'The Year in Movies: 2008' Published in 2010.

'2008: The Year The Academy Made A Big Mistake and The Loss of a Legend'

'The Screen Icon'

First and foremost before I rant on the Academy Awards again and touch on the year in movies I have to mention the passing away of a major film icon and one of the best actors ever in the movies. I grew up watching Paul Newman and I thought he was the personification of cool. I did think other actors were as cool back then in my age range like Matt Dillon and Sean Penn but I was always fascinated by Newman because I knew he was a movie star. He is one of the first adult actors I wanted to see more of and to study. Growing up in the 70's I was a big Burt Reynolds fan but when I saw my first Paul Newman movie that I was aware of I knew that he was an actor as Reynolds was more of a screen presence and Hollywood star. Newman was a star but it went deeper because he was also smart, effective and magnetic and he could act. My growing love of movies and grasp of the power of more adult themed movies coincided with my growing affection for Newman. I also idolized Clint Eastwood blindly and everyone knows I worshiped Eastwood but also Paul Newman became my favorite actor and I tried to see every movie of his I could see. It was a number of things including his calm and cool, taking over a scene and his flawless screen presence.

I have not seen every movie Newman has made but most I have seen I loved so I will be looking back at his career the best I can. Paul Newman started acting and made his Broadway debut in "Picnic" with actress Kim Stanley. His film debut was in a silly Biblical movie called "The Silver Chalice" in 1954. Following those were "Somebody Up There Likes Me" about boxer Rocky Graziano and also "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" with Elizabeth Taylor. The 60's are where Newman became a star and in 1961 he made a huge impact and star making performance in the classic "The Hustler" with the legendary Jackie Gleason. This is one of my favorite movies of all time and Newman is incredible. Here you have the greatest comedy actor ever in my opinion in Jackie Gleason sharing the screen with this magnetic new actor. Newman was totally convincing, sexy, funny and charismatic. Here was a great actor arriving with it all, sex appeal, great acting skills and a screen presence that said "I own this screen". Six years later came another classic and also one of my favorite movies of all time. "Cool Hand Luke" is hands down the best prison film ever made. Newman played a cocksure and trouble starting convict and he was given another great supporting cast in George Kennedy and Strother Martin. It contains another great Newman performance and a classic scene where Newman is challenged on how many eggs he can eat. What a great scene and what a great movie! Funny, wonderful characters and a very entertaining story and Newman was proving to be very smart in his film choices, he was a star now!

Newman followed up that classic with a new acting partnership with another actor who was becoming a star and the result was magic! Robert Redford was a more quiet and in some ways reserved actor but he was very good looking and charismatic. They would start out in a popular Western that would become a hit and a classic. It was "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid" and no one had seen a Western like this before. I do not think it was a particularly good movie and in fact I think it is over rated but Newman was fantastic and him and Redford were magic together even though the movie is kind of clumsy and stupid. The next Newman/Redford movie though was going to be something special and that was "The Sting" which is the mother of all con movies and one of my favorites! This is a very entertaining, smart and fun movie that would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It deserved it for this 1973 movie was perfect in it's tone, cinematography, acting, directing, music and the perfect ideal of a perfect acting tandem. I saw the movie with my Mother and Father when I was five in the front row practically and didn't know what I was seeing but boy did I watch it on video a lot when I got older. Then Newman would take part in another show of his power with a classic comedy that is one of the ten best sports movies of all time! Now I was nine years old and I was loving "Slap Shot" because I do admit I started to check out more adult films and here was an extremely hilarious and vulgar comedy. I was loving it because it was dirty and there were naked women and I was laughing so hard and I was like having the time of my life. The best thing about it was Newman was so good in the role because he didn't pander to the material or think he was above it. He gave a great, detailed and flawless comic performance. The best thing about the movie was that it was deeper than just a vulgar comedy because Newman gave it grit and depth.

Then in 1982 Paul Newman would give his best performance of his career in the best courtroom movie ever made! This is not only his best performance but in the top ten best performances ever on screen! "The Verdict", which is David Mamet's best writing job for movies, was a masterpiece and a master class in acting. Every acting class should have "The Verdict" played for their students because this is how acting in movies is done! This is an amazing performance as Newman played an alcoholic, ambulance chasing lawyer who finds this amazing court case dropped in his lap that might change his life. Also this might be the best portrayal ever of an alcoholic ever on screen. Newman looks older, grayer, slowed down but that gleam in his eye is also still there. This is the first time Newman started showing a little age and he was was not afraid to shed that vanity. It is an outstanding and measured performance and Newman was on his way to winning an Oscar but shockingly lost and that is the biggest travesty that ever befell the Oscars! He would later win in as Best Actor for a lesser film and performance but Newman was still outstanding in it. "The Color of Money" was a follow up to "The Hustler" and yes it is an unnecessary sequel but I was still glad it was made. First it was directed by the legendary Martin Scorcese and Newman was also passing the torch to an emerging star in the making. A young Tom Cruise was getting his first taste of the big leagues and he was a great compliment to Newman. Cruise in this movie reminded me of a young Paul Newman with the gleam in his eye, sex appeal and acting chops. They were great together and even though the movie was a little beneath Newman he made it his own and deserved his award.

There were many more great Newman performances to behold and he gave another Award caliber performance in "Nobody's Fool" (94) directed by Robert Benton and the movie had another masterful performance by Newman in a powerful character study. Newman dabbled in some directing and he directed a lot of movies with his wife of many years Joanne Woodward. They had to be the most perfect couple that ever had graced Hollywood. Newman first directed his wife in "Rachel, Rachel" (68) which is a movie I had not seen. He would direct her in more movies and their final swan song was the 1990 movie "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge" and both actors were marvelous in this small, reserved drama and again Paul Newman was amazing in his performance and direction. Newman in the final years of his career would make more interesting films like "Road To Perdition" and lending his voice to the Pixar film "Cars". The only thing I regretted was that I wanted to see Newman and Redford reunited in anything even a documentary of them talking shop but sadly that never happened. Most of all besides Newman's classic movies and performances the man was a class act and a great humanitarian. His "Newman's Own" products benefited children's charities and his "Hole in the Wall Gang" was a series of summer camps set up for disabled children, He was a man with great passion and a big heart. He had left us a masterful movie career that ranks with among the best and then many lives were also touched by his generosity and passion. I will miss him but there are many more movies to see and discover and many great and classic memories. So long our blue eyed friend!

