DISQUS

Film School Rejects: 11 Great Films That Flew Under the Radar in 2008

  • Rob_Hunter · 10 months ago
    Some great choices here Adam... I loved at least half of these movies. But Hamlet 2? Really? I got a few chuckles out of it, but it was mostly forgettable aside from the face raping.
  • Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago
    I liked Hamlet 2 for the chance that it took. It wasn't too long ago that a film discussing religious views was protested with a decent amount of fury. Remember Dogma?
  • Neil Miller · 10 months ago
    I will defend Hamlet 2 to the death -- it was fantastic. Steve Coogan as Jesus, fucking brilliant.
  • TheGreenMalice · 10 months ago
    The only redeeming factor in Hamlet 2 was the song. You know which song. The rest of the movie was crap.
  • Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago
    Disliking Hamlet 2 is like disliking chocolate-covered kittens.
  • Phoghat · 10 months ago
    Forgot what?
  • Andy · 10 months ago
    I completely agree...Hamlet 2 was a big letdown... talk about overhyped. I was ready and wanted to like it or even love it, settled in, laughed at the fake commercials the great Steve Coogan's character had been in...from there it went downhill fast. I was really shocked when I noticed how shabbily put together it was. I mean, the whole point of the movie...WHY he would put on the worst play of all time...was never explained to me in the least.

    I saw most of the movies on this list and loved every one of them except 'Hamlet 2'...I was shocked at how unfunny it was.
  • CrazySphinx · 10 months ago
    Great list Adam! But I agree, Hamlet 2? Seriously? Other than that, I've seen everything else but "I’ve Loved You So Long", and agree that they're totally worth having a look at, even if just once.
  • ANGRYBROOMSTICK · 10 months ago
    great list, and I'm going to try to see all of them. I've only seen Son of Rambow, such a beautiful, touching film about friendship and growing up in 80s England... I highly recommend it.
  • Pat Flanagan · 10 months ago
    This list gets credit from me for the inclusion of In Bruges and Hamlet 2. Two of my favorite movies of this year. Good stuff sir.
  • DMuff · 10 months ago
    Hamlet 2 was funny and fairly original but it didn't blow my face off with humor.

    I'm very happy you listed Transsiberian here, it was very well paced and just felt like a classic thriller, no fancy stuff.

    Loved In Bruges and The Orphanage was really good.

    Wasn't that crazy about The Fall but everyone else seems to be loving it.
  • Davebaxter1989 · 10 months ago
    I've only seen Man on Wire and In Bruges and both were fantastic I'd agree.
  • Jeremy · 10 months ago
    Great, off-the-beaten path stuff here. Awesome descriptions. And I haven't seen Hamlet 2 so I can't knock it.

    Man on Wire was slow to me, but you can't deny the insane beauty of what that man did, especially with the Towers gone.

    Also, the funniest/shocking part of Transsiberian is when Emily Mortimer talks dirty. I about spit my coke out. She's that sweet and innocent hometown girl, but inside I know, I know... :)
  • Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago
    Emily Mortimer is amazing. And yeah, her dropping some profanities only rounds her out more. Haha
  • ruinlach · 10 months ago
    Adam... I would be getting that cross out as we speak, but it's really difficult when Hollywood's nose is so far up there, too. ^_^
  • Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago
    Hmm, I don't recall ever sniffing a religious fanatic's ass. I have been pretty drunk at times though. If you need help let me know. I am always up for loving my neighbor as I would love myself.
  • Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago
    And by help I mean taking the cross out of the ass, not smelling it. :)
  • Spacetree · 10 months ago
    I have my doubts about The Fall (since I didn't care for The Cell - although that might have been because of Jennifer Lopez), but since I'm a sucker for positive buzz (especially from the fine folks at FSR) I guess I'll give it a try.
  • jack2jack · 10 months ago
    I did not see The Fall either (because of J-Lo) and I read Stephen King's book. I passed on Hamlet 2 because I thought it was a Monty Python rip off. Good list!!!
  • Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago
    In no way do I vouch for Jennifer Lopez. Haha. The Cell for visual purposes was pretty good stuff, but The Fall is much better overall. And thank you for the kind words about us Rejects. We're lucky to have you here.
  • Shootsy · 10 months ago
    In Bruges was so so great.

    And the Signal was amazing. Except for the middle part, that director should be banned from their little director trio they had going. It was good, but killed the awesome vibe of the movie.
  • Deborah Reis · 10 months ago
    Hi for all...
    Bruges is a great movie, for me the best in this list and Ray is a special and different caracter. Colin is a great actor and I hope that he wins the Golden Globe in 01/11.

    A soft kiss as a flute's note in the air between the sky and the earth...
    Deborah Reis
    A Flauta da Lua...
    The Moon's Flute...
  • Nicole · 10 months ago
    I Loved the Fall, it hurts to see it going so unnoticed all year :(
  • Jeff · 10 months ago
    No hate speech?

    "Memo to religious America: take the cross out of your ass and lighten up." Hmmm. I guess this place is more for those who want to Restrict freedom of speech as long as they agree with it.

    Bruges was a great film, Orphanage sucked, Hamlet 2 is just that "Lets make fun of Christianity because its the "IN" thing that all left leaning "free minded" people love to applaud...Love to see a movie about "Allah" but then again that would be "wrong" and not "IN"
  • Nick · 10 months ago
    "Or maybe American moviegoers generally have shit for taste, as evidenced by the fact they went to see Passion of the Christ in 2004, or Hancock this year, and not this film. Memo to religious America: take the cross out of your ass and lighten up."

    Just as soon as Hollywood makes an "irreverent" movie concerning the prophet Mohammad, and someone like you tells "religious Muslims to take the Quran out your ass and lighten up" -- but I doubt you'd have the balls for that.
  • stooo · 10 months ago
    Here here, Nick. Young Adam needs to stop watching films for a bit and get out more....maybe buy a mountain bike?
  • Aaron Dumont · 8 months ago
    Here are some great but overlooked films of 2008:
    Synecdoche, New York - best film of the year, hands down. Not since Mulholland Drive have I seen such genuine ambition in a film.
    Che - Have no idea why there were so many whol disliked it--but then again, it did pop up in several Best of 2008 lists. But still, a 61% Tomatometer, when Kingdom of the Crystal Skull gets a CERTIFIED FRESH 76 percent? Really????
    United Red Army
    Death in the Land of Encantos
    Melancholia
    Il Divo
    99 Francs
    Mother of Tears
    Boarding Gate
    The Silence Before Bach
    The Beaches of Agnes
    2008 was definitely a great year for obscure, arthouse foreign films, and those nine (and that's only a few of them...) more than prove it.
  • Steve · 7 months ago
    I highly disagree with Happy-Go-Lucky. It wasn't the best movie. And her name is Poppy. Also, the film was disappointing.