The Best Films of 2008

I always have to give a disclaimer before I make such a list as the best movies of any particular year. That disclaimer is that I have by no means have seen every movie that came out in 2008. Not even close. I don't have the time and don't want to wade through heaping piles of celluoid crap (although it is fun to give negative reviews). I choose my movies based on what I think looks good and by what my various trusted sources tell me is good. Every once inawhile I feel adventurous and might watch something that I normally wouldn't see.

I have a tradition of watching all 5 nominees for the Oscar best picture race every year and I have done that again. Someone may notice that only 1 of those best picture nominees even made my list. No "Slumdog" (although this was a good movie), No "Benjamin Button" (good as well but sort of like Forrest Gump and a little long), No "Reader" (this movie sucked and further proves that Harvey Weinstein buys his way into the best picture race), and no "Milk" (this movie has extraordinary acting and not just from Sean Penn).Here is a top 7 from 2008. I want to feel different, I guess, so that's why I don't want to do a top 10.

7) In Bruges- This is a great, dark comedy somewhat in the style of the Coen Brothers. The movie is about two hitmen from Dublin who are ordered by their boss to lay low in Bruges, Belguim. There are funny moments as well as thrilling moments and in the end, "In Bruges" becomes a film to ponder upon. The theme of judgment that pervades this movie is provocative and thought-provoking.

6) Frost/Nixon- Not only is this a well-made film built around a somewhat simple premise, it feels incredibly timely. The movie delves on themes of the liberal/conservative divide and of course, Nixon's assertion that a liberal media was out to take him down. These thoughts that the characters had were alive and well in 1973 and today, it seems like ideologically driven news with a particular partisian bent is all there is out there. The performances in the film are outstanding with Frank Langella and Michael Sheen not just trying to impersonate real life characters but channel their thoughts and emotions. This movie sometimes feels like a cat-and-mouse thriller. The reporter trying to dig for a confession and embattled president trying to make it through the interview and collect his cash. "I'm saying if the president does it, it's NOT illegal." There probably was not a more haunting line to be found in the movies last year.

5) Ne le dis a personne (Tell No One)- The film that would have made Alfred Hitchcock proud. This French thriller is riveting from beginning to end. The story revolves around a man whose wife is brutally killed and 8 years later, he emerges (again) as a prime suspect. But is she actually dead and what is with the bizarre plot twists that keep happening? The strange thing about this movie is just when the viewer believes that they have found multiple plot holes, this movie goes and explains them all in a rational way. Compared with other French films I've seen, this one really has a different feel to it.

4) Doubt- There was probably not a better acted movie last year than this one. The cast deserved every reward they won. Faith and doubt and all that is in between take center stage in this work. The miraculous thing about this movie is that even with the ambiguous feel that it evokes, the film still manages to be intriguing and powerful.

3) Wall E- Pixar is not only the king of animation but they are probably one of the most consistent studios in pumping out high quality films. Their track record for great movies is unbelievable. Here is another...a movie brimming with biting irony. Robots feeling love and evoking emotion while humans are pampered and lazy is ironic and has unnerving rings of truth as we think about the future. An environmental message is in full force as well as humans have trashed the planet and now live on space ships. The movie is bold and is not only a good movie for children but a thinker for adults. Wall-E is a revolutionary film for the animated and sci-fi genre at the same time.

2) The Dark Knight- Director Christopher Nolan from “Memento” to “The Dark Knight” has not made a bad film. As a matter of fact, he hasn’t even made a mediocre one. This movie feels like an absolute classic action-adventure film from the get go. I thought of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and other action movies and subsequent effect that those movies have had on pop culture. There is not much more to say about this movie that hasn’t already been said and written about. It contains great performances (especially from Heath Ledger and not just for sentimental reasons), stunning action sequences, and social commentary related to our own political times. How does a society stop a raving, anarchist maniac hell-bent on blowing things up and killing people? Those issues are wrestled with in the film and there are no easy answers. However, the bottom line is: this is one exciting film.

1) Gran Torino- I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood (so that might be a bias in this decision) especially the director/actor's work from Mystic River to Gran Torino. This movie is definitely among the best work Eastwood has ever done. Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a retired Detroit autoworker whose wife has just passed away. He is one of the only white people left in a neighborhood that is becoming increasing diverse. He is bitter, angry and racist. He frequently launches profanity laced, racist diatribes against his Hmong neighbors. When the next door teenager, Tao tries to steal Eastwood's prized Gran Torino, Eastwood reluctantly becomes involved in the family's life. As the movie goes on, he discovers he has much more in common with these neighbors than his own family- who seem all too eager for him to kick the bucket so they can collect on his inheritance. Of course, a monumental moral dilemma comes into play and Eastwood is left with a stark choice. Some people criticized this movie for having a predictable ending. This movie is not about having a surprise ending or "pulling the rug out" from underneath the viewer. This is a movie about atonement and redemption for deep wrongs that have been committed. Eastwood has said this will be his last acting performance. If that is true, he goes out with a performance equally as ugly as it is powerful and redemptive.