The Academy Awards

For many years the Academy Awards have given us bad, long and insufferable shows and every year brings nominations that make me scratch my head. It is a matter of opinion but there have been so many over rated movies that were nominated and even won Best Picture. "Dances With Wolves" over "Good Fellas"? "Ordinary People" over "Raging Bull"? "Out of Africa" over "The Color Purple"? How about "Driving Miss Daisy" winning and not even one of the best films of all time "Do The Right Thing" even being nominated. "Gandhi" over "E.T", "World According To Garp", "Tootsie","The Verdict" and a slew of other movies in 1982 that were better that year and are classics now when "Gandhi" has been totally forgotten by now? Does anyone remember "The Last Emperor"? I am not talking about the over rated "Saving Private Ryan" losing because that shouldn't have even been nominated. I am not a big fan of the Epic or Costume Drama and I am more into the edgy drama or classic comedy so I don't always jibe with the Academy. I am not going to touch the acting because I agree most of the time except Ben Kingsley in "Gandhi" over Paul Newman in "The Verdict"? Really? Comedy and Big Blockbusters are always ignored when comedy is harder than drama so that doesn't register with me.

This brings me to the choices for Best Picture for 2008. What a crock of you know what! "The Reader" is one of those stuffy, heady and "I am one of those prestige films" that are only made to get awards. This is basically "Last Tango With A Nazi" and is so dull and noble I had to check my pulse every five minutes. This movie though was nominated for Best Picture when even Kate Winslet who was in it made an even better film and gave a better performance in "Revolutionary Road". I could have picked 25 movies better than "The Reader" to get that slot. Which brings me to "The Dark Knight" which should have been given that slot because this is exciting film making and not dull Academy crap. "The Dark Knight" isn't your typical Super Hero Hollywood Blockbuster but a deep, intoxicating and beautifully made movie that had a little of that 40's film noir classic feel and a story that was complex and deep. The Academy can't nominate a huge money making super hero film though. It can't nominate a comedy either because it's all about message movies and Epics and that is elitist and a shame. Now the boneheads in the Academy have added five more nominations for Best Picture to make it ten and that is even more shameful and against tradition. Now you leave it open for more movies that don't deserve a nomination to make it more worthless. Just because you made a mistake that not only me but thousands of others have suggested and left out "The Dark Knight" for Best Picture doesn't mean you should make it more of a travesty. Look for my article soon on the year of 2009 and the Oscar nominations and I bet I will be fuming about those ten nominations. With all apologies to "Star Trek", if that is nominated for Best Picture I will be laughing!

The Comeback and the Deep Loss

This past year Hollywood found an actor who had lost his way and lost a promising new screen icon who would have been one of our finest actors. Mickey Rourke and Heath Ledger were alike in a lot of ways. They both came on to the scene as sex symbols and new forces in explosive acting. Mickey Rourke was going to be the new Marlon Brando at least to me. I saw that same fire, intensity and focus that Brando gave when he was young. Heath Ledger was the same soon to be force that combined both Rourke's and Brando's heat, intensity and acting prowess. Actually I think Ledger was going to be better than both of them if not our best actor ever. Sadly we will never know how great Ledger was going to be but I am 100% sure I would be right.

I was 14 years old when I sat down and watched on video what would turn out to be one of my all time favorite movies. The movie was "Diner" directed by Barry Levinson who was making his debut and I saw an actor that I couldn't keep my eyes off of. I had seen this actor before in small roles in "Fade To Black" and "Body Heat" but I didn't know his name. It turned out that I found him the most interesting actor out of a slew of future great actors like Kevin Bacon. In "Diner" Rourke just had sex appeal coming out through his pores. He had a swagger and a confidence that announced that he was here to stay and about to make an impact. He was good again in Francis Coppola's "Rumble Fish" and then would team up with a similar intense actor named Eric Roberts. "The Pope of Greenwich Village" was a great character piece and was perfect for Rourke to show off his acting skills and intensity. Again that confidence was there and that sexy swagger was there also. Mickey Rourke was becoming one of my favorite actors. His films got a lot of mixed responses but I loved them all and everyone agreed that at least Rourke was outstanding. Films like "Year of the Dragon" (85) (I think I was the only one that liked that movie), "9 1/2 Weeks" (86), "Angel Heart" (87) and "Barfly" (87) were all movies that I loved. I also was in awe of Rourke and he was building up some good, deep work and a film resume of great acting.

After the embarrassing Micheal Cimino remake "Desperate Hours" in the early 90's Rourke was on a downslide not helped by the weird movie "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man". He has stated that he was given bad direction and choices in movies and he then decided to try to become a professional boxer. I would never fault an actor that I love to stop making movies and try a new career but I missed him and wanted to see him win awards and accolades. He made such an impact in my life and was one of my influences to get into the movie business. Later on I would get my wish as Mickey Rourke came back in a huge way with a career defining performance in "The Wrestler", a flawless and powerful character study. Mickey Rourke had aged and that movie star face was diminished but that fire was back in a big way. I was very emotional when Rourke won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama.(even pointing out his friend Eric Roberts who I also loved and who also faded away). Now with roles in "Ironman 2" and Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables" I have my old friend back and I hope his second career is full of success.

