Top Films
by Josh Snyder
Features Editor
5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This year was one of the best for comedies, and although there were many, Jason Segel’s tale of a guy trying to get through a rough break-up stands above them all. With an amazing script and one of the best supporting casts in any film, this comedy piled on the laughs and never let up.
4. W.
Regardless of whether or not you liked the 43rd president, Oliver Stone did a fantastic job of showing us a glimpse into a life that will always be shrouded in mystery. It may not have shown us everything, and it may not have been the film most were expecting, but nevertheless, it was still fantastic.
3. Burn After Reading
The Coens followed up their brooding and haunting “No Country for Old Men” with one of the most off-the-wall black comedies of their careers. And with the best ensemble cast of any film this year, they insured another instant hit. If anything, see this movie for George Clooney’s special contraption – it’s pure black comedy gold.
2. Wall-E
Every year, when I look back at the best films, without a doubt there is always a Pixar film on the list. So it should mean something when I say that “Wall-E” is the best film Pixar has ever released. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t instantly fall in love with Wall-E.
1. The Dark Knight
Comic book films have always had potential to be more than cinematic fluff, and director Christopher Nolan proved that with 2005’s “Batman Begins.” But no one could have expected him to top “Begins” in the way he did with the amazing “Dark Knight.” Not only is it the best comic book film of all time, but it can easily compete with recent classics like “There Will Be Blood” and “The Departed,” easily making it 2008’s best film.
Top Books
by Ally Berry
Staff Writer
5. “The Gargoyle” by Andrew Davidson
Car crashes. People hear of such tragedies, but rarely get to experience the full ferocity of the moment. But in Andrew Davidson’s first novel, “The Gargoyle,” readers are given a front row seat to the morbid yet beautiful narration of man who experiences one of the most horrifying vehicle accidents imagined. Heavily layered with ghastly imagery and bits of graphic language, this book should not be attempted by those whom are disturbed by morbid descriptions of intense detail.
4. “Ransom My Heart” by Meg Cabot
Few medieval romances manage to awe today’s readers. But unlike most novels under the dying genre, “Ransom My Heart” is a surprise. Even though it doesn’t take an expert to figure out which two characters will fall in love, what intrigues a reader is Meg Cabot’s skill in taking a commonly misused cliché and twisting it into something new and interesting. With characters and adventures similar to that of “Robin Hood,” “Ransom My Heart” makes a delightful read that will surely have its readers crying for more.
3. “Mercury Under My Tounge” by Sylvain Trudel
Life can be difficult, but for Frédéric Langlois, it’s nearly impossible. As a dying cancer patient, the 16-year-old boy constantly writes poetry, hoping to sort out his jumbled and disillusioned thoughts before death steals away his final breath. With an intelligent voice filled with wisdom no teenager should be burdened with, Frédéric weaves the reader through the life and times of one whom has given up hope and is angry with the terms that he has been dealt. His powerful and often cynical narration bites through a reader’s mind with the sharpness and the lethal precision of a surgical scalpel. At just 159 pages, the book leaves a surprisingly strong, lasting impression that will keep you thinking a long time after being finished.
2. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
Meet Enzo, an average dog at a mere glimpse, but in actuality he is a sharp, sensitive soul locked within the limitations of the canine form. Through his insightful observations he pulls from the life and trials of his human master, Enzo approaches many of life’s most troublesome lessons and presents them in a new light that is interesting and fun to read. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is a novel sure to touch the hearts of any reader.
1. “The Host” by Stephenie Meyer
Love “Twilight?” Well if the movie wasn’t enough to satisfy your driving hunger for the latest hit in supernatural romance, then please attempt to pry loose from your current obsession and note Stephenie Meyer’s latest novel, “The Host.” Rich with romantic tension, loaded with tons of gripping suspense, and filled with a whirlwind of colorful characters, “The Host” takes the defenseless reader through an unimaginable and unforgettable tale of two souls sharing one body, and eventually, one love. Don’t miss it — you won’t be disappointed.
Top Albums
by Shane Nyman
staff writer
5. “Death Magnetic” by Metallica
All nostalgia aside, Metallica has returned to form with their best output since their self-titled 1991 masterpiece. Face-melters like “All Nightmare Long” and “That Was Just Your Life” make “St. Anger” seem like a bad dream. And that monstrous instrumental track “Suicide and Redemption?” Priceless. Metallica successfully made its we-still-rock statement that is still eluding Axl Rose.
4. “Saturdays = Youth” by M83
Putting the sound of M83 into words is like trying to describe the taste of key lime pie to a man without a tongue. On “Saturdays = Youth,” M83’s mastermind Anthony Gonzalez has his electronica working so flawlessly that it creates a completely immersive experience. This album moves away from the darkness brought forth in earlier works, namely 2005’s “Before the Dawn Heals Us,” and with an ’80s vibe incites feelings of glowing warmth and youthful happiness.
3. “Consolers of the Lonely” by Raconteurs
Jack White has an uncanny ability to capture on record the intensity he brings to his live shows, and the sophomore effort from his Raconteurs is no different. Sounding as massive as ever, White and Brendan Benson lead an exciting eclectic attack from the record’s start to finish, with memorable tracks like “Salute Your Solution” and the epic ballad “Carolina Drama.”
2. “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
As someone unexposed to Nick Cave’s brilliance prior to his latest with the Bad Seeds, “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” came as a shock. Cave’s deep voice, demented narratives and wit, along with the Bad Seeds’ moody landscapes, have been running amok for decades and are in fine form on his ’08 release. It’s enough to secure new fans, like myself, and rejuvenate followers, which seems to be nearly everybody else.
1. “Attack & Release” by The Black Keys
Ohio’s guitar-and-drums rock duo The Black Keys manage to take listeners to a place I’ve never been, and to a time in which I never lived. Their retro southern blues, a little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll, is a sound bigger than that of just two dudes strumming and drumming. It’s not often I find banjo appealing, but “Psychotic Girl” does it just right. And, “I Got Mine” simply rocks – much like the rest of “Attack and Release.”
