by James Evans
Who Killed the Electric Car?
This was the best film I saw all year and one of the most important films of the year. It’s a compelling documentary on what happened to the promise of electric cars in the mid 90s and what happened to the ones actually sold in California. You will not believe what was going on and will walk out of the movie wondering why you are not walking to your own electric car.
Jesus Camp
Do you home school your kids teaching them that dinosaurs never really existed? Do you also believe that Ted Haggard really is 100% heterosexual after a three-week program? Then you will be watching a completely different film than the rest of us. This film is about Pastor Becky Fischer’s “Kids on Fire” summer camp in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To me, it was a horror film. It is terrifying what they put these poor kids through with all the guilt and lies. It is one thing to believe in something, but it is another to shape kids’ minds to your own beliefs with fear and intimidation.
An Inconvenient Truth
A companion piece to Who Killed the Electric Car? and Al Gore’s contribution to society now that he has left public office. Sure, it’s pretty much a PowerPoint presentation and some of the side tracks he goes on don’t make for the best film. It is still an important film, even if you do not agree with what he presents here. Is it indisputable? See for yourself.
Shut Up and Sing
I’m not a country music fan and I didn’t know any of the Dixie Chicks songs, but I definitely knew about the blow up from a comment that the lead singer made at a London concert a few years back. Back then I just really didn’t care and thought people’s reactions were way too much about nothing. This just confirmed it for me. Her comment was totally off the cuff and not a political statement. The whole movie is interesting, as well, showing what they went through afterwards and how their latest album came about because of it. Great documentary!
Two for the Kids: Curious George and Lassie
There were only two kids movies I saw this year that I really liked. The first was Curious George, which did not do as well as it deserved to. They capture the look and especially the colors from the books. Sure they had to add a story and they named the man in the yellow hat, but it was still a great movie to bring your young kids to. Especially a first movie for the really young ones. The other movie I really liked was Lassie. I didn’t want to see it, but after hearing good things I decided to check it out. It was a real surprise. The story is well told and it is very touching.
The World’s Fastest Indian
Anthony Hopkins is so good in this light-hearted movie about an Australian man who traveled to the U.S. to try and break the land speed record on his Indian motorcycle. I’m sure they took some liberties with his story, but I still like his journey getting there. One movie that didn’t get the attention it deserved.
The Break Up
This might surprise people that I would put it on the “best of” list, but I really liked it. It was a great movie and not the comedy they made it out to be. It is a nasty drag-out fight between two people who love each other but just don’t know how to show it.
Half Nelson
I was so happy to see that Ryan Gosling was nominated for an Oscar for his performance. If the Academy had wanted to honor the best performance by a child this year, they should have skipped Abigail Breslin and nominated Shareeka Epps instead. She holds her own in this movie and along with Ryan they make the best on screen pairing of the year.
Superman Returns
I didn’t like that the story was a lot like the first Superman, but it was so much fun and so well done that I could overlook it. Brandon Routh was a great successor to Christopher Reeve and I was glad that I didn’t hate Kevin Spacey as Lex. I loved Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane and Parker Posey’s comic relief was welcome.
Mission: Impossible 3
I can’t stand to see Tom Cruise all over the TV either, but that won’t stop me from seeing him in a movie if it looks good. J.J. Abrams directed this third installment and if you give it a chance you will see it was a good action movie.
The Departed
This was so close to being my favorite film of the year, but I had a few little problems with it. Not worth mentioning, but enough for me to not designate it as the best film I saw all year. Also, please see the original Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs.
A Prairie Home Companion
This isn’t on my list just because it was Robert Altman’s last film. I actually liked the movie very much, thank you. I thought it was funny and a little sad, especially since my own movie theatre closed this year. The one downfall for me was Virginia Madsen playing an angel. It was great to see a good movie filmed in St. Paul.
Aurora Borealis
Speaking of St. Paul, this movie was partially filmed in the Twin Cities and takes place mainly in Minneapolis. There is a great joke in there about the difference between St. Paul and Minneapolis people. I guess I should mention the movie is good, too. Joshua Jackson and Juliet Lewis seem like an odd couple, but it worked. Another movie that should have gotten more attention.
Rocky Balboa
The 5th one sucked and the preview for this one looked terrible. It was the biggest surprise of the year for me. A terrific movie and Sylvester Stallone was great in it. It also had a believable premise for him getting back in the ring. It’s much more than a boxing film. It has so much to say about family, doing what you love in life, and dealing with death. Maybe this was the best film I saw all year.
Babel
Deserves the Best Picture nomination and it would deserve the win if it weren’t for the Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett story. Yes, it was necessary, but it was the least emotional. The Mexican nanny had one of the two toughest roles on screen all year and the deaf Japanese girl had the second one. I wish they would both win the Oscar this year for Best Supporting Actress.
Letters from Iwo Jima
I really didn’t like Flags of Our Fathers so I was happy that this was released shortly after. A much better film and I hope more people see it. People forget that the Japanese also lost many lives in the War and it was good to see their perspective shown this way.
The Prestige
If you accidentally screw up and get The Illusionist instead, immediately throw it out the window and get the right DVD. A terrific movie with a twist that I didn’t see coming, but what a pay off it is.
Casino Royale
This was a good James Bond movie. Daniel Craig was great and the story was good. I wish they would have stuck with one main villain that you could love to hate. I look forward to the next installment.
Notes on a Scandal
The creepiest movie of the year about an older woman who falls for a younger new teacher in her school. Judi Dench will scare the hell out of you and Cate Blanchett will have you pissing yourself thinking about what you would do in this situation.
Pan’s Labyrinth
I don’t really want to talk about the movie. I just want people to see it. I thought it was one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest movies of the year.
The Queen
Many people are saying that this should not have been nominated for Best Picture, that it is an actor’s movie and Helen Mirren will carry it at the Oscars. I disagree. I thought the whole movie was good. Helen is amazing, but let’s not overlook the rest of the cast. The story is interesting as well and a nice insight into how things went down in the royal family after the death of Princess Diana.
Thank You for Smoking
Aaron Eckhart is always fabulous when he plays a schmuck. A lobbyist for the tobacco companies, he doesn’t apologize for what he is doing. The movie has a good story and asks good questions.
Hard Candy
Another tough movie to watch, but in a good way. A young woman lures an older man over the Internet. I won’t go any further into the story. Just see it.
Jackass 2 & Borat
For pure gross out I would have to give it to Jackass. I almost puked twice and had to leave the theatre once. Borat was not as great as people say, but you have to admit they never let up and have to admire them for that. I still can’t believe they got away with an R after the naked romp through a hotel.
The Good German
I really liked the movie, but there is something about it that keeps me from saying any more than that.
Inside Man
Spike Lee really did a great job with this movie. The cast is there and the story is there as well. I believed everything that happened and that is hard to do these days. A nice surprise.
V for Vendetta
I’m a comic book nerd, but I never read this one from Alan Moore.
Scoop
Not a great movie, but I liked it well enough since it was actually a funny movie from Woody Allen which has been a long time coming. Woody himself was great and he played his age well.
Movie Reviews | G. Sax | 
December 31, 2008 3:12 am | 
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