Heath Ledger was a young Australian actor who I spotted in the above average teenage movie "10 Things I Hate About You". I expected the movie to be bad and I went to see it actually because I see everything. I love going to every movie because you never know what wonderful new surprises are waiting to be discovered. The surprise in this movie was Heath Ledger and he was sexy, had a great screen presence and he was intense and magnetic. He followed up this arrival with a small role in Mel Gibson's "The Patriot". Next came a small movie that I consider one of the most under rated films ever and Ledger's performance is one of the main reasons I love it. "Lords of Dogtown" was a highly entertaining movie about skateboarders in the 70's. What amazed me was with that subject matter I expected a dull movie but it turned out to be one of my guilty pleasures and a great movie. Part of that was due to one of the most original and captivating performances ever by Heath Ledger. I knew that he had a great career ahead of him because he was exciting and original. You should check out this movie to see why I thought Ledger could do any he role he wanted. He even made a huge impact in a movie that didn't even belong to him in "Monster's Ball".

Ledger knew his craft and he knew how to parlay that craft into smart choices and meticulous performances. Heath Ledger would then have another iconic role in the deeply moving and beautiful "Brokeback Mountain". This movie caused quite a stir with controversy over it's love story and what was sad to me is that that controversy took away from one of the best love stories ever made. The cast were all fantastic and Heath Ledger was so heartbreaking and that was because he had that power to make you feel something deep in his character. Not many actors have this power where you are watching them and you feel that yes that is what it's all about! "The Dark Knight" was one of the most anticipated movies in history and the hype on Ledger's performance as the Joker was getting huge buzz as the movie was. Though I also knew the hype on him would be validated. It turned out that Heath Ledger's performance was perfection. It was twisted, dark, macabre but also a fully fleshed out character. Ledger had such a power that after you watched him here you felt like you knew everything about his Joker. You usually don't feel this during a super hero movie but you could actually identify with the villain. You felt a little empathy and with the performance you knew his back story and pain. It was such a magnetic, awesome and powerful performance and Heath Ledger made the Joker in this film the best villain ever in a super hero movie. Sadly Heath Ledger passed away before the film came out and the movies lost what could have been one of our best actors ever. I still consider him to be one of our best and most powerful actors. What's left behind is a shortened but no less legendary acting career that seriously rivals James Dean.

The show must go on and what is left behind is another powerful and special actress Michelle Williams who was his wife. Also my screen icon of the future is passed on to another wonderful actor Joseph Gordon Levitt. He was with Heath in "10 Things I Hate About You" and he has that same power and presence that Ledger had. Some actors leave us and break our heart and some actors drift off and break our heart. Mickey Rourke is still here and the wonderful memories of Heath Ledger will always be with us.


Now on a happier note here are the good, great and bad things that happened in 2008 and the things that made me go Seriously?

The wonderful score by Phillip Glass in "Cassandra's Dream"
Is there not any role Robert Downey Jr. can't play?
"The Strangers" was a surprisingly good, effective throwback to 70's slasher films.
"The Happening"- What the hell is happening with M Knight Shyamalan? Turkey after turkey in a row after the wonderful "Signs", "Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable".
The beginning hour of "Wall E" with it's beautiful silence reminding me of a Charlie Chaplin film.
Will Smith finally gets one wrong with "Hancock". It was great while it lasted!
I was excited for the 3D "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and found another blurry, crappy 3D movie.
Someone give Eddie Murphy a good screenplay! When is "Beverly Hills Cop 4" coming out?
Tom Cruise who knew? His hilarious cameo in the hilarious "Tropic Thunder" swearing, going bald and tearing the roof down!
Speaking of "Tropic Thunder". Robert Downey Jr. again like I asked before. What can't he do?
"Vicky Christina Barcelona"-A beautiful Barcelona back drop and three beautiful and sexy women and yes I do admit Javier Bardem was hot also.
Nick Cage playing Sylvester Stallone in "Bangkok Dangerous".
Sanaa Lathan and Robin Givens, two of the most beautiful women in the first Tyler Perry movie I liked-"The Family That Preys".
The musical score by Rachel Portman for "The Duchess".
The cringe inducing, funny and painful speech by Anne Hathaway during the rehearsal dinner for her sister's wedding in "Rachel Getting Married". It was well written and beautifully acted!
Goodbye Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. We will miss you very much! "Soul Men"
Sean William Scott, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch and Christopher Mintz Plasse in "Role Models" These four actors make me happy!
Finally a great vampire movie that equals "True Blood"-"Let the Right One In". "Twilight" are you there?
What happened to James Bond as played by Daniel Craig? I thought this was the start of something wonderful. "Quantam of Solace"
Beyonce singing "At Last" as Ella Fitgerald in "Cadillac Records". It was beautiful and sultry!
The old school glint and grimace of Clint Eastwood in "Gran Torino". I had 70's, 80's Eastwood flashbacks.

Memorable Performances and Future Stars:

Hayley Atwell-Cassandra's Dream
Colin Hanks-Untraceable
Lake Bell-Over Her Dead Body
Isla Fisher-Definitely, Maybe
Melanie Diaz-Be Kind, Rewind
Kat Dennings-Charlie Bartlett, Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist
Amber Heard-Never Back Down, Pineapple Express
Kate DelCastillo-Under the Same Moon
Adam Carolla, Constance Zimmer-The Hammer
Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria-Run, Fatboy, Run
Norah Jones-My Blueberry Nights
Amy Poehler-Baby Mama
Chiwetel Ejiofor-Redbelt
Ricky Gervais-Ghost Town

And I am Totally In Love With:

Robert Downey Jr-Tropic Thunder, IronMan, Charlie Bartlett
Mila Kunis-Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Jane Lynch-Role Models, Glee
Rebecca Hall-Vicky Christina Barcelona
Rachel McAdams-The Lucky Ones
Sally Hawkins-Happy Go Lucky
Zooey Deschanel-Yes Man
Paul Rudd-Role Models
Amanda Seyfried-Mama Mia!

