i3109 - i1100 = 2009

Before listing my choices for the best films of 2008, I'll write a bit about me and movies. Over the last year, I've begun learning more about movie-making and trying to create my own projects... I've been pretty unproductive this far (something that WILL change in 2009). My interest in movies in the past has been purely based on video as a medium for entertainment... I've never cared what went into the making of a movie, just that the end result would be entertaining in some respect. This is why I've thought and continue to think Citizen Kane is a piece of shit (srsly). What's my favorite movie of all time? It's really hard to say. Although it probably erases any of my credibility on the subject, I might suggest Hot Rod (a movie that I find to be endlessly entertaining). The more I get into making my own videos, the more I start to take into account things like cinematography and the performances on screen versus the overall effect of a movie. This new appreciation certainly has a footprint in this year's list. I'm glad that I work at the Fleur Cinema & Cafe, as it has really opened a door to a lot of films that I would've never watched in the past. As it is, my list this year is comprised mostly of films I watched at work... despite my age and the ridiculousness of me making my primary income from a movie theater, I can't help myself but to be kinda stoked about his facet of my life. Best Billy Employer of 2008: Teh Fleur!

MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2008
Action/Comedy: Pineapple Express
(I love movies with Seth Rogen. This one just happens to be hilarious while packing some very respectable action)
Comedy: Role Models
(Absolutely hilarious; nothing made me laugh more all year)
Comic Adaptation: Iron Man
(While The Dark Knight was a great movie, I think Favreau's film was a much more entertaining adaptation of the comic it's based on)
Documentary: Man On Wire
(An amazing story in such a well-done documentary)
Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
(Barely topping Synecdoche, New York and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; chosen because it's so incredibly well done and lacking at no point in the film)
"Indie" Indie: In Search of a Midnight Kiss
(Probably the best indie film I've seen in recent memory; obviously well written, performed, and shot within my future home, Los Angeles, California)
Music Documentary: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
(I'm certainly not the biggest Clash fan, but this is a quality doc. featuring really great archive footage of Mr. Strummer and interesting interviews with his former bandmates)

Worst Movie Ever: Happy-Go-Lucky
(I've honestly never been so miserable in my entire life)

Biggest Surprise: The Promotion
(This would've been my "Indie" Indie pick if not for Midnight Kiss's charm; the performances are as great as the style throughout the film and has me looking forward to Chad Schmidt in 2010)
Most Disappointing: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
(Not only a bastardization of a great comic, but a shitty film relying on the giant plant fight completely)

Best Director: Charlie Kaufman
(Truly brilliant stuff; Synecdoche, New York)
Best Actor: Sean Penn
(A fantastic portrayl in the most socially relevant movie of 2008; Milk)
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway
(Not only incredibly beautiful, but able to portray an incredible range of emotions; Rachel Getting Married)
Best Soundtrack: The Wackness
(1994 featured some GREAT hip-hop)

Billy's Best of 2008 (MUSIC)

#10
Artist: Girl Talk
Album: Feed the Animals
Label: Illegal Art
Favorite Track: 02. "Shut the Club Down"
Notes: I'm a big fan of the track featuring samples of Avril Lavigne. Srsly.


#09
Artist: Ra Ra Riot
Album: The Rhumb Line
Label: Barsuk
Favorite Track: 05. "Dying is Fine"
Notes: This is one of the only albums featuring stringed instruments (beyond guitar and bass) that I've enjoyed. A great tone to the whole album.

#08
Artist: The Knux
Album: Remind Me in 3 Days...
Label: Interscope
Favorite Track: 05. "Roxxanne"
Notes: This is exactly what all Hip-Hop should sound like. These dudes have a really cool mix of songs here, which keeps every track super fresh fresh ya'll... you don't stop?

#07
Artist: Department of Eagles
Album: In Ear Park
Label: Beggar's Group
Favorite Track: 02. "No One Does It"
Notes: Another album with a fantastic tone and seemingly limitless listenability.

#06
Artist: MGMT
Album: Oracular Spectacular
Label: Sony/Columbia Records
Favorite Track: 02. "Weekend Wars"
Notes: These fellas remind me of the record snagging hoodlums from High Fidelity. I want to hate them. I look at them and I know that I don't like them. Unfortunately, they make really good music...

#05
Artist: My Morning Jacket
Album: Evil Urges
Label: ATO Records
Favorite Track: 13. "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2"
Notes: The range from "Highly Suspicious" to my favorite track is pretty great, yet all of these songs fit so well together. Jim James' voice is too perfect for their sound.

#04
Artist: Dr. Dog
Album: Fate
Label: Park the Van
Favorite Track: 04. "Army of Ancients"
Notes: Great, classic sounding tracks borrowing from previous generations' sound perfectly.

#03
Artist: TV on the Radio
Album: Dear Science
Label: Interscope
Favorite Track: 07. "Red Dress"
Notes: The horns were a great addition... a sexy great addition.


#02
Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr
Label: Sub Pop
Favorite Track: 03. "Furr"
Notes: Can we get a blood test to confirm that Eric Earley wasn't switched with Jakob Dylan at birth?


#01
Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Fleet Foxes
Label: Sub Pop
Favorite Track: 03. "Ragged Wood"
Notes: An album for the times... just fantastic.

HOE-MA y MOGOMRA!

Best Breakfast of Today, 2008: Strawberry Pop-Tarts! (I'm eating a pair right now; srsly)

No blog entry of any substance (no firsts!) today as I'm going to begin the task of finishing my 'best of' lists (I'm worried that if I don't, Blogger will disable my account). Enjoy Pop-Tarts.