Here’s my take on 2008’s best movies and TV shows

Okay, I confess. I haven’t been the most dedicated cinephile this year.

Although I watched an amazing number of childhood classics, action movies, comedies, dramas and foreign films, I acknowledge a few major holes in my viewing habits in 2008.

I missed “Rachel Getting Married.” I’ve yet to see “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “Changeling” or “Slumdog Millionaire,” and Martin Scorsese’s supposedly brilliant Rolling Stones documentary, “Shine A Light,” is waiting patiently in my Netflix queue.

Meanwhile, I’ve got a few Oscar contenders to tackle — “Doubt” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” in particular. I might get some breathing room this weekend, as most of those serious, depressing dramas — such as “Frost/Nixon,” “The Wrestler” and “Revolution Road” — have yet to reach my home town here on California’s sunny Central Coast.

So here’s an incomplete list of the movies that made me gasp, chuckle or cry over the course of 2008. I promise to catch up soon.

BEST OF THE BIG SCREEN

“The Dark Knight”: Universally praised and feverishly anticipated, “The Dark Knight” was the movie that got everyone talking. Awesome special effects combined with a decidedly dark storyline and strong performances from Christopher Nolan, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart — heck, just about the entire cast.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”: Mathieu Amalric (”Quantum of Solace”) wowed as a real-life Vogue editor whose perfect world is ripped asunder when he’s paralyzed in an auto accident. I dare you not to cry.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”: Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro delivered another fun romp replete with mythical beasts, fantastic battles and the occasional Barry Manilow sing-along.

“In Bruges”: There may be hope for Colin Farrell yet. He provided the surprisingly sweet, sorrowful center in this dark comedy about two hitmen (Farrell and Brendan Gleason) vacationing in “the most boring city in Belgium.”

“Iron Man”: If “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” paved the way for brooding comic book dramas, director Jon Favreau’s smart, slick “Iron Man” made the world safe for more mainstream superhero flicks. Tons of fun.

“Man on Wire”: In 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit took a stroll between the World Trade Center towers in New York City. This well-crafted documentary told audiences how he did it and — more importantly — why.

(A side note: 2008 was a solid year for documentaries. We also welcomed Werner Herzog’s “Encounters at the End of the World,” Alex Gibney’s “Taxi to the Dark Side” and the Hurricane Katrina doc “Trouble the Water.”)

“Milk”: Operatic yet intimate, Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” featured yet another stunning performance by Sean Penn as gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

“Persepolis”: Mainstream audiences might have been intimidated by this film’s subject matter (life during the Islamic Revolution in Iran) or its style (black-and-white animation), but why? “Persepolis,” based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, was oh-so-poignant.

“WALL-E”: Who knew 2008’s most memorable character would turn out to be a cute little robot with a fondness for “Hello Dolly”?

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BEST OF THE TUBE

“30 Rock” (NBC): Liz Lemon, the smart, single and hilariously screwy producer of a late-night sketch comedy show, cemented her reign this season as America’s sweetheart.

“Battlestar Galactica” (SciFi): Few science-fiction shows are this well-written, this compelling and this addictive. Riveting television at its best. (The rest of the fourth season kicks off Jan. 16.)

“Flight of the Conchords” (HBO): Oddball characters and ridiculous music videos made this comedy an offbeat charmer.

“Mad Men” (AMC): Chain-smoking, cocktail-swilling advertising execs with sordid personal lives? Tell me more!

“True Blood” (HBO): This steamy drama about Louisiana vampires and the humans who love them is as fun, sassy and delightfully trashy as any episode of “The Jerry Springer Show.”

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BEST ONLINE SENSATION

“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”: Fans of that famously musical “Buffy” episode, “Once More, With Feeling,” gave thanks this summer for “Dr. Horrible.” The three-part show proved, once again, why Neil Patrick Harris rocks, why supervillains deserve our love and why creator Joss Whedon is a geek’s best friend.

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BEST GUILTY PLEASURES

“Rock of Love” franchise: The appeal of Bret Michaels’ eternal search for true love stems from two factors: the trashy, nasty women who compete for his heart, and Michaels himself. How could anyone possibly find the vain, Botoxed former lead singer of Poison attractive? Spin-offs include “Rock of Love: Charm School,” “Trophy Wife,” “Daisy of Love” and “I Love Money,” which includes contestants from VH1 sister show “Flavor of Love.”