Here We Go:

Fair Movies Good For a Rainy Day:

Smart People
Stop-Loss
Never Back Down
Mad Money
Vince Vaughn's Wild West Show
Flight of the Red Baloon
Baby Mama
Kung Fu Panda
Kit Kitredge: An American Girl
Wanted
Mama Mia!
Kenny
Step Brothers
CSNY: Deja Vu
Bottle Shock
What We Do Is Secret
Hamlet 2
Choke
W
Synecdoche, New York
JCVD
Late Bloomer
Soul Men
What Doesn't Kill You
Defiance

Now the Bad Movies:

First Sunday
Strange Wilderness
The Eye
Jumper
College Road Trip
CJ7
Zombie Strippers
Pathology
Deception
Chapter 27
The Fall
War Inc.
The Reader
Savage Grace
Meet Dave
Baghead
Hell Ride
Mirrors
Death Race
Eight Miles High
Babylon A.D.
Righteous Kill
Towelhead
Igor
Eagle Eye
Passengers
The Spirit

My Ten Worst Movies of 2008

10.)The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Director: Mark Herman

This is what happens when the director of "Blame It On The Bellboy" makes a Nazi movie. This should be called "Stupid German Kid Gets Jewish Boy Killed" as opposed to "The Reader" being "Last Tango With a Nazi". I only joke like this because it is an example of what the writers here have done, exploit the Holocaust with riduculous situations. There was a movie made called "Schindler's List", case closed.

9.) Street Kings: Director: David Ayer. Keanu Reeves

A really bad cop movie where everybody screams at each other and Keanu Reeves is a vicious bad cop! Seriously? Keanu Reeves? Seriously?

8.) Bedtime Stories: Director: Adam Shankman. Adam Sandler

Boring, clumsy and even a five year old would say "That really sucked!"

7.) Bangkok Dangerous: Directors" The Pang Brothers. Nicholas Cage

T h i s m o v i e r e a l l y g o e s s l o w. I t i s s u p p o s e d t o
b e a n a c t i o n m o v i e. Sylvester Stallone would even say there is no way I am doing this!

6.) 10,000 B.C.: Director: Roland Emerich

Cheesy costumes, special effects, bad acting, bad dialogue and corny, boring bad time had by all.

5.) Funny Games: Director: Michael Haneke. Naomi Watts

This is a remake of a German thriller and the critics loved it and praised the director. Be careful what you wish for when said director remakes it faithfully and those same critics now hate it. This is ugly, vile and uncomfortable for even me and it made me want to go take a shower.

4.) Prom Night: Director: Nelson McCormick

This got my special Zero star review because there is nothing I like at all about it. A remake of an actually good slasher film that was goofy fun. This one is predictable, has not one scare, needlessly gory, ridiculous, ugly, boring and needless. This is actually one of the most badly directed movies of all time.

3.) The Day The Earth Stood Still: Director: Scott Derrickson. Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves! Seriously? I defend you all the time and you do not one but two bad movies in one year! This is the lamest exscuse to remake a classic since Vince Vaughn did "Psycho". A remake of one of the best science fiction movies ever! Seriously? This is painfully boring and laughable.

2.) 88 Minutes: Director: Jon Avnet. Al Pacino

I can't believe the way my hair looks!!!!! Hey it's Pacino over acting and shouting in one of the shockingly worst movies a star has ever done. I would like to meet who did Pacino's hair and say to them "Seriously? This is worse then one of those cheap, amateur films that were dumped at my door at the movie theatre in North Carolina I used to run. A slasher film, a cop thriller and a race against time thriller to stop the killer all done horribly. I did laugh a lot though.

Drum Roll Please!

1.) The Love Guru: Director: Marco Schnabel. Mike Meyers

Who was this movie made for? People who love Bollywood movies? People who love the Austin Powers movies? Little kids who like fart and bowel movement jokes? I love Mike Meyers but I don't understand how someome so brilliant would find any of this funny. This is very painful and excruciating to sit through and one of the unfunniest films ever made!

Faces To Watch:

Emma Stone-The House Bunny
Jennifer Carpenter-Quarantine and Battle in Seattle
Kat Dennings: Charlie Bartlett and Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist
Ari Graynor-Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist
Sally Hawkins-Cassandra's Dream and Happy Go Lucky
Amanda Crow-Sex Drive
Elsa Zylberstein-I've Loved You So Long
Shea Whigam-Splinter
Sharon Leal-Soul Men
Jane Lynch-Role Models
Allison Pill-Milk
Ahney Her-Gran Torino
Michael Shannon-Revolutionary Road and Shotgun Stories
Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Anil Kapoor in Slumdog Millonaire
Elizabeth Banks-Zach & Miri Make a Porno

Here are good movies from 2008:

Cloverfield
Cassandra's Dream
Honeydripper
Untraceable
How She Move
Taxi to the Dark Side
Definitely, Maybe
The Other Boleyn Girl
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day
The Band's Visit
Horton Hears a Who
Married Life
Under the Same Moon
Run Fatboy Run
Beaufort
The Forbidden Kingdom
Standard Operating Procedure
Tuya's Marriage
Redbelt
Then She Found Me
Speed Racer
Reprise
Noise
The Witnesses
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Sex and the City
The Strangers
Stuck
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
When Did You Last See Your Father?
Bigger, Stronger, Faster
Shotgun Stories
The Incredible Hulk
Mongol
Get Smart
Surfwise
Hellboy II
Outsourced
Encounters at the End of the World
American Teen
Pineapple Express
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Henry Poole Is Here
The Rocker
I Served the King of England
Burn After Reading
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys
Apaloosa
Lakeview Terrace
The Duchess
The Lucky Ones
Battle in Seattle
Religulous
Flash of Genius
The Express
The Secret Life of Bees
Zach & Miri Make a Porno
Splinter
Ballast
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Bolt
Transporter 3
Cadillac Records
Nothing Like the Holidays
Yes Man
Marley & Me
Waltz With Bashir
Last Chance Harvey

