The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named Pixar’s animated movie Wall-E as the best film of the year in their 2008 awards list, pipping The Dark Knight which had to settle for the runner-up spot. Hmm, I really enjoyed Wall-E – the animation to give life and expression to a largely silent character was brilliant – but best movie of the entire year? Really? Are the critics sure they aren’t confusing ‘popular’ with ‘best’? Don’t get me wrong, I love Pixar’s work but somehow I can’t help but think there were other more worthy works out there in 2008 for that title.
(“I’d like to thank everyone for this wonderful award…” Wall-E contemplates his win, (c) Pixar)
Dark Knight Returns was also knocked into the runner-up slot in the Best Director category with Chris Nolan coming second to Danny Boyle for Slumdog, although TDK did win in the Supporting Actor category with a win for the late Heath Ledger. Waltz With Bashir (reviewed here) won the Animation category but had to settle for runner-up in the Documentary section where the remarkable Man on Wire (about the French high-wire acrobat Philippe Petit who secretly strung a tightrope between the roofs of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre when they were first built then walked across. Amazing stuff but not one for viewers with vertigo). The film awards and nominations seem to be moving into that busy time of year – the Golden Globe nominations are expected soon too; full details can be found on the LAFCA official site.
Thu, Dec 11, 2008
Art and animation, Awards, Film, TV and radio