15 Films from 2008 you haven’t seen, but probably should

Originally I wanted to compile a list of my favourite films of 2008, given the year is drawing to a close. However, I kept getting frustrated with the number of apparently good movies I haven’t seen. Instead I’ve thrown together a list of some very interesting films that for one reason or another have slipped under most peoples radar. A few mentioned might not necessarily make my list of best films of `08 but they’re still worthy for a host of other reasons. All of these titles you can pick up on DVD at your local rental store. Enjoy!

Southland Tales
There aren’t many people who can forget Richard Kelly’s debut film Donnie Darko. Majority of them are still trying to work out what actually happened besides the fact Jack Gynehall’s character got laid in the final half. Therefore there was understandably a lot of buzz about his follow up film Southland Tales. In the seven years since Kelly made Donnie Darko it has become a cult and critical hit and the hype surrounding this recent work was equally as positive, especially when it got accepted in to Cannes. The critics creating that hype soon turned in to a vicious mob after what was called “one of the most disastrous screenings at Cannes ever and one of the worst films ever selected”. For an idea of how bad it went, think the fictious screening of Medellin in Entourage, Season 4. Yes it was that bad. People booed and got rowdy before storming out of the theatre. Regardless, I was keen to see it as it had a pretty intriguing cast comprised of random actors from all over the shop. After two and a bit hours of watching Southland Tales I am utterly and completely confused. In fact, three days later I’m still not sure what it was about. But I know this – I liked it. For some strange reason beyond all my comprehension I enjoyed it. Kelly drew some fantastic performances out of his mixed bag cast considering he chose actors that he thought were underrated and whom he wanted to perform really different performances from their usual roles. The stars include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Dwayne `The Rock’ Johnson, Sean William Scott, Justin Timberlake, Amy Poelher, Mandy Moore and Bai Ling just to name a few. And, very surprisingly, they’re all good! Especially Sean William Scott and Justin Timberlake. Conceptually I think the film is pretty brilliant. Yes, it’s very confusing but you really have to hold out until the end. Not that by the end you understand the film any more but it’s best to try and sort through the puzzle in its entirety. Stylistically I think Kelly is having a bit of a wank and has got carried away with his own special effects budget and what he sees as cleverness with the camera. This film has its flaws, no doubt. But it also has it’s merits which I think more than out weigh the negatives. In fact, this futuristic world on its way to the apocalypse was a little scary because it reminded me so much of our current situation. Plus you also see a car screw another car in a creative CGI display and that alone is worth your time. See this.
Gone Baby GoneAn absolute classic if I ever saw one. Who knew Ben Affleck had the potential to direct, write and produce in such an exceptional manner? Okay we knew he had the balls after his writing debut with BFF Matt Damon won them an Oscar for Good Will Hunting but Gone Baby Gone is beyond and better than that. The camera work is great and Affleck directs his cast and crew very well. But the real clincher here is the story. Affleck is so masterful in his direction and writing that he leads the audience one way and then all of a sudden you’re thrown in to a completely different situation darker and more difficult than before. This is the kind of film that once you see it, you don’t forget it and it truly makes you question your personal morals and ethics. The Academy made a massive oversight in not selected this film as a contender for best picture. One of my favourite films period.
Sukiayaki Western Django A swashbuckling ride with big guns, big explosions and a big cameo from Quentin Tarantino. Takashi Miike (a director who makes a ridiculously large amount of films each year) throws everything at you in this exploitive action romp which is slightly kooky and a tad bit fun.
Body of Lies
One of the most underrated movies of the year, Russel Crowe and Leonardo Dicaprio face of in this tense spy-thriller which had me biting my nails the whole way. The story is complex, the locations are mind blowing and in true Ridley Scott fashion the camera work/techniques are exceptionally innovative. The story centres on CIA agent Roger Ferris played by Dicaprio who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. Crowe is his CIA supervisor and the thing that really completes Body of Lies is seeing these two superb actors throw stellar performances at each other. You must see this.
