The 2008 List

I want to thank the Coen Brothers for giving us this fantastic piece of work. It is such a major improvement from the shit fest that was "No Country For Old Men." This film had a better story, more suspense, and such superior acting to the previous film. Not only that, it was hysterically funny. It is a smart movie for stupid people, and that is all part of the treat that is "Burn After Reading."

The stories that go on in the film are all over the place and very hard to describe. This movie jumps around quite a bit, but it is not hard to follow. It is hard to explain later which draws people into the movie. How bout I say that there are many romantic affairs, blackmail, and paranoia. If that doesn't get you interested, then I feel sorry for you.

The movie has an all star cast that are brilliant. You have the wonderful Frances McDormand playing the character of Linda Litzke. She is a lady going through a mid-life crisis and is desperate to find someone to love in her life. Also, in order to trry to acheive this, she wants to have a substantial amount of plastic surgery done. Frances plays the perfect up-beat, "can-do" person in this.

Tilda Swinton plays the cold hearted bitch that is Dr. Katie Cox. She is a self-absorbed doctor who is married to John Malkovich's character and is having an affair with George Clooney's character. I'll get to those two in a minute. She is very conniving and one of those people you never want to be around. Yet, you love all of her screen time.

John Malcovich plays Osbourne Cox, a CIA agent who has just been fired. After he is fired, he decides to write a memoir which ends up in the hands of Brad Pitt's character. With the blackmail that happens and his wife having an affair and his compulsive drinking, Osbourne eventually drives himself to insanity. He also has tendency to say fuck a lot.

George Clooney plays Harry Pfarrer. He is a man who works for the treasury and apparently has many food allergies. He is having an affair with Tilda Swinton's character, as I already mentioned. He also suffers from a great deal of paranoia. You have to see the film to know why. Otherwise, I would spoil a lot of the plot. He gives one of, if not his best performance of any film he has done. That's saying a lot for he has had some pretty memorable roles.

J.K. Simmons is only in two scenes of the film but he definitely has the second best performance of the film. He plays the CIA person who is pretty much observing what is going on like us, the audience. He has no clue of what is going on but is desperate to find out what. Okay, maybe thats a stretch, but I don't know how to describe his character.

That brings us to Brad Pitt. The most outlandish, eccentric, and memorable role in the entire film. He plays Chad Feldheimer, a personal trainer who stumbles upon CIA secrets in Malkovich's memoirs. He is completely clueless and has no sense of reality. He has no morals and has no idea of how any of what he does will unfold. His character is charming and he is captivating in every scene he has. This is easily his second best role, the first one being the pikey Mickey in Guy Ritchie's "Snatch."

The movie is filled with humor that only the Coen Brothers could have written, another example being "The Ladykillers." It also is very suspenseful at times. You don't realize it at first but it becomes apparent as the film goes on. It has a fantastic balance of hilarious comedy and a suspense thriller. This should, and I hope, be nominated for Best Picture. Pitt and Clooney should also get nominations, and of course, you gotta give some love to the Coens. This is one fun time at the movies.

One of the most disappointing films in history. With all the hype that surrounded this, you expected something fantastic. If you went in thinking this, you were sadly mistaken. The story, first off was so weak and it absolutely went nowhere. The acting was also terrible. And when I say terrible I mean FUCKING DREADFUL. The Bale performance was lifeless, Eckhart just overacted completely through the course of the movie, and with Gyllenhaal's character, you just want to hit her in the face with a shovel. However, there is a reason this movie should be seen, and that reason is Heath Ledger. His performance so so mind-boggling and so complex that you wonder how he is able to make such a unique and twisted character. He is the ONLY reason this film is worth seeing. Other than that, it is just complete, incoherent nonsense.

In The Beginning, There Was A Man Named Jacob Marley. He Came Back To Earth After His Death To Warn Eboneezer Scrooge That There Will Be Spirits Coming To Haunt Him. Then The Story Ensues. That Story Is A Timeless Classic. This Film Is Exactly The Opposite.

This film really gives you stuff to think afterwards. This is not just a movie you can watch. You have to get into it deeply. It raises your eyebrows and you can't help talking about it afterward.

A very unique and unusual movie. It is also very depressing. But it tells one hell of a story.

A hilarious piece of work. Also, a surprisingly good action movie. I wanted to see it again right after i walked out of the theatre. Steve Carell is the closest you wil lever get to Don Adams. Anne Hathaway was great (and very sexy). The cameos were fantastic. The comedy seemed different from the television show, but it worked. It is one of the funniest movies I have seen.

