Top 10 Movies of 2008

At this point, I have seen most of the movies of the year that I now feel confident enough to name my list of the top ten movies of 2008. I wasn't completely blown away this year like last year, but there were enough gems to warrant a smile here and there. First, I'll name the movies that I liked, but didn't quite make it on my list. These honorable mentions would also serve as the 11-20 slots on my list.

Honorable Mentions: Changeling, Body of Lies, W., Valkyrie, Let the Right One In, Kung Fu Panda, Frost/Nixon, Iron Man, Snow Angels, Doubt


10. Tropic Thunder
As usual, this spot is reserved for a film that isn't necessarily one of the best, but is a personal favorite of mine and one that entertained me the most. Skewering the movie industry always puts a smile on my face, and the outrageous performances from Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise deserve special mention along with the rest of the cast.

9. Man on Wire
Hands down the year's best documentary, which tells of the wire walker who stepped between the two World Trade Center towers in 1973. However, the movie is much more than that, and becomes beautiful and poetic by the end. It also scores huge points for trying to be just as entertaining and framed like a feature film.

8. The Wrestler
If the story was better, then this film would have definitely been higher. Even still, it is Mickey Rourke's performance that really draws you in, and the accomplishments of Darren Aronofsky and Marisa Tomei are noticeable as well. A tad overrated, but still a lovely film.

7. WALL-E
No surprise that this is going to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar. Like all Pixar films, this one has a truly heartwarming story with fantastic characters to match. My personal favorite is still The Incredibles, but this is still a great film of theirs to include.

6. Rachel Getting Married
Anne Hathaway has my vote for the Oscar as she is so convincing in this movie. Add the fact that the supporting cast of Debra Winger, Bill Irwin and Rosemarie DeWitt are magnificent, and Jonathan Demme's return to narrative filmmaking is a welcomed return makes this a film that stays with you long after you watch it.

5. Slumdog Millionaire
It's not overwhelmingly great, but those who see it find little to complain about. At the end of the day, Danny Boyle still creates a fantastical and quirky world that is the definition of engaging filmmaking. The technical aspects of the film also soar beyond comprehension.

4. In Bruges
I've held onto this film since it debuted in February, and that is simply because it's great. Writer-director Martin McDonagh created a riveting dark comedy that is constantly stuck between the silly and the serious, and that is a good thing. Other big positives are fine performances from Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, and (who knew?) Colin Farrell.

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
It's not perfect, but almost all the faults can be forgiven because of the visual spectacle that director David Fincher offers. He proves once again he is a great filmmaker and will probably not go unrecognized this time. Throw in warm performances from Brad Pitt, Taraji P. Henson, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton, and you have yourself a really good movie.

2. The Dark Knight
I've gone back to look at this film many times, and I notice the things that people point out are flaws. I agree with them, but as I watch the movie over and over, I just don't care. Watching this film you see that the atmosphere completely engulfs you and you're lost. We have the brilliant efforts of Christopher Nolan, his brother Jonathan, and Heath Ledger to thank for that. So good that it elevates above the comic book category and into pure genre thriller, and one of the best out there with a contemporary moral message attached.

1. Milk
The moment I saw this movie, I knew I found the one to call the best. You have the masterful Sean Penn completely disappearing into the role and making you believe in every scene of this character's authenticity and emotional sentimentalism. Then there's the great acting from the entire ensemble, from big players like Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, and James Franco to smaller ones like Diego Luna, Alison Pill and David O'Hare. Then there's the wonderful and engaging direction from Gus Van Sant that uses the marvelous screenplay by Dustin Lance Black to full effectiveness. With all that, there was no way I could say I saw a better film in 2008 than this one.


In a day or two, I'll have my own "personal Oscars" where I'll pick out my selections for Oscar categories.