Teeth
Brilliant, unsettling and hilarious are perhaps three words I’d use to describe this little gem of a black comedy. Or is it? It’s hard to define as a black comedy when there are definitely elements of horror. But whatever genre you want to throw it in Teeth is just a little bit awesome. In a nutshell Teeth is about a teenage virgin named Dawn who discovers, through a series of unfortunate incidents, she has teeth in her vagina. Yes, that’s right I said teeth in her vadge (a phenomenon popular in mythology in civilisations throughout the world know as vagina dentata). And if you think she’s unlucky wait to you see the how the handful of douches that try to pop her cherry end up. Lets just say there are certain scenes that the male audience may find . .er . . .uncomfortable. An indie film with a cast of unknowns, you can tell lead actress Jess Weixler is going to be a star. I loved how the director mocks how Hollywood has made showing female genitalia in films taboo and the sex scenes are shown from both the man AND the women’s perspective (for once). But what I truly adore is once you put the shocking concept of the film aside, Teeth is essentially about a young women who comes to accept her flaws and use them to her advantage. Who would have thought a film about a fang filled giny could present a strong message on female empowerment?
RocknRolla
Undoubtedly one of my favourite films of the year! But despite the impressive cast RocknRolla didn’t seem to attract much of an audience. After a few colossal failures RocknRolla is a return to form for Guy Ritchie and my favourite film of his to date. “What?! But nothing can be better than Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” I hear you say. Oh but it is. At least for me personally anyway. A shade lighter than his previous gangster flicks RocknRolla is funny, fast paced and packed to the brim with action. The ensemble cast ticks all the performance boxes with Toby Kebbell delivering an absolutely smashing performance as drug-addicted rocker Johnny. Plus the jerking exchange between Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler is one of the best dance scenes I’ve seen since Uma Thurman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
We Own the Night
2008 hasn’t been a great year for Mark Wahlberg film wise. His show Entourage has continued its roaring success and in his personal life fiancée Rhea Durham popped out another son for him. But for some reason the films he has starred in haven’t bode well with critics despite his stellar performances. We Own the Night was the exception. Applauded by critics for the superb camera work and dark, thrilling atmosphere created by writer/director James Gray, We Own the Night was accepted in to the Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation after it screened. The problem was, no one saw this movie. Okay, that’s a lie. There were some people who saw it but frankly all nine of us are going to have trouble spreading the good word about this film. The script and concept is superb and the acting is nothing short of brilliant. Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix play brothers on different sides of the law who team up to protect their families from the Russian mafia. Gray, Wahlberg and Phoenix worked together in The Yards which was another critical success and clearly the trio work well considering the quality films they produce. Wahlberg and Phoneix also took on the major task of producing the film. We Own the Night will have you on the edge of your seat as it’s suspenseful, smart and beautifully shot. Wahlberg is the stand out in a role which is quite different to anything he has played before and Eva Mendes is smokin’. But the real star here is James Gray who in my books has cemented himself as one of the most notable up and coming film makers. With previous semi-classics such as Two Lovers, Little Odessa, The Yards and now We Own The Night, Gray is shaping up to be the next Martin Scorcese. And the man is only in his early 40s! Hot damn.
Redacted
Legendary director Brian De Palm of Scarface and The Untouchables fame stepped outside his comfort zone to make this fictional drama which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for best director. Redacted is a montage of stories about U.S. soldiers fighting in the Iraq conflict, focusing on the modern forms of media covering the war and is designed to make you feel like you’re actually there with the soldiers. This film is truly unique compared to everything else De Palma has done in his career which spans almost half a century. It’s raw, fast paced and you can tell you’re in the hands of a veteran director. I think the Redacted tag line does a better job of describing the film than I can - “Truth is the first casualty of war”.