“Speed Racer”: How did the Wachowski siblings adapt this beloved Japanese cartoon for the big screen? With screamingly bright neon, adorable lead actors and quick-moving, CGI-heavy action, of course! “Speed Racer” cheerfully assaulted the senses.

“Wanted”: Yes, that’s right. I said “Wanted.” Although many of the plot points — such as curving bullets and flipping cars — would drive any physicist crazy, this gleefully ridiculous action flick provided 110 minutes of solid fun.

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MOST DISAPPOINTING BLOCKBUSTERS

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”: Everyone knows that Indy, the whip-cracking treasure hunter with the crooked grin, is at his best when he’s fighting Nazis and searching for religious relics. Why mess with a winning formula?

“The Day the Earth Stood Still”: Speaking of formulas, Hollywood should have checked its math before making this overblown blockbuster. Keanu Reeves + science fiction classic = disaster.

“Pineapple Express”: What looked like a surefire summer comedy turned out to be a dull, meddled mess. Although there were a few funny moments, the movie’s main saving grace was James Franco, playing a comically clueless pot dealer with unusual zest.

“Sex and the City: The Movie”: What happened to the sexy, sassy goddesses we watched on HBO? The women in this big-screen version were disappointingly tedious, trite and shallow.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”: George Lucas continued his campaign to tarnish our collective memories of “Star Wars” with a clunky, poorly animated flop. Ugh.

I could go on and on, but I’ll just list some other films that — while often entertaining — fell short of expectations: “The Happening,” “Hancock,” “Quantum of Solace,” “W.” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

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Photos courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

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Christmas releases include “Valkyrie,” “The Spirit” and “Benjamin Button”

By this time tomorrow, I’ll be winging my way to the great frozen Midwest, en route for a holiday hootenanny.

If I had my druthers, however, I’d be spending Christmas at the movies.

A crop of films open this week, just in time for the biggest holiday of the year. It’s a mixed bag, ranging from such light-hearted fare as “Bedtime Stories” and “Marley & Me” to more serious stuff — “Valkyrie” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” to name a couple.

Although most of the Golden Globe nominees have yet to reach local theaters (I’m looking at you, “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader”), moviegoers should have plenty to keep themselves occupied this holiday. Here’s my take on your Christmas Day choices, based on trailers, gossip and my own razor-sharp instincts.

“Bedtime Stories”

When I see the name “Adam Sandler” in a movie’s credits, I tend to get worried.

Back in the days of “Billy Madison,” Sandler was a silly, albeit, pretty reliable comedian. Now he’s the showboating stooge who sucks the entertainment out of potentially solid family films.

“Bedtime Stories” — about a man whose nighttime stories to his sister’s kids come true — looks like the same manufactured mush that Sandler has been making for years. Remember “Click”? Remember “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”? Why should you?!

Save your money and rent “Happy Gilmore” instead.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Moving. Magical. Marvelous.

Based on the beloved F. Scott Fitzgerald story, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” pairs with high-tech wizardry with old-fashioned movie magic to tell the story of a man who — like Merlin — is born old and ages backwards.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, who played a couple in “Babel,” have great chemistry as the mysterious Mr. Button and his lifelong sweetheart. And the supporting cast, which includes Elias Koteas, Tilda Swinton and Julia Ormond, couldn’t be better.

Screenwriter Eric Roth has worked on “Forrest Gump” and “Ali,” so an inspirational epic is pretty much guaranteed. I’m just excited to see how David Fincher, the director of “Fight Club” and “Se7en,” will handle such a lyrical, romantic story.

“Doubt”

A feverish battle of wills begins when a nun accuses a priest of abusing a young black student at their Catholic school.

There’s no denying that “Doubt” comes with the highest of pedigrees.

As Sister Aloysius, Meryl Streep seems to be channeling her steely fashionista in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Screen veteran Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the priest, Father Flynn, and adorable Amy Adams — fresh from “Enchanted” and “Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day — is the innocent Sister James.

Director John Patrick Shanley (”Moonstruck”) wrote the screenplay and the play on which it’s based. Although it’s always difficult to translate a work from stage to screen, this drama seems to have enough firepower to make for a riveting dissertation on faith and fallen virtue.

