The Best of 2008/09 With Ben Lyons

10 months ago 16th Jan 10:04

The last time I spoke with E! Entertainments resident film critic Ben Lyons was back in April of last year just before blockbuster fever swept through cinemas.

So after expressing excitement for the release of Ironman, The Dark Knight and comedy Tropic Thunder so how did 2008 pan out for him was it as successful as box office figures state?

"2008 to me was a great year at the movies Helen there was something for everyone there were the big events movie like a Batman or an Ironman, there were the small indie movies such as The Wackness, starring Ben Kingsley, which was well received and there were also great comedies like Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express so there was something for everyone.

"A lot of directors who are above the title directors, which means you go to see these films because you want to watch the director, Spike Lee, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, M.Night Shyamalan these guys all had films Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant, Christopher Nolan, the best director's in the world, Michel Gondry with Be Kind Rewind, Frank Miller, even though The Spirit was very well received if you were a graphic novel fan those kind of comic book movies were really big this year so there was something for everyone which I really really enjoyed.

"There was Darren Aronofsky as well, the director of The Wrestler, everybody is talking about Mickey Rourke but it was Aronofsky's belief in that project which made it work he fought so hard for Mickey Rourke, the studios all wanted Nicholas Cage to play the role which would have been awful, not that Cage is a bad actor but it wouldn't have been The Wrestler and we wouldn't have had that wonderful performance from Rourke."

However Ben was quick to identify that 2008 lacked the standout more 'classic' movies that seemed to dominate cinema screens and the award ceremonies the year before.

"It wasn't the year of classic cinema like 2007 was with the likes of Into The Wild No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood, those were real cinematic movies, 2008 was a year of really good entertaining movies with Burn After Reading from the Coen Brothers and Vicky Cristina Barcelona from Woody Allen.