My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Eight: My Top Ten Films of 2008)

Yes, it's a bit late. But here it is. 

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And now... back to regular scheduled programming.

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Seven: Best Ensemble Performance In a Film)

Never letting go the connection of a complicated family dynamic with more baggage than most, the cast of Rachel Getting Married maintained the tricky balance of self-assurance and reliance on one another without ever overshadowing the delicate, beautiful story.

Other Notable Nominees: Burn After Reading, Frost/Nixon, Milk & Revolutionary Road

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Six: Best Film Actor in a Leading Role)

“You’re an empty, empty, hallow, shallow of a woman. What the hell are you doing in my house if you hate me so much?”

Much like his counterpoint in Revolutionary Road, Leonardo DiCaprio bares his soul in his best performance yet. The amount of sympathy garnered from his dominant character under attack is simply grand and unmatched.

Other Notable Nominees: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Philip Seymour Hoffmann (Doubt), Sean Penn (Milk) & Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Five: Best Film Actress In a Leading Role)

“But I don’t. I hate you. You were just some boy who made me laugh at a party once and now I loathe the sight of you.”

The greatest performance of her already accomplished career, Kate Winslet became the ultimate desperate housewife who wants something less ordinary by bringing complexity of her character’s search for unbeknown joy and happiness in Revolutionary Road.  

Other Notable Nominees: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Melissa Leo (Frozen River) & Meryl Streep (Doubt)

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Four: Best Film Actor in a Supporting Role)

“You want order in Gotham? Batman must take off his mask and turn himself in.... or everyday he doesn’t, people will die.”

It is hard to imagine a more iconic screen role this year than the one created by Heath Ledger. The commitment of insanity and intelligence inserted into a character known for 50 years is something the world has never seen and might never see again.

Other Notable Nominees: Colin Farrell (Cassandra's Dream), Bill Irwin (Rachel Getting Married), David Kross (The Reader) & Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Three: Best Film Actress In A Supporting Role)

“Thank you, but we do not fly off to make love with whoever invites us to charming little Spanish towns.”

Deadpanning Woody Allen’s humor while bringing tremendous soul to a comedy of love, life and what could’ve been, the underutilized Rebecca Hall flexes her acting muscles in this poignant role.

Other Notable Nominees: Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) & Misty Upham (Frozen River)

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-Two: Best Film Direction)

Navigating through a timeline of an underdog with ease while getting great performances from actors whose characters can easily be done one-noted, Danny Boyle surged ahead of the pact with his heartfelt imagery to this rags-to-riches tale that had me feeling I won that 20 million rupees myself.

Other Notable Nominees: Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), James Marsh (Man On Wire), Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) & Andrew Stanton (Wall-E)

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty-One: Best Original Screenplay)

INT. FROZEN RIVER- NIGHT

Ray speeds up. Faint tire tracks appear in the distance.

LILA (CONT'D)

Slow down, I don’t want to run over it. 

Suspense and drama of two character’s quest for survival never backs down in this integral plot of people out of luck with decisions to make in Courtney Hunt's Frozen River.

Other Notable Nominees: Cassandra's Dream, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Visitor & Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Forty: Best Adapted Screenplay)

INT. STUDIO

Jamal contemplates on what his host told him earlier. He is determined.

HOST

What do you think? Decision time.

Adapting what is a basically a game show novel is hard enough, but adding elements as rich as ones presented and losing any spark is just pure screenwriting genius from Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy.

Other Notable Nominees: Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Reader & Revolutionary Road

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Nine: Best Visual Effects in a Film)

Most visual effects tend to rely on spectacles and theatrics to prove the newest technological advances in film. And while that is not a feat that should be discouraged, a film that uses these aids to seamlessly tell a story without a viewer’s distraction is awe inspiring. The impact attributed to the early years of the titled (The Curious of) Benjamin Button is so much more rewarding than most giant robots or orchestrated war scenes.

Other Notable Nominees: Iron Man & Speed Racer

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Eight: Best Film Editing)

While various other aspects contributed also the warmth of Slumdog Millionaire, the fanatic energy of the film’s story relied a lot on the choices made in editing. From the first childhood flashback of meeting a movie star to the final moment of the title character’s realization of what his life has amounted to, the choices in what to show us never veered away from the emotional journey of the story.