“Marley & Me”

What is it about Hollywood and dogs?

There are already tons of movies about Man’s Best Friend, including 2005’s “Must Love Dogs” and this year’s “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” But here’s one more: a tale-wagging comedy about one family’s relationship with a cute, cuddly and mischievous Labrador who is also “the world’s worst dog.”

Marley (in the trailer, at least) upstages nearly every human on screen.

Roll over Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Hollywood has clearly gone to the dogs.

“The Spirit”

I’m happy that Frank Miller is finally getting his proper due.

For decades, Frank was just another drone in the movie industry’s eyes — respected in the comics community, but shunned by studios. Then came “Sin City.” “Batman Begins.” And”300.”

Now one of Hollywood’s annointed, he’s taken on of the finest comic book series ever — Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” — and given it a sassy, sexy makeover.

Sure, the inspiration is still Eisner. But this is clearly Miller’s movie — from the scantily clad femme fatales to the hard-boiled dialog to the comically large, complicated guns.

Sadly, it looks heavy on style and short of substance.

“Valkyrie”

On one hand, you have the first collaboration between Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie since “The Usual Suspects.” An awe-inspiring story. A $100 million budget. A bevy of British talent — Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branaugh and Bill Nighy to name a few.

On the other hand, you have Tom Cruise. As a Nazi. With an eyepatch.

See my dilemma?

“Valkyrie” chronicles the real-life plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II, led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise, of course.) As the trailer reveals, it was a dangerous plan fraught with peril and plenty of opportunities for failure.

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Feeling down? Here’s some inspiration

Sometimes, we all need a little pick-me-up.* A boost. A shot in the arm.

Matthew Belinkie’s “40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes” may be the boost you’ve been looking for.

Cobbled together from 40 blockbusters, epics, sports flicks and male weepies, this expertly crafted video from OverthinkingIt.com exploits every cliché in the book to make you feel pumped. Amped. Excited.

We open with a now-classic exchange from “Braveheart” and continue with this speech:

“Shame on you. This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you’re going to let it be the worst. And I guarantee a week won’t go by in your life you won’t regret walking out, letting them get the best of you. Well, I’m not going home. We’ve come too far! And I’m going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause. A day may come when the courage of men fails… but it is not THIS day. The line must be drawn HERE. This far, no further! I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. You’re going to work harder than you ever worked before. But that’s fine, we’ll just get tougher with it! If a person grits his teeth and shows real determination, failure is not an option. That’s how winning is done! Believe me when I say we can break this army here, and win just one for the Gipper. But I say to you what every warrior has known since the beginning of time: you’ve got to get mad. I mean plum mad dog mean. If you would be free men, then you must fight to fulfill that promise! Let us cut out their living guts one inch at a time, and they will know what we can do! Let no man forget how menacing we are. We are lions! You’re like a big bear, man! This is YOUR time! Seize the day, never surrender, victory or death… that’s the Chicago Way! Who’s with me? Clap! Clap! Don’t let Tink die! Clap! Alright! Let’s fly! And gentlemen in England now abed shall know my name is the Lord when I tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our Independence Day!”

See what I mean? I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling better already.

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* Especially these days, when we’re facing a world without ’50s pinup queen Bettie Page. (Don’t recognize the name? Watch “The Notorious Bettie Page”, starring Gretchen Mol, to see what you’re missing.)

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Thanks to Cinematical.com and FusedFilm.com for the tip.

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“Benjamin Button,” “Doubt” and “Frost/Nixon” head this year’s Golden Globe nods

The nominations are in for the 2009 Golden Globe Awards, and the results are … well … not exactly shocking.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,“ “Doubt” and “Frost/Nixon” lead the pack with five nominations each, followed by “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Slumdog Millionare” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” with four apiece.

Like its big brother Oscar, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association likes its drama big and bold — with issues like love, religion and politics in the forefront.

What could be better than a defamed former president deftly manipulating his interviewer (”Frost/Nixon”)? What about a Nazi war criminal trial (”The Reader”) or a priestly sex scandal (”Doubt”)?

Those are the kind of subjects that scream “awards fodder.”

