By Bruce Sanborn
This is the time of year when critics and award shows decide which films and performances are worthy of their laurels. Countless top ten-lists clutter the internet and movie advertisements tout the number of awards a film has been nominated for and what publications have declared theirs the “Best Film of the Year!”
Anyone with half an IQ knows this is complete crap. There is no such thing as a best film of the year. There are films that you may like, may love or that resonate within you. But a thinking person would be hard pressed to say Casablanca is a better film than 8 ½.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists made a gesture toward eliminating this nonsense when they changed the wording to ‘Outstanding…’ instead of ‘Best’ and had the presenters say, “And this year’s Oscar goes to…”, but the effort was half-hearted and no one outside of the Academy and I really care.
Nevertheless there has to be a way to judge quality films from dreck, so I am writing my FAVORITE movies of the year list. These are films that I just plain enjoyed, loved, was affected by, cried during and laughed through. No effort is being made on my part to put them into any particular order. They are numbered merely for convenience, not for quality. Feel free to disagree with my choices. I’m not saying these are better than other movies, only that I liked them more and either had more fun watching them or walked away with a profound sense of the world as a result of seeing one. Also keep in mind that I’m only listing movies I’ve actually seen, so if there’s a critical or personal favorite (There Will Be Blood) that isn’t on the list that probably should be, that’s because I haven’t hauled my lazy butt all the way over to Hollywood to see it, something I will do when I damn well get around to it.
One other disclaimer. With one exception, all of these films are American. I love foreign cinema but found this to be a very weak year. The only other foreign film that came close to making my list was ‘La Vie En Rose’. Most of the others I’ve seen I fell asleep during the opening credits.
That being said, where do we begin?
#1-BALLS OF FURY
Yes, it’s crass and tasteless. Yes some of the jokes you can see coming from New Jersey. But there is hilarity in its stupidity. And this film has one bright shining virtue: Christopher Walken. It’s worth the price of admission just for him. I am humbled by his performance which the critics and the Academy will sadly overlook yet again.
#2-THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
I thought the first in the trilogy was good. But the third smokes everything previously recorded. Matt Damon has created an art form in action heroes, playing Jason Bourne. And if by the closing credits you weren’t out of your chair cheering…well neither was I but I WANTED TO.
#3-NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
One critic described this film as a soulless exercise, a reason critics are as highly esteemed as necrophiliacs in the public’s mind. Violent and uncompromising, this movie asks the question “Are there any heroes left?” and answers by saying, “There never were”. Not a real toe-tapper, “No Country… ” made me ponder my own mortality like few films ever made.
#4-KNOCKED UP
This film works because it fulfills men and women’s fantasies. It turned out the schlub that Katherine Heigl has a drunken one-night-stand with is Mr. Right and born loser Seth Rogen gets the hottest babe on the planet. It could happen. Witty, dirty and gut-wrenchingly funny, this film should be near the top of everyone’s list but isn’t because comedies don’t get respect.
#5-SICKO
Overshadowed by the colossal box-office success of ‘Fahrenheit 911′, Michael Moore’s film about the state of health care in this country should be required viewing. Anyone who sees it can’t help but fear for their own precarious situation. Enlightening and entertaining, ‘Sicko’ reminds us of how terribly wrong things have gone in this country and how easy it would be to start making them right.
#6-RESCUE DAWN
Another work of art from Werner Herzog, the film got buried in a late summer release. Nevertheless, the story of the only man who escaped from the North Vietnamese during that conflict is a reminder that traits such as courage and perseverance still exist and are worth honoring. (read my full review on this website)
#7-CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
Tom Hanks delivers the most likeable and flawed politician since Huey Long and Julia Roberts is delicious as the 6th richest woman in Texas. The story of how we came to fund the Afghan tribes in their battle against the Soviets, and how we dropped the ball, is a wicked romp through Washington that would have moralists seething were it to take place today…to a Democrat.
#8-BLADES OF GLORY
Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb humor. But you can’t look away. Like a collision between a bus of nuns and orphans and an RV filled with strippers, you are compelled to gawk. Two ice skaters banned individually, decide to skate as a pair in competition. The fact that they are both male bothers them, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Watch for Will Farrell’s expression as he skates with Jon Heder’s crotch in his face.
#9-ZODIAC
No quite a horror film, not quite a thriller, not quite a murder mystery, Zodiac blends elements of all to recreate the story of the true-life search for the real Zodiac killer. Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo give career performances that never waver. A fascinating motion picture.
#10-HOT FUZZ
Except for Eddie Izzard, Brits haven’t been this good since the Monty Python heyday. The team that brought us ‘Shawn of the Dead’ came back with a brilliant satire of American cop movies. Simon Pegg plays a London cop so good at his job he’s making the entire force look bad. Sent to a small village in the middle of nowhere, he must make do in a town where there is virtually no crime. Or is there? Comedy is so much harder to make than any other genre, you would think filmmakers might show some love around awards season. But no. This film too will be overlooked.
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