Be Kind RewindAnother notable mention is Be Kind Rewind starring Jack Black and Mos Def . Although it lacked the budget and special effects of some of the other comedies released this year, Be Kind Rewind had more heart than all of them put together and featured some of the best spoofs of Hollywood classics Rocky, King Kong and Ghostbusters. Mos Def has rarely been seen in a comedy but his performance is so natural it’s clear he has a real knack for this genre. Be Kind Rewind can be a bit slow in parts but in others it’s hilarious and more authentic than any other comedy of the year. Best line? “You know you’re in love with someone when you have an imaginary conversation with them for more than 20 minutes a day”.
Stop-Loss
Another film about soldiers in the war in Iraq by none other than super-lesbian Kimberley Peirce of Boys Don’t Cry acclaim. After having a massive break from making movies after her exceptional debut mentioned above, Peirce wrote and directed this heart wrenching masterpiece of a film with one of the hottest young casts around. Starring Ryan Philippe, Channing Tatum, Aussie lass Abbie Cornish and Movie Mazzupial favourite Joseph-Gordon Levitt the performances are, to say the least, mind blowing. I kid you not, I had shivers from the delivery and conviction these actors brought to the roles. Peirce wrote the film after her brother became a victim of the Stop-Loss phenomenon which is a loop hole created by the American government forcing some soldiers to return to the war zone after they have already completed their initial tour. I read a review from one critic who described Stop-Loss as “the first truly brilliant film of the year”. I would have to agree, a truly brilliant film.
Savages
I’ll try and keep this brief because I already covered this film extensively in August but Savages is that rare kind of a movie that has the ability to connect with each of us on some level. Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman star as dysfunctional siblings Wendy and John Savage who are forced to confront the issues in their own lives when they to try looking after their father who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Yet another black comedy to add to the list and I’m sure there’s a fair few people who have seen this due to Laura Linney’s Oscar nomination for the role but this film is so affecting I had to include it anyway.
How She Move
It’s easy to understand why no one wanted to watch another dance movie in `08 after such atrocious efforts like Step Up 2 The Streets and Make It Happen (my front runner for the worst film of the year). Essentially that’s what How She Move is; a dance film. But there’s a difference. Unlike the dozens of bubblegum pieces that fill this genre, the movie is authentic and sheds light on a genuine, not fictional, underground movement of step dancing. It’s not filled with the lofty, predictable storylines of other dance movies instead it looks at the gritty ghetto filled with sex, drugs, death and darkness. It examines family relationships in the face of losing a loved one to heroin and it looks at the failing education system for lower-class black Americans. Plus there are some wicked cool dance scenes. On the whole, How She Move will leave you feeling like you saw something substantial rather than just another popcorn dance movie. Despite being an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival where it was the surprise hit of the event, How She Move failed to make a dent at the global box office particularly in Australia. Don’t let that stop you.
Not Quite Hollywood
Maybe the best Aussie film of the year and definitely the best documentary Not Quite Hollywood is an exciting debut for director Mark Hartley. The doco delves deep in to the world of Ozploitation cinema, popular in the 70s and 80s which is a hybrid of one of my favourite genres; exploitation cinema. A fascinating look at an undocumented portion of Australian film history it also features interviews from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Jamie-Lee Curtis and Dennis Hopper. To read more see my August post titled Rude, crude and totally attractive.
In Bruges
Funny and oh so dark at the same time. In Bruges is about two hit men who are forced in to hiding after a hit goes horribly, horribly wrong. Colin Farrell is superb as a tormented hitman struggling to come to terms with what he has done and Brendan Gleeson is just as brilliant as Farrell’s mentor. Ralph Fiennes rounds up the solid performances as their boss and keep an eye out for the funniest dwarf, correction, ‘small person’ incorporated in to an action comedy. The humour is abrupt and black with some of the best one liners in a movie this year. One of my favouritest, favouritest, favouritest flicks of `08 and hopefully more people have seen this then I give them credit for.