1)The Dark Knight
"This is what happens when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object"
The one that lived up to the hype..and more..Yeah, yeah , I know every other magazine and website out there is calling it their fav movie of the year. So its no surprise. The Dark Knight was my fav movie of the year.THE Movie of the year. THE Best comic book movie Ever!! Everyone loved it, I know but God knows every batfan out there felt the same paternal, protective feeling that I felt when I saw it. The feeling of loving something before everyone else. Is it possible to love a movie more than others? This for me was a movie about people I knew. A film about friends.And that has to make you love it more. So does that mean us "Batfans" enjoyed it more than you puny everyday folks? Yeah, I 'd like to think so.
Fav moment: This is something personal and very wierd. If at some point in a movie I get so involved and ecstatic at the proceedings that goosebumps erupt all over my "sideburn" area, I know its going down as one of my all time favs. Like when I figured out Ash was in cahoots with Mr. Devgan in Khaakee just before they revealed it or when Mr.Elliot Ness asks Mr. Stone "you got the shot?" " Yeah, I got the shot" "Take it" "Bamm". Well it happened in this one too when, The Joker explains to Ms. Dawes how he got his scars, about the scarred wife and gambling problems ever so hinting at " The Killing Joke". Goosebumps, I tell ya!!
2) Tropic Thunder
" I am just a dude ,playing a dude, disguised as another dude"
From the very start , with the fake trailers this film had me loving the hell out of it. Probably one of the best comedies of the year. What a great cast! Mr.Downey Jr. is brilliant in his role as Kirk Lazarus.The scene where he tries to infiltrate the "Gandein logon ka camp" dressed as a farmer is hilarious.The climax had me on the edge of my seat. Its not only a great comedy but it has a very well thought out script. And got to love that Tom Cruise cameo.
3) Slumdog Millionaire
Its great to see India in a mainstream hollywood film( Ok so it wasnt released wide but hey, everyone knows about this one and it may not even be "Hollywood" , but you know what I mean). Danny Boyle is amazing and more so in how versatile he is. People don't expect such a honest and heartfelt love story from the director of 28 Days Later, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave amongst other. You rock, Mr.Boyle !! Also, the music is amazing and blends right in with the scenes, especially the ending. But you have to ask why did it take a Britsh director to tell a story about India, and to bring it to the world. Why isnt our home grown stock potent enough??
4) How to Kill your Neighbor's dog
" Alcoholics have class. I'm a F***ing drunk"This film started my fascination for Kenneth Branagh. What a powerful actor. I am lapping upanything and everything he throws at me. I would call it scenes from the life of a writer, as he befriends a child next door, his own stalker, a dog that won't let him sleep and all the while trying to complete his new play and come to terms with the fact that he might make a good parent( His wife played by Robin Wright Penn wants a child, he doesn't). Lovely little film that makes you wish you could live forever in the world depicted by these characters.I want to see more films like this.
5) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances."
The second out of three love stories in this list. First off, amazing special effects. If for nothing else , it should get the oscar for the special effects. This film is almost like Forrest Gump. A very special person's journey through life, meeting other special people and all the while waiting for his one true love. Its also as charming and as humorous ( the entire theatre roared with laughter at the "lightning" part). The scene where they show how Daisy's accident was inevitible, is nothing short of brilliant. David Fincher departs from his usual genre but proves his prowess once again. Interestingly his Zodiac was in my top 10 list last year.
6)Let the right one in
A beautiful story about the friendship between a boy and a vampire. Its equal parts horror and drama. The direction and screenplay are mesmerizing. Some scenes were so well shot and so much fun, I had to rewind and watch them again. If you haven't seen it do yourself a favour and watch it.NOW!!
7)Station Agent
Nothing much happens in this movie, actually. A guy inherits a station house after his friend dies. He moves in and just wants to be alone. He meets a food truck guy, who would like to be his friend. He almost gets run over by a lady, twice. They all take trips along the rail tracks. The guy meets a cute librarian. And the said guy is a short person. Thats it. I liked it. A lot.
8)Cloverfield
Thrillers are my favourite genre, and this is a neat addition to my list of favs. I have often wondered what if something so momentous happens that it makes our daily run around, the daily grind absolutely trivial. Screw that paper you were so worried about, screw your grades, screw every little thing that blows itself out of proportion and takes over your life. Suddenly ,out of the blue, something could happen that could change your life forever.What if the most important thing is survival in the face of a catastrophe.For me, thats what this film examines.
9)Forgetting Sarah Marshall
"You sound like you are from Lonn- daan"
The third love story in the list. Can the Judd Apatow clan do no wrong??Saturday,Nov. 21 ,What a beautiful day it was the sun shone and the birds chirped, but I stayed in and watched 4 films from his camp.A day well spent.The film left me wanting to visit Hawaii. The Dracula puppet song was beautiful. What else can I say? Loved it.
10)The Wrestler
"I'm an old broken down piece of meat and I deserve to be all alone, I just don't want you to hate me"
Wow!! What a film. The story of the twilight years of a once famous wrestler.It doesnt seem like a film, almost like a documentary. You actually feel these are real people. The thing that most struck me about Randy is his innocence.This guy is not bitter, not one bit. He's down and almost out, living in a trailer park, a daughter that won't talk to him, wrestling on the weekends in two bit ciruits yet he lives on. And there is a sadness that looms over Randy that gets to you too. And how wonderful is that song by Bruce Springsteen, it perfectly conveys the sadness of the film. I really wish Mickey Rourke gets an oscar for this one as much as I do for Heath Ledger.
11)Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye
I am allowed an eleventh movie in my top 10, cause its my party and I will do what I want to!!
This is the second movie from Dibaker Banerjee and while I would say its not as good as Khosla ka Ghosla, this too is a real good effort.Its shot in Delhi and thats always a plus in my books. As with the first one, there are strong, unique, well defined and I want to say ecccentric characters., that stay with you even after the movie. Paresh Rawal and Archana Puran Singh excel in thier roles and I really loved the "Criminal/Sansani" guy, they really got the crime show thing from the news channels spot on.The dialogue is really Dilli, with words like "freefund" reminding me of my very own school days lingo. I just don't understand why my roomies did not like it.
12)Candy
Did I mention something about this being my party?? This one too stars the amazing Heath Ledger in an at times disturbing but still touching love story of two drug addicts and the lengths their addiction and love takes them. I have decided as a tribute to Mr.Ledger to watch his entire Filmography.
Films that I had Lots of fun with:, Step Brothers, Kung-Fu Panda, Kingdom of Heaven, Transsiberian, A Wednesday, Absolute Power, Heat, Dead Again, Singh is King, Taken,The Cottage
Films that disappointed: Mummy 3 (couldn't even finish it), You don't mess with the Zohan, Street Kings ( I had high hopes or this one)
I am sad that I did not watch that many Mallu or Bollywood movies, but still seems like I watched lot of movies. I guess it was a good year for the movies.Yes, I got the quotes from imdb, but don't hate me for that.
Thank you, once again Galadriel and SEV for taking me to that midnight screening. You know which one, ;).
