Best Dramatic Movies of 2008

2008 presented us with quite a perplexing array of Dramatic Movies. There were the 80th Academy Awards with the Best Picture: No Country for Old Men (IMDB) by Ethan and Joel Cohen and the 61st BAFTA Awards that selected Atonement (IMDB) directed by Joe Wright as the Best Film. The period drama seems to have indeed gained popularity among the production companies this year; with yet another remake of The Other Boleyn Girl (IMDB) featuring Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman, The Reader (IMDB) starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, Changeling (IMDB) starring Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich and the January 9th 2009 release of The Duchess (IMDB) featuring Keira Knightley, Charlotte Rampling and Ralph Fiennes, this trend comes quite clear.

Although all the above would definately have their place within the best dramatic movies of 2008, I start my list with a slightly different period drama, taking place in China during the 1930's. The Children of Huang Shi (IMDB), directed by Roger Spottiswoode, takes us to a journey during Japanese occupation of 1937. Based on the life story of a young Englisman and journalist George Hogg, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the film tells us in an intimate manner, how one person could change the life of many, under perilous circumstances. Hogg becomes in charge of sixty orphan boys, some of them having quite painful memories of the loss of their families. The real challenge to Hogg is to find ways to bring the spirits of these boys back to life. To make this happen, together they start turning the surroundings of the orphanage into a vegetable garden. This undertaking also builds up the team spirit among the boys as well as trust towards Hogg as their leader. The trust will soon be demanded as the Japanese front is approaching the orphanage and the only way to survive is to leave as soon as possible. Hogg takes the advice of Chen (Chow Yun Fat), the leader of a Chinese partisan group, to take the boys to North-West, through a journey of almost one thousand miles across the snowy Liu Pan Shan mountains, in order to find safety at the remote end of the Great Wall of China, at the edge of the Mongolian desert. Chen as their guide the group takes to the journey, by walking.

In a very near future five young New Yorkers witness the City dramatically coming down. They also document some of these happenings through a videocam. The camera is later found by the US Defense Department, from the area that used to be Central Park. Some of the footage is featured in this film. Welcome to Cloverfield (IMDB).

Another feature starts in Central Park as well. "We've Sensed It. We've Seen The Signs. Now... It's Happening." (IMDB) Director M. Night Shyamalan presents us with a thought provoking scenario. As it seems, human kind has become so insensitive towards other forms of nature that something is bound to happen. The attitude has to change. Shyamalan makes vascular plants the protagonists of this movie. Through this disposition he presents the viewer with an alternate tomorrow, where Mother Nature takes control. Just when it seems that the phenomenon has calmed down we are taken to the Jardin de Luxembourg, under the canopy of trees planted during the time of Marie Antoinette. Is it happening again ..

One of the fascinations of living in Central Europe is the distance between different contries, cities, cultures. Or actually, the distances you travel either by car or train are very short, but the distances in culture become remarkable. We cross the border, from France to Belgium. In Bruges (IMDB), the medieval city famous for lacemaking, we are presented with two quite unlikely tourists: Irish hitmen Ken and Ray, featured by Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. Their boss Harry Waters, starring Ralph Fiennes, has sent them to Bruges to lay low after a difficult job in London. While waiting for Harry to call them with further instructions the two get immersed into the bizarre undertones of Flemish culture. It is Christmas time, there is romance in the air. When Harry finally calls this strange fairytale accelerates into a turmoil in the busy town square.

Elegy (IMDB) by Isabel Coixet, so beautifully poetic and touching. The atmosphere of the film is elated by two great talents: Penélope Cruz as Consuela Castillo and Sir Ben Kingsley as David Kepesh. These two have thirty four years in beween them. We are also truly spoiled by having Dennis Hopper joining in, playing the role of George O'Hearn, a poet and Kepesh's confident. Isabel Coixet tells us the unlikely love story in a poignant manner that stays strongly with you. In this view, life is about accepting the changes, whatever the dramatics, come your way.

Henry Poole has found himself in a dramatic situation as well. His doctor has advised him to prepare for the last weeks of his life. There is nothing that could be done. With this news Henry Poole decides to abandon his fiancée and family business. He wants to face his last days alone. Henry Poole Is Here (IMDB) by Mark Pellington, with Luke Wilson featuring Henry, presents us with an idea of a miracle on many different levels. As Henry would only like to lay low in oblivion, in a run-down house in suburbia, he purchased for this purpose, the miracles start to unravel. This story of a metamorphosis of a cynic is told in a suprisigly fresh manner through everyday wonders. It could happen in your neighbourhood. Any day.