 8, 2008
5. 

   I’m still waiting for Ballast to make an appearance here. Hopefully soon!

   Comment by Marina Antunes — December 8, 2008
6. 

   TIME magazine has listed their Top 10:

   1. WALL-E
   2. Synecdoche, New York
   3. My Winnipeg
   4. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
   5. Milk
   6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
   7. Slumdog Millionaire
   8. Iron Man
   9. Speed Racer
   10. Encounters at the End of the World.

   A few of us will rejoyce: They’ve put Speed Racer in at No. 9!

   Comment by Marina Antunes — December 8, 2008
7. 

   Speed Racer? Speed Racer! Wow, that came outta left field!

   Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — December 8, 2008
8. 

   Speed Racer will be in my top 10, yup, happy.

   Comment by Goon — December 8, 2008
9. 

   Speed Racer goes on the shit list.

   Comment by rot — December 8, 2008
10. 

    that’s because Speed Racer is The Shit.

    Game, set and match.

    Comment by Goon — December 8, 2008
11. 

    I gotta watch that movie to find out what all the hub-bub is about!

    Comment by Andrew James — December 8, 2008
12. 

    I have no idea what you’d think Andrew, but I’d bet more money that you’d be a naysayer based on its humor. We’ll see.

    Comment by Goon — December 8, 2008
13. 

    I’m still not quite sure why all the hate for Speed Racer. Not sure it’ll make my top 10 (it’s been a really great year) but it was a whole lot of fun to watch. I haven’t picked it up on DVD yet but plan to. Maybe for Christmas.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — December 9, 2008
14. 

    I have to still see SR with the kiddies.

    I have to say that I like that My Winnipeg is so high (heck, even on, the list!)

    Comment by Kurt — December 9, 2008
15. 

    I always have to remind myself that Roger Ebert has been touched by death so it’s natural that sometimes he would seem askew to us. With each passing day the world of flesh probably seems more and more like a fading memory.

    He’s kind of like the John McCain of film critics. Sure he seems loopy and aloof (that ridiculous creationist stunt a few weeks back?) but remember his great history and show some respect.

    Comment by Rusty James — December 9, 2008
16. 

    I saw Synecdoche New York again today. At this point its definitely my no. 1 of the year. It actually did gain on another viewing, I’m happy to say. Still put in a bit of a daze, but the storytelling of it is a little more fluid and doesn’t make me squirm, and of course there’s so many little touches, including ones I should have noticed the first time but didn’t.. Like how Little Winky was turned into a feature length film and had a poster with PS Hoffman in it in the bus shelter.

    Comment by Goon — December 9, 2008
17. 

    I have to still see Kung Fu Panda with the kiddies.

    /fixed

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 10, 2008
18. 

    I caught Kung Fu Panda… not bad, visually quite impressive, some solid action sequences. Secondary characters were really under-developed, but as eye candy it was great.

    Comment by rot — December 10, 2008
19. 

    Love that Time Magazine includes Speed Racer. I saw it at the Cinema twice and once, so far, on DVD. Everyone i know personally who has seen SR, loves it. Beautiful film, great story telling and a real emotional belt. Would really like to read Roger’s view of the film. My top three of the year are:

    The Dark Knight
    Speed Racer
    Hancock

    Comment by Zube — January 4, 2009
20. 

    Adding Hancock to your list kinda hurts the Speed Racer cred I was going to give you

    Comment by Goon — January 5, 2009
21. 

    Yeah, i know that Hancock is reviled by many but Ebert also liked it, (RE’s review is at: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/REVIEWS/140273658) so i feel in good company

    I expected Hancock to be funny but glib and found a subversive super hero film that still managed to hit all the right SH notes and even had a nice emotional punch to it. Instead of a standard origin story with a monstrous super villain, Hancock’s nemesis was loneliness and the origin issues were only touched on. This is a film of self-discovery, of re-becoming rather than originating. I know many people find the third act twist hard to swallow but it was completely telegraphed and in keeping with the genre. As for Hancock’s “I am the only one of my kind” speech, while meant as self-serving and part of his PR campaign, it actually underscores his real problem and hits home truer than he thought. I thpought the ending was perfectly in keeping with this, as it took the cliched heart monitor visuals and gave them new power and meaning.

    I am, unabashedly, a Hancock fan.

    Comment by Zube — January 5, 2009
22. 

    While nowhere near perfect and often kind of juvenile, I quite loved HANCOCK for a number of reasons: Jason Bateman doing his thing, Charlize Theron’s character and the consequences of her character at the end.

    Best superhero film remains UNBREAKABLE for me, but Hancock is somewhere up there….

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — January 5, 2009
23. 

    Hancock spoilers for an ending that is shit.

    What consequence? In the end she is with the family and hancock is doing superhero shit anyway, completely senseless but happy. I loved Will Smith complaining about a kid talking to much, and telling kids to get out of his face and telling people that they’re idiots, but the rest was boring, except Charlize Theron did look ridiculously attractive.

    Comment by Henrik — January 5, 2009
24. 

    While I didn’t love Hancock, it was a fun time at the theater and probably worth re-watch should it pop up on the tube at some point. The ending was typical, hokey action garbage (i.e. kind of boring), but up to that point it was good fun.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 5, 2009
25. 

    Alright, so I finally finished Speed Racer. While no where near my top ten for the year, I have to say it is pretty damn good.

    The script/screenplay are close to shit so the storyline is nothing we haven’t really seen before. In that way it is a crap movie.

    But in terms of style and innovation, it is off the charts kick ass. This is about as ambitious as it gets for Hollywood films and even The Wachowskis’ directing style has a flare all its own.

    This was like watching a live action cartoon. Even more so than something like Kung-Fu Hustle. Watching this on my iPod didn’t do the film any favors and it just made me want to see it again… on my room mate’s big screen. Yeah, this film is gutsy and beefy.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 21, 2009
26. 

    Finally Goon and I aren’t alone. More love. Bring on more love.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 21, 2009
27. 

    I liked the visuals of the fistfight in the snow. It was pretty awesome. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like the film simply on its innovative and astounding visuals. Even the general set and costume design fit in with the motif. Can’t wait to see it on the “big screen” and turn up the volume a little.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 21, 2009

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