Granted, the Golden Globes do honor comedies, musicals and blockbusters with greater regularity than other award ceremonies. (Witness the love this year for some of my favorites, including “In Bruges,“ “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E.“)

And they pay tribute to exemplary television programs such as “Mad Men,” “True Blood” and HBO’s “John Adams” miniseries.

But here’s the galling part. Very few of the films on HFPA’s list have actually reached local theaters.

In fact, most of this winter’s biggest movies will hit Central Coast screens weeks after they’ve been screened by critics and fawned over by film buffs — just a few weeks, in fact, before celebrities stroll the red carpet. Cinematic superiority is decided by the lucky stiffs who live in Los Angeles and New York City, not in the suburbs.

I guess I’ll have to take HFPA’s word that the nominees are, in effect, “worth it.”

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Want to see these “golden” films? You can catch some of this year’s Golden Globe nominees in theaters or on DVD.

NOW PLAYING:

• “Bolt”
• “Changeling” (ends today)
• “Happy-Go-Lucky”
• “Milk”

NOW ON VIDEO

• “The Dark Knight”
• “In Bruges”
• “Kung Fu Panda”
• “Mamma Mia!”
• “Tropic Thunder”
• “WALL-E”

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“The Dark Knight,” “Narnia” and “Wanted” make great gifts

Ah, another holiday season, another crop of DVD goodies.

Being a movie buff, I see the holidays as a chance to grab more than my share of shiny DVDs.

Hollywood releases its hottest titles. Stores offer unbeatable sales. And relatives seem more inclined to pony up the cash for box sets and special edition.

The following titles represent some of the best (or at least, most entertaining) films to be released recently on video. Most are already available in stores; others will be, starting Tuesday.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”

Based on the second book in C.S. Lewis’ beloved series, “Prince Caspian” follows the Pevensie siblings as they battle to defeat an evil king and restore the rightful heir of Narnia — Prince Caspian (the dishy Ben Barnes) — to the throne.

Like “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Prince Caspian” succeeds and fails on the strengths of its youthful cast. The action, cinematography and special effects, however, are better than ever.

“The Dark Knight”

Believe the critics. Believe the fans. Handing the Batman franchise to director Christopher Nolan was the best move that Warner Brothers has made in a while.

“The Dark Knight” finds a tortured Batman (Christian Bale) battling personal demons as a new menace terrorizes the city. Aaron Eckhart puts his big-chinned charm to the test as Harvey Dent/Two-Face and Heath Ledger (as The Joker, natch) steals every twisted scene he’s in.

“Man on Wire”

Back in 1974, French tightrope walker Phillipe Petit did the unthinkable: He strode across a high wire stretched between the World Trade Center towers in New York.

The feat was daring. Dangerous. And illegal. It inspired the world.

This lovely, lyrical documentary chronicles the “artistic crime of the century” and its aftermath, combining interviews, reenactments, news footage and Petit’s own home movies for a fascinating look at one man’s dream.

“Peter and the Wolf”

Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s famous suite, this animated film about a brave young boy and his animal friends won an Oscar earlier this year for Best Animated Short Film. It’s a more mature telling than the Disney version, set in a modern Russia.

PBS’ “Great Performances” put together a couple of interesting videos about the making of the film. See them here and here.

“Wanted”

Easily the most ridiculous action movie of the summer — and that’s saying a lot — “Wanted” exists in a magical world where bullets curve, humans defy physics and life as an assassin means a series of hot babes, fast cars and quick cash.

Needless to say, it’s absurdly, insanely fun.

James McAvoy stars as Wesley, a mild-mannered office worker who discovers he’s actually the son of the Greatest Assassin Who Ever Lived. Go get ‘em, killer.

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Meanwhile, The Onion A.V. Club offers its list of the 15 worst Christmas presents ever — as chronicled in the world of television and film.

Highlights include Chucky in “Child’s Play” and the Mogwai in “Gremlins.” Surely a vicious, intelligent alien is an appropriate gift for any teenage boy!

Each poorly thought-out present comes with video clips, so give yourself the gift of leisure time and watch ‘em all.

Thanks to VideoETA.com, my source for all DVD release info.

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Want to know more about Wes Anderson? Stanley Kubrick? The Coen Brothers?

