Midpoint '08

My fellow blogger Cinema Romantico (who is also the person that trained me during my first day working for a movie theater, the job that ultimately transformed my casual enjoyment of movies into a full-fledged obsession) recently posted his brief Midpoint Review, and didn't have a whole lot to say about 2008 so far. There was never a realistic hope that '08 would ever live up to the year that preceded it. 2007 was a monumental year for modern cinema in terms of quality. 2008, so far, has pretty much been a year of lost opportunities. But I still see that as a good thing.

Take a look at the big blockbusters this year. Both Iron Man and The Dark Knight are beginning to push the formulaic superhero genre into deeper territory with fully developed characters that we actually care about, and action sequences that enhance the plot rather than punctuating it. Hancock also tried a unique take on superheros, though with much less success (quality-wise, 'cause it did just fine financially).

Speed Racer was a huge flop, but no one can argue that it didn't push the boundaries of what a movie can do visually. It was a mind-blowingly gorgeous film that was unfortunately operating off of a weak script. The Happening was also the victim of a bad script, but had an original plot and some great moments.

My point is that many movies in 2008 have been trying to do something new. Even when they fail, I'd rather sit though a movie that has at least some ambition rather than watching another by-the-numbers action thriller or romantic comedy. So I think 2008 has been going great. 2007 showed that audiences are not just attracted to big explosions and pretty people kissing (though those staples are not at risk of disappearing anytime soon), and 2008 has shown us that Hollywood isn't afraid of testing out other waters. In my opinion, the film industry is very slowly starting to realize that we, the audience, are not as dumb as they thought.

As for my picks for the year so far? (in no particular order)

• The Dark Knight and Iron Man - for the reasons stated above.
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall - a very funny romantic comedy where the characters act like they are real people, even the "evil" ex-girlfriend.
• The Signal - a low-budget horror movie that looks good and has original ideas. Special mention to the pitch-black comedy 2nd act, which made me laugh harder than anything else this year, then seamlessly transitioned right back into horror.
• Rogue and Black Water - both movies about killer crocodiles that let the animals act like animals instead of monsters. The former lets its characters have the ability to make rational decisions, and the latter shifts away from the reptile and focuses instead on the isolation and fear of the people. SIDE NOTE: When will Radha Mitchell finally be noticed and given the A-list fame she so richly deserves? Watch her in Everything Put Together and then try to tell me she doesn't deserve to be a star.
  
• Taken - Well-made thriller with a great lead performance by Liam Neeson and a handful of fantastic scenes, but somewhat predictable. (Looks like the US release has been pushed back to January 2009, so this might not actually qualify for this list)