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Jahresrückblick 2008

Some will certainly ask yourself, what is for now too late to assessment of the cinema in 2008. First, is my intention to evaluate the year and the American Film me not to belong to the Swiss cinema starts. So I take a lot but after a few strips before. Although the films were released in 2008, are published by us but only this year, can sometimes become envisaged. It has its advantages and disadvantages. As soon as I've seen all the important films of the cinema year, I shall certainly now handle each year so, even if this effort each has to wait in the summer. First, a brief resume of the Oscars and then my personal ranking.

The 81st Oscar

Last year's Oscar ceremony recorded a record low ratings in the United States because it is hardly surprising that the producers shake up the chain of events this year and fresh air wanted to bring into the normally strict action. Therefore, the secrecy was even greater than before, and in today's Internet Group, it almost borders on a miracle that the priority is not leaked - or have the Oscars over the years really lost so much popularity? Although the Golden Globes given annually in January to hear ever more of himself, the Oscar ceremony is the classic par excellence and this year's grandiose idea is a clear indication that the hierarchy for the coming decades will not change. The Oscars are still just classy.

In the run I was facing Host Hugh Jackman was more skeptical. He seemed never really an entertainer rather than a professional actor in his job done well and carefully, without making too much fanfare. Well, since I was caught completely back in the opening minutes, in which Jackman was a musical contribution and had won so my attention immediately. A truly excellent intro, was inveigled into the well Anne Hathaway from the front row of audience. After that was allowed to lie down by People Magazine as the Sexiest Man Alive Jackman chosen one another singing gig, this time accompanied by Beyoncé Knowles in a conceived by Baz Luhrmann short musical. Actually, it is unnecessary to state that in the area many accomplished Beyoncé stole from Hugh the show. Otherwise received Jackman as one of television viewers to see not too much, as he cheers often during the commercial breaks, the Kodak Theatre.

The glamorous presentation is every time a real eye-catcher, but this year special. By design, they have fully hit the mark and for each category nominated beautiful scenes were presented, watching everything else went as soporific. Specifically, the presentation of the acting Oscars by five winners of the past years, I found a great idea and was visually absolutely mind-boggling.

Among the Oscar Presteners there were some good contributions. stand out and remain in memory does to me because Ben Stiller's imitation of Joaquin Phoenix. Class act! Besides convincing in this role even Tina Fey, Steve Martin, James Franco and his pronunciation mistakes, Cuba Gooding Jr. of Downey Jr. for his role as a dark-skinned in "Tropic Thunder" picks up - "Are you out of your mind !?! The brothers need to work Congratulations on your upcoming film, 'Shaft . "- Will Smith has for the younger generation, as presenter for the boom-boom-categories also fought very well and show through his well-known humorous let: "I'm still here, I believe Hugh is napping".

weak, however, were as a presenter Sarah Jessica Parker and the visibly bored Daniel Craig, Robert Vampire Pattinson and Amanda Seyfried ( "Mamma Mia!"), Jessica Biel - probably still tired from the night before at which they Scientific & Technical Awards Ceremony hosted, the "Pineapple Express" deposit with Franco and Rogen should have been funny, but it was not. And I almost forgot: Alicia Keys as a presenter with Zac Efron was terrible.

The categories which, somehow, understandably, less and less Get attention, there was still a two nice highlights. This certainly Philippe Petit's thanksgiving for the Oscar winning the documentation "Man on Wire" , Jerry Lewis are 'appearance for the Lifetime Achievement Oscar, and finally a further short speech by Kunio Kato for his short film "La Maison en Petits Cubes" animated from the many Thank You's, among other things this was: "Thank you my pencil."

And so we come to this year's winners and my brief thoughts:

Best Film
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost / Nixon, Milk, The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Director
David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant, Stephen Daldry
Danny Boyle

Actor In A Leading Role
The Visitor - Richard Jenkins
Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella
Milk - Sean Penn
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Brad Pitt
The Wrestler - Mickey Rourke

Actor In A Supporting Role
Milk - Josh Brolin
Tropic Thunder - Robert Downey Jr.
Doubt - Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Dark Knight - Heath Ledger
Revolutionary Road - Michael Shannon

Actress In A Leading Role
Rachel Getting Married - Anne Hathaway
Changeling - Angelina Jolie
Frozen River - Melissa Leo
Doubt - Meryl Streep
The Reader - Kate Winslet

Actress In A Supporting Role
Doubt - Amy Adams
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Penélope Cruz
Doubt - Viola Davis
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Taraji P. Henson
The Wrestler - Marisa Tomei

Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
The Reader - David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy

Original Screenplay
Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E - Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

Animated Feature
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Cinematography
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Documentary Feature
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Documentary Short
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz with Bashir

Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire - A.R. Rahman
WALL-E - Thomas Newman
Original Song
WALL-E - "Down to Earth"
Slumdog Millionaire - "Jai Ho"
Slumdog Millionaire - "O Saya"

Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Animated Short
La Maison de Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Live Action Short
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Toyland (Toyland)

big winner with 8 statues of 9 nominations is "Slumdog Millionaire" . co-favorite "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" disappointed with just three victories of all 13 nominations. "Milk" ended the awards season with 2 wins, just as "The Dark Knight" , who went into the race as a summer blockbuster. Most awards can understand it, although I would have changed especially with the best films "The Reader" . "Slumdog Millionaire" I did also not as good as expected. From the choice would have been with me on David Fincher's won every case review.