“The Films of”, a YouTube series created by Barringer82, is the perfect movie primer for novices and experts alike.

Barringer82 — nom de reality Paul Proulx — presents clips of each filmmaker’s most famous flicks in music video format, setting bits of David Fincher’s disturbing, darkly comic movies to The Dust Brothers and Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “Fight Club,” “Se7en,” “Zodiac,” even a split second of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — they’re all there.

In his homage to Quentin Taratino’s five feature films, Paul pairs the obvious (gunplay and bloodshed) with the subtle (a terrific sequence of bare feet. Just feet). Clever moments like that are a trademark of his films.

Other videos pay paean to Michael Mann, Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, David Lynch and Kubrick, identified by our host as “the greatest filmmaker of all time.”

Each video features dialog and songs from a myriad of films. In fact, half the fun is linking each clip to its respective masterpiece.

Now that you’ve wet your whistle, try the Cinefiles series, also available on YouTube.

Hosted by former contestants of IFC’s “The Ultimate Film Fanatic,” The Cinefiles review both genres (UK crime dramas, Bond movies) and individual filmmakers (Mel Brooks, Peter Jackson).

They offer insightful, in-depth commentary about movies (sans video clips, unfortunately), much like our very own “Take Two” radio hosts.

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Thanks to loyal reader I Love A Magician for the tip.

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The best gift of all? A full wallet

Today is Black Friday*.

For most of the nation, the day after Thanksgiving is a chance to hit the mall in search of super-sales, to barge down store aisles stocking carts with the best bargains and sweetest deals. For a smaller segment of the population, however, today is also Buy Nothing Day.

My plan is to buy nothing today.

No gadgets. No toys. Not even a pack of gum.

Not to spite struggling retailers or to skimp on my Christmas list, but to take a stand against the rampant consumerism that has gripped our nation in its vulture-like talons.

That’s not to say that I won’t be getting in a little Christmas shopping this weekend. And I certainly might take advantage of some of those so-called “deals” — without spending more than I planned to, of course.

But the majority of my money will stay where it is. In my wallet.

Recognize our economic crisis. Acknowledge the vicious cycle of credit cards, international profiteering and national debt. Celebrate Buy Nothing Day.

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If you simply can’t resist the siren song of eager retailers on Saturday and Sunday, there are a few tips that can make your shopping experience more pleasant.

Gizmodo offers “Best of Black Friday Deals” guide for high tech fanatics. Gamers can check out the coolest titles for Wii, XBox 360 and Playstation 3 over at Kotaku.com. And there are bargains aplenty at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and the last stalwart souls at CircuitCity.com.

If you’re looking to improve your DVD collection, here are a handful of recent released titles that caught my eye:

“A Man Named Pearl”: The inspiring story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar, this inspiring documentary shows how one man can transform himself and his community.

“Futurama: Bender’s Game”: When “Futurama” — Matt Groening’s hilarious scifi show — kicked the bucket in 2003, fans everywhere breathed a huge sigh of disappointment. Those fans will be happy to hear the direct-to-DVD “Futurama” films (essentially four sequential episodes back-to-back) are just as sharp and funny as the original animated series.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”: Awesome special effects, wisecracking humor and fantastic new worlds make for an amazing ride. If you liked “Hellboy,” you’ll love the sequel. If you haven’t seen either, you’re in for a major treat.

“Monty Python’s Holy Trinity”: What could be better than one awesome movie starring the British comedy troupe? How ’bout three?! This collection features the films known by fans as “Holy Grail,” “Life of Brian” and “Meaning of Life.”

“Project Runway: The Complete Fourth Season”: I can’t get enough of this reality show about future fashion superstars and their vicious catfights. My only request: More fashion, less Heidi Klum.

“Sukiyaki Western Django”: Spaghetti westerns and samurai epics collide in Takashi Miike’s interesting, if uneven, paean to “Yojimbo.” Although the cast and setting are Japanese, Quentin Tarantino shows up for entirely no reason.

“Tropic Thunder”: Offensive at some points and laugh-out-loud funny at others, “Tropic Thunder” is a ludicrous comedy with serious bite. Five words: “Robert Downey Jr. in blackface.”

“Wall-E”: You’ll be utterly charmed by this sweet, beautifully animated family film about a lonely robot looking for love and friendship. One of Pixar’s best.