A interesting documentary on one of the most interesting people in history. Thompson is a truly fascinating figure and this documentary captures the essence of Gonzo.

A pathetic attempt at a horror movie. Shyamalan has sure taken a dive for he has had to much undeserved success and this film is just pitiful.

This is easily the best film of 2008. It is the feature film debut from Martin McDonagh, who gave us fantasic plays like "The Pillowman" and "The Lonesome West." He, personally, is my favorite playwright. He finds such a unique way to mix dark humor with complete tragedy. In Bruges delivers that brilliantly.

The movie is about two hitmen named Ray and Ken, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who are sent to Bruges, Belgium to lay low and wait for furthere instructions from their boss Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes. There, they encounter various sight-seeing marvels, a racist dwarf, and a Belgian coke dealer for film crews. Later, you find out they were actually sent there by Harry so that Ken can kill Ray because he botched a hit that happened a few days ago.

The performances in this are all brilliant. Colin Farrell finally picks the right role for himself. If only he could do more films like this one. It seemed so natural and effortless. Fiennes is also fantastic as the stick to your principles boss. He isn't afraid to call you "an inanimate fucking object" if you know what I mean.

But, the real show-stopper is Brendan Gleeson. He plays the very funny, sympathetic guy that everyone loves. He seems to be the only one that cares for Ray and that looks after him. Gleeson and Farrell play two of the most fun and interesting hitmen since Jackson and Travolta (Jules and Vincent) in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.

The script, as always from McDonagh, is pure brilliance. I hope that the next thing we see from him is the film version of "The Pillowman," my favorite play.

This film is a lot of fun and I recommend it greatly. It definitely deserves several Oscar nods. I hope that the Academy remembers it even though it came out early in the year.

This is how you make a Marvel comic book movie. The story is planned out perfectly to every last detail and the special effects are absolutely spectacular. THis was the beginning of the Robert Downy, Jr. comeback. Now, he has started the stream of films that will propel him back to the top of Hollywood. Those films being "Tropic Thunder", "The Soloist", "Sherlock Holmes", and "Iron Man 2". He also had a fantastic supporting cast around him with the performances of Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. I would have liked more out of Gweneth Paltrow, but we can all forgive her and see what she does in the sequel. But the main reason the movie is so good is because of Downey. He is truly one of the greatest actors of this generation and, sadly with the drug occurrences, is overlooked. People lost their faith in him. He is back and better than ever, and I only expect more from him. Thank you John Favreau for putting him back on the map, and thank you Ben Stiller to taking that to greater heights.

This was one pitiful movie. The only reason I give it any leeway was because of Stephen Colbert and Jim Gaffigan. They were the only good parts of the movie.

James Bond - coolness - good story - unintriguing Bond girl + useless action + Bond with feelings = Quantum of Solace. I wanted so much to like this film for I am a huge Bond enthusiast. It lacked every aspect to what makes a great Bond picture. First off, when did Bond inherit feelings? Last time I checked he felt bad about someone dying for about 30 seconds and that was it. He's Bond, he gets over it. Also, does anybody know what the movie was about? They concentrated way too much on quick shot action scenes and forgot that they were supposed to tell a story. I had to see it again to see if I missed something. I still didn't understand it the second time.

MORE WILL COME LATER.

Do not go see this movie if you consider yourself a religious person. You will be terribly offended. I don't belong to a religion, so I'm fine with it. I have had the stance on religion that Bill has for a while. He believes faith is a lack of critical thinking. In some ways he is true. If you believe that the world started with people in an enchanted garden with a talking snake, you might want to rethink yourself. He brings up many interesting points about contradictions and parallels to other religions. Also, it always funny to poke fun at Scientologists and Mormons, in my opinion. This is a real eye opener. The word doubt comes up a lot in the movie because it is true. As long as we are alive, we have no idea of what'll happen. This movie is great and Bill had some balls to make this film with religion being the last taboo nowadays.

More Will Come.

Step Brothers is the best Will Ferrell film since Anchorman. It such a redemption from the catastrophes of Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro. Adam McKay and Will Ferrell go together like peanut butter and jelly. They know how to make a funny film (i.e. Anchorman and Talladega Nights). More will come later.

A surprisingly good thriller. Didn't expect it.