BEST ACTING OF 2008

BEST ACTING (MALE) SUPPORTING ROLE

Robert Downey Jr-Tropic Thunder
Michael Shannon-Revolutionary Road
Heath Ledger-The Dark Knight
James Franco-Pineapple Express
Peter Mullan-Boy A
Tom Cruise-Tropic Thunder
Javier Bardem-Vicky Christina Barcelona
Brad Pitt-Burn After Reading
John Malcovich-Burn After Reading
Bill Irwin-Rachel Getting Married
Eddie Marsan-Happy Go Lucky
Josh Brolin-Milk

BEST ACTING (FEMALE)SUPPORTING ROLE

Rebecca Hall-Vicky Christina Barcelona
Penelope Cruz-Vicky Christina Barcelona
Debra Winger-Rachel Getting Married
Rose Marie DeWitt-Rachel Getting Married
Jennifer Ehle-Pride and Glory
Viola Davis-Doubt
Amy Adams Doubt
Marisa Tomei-The Wrestler
Taraji P. Henson-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Olivia Thirlby-Snow Angels

BEST ACTING (MALE) LEADING ROLE

Colin Ferrell-In Bruges
Brendan Gleeson-In Bruges
Richard Jenkins-The Visitor
Robert Downey Jr-IronMan
Stephen Rea-Stuck
Michael Shannon-Shotgun Stories
Andrew Garfield-Boy A
Josh Brolin-W
Paul Rudd-Role Models
Dev Patel-Slumdog Millonaire
Sean Penn-Milk
Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon
Michael Sheen-Frost/Nixon
Clint Eastwood-Gran Torino
Mickey Rourke-The Wrestler
Leonardo DiCaprio-Revolutionary Road
Phillip Seymour Hoffman-Doubt
Sam Rockwell-Snow Angels

BEST ACTING (FEMALE) LEADING ROLE

Melissa Leo-Frozen River
Anne Hathaway-Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins-Happy Go Lucky
Angelina Jolie-The Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas-I've Loved You So Long
Meryl Strep-Doubt
Michelle Williams-Wendy and Lucy
Kate Winslet-Revolutionary Road
Kate Beckinsale-Snow Angels

THE BEST OF THE BEST

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke-The Wrestler
Best Actress: Kate Winslet-Revolutionary Road
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger-The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz-Vicky Christina Barcelona

HONORABLE MENTIONS (GREAT MOVIES)

1.)The Counterfeiters (Germany) Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky. Karl Markovics

Now this is what a powerful foreign film dealing with the Holocaust should be like. A very compelling story about a man who has to change his criminal ways when he has to enter a Concentration Camp.

2.) Young @ Heart (Documentary) Directors: Stephen Walker and Sally George

This could have been a sap fest but I actually was rooting for a group of senior citizens singing in a chorus. What is unique about it is that they are singing rap, alternative and classic rock songs. This is inspiring and a real crowd pleaser!

3.) Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (Documentary)
Director: Alex Gibney

This is a compelling look at the life of Hunter S. Thompson and I learned a lot. A great companion piece is Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" but not Bill Murray in "Where the Buffalo Roam"

4.) Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Documentary) Director: Marina Zenovich

This is now a very topical film because of the new developments in Polanski's rape of a minor legal case. No matter your opinion on the man the movie is fascinating at looking at the case and the aftermath and Polanski's film career. This is a very balanced film that just looks at the facts.

5.) Toots (Documentary) Director: Kristi Jacobson

If you love the 40's and 50's and love Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason (my favorite comic actor of all time) this movie is a lot of fun and fascinating. Director Kristi Jacobson tells the story of her grandfather Toots Schor who owned a fancy club were many actors, musicicans and athletes would go to. To hear stories of the legends who frequented there is a lot of fun and amazing. The second best documentary of 2008.

6.) The Changeling Director: Clint Eastwood. Angelina Jolie

The Changeling is another strong Clint Eastwood directing job in a very scary and emotional story. Not at the peak of his powers and actually the second best Eastwood film of 2008.

7.) I've Loved You So Long Director: Phillippe Claudel (France) Kristin Scott Thomas

Kristin Scott Thomas gives her best performance ever in this emotional and beautiful character study. This is all about acting, story and characterization and they are all flawless.

THE 30 BEST MOVIES OF 2008

30.) 'Boy A'

Director: John Crowley. Peter Mullan, Andrew Garfield

This is an unflinching and powerful crime drama with two of the best performances of the year by Garfield and Mullan. Andrew Garfield is up to the task of his difficult role of a released criminal dealing with the after effects of abuse. This isn't a fun trip but you won't soon forget it's power and great characters.

29.) 'The Bank Job'

Director: Roger Donaldson. Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows

An entertaining and fun British bank heist thriller with great action, thrills and great dialogue. The movie is full of nasty secrets and intrigue and this based on a true story movie is exciting and moves fast with a lot of neat twists.

28.) 'The Promotion'

Director: Steve Conrad. Sean William Scott, John C. Reilly

This Chicago based dark comedy is for anyone at a mid level job who gets screwed a lot. Sean William Scott plays against type and he plays well off John C. Relly as two employees trying to land the same promotion. I found this very funny, real, twisted and dark and I laughed a lot.

27.) 'Transsiberian'

Director: Brad Anderson. Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley

Hitchcock would have been proud of this classic type chase thriller. This has beautiful wintry locations, thrills, twists and another great Woody Harrelson performance. There is intrigue, great crisp violence and a lot of surprises as a couple go on a twisted vacation full of great suspense.

26.) 'Man On A Wire'

Director: James Marsh. Phillippe Petit

This is my pick for Best Documentary of 2008 and it is a lot more than I expected. This is a thrilling recreation of Phillippe Petit's high wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974 to pull off the Crime of the Century. The movie does a gret job of recreating the crime as Petit explains what happened. So the movie is full of fun facts about the crime mixed with a movie thriller that is fascinating and terribly exciting. It also is haunting for it's close look at the towers back in 1974 and you can not escape the thoughts of 9/11.

