Smallscreen Features

By April MacIntyre Dec 31, 2008, 5:26 GMT

2008 Monsters and Critics 'The List'

Over a year ago, the editors here at M&C planned to run a 2007 Trainwreck list based on your emails and talkback. The M&C 2008 List features British film director Danny Boyle poses for a photo during the presentation of his film 'The millionaire', in Rome, Italy, 28 November 2008. EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLA

The M&C 2008 List features British film director Danny Boyle poses for a photo during the presentation of his film 'The millionaire', in Rome, Italy, 28 November 2008. EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLAAfter seeing that every website on the planet end-runned us to that concept, it seemed the world could do with one less “list” noting the numerous gaffes and banalities of the world’s most dubious celebrities. We decided on a different path.Continuing that tradition for 2008, M&C expanded “The List.” The 2008 Monsters and Critics “The List” is, in no particular order, notable television shows, films and interesting people that we felt deserved a closer look by you. Perhaps you can add to this humble list with your own nominations.DREW CURTIS –FARK.com

Drew Curtis of FARK

A bastion of snark, silliness and satire for the unusual entertainment stories on the web; the participants who nominate the stories on Fark.com are funnier than the actual stories in their one-sentence summaries. The clever site is the brainchild of Drew Curtis. The posting members are natural-born pitch men.“Born, raised, and still live in Kentucky. I was the only member of my college fraternity made up of rugby players (drinkers) and computer science guys (drivers) to be both. I started Fark in February of 1999 to amuse some friends, and they apparently told people about it.” Curtis told M&C about his cheeky Internet phenomenon.

photo credit: Jojo Whilden: Oliver Bokelberg with lead Richard Jenkins on the set of "The Visitor"

RICHARD JENKINS- "The Visitor"Jenkins as Walter quietly stole the show in filmmaker Tom McCarthy’s latest brilliant study of humanity amidst grief, the law and eternal hope. The hypnotic dialogue, the stunning lensing of each frame by crack DP Oliver Bokelberg (also DP on McCarthy’s The Station Agent) of Jenkins as a grieving reclusive college professor who discovers life all over again is an incredible experience. If you have not seen Jenkins in this film, please make every effort to see it.DANNY BOYLE - "Slumdog Millionaire"One of the most heart wrenching movies ever made was “Millions” by Danny Boyle. Slumdog Millionaire continues the feel of Boyle’s sentimentality, and exceeds in every aspect. Boyle can even inject a Zombie movie like "28 Days Later" with feelings of warmth and hope.This film is an endearing story of a boy from the Indian slums of Mumbai who grows up to become a winning contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Officials think he's cheating, not realizing that his varied life as a "slumdog" has schooled him well. SONS OF ANARCHY– FXThe cable network continues a fine streak of amazing programming, and thanks to FX president John Landgraf’s good taste, they have presented what we feel is the best smallscreen series of the year.

Actors Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Charlie Hunnam, Kim Coates, Ryan Hurst, Mark Boone Junior, William Lucking and many others are absolutely perfect in this saga of bikers in small town California, who are at loggerheads with each other and the law.This series is right up there with the Sopranos, The Wire and The Shield - another show touched by SOA creator Kurt Sutter’s writing talent.

Chelsea Handler

CHELSEA HANDLER- Host The Chelsea Handler ShowSmart girls rule and funny, hot smart girls are a bonus. This flip chick has stolen the thunder from the old farts and usual suspects of late night chat. Her aide de camp Chuy is her perfect foil, and she graciously gives some under the wire comics a great platform (a la Colin Quinn’s Tough Crowd) to show off their satirical stuff while dissecting the headlines of célèbre-dom.“Chelsea Lately” is the crown jewel of E! and almost makes me forgive them for dishing us “Keeping up with the Kardashians.” Almost.CLEAN HOUSE – Niecy Nash Style network's "Clean House" is one of those shows you cruise by channel surfing then back up, thanks to Reno 911’s Niecy Nash.

Niecy Nash of Clean House

The show is a Zen lesson of letting go in the guise of organizing a hot mess of a house. The root of the crazy clutter is always inside deep, and Nash is great at getting people to fess up and reveal the why of the compulsion. The crew is entertaining too, and there are millions of women lusting for the “go to” guy Matt Iseman. The tips you get are useful, designer Mark Brunetz has great taste; Trish Suhr is adorable and Nash is an E-ticket any way you present her.