My advice? Buy only what you originally wanted, keep track of receipts and put those credit cards AWAY.

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* There’s a movie called “Black Friday” — but it’s about the series of bombings that rocked Bombay in 1993, not crazed shoppers hunting for holiday scores. For that, you can watch “Jingle All the Way.”

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Above image courtesy of Adbusters.org.

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Spend Thanksgiving with Bond and the kids from “Twilight”

Thanksgiving weekend, much like Christmas, is the perfect time to go to the movies.

Family members and friends are gathered ’round the dinner table. Conversation flows. Food and drink abound.

As Thanksgiving leftovers disappear into Tupperware and the whole clan lapses into a tryptophan-fueled coma, why not head for the local movie theater? Here are a few films to make your season bright.

“Twilight”

She’s an ordinary teen trying to make friends in a new town. He’s a devastatingly handsome vampire who feeds on animals instead of humans. Naturally, they fall in love.

Friends tell me that “Twilight” is a faithful adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s books about the eternal love affair between Bella and Edward — perfect for preteens and romance-minded girls but perhaps a bit boring for others.

“Quantum of Solace”

British spy James Bond (Daniel Craig) is back, and he wants blood. This time, Agent 007 is on the trail of a sinister terrorist organization that wants to control the world’s water supply.

“Quantum” isn’t quite as fun as “Casino Royale,” but the movie still delivers plenty of awesome action sequences and exotic locales.

“Role Models”

The latest lightweight “dude” comedy to hit theaters, “Role Models” is rude, crude and surprisingly funny.

Paul Rudd and Sean Williams Scott star as two energy drink spokesman who must participate in a Big Brothers, Big Sisters-style program after a wild bender. They’re paired with Ronnie, a foul-mouthed, dirty-minded enfant terrible, and McLovin from “Superbad.”

Yeah. This is going to be good.

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Although Christmas, Halloween and Independence Day inspire more than their share of holiday flicks, there are a handful of movies with Thanksgiving Day at their center.

Dig through the video vaults for these Turkey Day treasures.

“Hannah and Her Sisters” (1986): This Woody Allen drama examines the tense relationship between three New York City sisters, played by Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey and Dianne Wiest.

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987): Advertising exec Steve Martin just wants to spend Thanksgiving with his family. When his flight is delayed due , he makes a wild cross-country trek with jovial salesman John Candy and learns a valuable holiday lesson.

“Home for the Holidays” (1995) : An all-star cast powers this hilarious, heartbreaking movie about family directed by Jodie Foster. The A-List lineup includes Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Bancroft and Dylan McDermott.

“The House of Yes” (1997): A woman obsessed with Jackie O (Parker Posey, natch) flies into a murderous rage when her brother brings his fiancee home for Thanksgiving. Twisted siblings? Intimations of incest? Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy? Sounds like a recipe for indie comedy magic.

“The Ice Storm” (1997): Ang Lee shows the twisted side of suburban married life in the 1970s with this disturbing drama. Creepy moments include a key party and a sex scene featuring a Nixon mask. Yuck.

“The Myth of Fingerprints” (1997): Blythe Danner, Julianne Moore and Noah Wyle star in this honest drama about a damaged family. In fact, judging from these other films, is there any other kind?!

“Pieces of April” (2003): Adorable, edgy April (Katie Holmes) has invited her estranged family to her East Village apartment for the holidays. But can she actually pull off Thanksgiving dinner?

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Above photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

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This week’s films include “Amazing Grace” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

High-flying adventure hits the Central Coast this week with two documentaries and a martial arts epic.

Enjoy some “Good Food” tonight with a documentary about creative farmers, gardeners and cattle ranchers in the Pacific Northwest.

The movie screening is sponsored by HopeDance Magazine.

Directed and written by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young,”Good Food” looks at the sustainable organic farming movement, which encourages healthier food grown with less energy, water and land than industrial “factory farms.”

The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck featuring locally produced foods. There’s also a talk with Jim Cole, a member of the Transition SLO Steering Group.

HopeDance will screen the movie at 7 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo City-County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is suggested.

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Love, revenge and the search for a magical jade sword drive the martial arts epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” screening Wednesday in San Luis Obispo.

