The movies of 2008
Thursday, February 19, 2009 by Dave Winer.
The Oscars are this Sunday, so it's time to review the last year, and get on the record. 
Of the nominated movies, I loved, without qualification: Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler, Doubt, Rachel Getting Married, Frozen River, Slumdog Millionaire.
Movies I loved things about but didn't go for the whole package.
Australia. The acting was superb, I'll go for Nicole Kidman in anything, and the kid was great, but it was a forgettable movie.
The Dark Knight. Cut out all the scenes that don't have Heath Ledger and you have a great picture. The guy with half a face was disgusting, worth a few shots but a half hour? Embarassing.
Wall-E. The first part was wonderful. Amazing. Fantastic. And then a formula Pixar animation for the kiddies. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but you don't see Bolt on my list of movies worth talking about. Or Kung Fu Panda. Wall-E was half an amazing movie. A Pixar movie that really makes you think hasn't been made yet but Wall-E showed that it could happen.
I didn't see: Revolutionary Road, The Duchess.
Movies I flat out didn't like.
Milk -- Sean Penn was a convincing Harvey Milk, and that was good for five minutes. Otherwise, no suspension of disbelief, the story didn't hang together.
Benjamin Button -- I kept looking at my watch hoping it would be over.
There were many others, but thankfully, none of them were nominated. 
Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger.
Best supporting actress: Marissa Tomei.
Best animated feature: Wall-E.
Best writing (adapted): Doubt.
Best writing (original): Frozen River.
I didn't vote in the other categories cause what do I know about editing and directing and costumes. I'm user, just a guy who watches movies and loves great ones.
Final note, best actress was the hardest category. I loved Anne Hathaway in Rebecca Getting Married. Meryl Streep was amazing in Doubt, and Melissa Leo in Frozen River. But Kate Winslet owned me in The Reader.
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