Z Rock Joey, Paulie Z, Lynne Koplitz and David Z Photo Credit: Jennifer Graylock/IFC

Z ROCK - IFC Another fine under-the-radar series luckily greenlit for a second season. For decades filmmakers have used the buffoonish rock world as the frame for comedy. The list is long, from “Spinal Tap,” “Wayne’s World” to old Beatles’ movies starring the fab four, the genre and the premise usually worked well.Still does for IFC, which has mined that high octane, long-haired metal milieu in their latest TV series about paying the bills and rocking. “Z Rock” introduces us to three real musicians in a smallscreen Roman à clef, where by day the dudes rock it as the Z Brothers for the kiddies, by night they morph into rocking sex gods of Z02 who occasionally score with the tykes’ moms.The guys are a real band. The trio consists of brothers (and “Kotter” Epstein lookalike) Paulie Z, brother David Z and the Italian Joey Cassata. They play Brooklyn bars at night and pay the bills by moonlighting at kids' birthday parties during the day.Funny, unpredictable and smart. MICKEY ROURKE - "The Wrestler" Director Darren Aronofsky revisits the grittiness of "Requiem for a Dream" in a hard-luck story of a washed-up wrestler seeking redemption. In the title role, Mickey Rourke is in almost every scene. He is a monstrous talent. Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood as the daughter he never seems to have time for were cast perfectly and shine too.NIKKI FINKE - Reporter - Deadline HollywoodNikki Finke is a journalist’s hero. She has real balls in a town full of reporters afraid to call it like it is for fear of litigation or blacklisting from events.

Nikki Finke

Her withering remarks cut to the quick and no Hollywood rainmaker is safe.
Finke covers the business angle of Hollywood with an experienced eye that rips the rug up on Tinseltown stupidity that others revere.Finke's coverage of the writer’s strike was so thorough that she beat and exceeded the Industry trades at their own reporting, and the community hung on her blog for the real updates minute by minute.She writes with passion, authority and clarity. The best column in the Industry.

Dennis Hopper as Ben Cendars, Crash on Starz

CRASH – Starz OriginalsThe show gets better and better as each episode progresses. The cast is led by Dennis Hopper as Ben Cendars, a debauched esoteric music mogul whose existential meltdowns add to a compelling storyline that makes good use of two exceedingly sexy costars, Nick Tarabay and Ross McCall. The two anti-heroes exude a fierce burst of testosterone in a sea of mediocre TV actors out there in smallscreen land. These guys mean business in each frame, and their female counterparts; Moran Atias and Arlene Tur, match them for a female equivalent in raw sexual energy. Hot stuff.From DVD and Music Editor Patrick Luce, and writers June L., Dana Rae MAMA MIA! The Movie Mamma Mia is a film for everyone. Those who are privileged to be of an age that heard ABBA music in the day will have pleasant memories to add to the fun of this present day production. Younger folks will enjoy the humor, color, music and style of a perfect cast in a good story. The portions filmed on location are icing on a cake that serves big slices of entertainment with every scene. The Special 2 DVD Collector's Edition has great special features to add to the film, including a Sing Along selection that allows the viewer to "perform" with the cast in his or her favorite musical number.

Robert Downey Jr.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. 2008 was Robert Downey Jr.’s year, and he well deserved all the praise. Is there another actor who can play Tony Stark? I don’t think so. He rocked as Iron Man and made us laugh off our asses in Tropic Thunder. His "I'm a dude, playing a dude, pretending to be another dude" from Tropic Thunder sums up the actor’s ability to take on any role and make it his own. WALL-E

WALL-E

WALL-EA movie filled with charm that had plenty of laughs for the kids and the adults who are dragged to see the film with them. Wall-E’s debate over where to place the Spork – with the forks or with the spoons – best sums up how crazy life can be. The film was full of humor, laughs and even a few tears. The fact that the first part of the film features little dialogue just proves how far animation has gone and Wall-E demonstrates that even a trash compactor can have a heart. OBAMA AND McCAINRegardless of who you voted for, this year’s presidential election caught the country in a fever that could almost match the election fallout of an episode of American Idol. Filled with gaffes, laughs, and crazy quotes, Obama and McCain and their running mates managed to get the country actually caring about getting out the vote.