25.) 'U2 3D'

Directors: Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington

This awesome thrill ride of a concert film in 3D Imax is an experience I hope everyone saw. Of course if you don't like U2 you probably won't enjoy it but you will be impressed. If you love U2 this is one of the best times you could have at a movie. You are right there on stage and the camera work is breathtaking. I hope this is the first in a long line of concert films with different bands in 3D Imax.

24.) 'Shine A Light'

Director: Martin Scorcese. The Rolling Stones

This is another great concert film that I saw on Imax but thank God it wasn't 3D. I don't think I could handle Keith Richards in 3D. Yikes! I wish this was all music instead of stopping for news reel footage but I like Scorcese's frantic planning bits. This captures the band well in concert and I finally get Christina Aguilera. Her duet with Mick Jagger is very sexy and hot and also Jack White lends a hand and is very good.

23.) 'The Hammer'

Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld. Adam Carolla, Constance Zimmer

This is the nicest surprise of the year and a very entertaining boxing movie that is actually different with some formula touches. Adam Carolla is very funny and has a future in leading comedy roles based on this performance. Constance Zimmer is also sweet and attractive in this light and effective love story. This is low budget, has a nice, real feel and pretty good boxing scenes. It is also a heartwarming crowd pleaser and I didn't expect that from Carolla.

22.) 'Doubt'

Director: John Patrick Shanley. Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

This claustrophobic and intense chamber piece has a wonderful cast that is at the top of their game. This movie creates a great debate on the moral quandry of the story and is pretty balanced. The movie always makes you think and Streep, Hoffman, Adams and Davis are outstanding in this provocative drama. It is a little stagy and full of acting moments but great nonetheless.

21.) 'Frost/Nixon'

Director: Ron Howard. Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Rebecca Hall, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt

This stage play adapted to the screen could be Ron Howard's best directing effort but not his best movie. Frank Langella is amazing as Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen is his equal as David Frost. This battle of wits is fun, intense and well played and the film captures it's time period brilliantly. Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon and Rebecca Hall also make a great impact. I watched the real life Frost/Nixon interviews after and this movie nails it.

20.) 'Tell No One'

(France) Director: Guillame Canet. Marie Josee Croze, Francois Cluzet, Kristin Scott Thomas

This is another tense thriller and mystery that Hitchcock would have loved. This is very well written and unfolds like a great novel. There are twists and turns that make sense and it has very well directed suspense. It also has one of the most beautiful women in the World in Marie Josee Croze.

19.) 'Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist'

Director: Peter Sollett. Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor

I probably love this movie more than anyone but the second time I watched it I knew that it was really a great movie. This has a wonderful soundtrack, another wonderful Michael Cera performance and plays like a junior "After Hours". This coming of age road trip comedy has a sweet love story and two actresses who make an impact. Kat Dennings and Ari Graynor are beautiful,funny and have good comic timing and can certainly do comedy. My little sleeper of 2008.

18.) 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'

Director: Nicholas Stoller. Jason Siegel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand

This is an extremely funny and twisted comedy with a bunch of fresh new faces that are all great and funny. Jason Siegel makes a good, awkward leading man, Mila Kunis is beautiful and shows she is a good comic actress and Russell Brand is hilarious. The twisted puppet show at the end of the movie is brilliant and made me laugh until I cried. That alone is worth the price of admission. This is a great companion piece to "There's Something About Mary".

17.) 'Let The Right One In' (Sweden)

Director: Tomas Alfredson. Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson

Finally we get the Vampire movie we all deserve with blood, jolts, scares and mood instead of weak, sissy, teenage fluff. This is the best foreign film of the year and a truly scary horror film but also a great coming of age drama. This is a very moody, suspenseful movie with classy thrills, effective blood and kills. The young cast is also brilliant and the story creates great tension.

16.) 'Role Models'

Director: David Wain. Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ken Leung

This starts off as a raunchy comedy and turns out to have a super sweet story that is touching. The movie is definitley not a scmaltz fest and is truthfully very funny but you end up caring about the characters. This is very well written and the actors are all fantastic. The invaluable Paul Rudd is becoming one of my favorites and just by opening his mouth he makes me laugh. Every role he touches is gold and Sean William Scott plays off him very well. This also has a priceless and hilarious performance by Jane Lynch who is the Meryl Streep of comedy. This movie is very funny from the first frame to the last.

15.) 'The Visitor'

Director: Thomas McCarthy. Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass

Wonderful character actor Richard Jenkins finally get his due with a great leading role in this indie drama. Jenkins is outstanding in this small, intimate drama that is very effective and touching. This is a movie about normal people trying to live their lives in extraordianry circumstances.

14.) 'Wendy and Lucy'

Director: kelly Reichardt. Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams gives one of the best performances by an actress this year and she is showing a great range that equals a Meryl Streep. This very low budget movie is not full of soul shaking drama but it is still powerful. This is a good look at America's homeless problem and is also a strong, unusual love story. People who like Marley & Me would also appreciate this in a different way.

13.) 'Happy Go Lucky'

Director: Mike Leigh. Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan

Sally Hawkins has such a warmth and infectious smile in this movie that you just want to hug her! She makes a strong star making performance in this bright comedy that turns out to have a little dark edge. Eddie Marsan is also powerful in a role that makes you cringe at first and is a great compliment to Hawkin's sunniness. His is a performance that will get him noticed in Hollywood. This movie starts off light and funny at first and then surprisingly starts to gain tension and depth. This is another great use of improvisation by the great Mike Leigh.

12.) 'Gran Torino'

Director: Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood, Ahney Her, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, John Carroll Lynch

This is a very entertaining and fun time at the movies and another great Eastwood directing job. Eastwood's latest great films seem to have an edge and darkness to them. "Gran Torino" turns out to be lighter, funnier and it is great to have Eastwood back on screen acting and having fun. This has a solid story, doesn't preach in it's racism angle and is funny and touching. A real find here is Ahney Her who can spar with Eastwood verbally with great skill. This is one of Eastwood's best performances of his career and that magical glare is back. The ending is also a perfect way to wrap up the film's story.

