Friday, June 19, 2009

2008's Top Ten Films


















1. Milk

Pure excellence all around. Directing, acting, filming, writing, and art direction. Van Sant, Penn, and the rest really show up for a remarkable film.

2. Slumdog Millionaire
Visually stunning and paced with the right amount tension that would have Chris Boomer saying "He could go... all... the... way!"

3. Man on Wire
Philippe Petit's eloquent narration is just as thrilling as his beautiful stunt in the clouds. Serve it in the form of a heist movie? Genius.

4. WALL-E
Pixar's lightening strikes again. The on-screen relationship between WALL-E and EVE is a charming romance that hasn't been seen since the silent era.

5. The Dark Knight
If you haven't heard already, Heath Ledger's presence will simply make you salivate. A film that was snubbed at the Academy Awards (Best Screenplay? Directing?), Christopher Nolan's writing and directing allow the rest of the cast, especially Eckhart, to flourish. And Wally Pfister's cinematography makes them look pretty as they do it. Without a doubt the best super-hero adaptation to date.

6. The Wrestler
A sad, but touching film about a man past his prime. Witness Mickey Rourke in one of the best performances of the year.

7. In Bruges
Mark McDonagh brings a smart and funny crime piece about two hitmen in hiding that can also leave the viewer thinking, not just laughing.

8. Frost/Nixon
Stellar performances all around for the near all-male cast. Frost/Nixon is a writer's movie first and a director's second. Fortunately, both positions turned in excellent work.

9. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Simply put, it is the most original romantic comedy in the last decade. Writer/actor Jason Segel throws all cliches out the window and after the first 5 minutes the viewer will not know what to expect. Oh yeah, it's also friggin' hilarious.

10. Burn After Reading/The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I would give Coen Brothers the slightly higher nod for potent filmmaking in the FBI satire, Burn After, but David Fincher's Benjamin Button clings on for acting, directing, and beautiful visuals.

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