Michael Emerson LOST

Michael Emerson’s Ben character on "LOST" Season Four – I had all but given up on Lost, until Ben on Season Four. Emerson created a character that is possibly the greatest television villain ever created while seeming completely wimpy and at the mercy of the other people on the island. Emerson makes the character impossible to read and you never know what is going on in his head. He is the reason I will be watching Season Five.

Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight

HEATH LEDGER - The Dark Knight With its huge haul at the box office and unforgettable performance from Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight proved a Batman flick could be dark, gritty, and for more than just the average comic book geek. The movie is without a doubt the best superhero flick to ever be made, and only continues to get better now that it is on DVD and Blu-ray.

Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn on Showtime's The Tudors

Natalie Dormer –The TudorsThe second season of Showtime’s "The Tudors" featured a great performance from Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn. Her character went from being a somewhat schemer and puppet of her father’s evil and insatiable ambition to the victim of a king wanting out of a marriage and his politically lethal court wanting her out of the picture. Early in the season, Dormer played the queen with grace, but also cunning ambition, and then finally she is stripped of everything with only raw emotion left. Her final episode of the season saw the character lead to her death with the dignity of a queen, and deserving of her place in history.

And Also

The Decade: Film's 10 Best Music Moments In The Aughts

The Decade: Film's 10 Best Music Moments In The Aughts - Cinema Blend
Nintendo claims 80 percent of female gamers - The Tech Herald
The Easiest Gigs in Showbiz - PopEater
Chris Rock interview, Sons of Anarchy and Woody Allen shout out for 'Madagascar' star

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SpitfireDec 31st, 2008 - 10:18:05

I haven't seen all the wonderful things you're going on about because I don't have, and don't want, cable TV in my home. But I copied most of what you highlighted in your article in my 'Must See' file. Thanks.

I only have broadband internet, a Dell, a Wii and a DVD player, but I do rent stuff.

I rented Carnivale. I think it was great! You want proof Carnivale was great? It was canceled just like Enterprise was.

I happened to see a couple of episodes of House at my girlfriend's place, and I liked what I saw. There was something unstupid about this show that reeled me in.

I canceled my cable TV service because I got sick of having the only shows I liked being canceled. They canceled the shows I liked while they kept running the crap, like, forever?

So I canceled THEM!

Is my position on this issue clear enough for you? Let me give you an example. I started watching Seinfeld because it was ubiquitous on cable TV, way back when I had cable.

I quit watching Seinfeld midway through its second season. Why? Because I had grown to hate ALL the characters on this show. 22-caliber-bullet-behind-the-ear hated. What a bunch of worthless scumbags! They weren't funny, they were just a bunch of assholes. What's funny about assholes? They were just disgusting.

On the positive side, I rent each season of Lost as soon as it's available in DVD at the video store. I know Michael Emerson is emerging as a MAJOR villain / good guy / or something in Lost. I just can't wait to see him AFTER Lost. I think he's an extremely talented actor, but I wouldn't want to be tasked with reinventing myself after THIS mother of a gig ...

Ledger just blew me away. He's the greatest, most believable comic-book-cum-movie villain ever.

And OF COURSE I'm gonna wanna have The Wrestler in my DVD collection. Right next to my (legitimate) DVDs of I Robot and Deer Hunter and Craig's Casino Royale and First Contact and Enemy at the Gate and Blade Runner and Private Ryan, and a whole bunch of other great stuff.

Which leaves me with a very painful question.

Suppose Roger Ebert gets run over by a bus tomorrow. How will I know where the good stuff is without wading through thousands of hours of crap. There is ONLY ONE intelligent, educated and fair critic in the USA, and Roger Ebert is IT.

Where do we go now?

Praytell...

Spitfire

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KananDec 31st, 2008 - 15:38:30

What an unexpected surprise-I love the List-it really represents some of the best things of 2008 without all the usual crapon other sites lists
well done

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