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I have to admit that 2008
was an underwhelming year. There were
a lot of very good movies, but a lack of all
time great ones. Usually, I stumble
across a number of complete surprises --
films that weren't on my radar which ended
the year in my Top 10 List. However,
in 2008, I found myself slightly
disappointed by the overall depth.
That being said,
with 300+ releases each year, there are
always a number of movies that are
absolutely worth seeking out. You will
see them below.
It was also a
terrific year for individual performances.
I will always think of 2008 as an "Actor's
Year". You can see my choices for best
actor and actress in the right hand column.
Also, please note
that there are about twenty movies, which I
have yet to see, which I believe have some
chances to make the final list.
So, without further
ado, let's start with the good stuff...
The Top 10
of 2008
Who said that they
don't make films like they used to?
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1. |
In Bruges
A
perfectly written balance of
comedy and drama. |
|
2. |
Slumdog
Millionaire
Easily the feel-good movie of
2008. Oscar winner! |
|
3. |
The
Wrestler
Rourke's undeniably powerful
performance is stunning. |
|
4. |
The Reader
Asks tough questions. Superb
role for Winslet. |
|
5. |
Revolutionary Road
A
tremendously sad film about life
disillusionment. |
|
6. |
The
Visitor
Richard Jenkins is pitch perfect
in this quiet drama. |
|
7. |
Snow
Angels
Perhaps the most underrated film
of the year. |
|
8. |
Let the
Right One In
A gentle vampire film about
loyalty and friendship. |
|
9. |
Rambo
Yeah, I said it -- This is what
action films should be. |
|
10. |
Felon
The most realistic prison movie
I have ever seen. |
Honorable
Mentions
In no particular order, a number of other movies worth noting...
| |
Good Dick
A
joyous romantic film with quirky
performances. |
| |
Valkyrie
A
nail-biting thriller from Tom
Cruise. |
| |
Doubt
An actor's movie if there ever
was one. |
| |
Young
People Fucking
Hilarious and truthfully
observant about modern sexuality. |
| |
The
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The most ambitious production of
the year. |
| |
Rachel
Getting Married
Anne Hathaway proves she is the
next great actress. |
| |
Religulous
Bill Maher courageously goes
after the taboo subject. |
| |
Smart
People
One of the wittiest movies of
the year. |
| |
The
Counterfeiters
A
history lesson that should be
seen by all. |
| |
Seven
Pounds
A
poignant and powerful movie with
Will Smith. |
| |
My
Blueberry Nights
Easily the most aesthetically
beautiful film of 2008. |
| |
Cloverfield
A
thrilling monster movie that has
held up well. |
| |
Definitely, Maybe
This is the best rom-com of the
year. Great date flick. |
| |
Nothing
But the Truth
Beckinsale shines again in a
smart political drama. |
| |
Fugitive
Pieces
Here is a cathartic film about
memory and loss. |
| |
The Other
Boleyn Girl
The performances are stellar.
The film is good. |
| |
JCVD
Original and daring -- Jean
Claude is brilliant here. |
| |
The
Duchess
Reminds me a lot of "Marie
Antoinette" (2006). |
| |
The Boy in
the Striped Pajamas
A
sad family film that deserves to
be seen. |
| |
Noise
One of the pleasant surprises -
smart and amusing. |
| |
Quantum of
Solace
Not quite "Casino Royale" -- but
still a great adventure. |
| |
Transsiberian
A
thrilling train ride through the
Siberian landscape. |
| |
Rogue
The second best monster movie of
the year. |
| |
Chop Shop
A
follow up to the magnificent
"Man Push Cart". |
| |
Wall-E
Not a masterpiece - but the best
animated film of 2008. |
The Worst
of 2008
The biggest wastes of time and money from
2008...
|
10. |
RocknRolla
Guy Ritchie continues to be a
hack. |
|
9. |
Indiana
Jones & The Crystal Skull
All that hype -- All those stars
-- What happened? |
|
8. |
Wanted
The dumbest and most chaotic
film of the year. |
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7. |
My Best
Friend's Girl
A painfully unfunny rom-com with
dislikable characters. |
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6. |
The Good
Life
A
pretentious pile of drivel. |
|
5. |
Death Race
The loudest and dumbest film of
the year. |
|
4. |
21
Gets the story all wrong.
Tries so hard to be cool. |
|
3. |
Speed
Racer
A
fit-inducing flick for loser
fans of the show. |
|
2. |
The Love
Guru
What happened to Mike Myers --
Try something else man! |
|
1. |
Meet the
Spartans
All of these spoof movies have
to stop NOW!!! |
Compiled by TC Candler |
The Best Film of the
Year!!!
Ten Best
Actresses
1.
Kate Winslet (Reader)
2.
Kate Beckinsale (Snow Angels)
3.
Anne Hathaway (Rachel/Married)
4.
Lina Leandersson (Let/Right One)
5.
Kate Winslet (Rev Road)
6.
Michelle Williams (Wendy & Lucy)
7.
Hiamm Abbass (Visitor)
8.
Kate Beckinsale (Nothing/Truth)
9.
Keira Knightley (Duchess)
10.
Marianna Palka (Good Dick)
Best
Actors
1.
Mickey
Rourke
(Wrestler)
2.
Leonardo
DiCaprio (Rev
Road)
3.
Richard
Jenkins
(Visitor)
4.
Collin
Farrell (In
Bruges)
5.
Jack Scanlon
(Striped Pajamas)
6.
Jean Claude
Van Damme
(JCVD)
7.
Brendan
Gleeson (In
Bruges)
8.
Val Kilmer
(Felon)
9.
Sam
Rockwell (Snow
Angels)
10.
Jared Leto
(Chapter 27)
Best
Soundtracks / Scores
Mamma
Mia
Let the Right One In
In Bruges
Best
Cinematography
In
Bruges
My Blueberry Nights
Benjamin Button
Best
Scenes
Karate
Chop Midget - In Bruges
Morse Code Kiss - Let the Right One In
Best Lines
"If
I grew up on a farm, and was retarded,
Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it
doesn't. " - In Bruges
"They're
filming midgets!" - In Bruges
"You
fucking retract that bit about my cunt
fucking kids!" - In Bruges
"You're
an inanimate fuckin' object!"
- In Bruges
Ten
Overlooked Movies
Finding
Amanda
Redbelt
Deception
Stuck
Sex and Death 101
Water Lilies
Married Life
Man on Wire
Wendy and Lucy
Traitor
Five
Overrated Flicks
The Dark
Knight
Milk
Gran Torino
27 Dresses
Pineapple Express
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