Other Notable Nominees: Cassandra's Dream, Frost/Nixon, Milk & Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Seven: Best Cinematography in a Film)

Painting an elaborate epic with many tones and shades, the job accomplished in this film by Mandy Walker in Australia captured the pure old Hollywood envisioned by the director. And while the lush canvas is a tribute, the ability to assist with the many emotional aspects of the scenes were something of a spectacle altogether for the modern world.

Other Notable Nominees: The Dark Knight, The Fall, Revolutionary Road & Slumdog Millionaire

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Six: Best Make Up Design in a Film)

Aging makeup is never easy. Accomplishing it convincingly is one thing, mastering it is another. Case in point, working with Blanchett’s palette from ages 20(!) to practically her deathbed is a hard enough task in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but doing without causing a distraction takes a new set of skills altogether. I would use Pitt as an example, but I’m convinced more than ever you can’t make that man look bad.

Other Notable Nominees: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Dark Knight

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Five: Best Costume Design in a Film)

A close one, but the countless couture featured in The Fall won out. Anything worn by Sister Evelyn should be submitted to Costume Design Hall of Fame- especially the lavender floral dress. Along with the precise execution of the costumes worn by our group of heroes and those hooded henchmen, the contrast between the real world and the fantasy world became even more visually lyrical.

Other Notable Nominees: Australia, The Duchess, Revolutionary Road & Sex and the City: The Movie

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Four: Best Art Direction in a Film)

Standouts from this film of endless lavish sets include the Chinese charity ball and detailed town of Darwin and its ports. Having the range of an intimate set such as campgrounds and Faraway Downs to elaborate set pieces such as war-torn streets and Missionary Island while not missing a beat is definitely a fest for the eyes. Ever a daunting task, a Baz Luhrmann film requires the mind of Catherine Martin to carry out the scope of an epic as big as Australia.

Other Notable Nominees: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Fall, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull & Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Three: Best Sound Design in a Film)

Much like Speed Racer himself, closing our eyes during this visually dominant film would result in opening our mind to what else the film has to offer. You literally visualize each sharp turn from left to right, each landscape environment down to the little details and of course, the speed of the race itself as if those tricked out vehicles were actually zooming right by.

Other Notable Nominees: Cloverfield, The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace & Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-Two: Best Original Film Score)

Never letting the tension of the focused dilemma go, Philip Glass instead heightens it by his orchestrations with an abundance of string instruments for our uncomfortable pleasure. Tragic and hopeful at the same time, the closing piece allows for a reflective response from moviegoers while absorbing the story of brothers Ian & Terry in Cassandra's Dream.

Other Notable Nominees: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire & Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty-One: Best Original Song from a Film)

With lyrics such as those above that fit the film to a T, and the ever-sultry voice of The Boss to go along with it, it’s easy to understand how The Wrestler (The Wrestler) catapulted ahead of the pact.

Other Notable Nominees: 'Rock Me Sexy Jesus' from Hamlet 2, 'Another Way To Die' from Quantum of Solace, 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire & 'Down To Earth' from Wall-E

My Peterio Awards (Part Thirty: Special Recognitions In Film)

Best Documentary: Man On Wire

Best Foreign Language Film: Mongol

Best Animated Feature: Wall-E

Breakthrough Female Performance: Clemence Poesy, 'In Bruges'

Breakthrough Male Performance: Charlie McDermott, 'Frozen River'

Best Opening Sequence (Credits): Sex and the City- The Movie

Best Closing Sequence (Credits): Slumdog Millionaire

Best Theatrical Trailer for a 2008 Film: Cloverfield

Best Theatrical Poster for a 2008 Film: W.

Best Compilation of Work: Woody Allen

My Peterio Awards (Part Twenty-Nine: The Eric Bana Award)

Award given to best performance in a bad film (a la Eric Bana in 'Troy')

In the whimsical film 'Penelope', James McAvoy knew his place and injected a lot of heart and charisma into something that was otherwise dull and disappointing. The former Peterio Award winner needs the opportunity to excel again.

Other Notables Nominees: Cate Blanchett ‘Indiana Jones’, Ricky Gervais ‘Ghost Town’, John Krasinski ‘Leatherheads’ & James Marsden ’27 Dresses’