11.) 'Tropic Thunder'

Director: Ben Stiller. Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jacl Black, Tom Cruise, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride

This is one of the funniest satires of Hollywood and the movie business ever made. There are a lot of big laughs, a great string of movie trailer parodies, a masterful Downey Jr. performance and a surprisingly raunchy Tom Cruise. The great cast is outstanding including great turns by Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and Steve Coogan. This is a little deeper in it's dig at Hollywood then I expected. All I can say is that Robert Downey Jr. can do no wrong and he alone makes this one of the 20 best movies of 2008. Well this is actually to me the funniest comedy of 2008!

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2008

As I have been doing these lists since 1983 I have changed my mind on placements at my Top Ten List so some of these can change. This is my first list on this blog so let me tell you any movie on my Top 20 can sneak into the top ten because after time some opinions change. Almost any movie on my Top 10 can replace the number one movie. This year my top 2 are pretty safe though those might switch spots but the others can change. Without further ado...

10.) 'Revolutionary Road'

Writer: Justin Haythe based on novel by Richard Yates
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates

I have gotten a lot of negative flack for loving this very hard to love movie but some people love 'The Reader' and I love this movie. If you love a challenging film that doesn't pander to the audience and you love "Mad Men" then you might love it also. Based on one of my favorite books I have read in a long time "Revolutionary Road" I find the movie is a pretty great if not as great an adaptation of the powerful book. This movie set in the 50's is very stately and cold and is hard to embrace but I love powerful movies and the ending is powerful! It also has one of the best performances by an actress in a few decades by Kate Winslet. She is perfect showing vulnerability, bitchiness and strength as the woman married to Leonardo DiCaprio who is also great. This is Winslet's best performance in a long line of them along with "Little Children". This along with Charlize Theron in "Monster" is an iconic performance and I was blown away by her. Proof that this movie was not embraced was that Winslet was nominated for the wrong movie which is also more Hollywood safe "The Reader". Steppenwolf actor Michael Shannon also is great in a small part that is very memorable. The depiction of the 50's is flawless, the story is well transferred to the screen from the book and I felt an emotional connection to it. It's look at marriage is uncompromising showing how realizing your individual goals and dreams can be compromised. How communication is very important and how some people get married without coming to terms with how hard it is to have a successful marriage. I loved the book and I think the movie does an outstanding job of bringing it to life on the screen.

9.) 'Rachel Getting Married'

Writer: Jenny Lumet
Director: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Anne Hathaway, RoseMarie Dewitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin

Like "Revolutionary Road" this is a hard to embrace movie that I loved. You can tell by these two choices I invite being challenged by dark material. This is director Jonathan Demme's great return to form with a more intimate movie. Yes the hand held camera takes getting used to but a lot of movies have already done this technique. Yes the title character is selfish but if you like family dramas this is powerful. The performances are the main selling point and Anne Hathaway is a revelation. I did not see this performance ever coming out of her. Debra Winger also returns to her old amazing form with a very great performance playing pretty much a cold bitch. This movie feels intimate, challenging and anyone who has a screwed up family or family member will identify with this movie. The speech by Hathaway's character during her sister's wedding rehearsal dinner is awkward, funny, painful and powerful. I also must mention that RoseMarie Dewitt and Bill Irwin give great performances that are Oscar worthy just like Hathaway and Winger.

8.) 'Wall E'

Writers: Jim Reardon and Andrew Stanton
Director: Andrew Stanton
Voices: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Kathy Najimy, John Ratzenberger, Sigourney Weaver

The first hour of this amazing animated epic is pretty much a silent movie that reminded me of a Charlie Chaplin film. An animated film that can do that has to be very special. This is proof that kids are smart and they like challenging material and they don't always go for fast moving garbage. This movie is also very funny and breathtaking to look at and will probably become more special over time and after multiple viewings. The last half is not equally as masterful as the first but the use of music, the voice of Wall E and the look at the future is masterful and very entertaining. Pixar over the decades has been a wonderful gift to the movies. Bravo! and Encore!

7.) 'Iron Man'

Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard

To prove that I am not a prude and that I actually strive to have fun at the movies I am putting a super hero popcorn movie on my list. This movie is just plain fun, entertaining, fast, action packed and I loved the characters. Robert Downey can do anything I think we can all agree on. Now he can add super hero to his resume and actually he is one of the best ever. It has a great villain in the great Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow looks the best she has in years. This is a super hero who is a fascinating and layered character. I knew nothing about this comic book hero going in so I had fun discovering it here. Now we can add Iron Man to Batman, Superman and Spiderman as the subject of outstanding movies. Also Robert Downey Jr. here as he does in everything he touches just makes you smile and want to follow him anywhere. This joins the list as one of the best super hero movies ever made.

6.) 'Snow Angels'

Writer: David Gordon Green based on novel by Stewart O'Nan
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Angarano, Olivia Thirlby, Nicky Katt, Griffin Dunne, Tom Noonan, Amy Sedaris

This is one of the darkest, most powerful movies I have seen and it twisted my guts inside out. Though it is also one of the most beautiful and hypnotic movies I have seen and it does have a subplot that is beautiful and touching. Sam Rockwell proves that he belongs with the best of them with an amazing performance. Rockwell has been great in a lot of small roles and he is flawless here reminding me of a young Deniro. Kate Beckinsale was a revelation to me here giving a soul baring performance proving she can act. I warn you if you have a child this will be one of the hardest movies you will ever see but it is not exploitive. This is a tough movie but the performances are amazing, the look of the film breathtaking and the story is like a good novel. Amongst the center story of a painful relationship is a sweet love story between Michael Angarano and Olivia Thirlby that is beautiful. Remember the name Olivia Thirlby because like in "Juno" she is a very good here. You probably will see her in the future at the Acadmy Awards.