When a masked thief steals the sword known as the Green Destiny, it’s up to martial arts warriors Li (Chow Yun Fat) and Yu (Michelle Yeoh) to recover it, discover the identity of the mysterious warrior and avenge Li’s murdered master.

Their quest is complicated by feelings of long-buried love. As Li and Yu struggle with their feelings for each other, another love affair is blooming between Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a beautiful girl with hidden talents, and the desert bandit Lo (Chang Chen).

Directed by Ang Lee, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” won an Academy Award for best foreign film and introduced many American filmgoers to wuxia, majestic martial arts epics with sweeping scenery, elaborate costumes and historical settings.

In the film, characters skim across water, dance up walls and battle in bamboo groves. They also engage in some of the most stunning action sequences seen on film.

Only a handful of films — “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers” among them — can compare.

Catch “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at The Palm Theater, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Also on Wednesday, moviegoers can learn the inspiring true story behind the song “Amazing Grace.”

Ioan Gruffudd stars in “Amazing Grace” as William Wilberforce, the 19th-century abolitionist and statesman who battled to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

As Wilberforce finds a spouse who shares his conviction, he renews his fight for freedom with the support of Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch of “Atonement”), former slave Olaudah Equiano (Senegal singer Youssou N’Dour) and slave ship captain-turned-priest John Newton (Albert Finney), author of the hymn Amazing Grace.”

“Amazing Grace” will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dancing Deer Ranch, 2975 Vineyard Drive in Templeton. A donation of $5 is encouraged.

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Thanks to LoveHKFilm.com for the image.

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To quote another 2008 blockbuster, “Why so serious, ‘Quantum of Solace?’”

Compared to 2006’s “Casino Royale,“ “Quantum of Solace” simply doesn’t stack up.

“Casino,” which established Daniel Craig as the cool, brutal Bond of a new generation, blended gritty realism and gnarly violence with flashes of fun and adventure. It had a smart, stunning heroine (Eva Green), some amazing action stunts and a juicy central villain, the scarred card shark Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).

Even Chris Cornell’s theme song, “You Know My Name,” rocked.

So what happened?

“Quantum of Solace” pits British spy James Bond against the mysterious terrorist organization that killed his girlfriend Vesper. This time his opponent is Dominic Greene, head of an environment protection group that has dark designs on the world’s water supply.

Bond is joined by Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a beautiful South American woman on a separate quest for vengeance.

Starting with a scuffle that nearly claims the life of Bond’s boss M (Judi Dench), the action moves briskly from a rooftop chase in Siena, Italy, to Haitian waters to a thrilling aerial battle in Bolivia and a final fiery confrontation.

Frenetic camera work recalls Matt Damon’s “Bourne” movies. So do the desperate glances and guilt trips experienced by our man Bond.

Throughout it all, Agent 007 is dead serious. Despite his attempts to stay professional, his mission is personal — deeply so.

Part of this no-fun approach stems from Bond’s back story; after all, he’s trying to avenge the lover who betrayed him. The pedigrees of director Marc Forster, who helmed “The Kite Runner” and “Monster’s Ball” and screenwriters Paul Haggis (”Million Dollar Baby,” “Crash”) and Neal Purvis (”Casino Royale”) also lend a certain gravitas.

But would it kill the powers that be to throw in a few jokes?

Mathieu Amalric — so wonderful in “The Diving Bell and The Butterfly” — is sorely underused here as Greene, a villain whose menace is never entirely clear. He has none of La Chiffre’s coldness and cruelty, Ernst Blofeld’s Buddha-like calm or Auric Goldfinger’s wackiness. In fact, he’s a lot closer to those lame-brain baddies who sparred with Pierce Brosnan’s Bond in recent films. Not exactly a step up.

The ubiquitous Bond girls also suffer. Bond barely flirts with Camille and spares a scant five minutes of screen time “getting to know” the coyly named Fields (Gemma Arterton).

And don’t even mention the theme song, “Another Way to Die” by Jack White of The White Stripes. With vocals by White and Alicia Keys, it sounds tinny and frankly kind of weird.

“Casino Royale” was supposed to usher in a new era for the tuxedo-clad, martini-swilling secret agent known as Bond.

After watching “Quantum,” however, I almost long for the old, silly days.

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