10- In Bruges
Assassin dramedy In Bruges is the type of film that gets better the second time it’s viewed. Writer-director Martin McDonagh’s rapid shifts of tone aren’t as off-putting the second time through allowing better appreciation of the fine performances from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as a pair of hitmen and Ralph Fiennes as their maniacal boss.
9- Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
The second helping of Harold and Kumar sees writers Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz run with their tendency towards stereotype subversion as rednecks are shown to be literate, blacks polite and composed and George Bush surprisingly sympathetic as an oppressed father’s boy. Harold and Kumar is near as funny as its instant classic first installment, and that’s a major accomplishment.
8- Then She Found Me
Helen Hunt makes herself look worn-out to touching and often funny effect in the pregnancy dramedy Then She Found Me. She’s ably supported by Matthew Broderick as her man-child ex-husband and Colin Firth as her desperate and equally worn-out love interest.
7- Son of Rambow
Brits Nick Goldsmith and Garth Jennings deliver a winning comedy about friendship and the value of art. With charming child actors and surprising character developments ala Juno, this crowd-pleaser hasn’t been seen by enough crowds so far in stateside release.
6- Standard Operating Procedure
Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris delivers a devastating documentary on the Abu Ghraib scandal utilizing a series of interviews with the soldiers who committed the crimes (including Lynndie England) and a meticulously detailed presentation of the famous pictures and their circumstances.
5- Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Judd Apatow machine scores again, this breakup comedy is on par with Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Superbad. Russell Brand is hilarious as a randy rock star and star-scribe Jason Segel delivers on both sides of his hyphen.
4- Kung Fu Panda
Excellent genre entertainment, that’s what Kung Fu Panda is. The storyline is generic underdog fare but the jokes aren’t, twisting off kung fu movie conventions. Great voice work from Jack Black and Ian McShane complete this very enjoyable package.
3- Funny Games
A film that actively strives to not entertain but somehow succeeds in doing so anyway for viewers who appreciate provocation and fresh ideas. Director Michael Haneke implicates the audience in his satire of serial killer films.
2- Young@Heart
The ads make Young@Heart appear to be nothing more than cute old people singing, but the film is a much deeper exploration of mortality and the meaning of age. A guaranteed tearjerker, this is one of the most moving films of the year.
1- The Band’s Visit
Eran Kolirin’s tale of an Egyptian police band lost in a backward Israeli town is a masterwork. Extremely funny and sometimes quietly sad, the film can be enjoyed by anyone and is only as political as viewers want to read into it. If anything it’s a celebration of the human spirit, and might easily stay in this spot until December 31st.
Dan Benamor - Staff Writer/Film Critic for University of Maryland Diamondback, daily readership of over 20,000. I love movies and I love writing and ...