5.) 'Slumdog Millonaire'

Writer: Simon Beaufoy based on novel "Q & A" by Vikas Swarup
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor, Medhur Mittal

Now back to a life affirming and joyous crowd pleaser that reminded of the films of old that were brash and larger than life. It is no surprise that this won Best Picture at the Oscars. This is that old Hollywood magic movie that tells an underdog story with color and poise. It is a very energetic and moving film that has a lot of dark moments but will make your heart soar at the end. The actors playing the children give wonderul, exciting and mature performances. Dev Patel gives us a hero we can cheer for and makes a great first impression, Freida Pinto is beautiful and Anil Kapoor is wonderfully slimy as the game show host. What might make it a future classic is it's willingless to tell a larger than life story that appeals to all ages. It has been compared to a Dickens type of classic story and I would have to agree with that.

4.) 'Milk'

Writer: Dustin Lance Black
Director: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, Allison Pill. Victor Garber

I loved this movie better the second time I saw it for the first time I was learning a lot about Havey Milk. After I first saw "Milk" I looked back at an outstanding documentary "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" from 1984. When I looked back at "Milk" I saw that director Gus Van Sant had recreated that time and place perfectly and that Sean Penn was brilliant and felt like he was the real Harvey Milk. Sean Penn is one of my favorite actors and he amazes me in everything he does and this is a much different role for him but he is Harvey Milk. I realized watching this that we were dealing with a man as important as Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. This movie is a major labor of love and it is a heartbreaking, touching, funny and powerful drama. Along with Penn, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco and Allison Pill give great performances. Van Sant has made his best film and it is a stirring and intimate epic of tolerance, change and love.

3.) 'In Bruges'

Writen and Directed By Martin McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Collin Ferrell, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy

This movie gets even better with multiple viewings. I have seen it three times and I love every minute of it from it's flawless screenplay to it's acting. Brendan Gleeson and Colin Ferrell give Oscar caliber performances as hit men in this wacky comedy with a dark underbelly. It is not only funny but violent, profane and always exciting. Collin Ferrell is incredible and charasmatic in his role. He gets all the great lines and he creates a person full of pain and clulessness perfectly. It is such a great performance and the screen play written by playwright Martin McDonagh is probably the best written movie of 2008. It is full of offbeat dialogue, black comedy and surprisingly deep emotions. Also incredible is Ralph Fiennes like you never have seen him before as a nasty, violent, profane and hilarious killer. This is a fun movie with three of the best performances of the year.

2.) 'The Dark Knight'

Writers: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Eric Roberts

This is the best super hero movie since "Superman II" and it is so much more than that. Take away Batman and Joker and you have a film noir classic that could have been made in the grand Hollywood age of the 40's. This is what big blockbuster, commercial film making is all about. This is such a dark movie with a screenplay that tackles vigilantism, moral decisions of right and wrong and it is so beautiful to look at! Chicago has never looked this awesome and this movie proves how amazing our city is with it's architecture and beauty. You also have outstanding action sequences that are spellbinding! The chase down LaSalle street with trucks, cars and the batmobile is one of the best chase sequences ever. The movie looks glorious in Imax and I actually felt queasy as the camera swoops down tall buildings and through the city. Of course one of the great pleasures of this movie is the performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker. He creates something unique and twisted and actually makes you feel a twinge of sympathy for him. What really makes him different than Batman is one of the issues brought up. Heath Ledger has given us the best super hero villain ever on screen so far. Also strong is Aaron Eckhart who also gives an Oscar caliber performance. This is more of a complicated story than I thought with many layers and I loved it! This is actually a super hero movie about something. I have seen this movie many times and it still holds up so I know I haven't over rated this. I am just tired of The Mummy movies, the weak super hero movies like "X Men", the recent Superman and movies like "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe". This movie is a breath of fresh air and it reminded me when summer blockbusters were cool, exciting and larger than life. Movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Star Wars", "Close Encounters" and "E.T." don't get made anymore. It is all about lifeless dreck and CGI effects and no characters to really embrace. Technology has ruined our storytelling anbition and "The Dark Knight" still proves there is life left.

and my favorite movie of 2008 is...

1.) 'The Wrestler'

Writer: Robert Siegel
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood

"The Wrestler" is my favorite movie of 2008 for many reasons. People know I am a big wrestling fan but that is not the reason I love this film. Going to a major wrestling match and meeting these wrestlers I have learned how kind they are, how dedicated they are, how much they care for each other and what a sense of family and unity they have. These men and women actually break their back, bones and even destroy their faces to entertain their fans. Mickey Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Robinson has crippled himself so bad he has to swallow pain pills like they were candy. Mickey Rourke is finally back and it feels very good to me. He gives the best performance by an actor in 2008 and his Randy "The Ram" Robinson is my favorite character of 2008. This is a small, independent film with a screenplay that knows it's subject. The great thing about this movie is that it's really not first and foremost just about pro wrestling so if you hate pro wrestling you can still love this movie. It is mostly about finding your way back after you have lost your way. It is about a daughter and her estranged father and about a man's love for a woman that just might help him get back on his feet.Randy needs people in his lonely existense like these two women or all may be lost. Rourke is so great here reminding us why he was so iconic in his early career. This is a battered Rourke, an older and wiser actor. There are many parrallels between Rourke and this character he is playing. The movie gets everything about pro wrestling right and the story is very moving and touching. Rourke's speech at the end of the movie is the best moment of acting by anyone this year. Also excellent are Marissa Tomei and one of our best young actresses in Evan Rachel Wood. Marisa Tomei also creates a great character with heart and a gentle grace. Just the thought of watching Rourke makes me want to see this movie again. It is great to see him at the peak of his acting powers again and I missed him. Watching his performance alone is one of the main reasons I am picking this the best movie of 2008.

Well I finally finished my year end list for 2008. The good news is that I won't take that long to bring you my 2009 list. I will publish my new list every year around the end of January so look for the 2009 list very soon. I will also write about my top 100 movies of the 70's. 80's. 90's and 2000-2009 very soon as well. Actually the 60's and 70's might turn out to be my top 50. A person can only see so many movies in a lifetime so until next year fall in love with the movies!