The five hours went by before the TV (as long at a stretch I've for years no longer sitting in front of the telly) by quickly and I felt during this time frame as in a different place, so impressive this ceremony was, at least in the first four hours. A shame, however, these incredibly harsh commercial breaks.

Finally there is my mandatory list of the films from 2008:

first The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan not only tops its predecessors but also pretty much all the older comic book movies with this complex tale of the Black Ritter. My already prevailing weakness of childhood for Batman and the style reminiscent of Michael Mann films of the strip reason enough to put him in the first place. Had the Academy will also honor once a blockbuster, it was definitely a chance. In addition, Heath Ledger's performance speaks for itself.

second The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

visual and tricky technically already a feast for the eyes, impresses Fincher's latest work with a complete story by telling that they have a whole life, very varied, and the longer it lasts the more emotionally charged, they will. More than solid lead performances round out the splendid picture.

third was Let the Right One In

This Swedish vampire film very unexpectedly strong and confident with two great young actors and an excellent blend of horror and love elements. Let's see what "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves make the U.S. remake will be. Could I in any case remain stolen after the blast.

4th Gran Torino

Eastwood confirmed his excellent work in recent years and delivers "Gran Torino" from probably be the last actor-works. His portrayal of the grumpy war veteran Walt Kowalski, and its interaction with the ausländsichen Hmong community provides many interesting moments and a more consistent than film.

5th Tropic Thunder

The hit comedy of the year. A well harmonizing troupe, a splendid performance by Tom Cruise, a strong brilliant staging, good parodies about well-known (anti) war movies and countless laughs make Ben Stiller's latest work, lasting experience. Tears in the eyes of two sightings is reason enough for such a high placement.

6th The Wrestler

A film of Mickey Rourke's revival, thanks mainly to much and caused concern, and rightly so. Thanks in part to me rather strange world of wrestling, this was an interesting experience that you will not forget so quickly. Perhaps the best film to date Aronofsky now for the "RoboCop" remake is rumored.

7th Iron Man

If, through the huge success of Batman lost some strength in the talks on comic book movies, but remains an exceptionally well-done adaptation with which could Robert Downey Jr. back in full moult in the A-List of Hollywood .

8th Wall-E

by many to be Pixar's most mature film to date titled "Wall-E" has certainly a something for all ages and that makes the strip, next to the legendary art so special. 'm Not the biggest animated film fan, but this is definitely one of my Lieblingspixars.

9th Revolutionary Road

Sam Mendes' film is, by itself is a small event that it Kate Winslet and DiCaprio reunite after 11 years and both have been afforded the since "Titanic" develop very positively. The film is so great, because he treated despite a 50's setting a hot topic today. The solid and directing the successful lead performances round out the very good overall picture.

10th Quantum of Solace

this 22nd Bond Screen appearance, the action movie of the year. What would Marc Forster presented here with a strong influence Bourne I never expected of him. Critics included more moderately but this is a brilliant intermezzo, which is further leads to a consistently the predecessor and the other provides a good link to what may come.

Now follow all the top candidates could not reach 10, with the best at the forefront.

have just missed a podium finish: are
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Frost / Nixon, Australia, Interesting In Bruges, Tyson

:
Changeling, Doubt, RocknRolla, Che: Part One, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Gomorra, Speed Racer, The Strangers, The Ruins, Yes Man, Step Brothers, Street Kings, Defiance, Body of Lies, Death Race, Seven Pounds, Trick 'r Treat, Valkyrie, Hulk, Eagle Eye, Definitely Maybe, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, Transsiberian, Hancock, Eden Lake, Nordwand, Wanted, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Cloverfield, 24: Redemption

Ganz OK aber verzichtbar sind:
Lakeview Terrace, Che: Part Two, Burn after Reading, Rambo, Taken, The Reader, Man on Wire, Vantage Point, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Mirrors, Get Smart, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Jumper

weaknesses were to grottenschlecht:
10,000 BC, The Happening, Punisher: War Zone, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Max Payne, The Informers, The Spirit, Saw V

summary, 2008 was certainly an exceptional film year. Thanks "The Dark Knight" , the new Spielberg film, a new Bond film, Clint Eastwood's two or even David Fincher's contribution at least more than respectable. Financial target should the studios last year, did not complain. 2009 has hitherto been rather fight but the blockbuster so far but more on the disappointing side. surprise hits like "Iron Man" or remained "Let the Right One In" pending. We'll see how it develops in the second half. At least James Cameron has to end year with "Avatar" but please have an ace up its sleeve!