MY FAVORITE FILM EXPERIENCES OF 2008!

Taking a page from the Roger Ebert play book, I've decided not to list my favorite films of 2008 numerically. Instead, I've listed them alphabetically. The truth is, I'm fond of all these films for vastly different reasons and want to encourage readers to see them all. Furthermore, doing a mere top ten list sort of leaves all the other great films that came out during the year by the wayside. Therefore, I've profiled 25 movies. This list simply represents my favorite cinematic experiences of 2008 and it is my hope that you'll enjoy them as much as I did.

CLOVERFIELD
This nifty monster movie came out way back in January, but I wasn't about to forget it. It's Godzilla meets Blair Witch Project as a group of twenty somethings document a monster attack in Manhattan via a home camcorder. The shaky, hand held cinematography technique actually serves the story well bringing a personalized sense of terror to the proceedings. This is a straight up thrill ride. Nothing deep, just a well executed monster flick.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
David Fincher's sprawling (and haunting) portrait of a man who ages in reverse. Brad Pitt is terrific in the lead, but it's the luminous Cate Blanchett and the astonishing make-up and visual effects that make this bittersweet epic – based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald - soar. Eric Roth's screenplay is more about a journey than an actual plot, but in the capable hands of visionary David Fincher, the film is moving without being overly sentimental. A lyrical tale about life and death told from the point of view of a man with a most unique condition.

THE DARK KNIGHT
Christopher Nolan hasn't only fashioned what might be the greatest super-hero film of all time. He's actually transcended the genre altogether. The Dark Knight works both as a gripping morality play and a riveting crime saga in the tradition of The Godfather and Heat. Heath Ledger gives a brilliant, mesmerizing turn as the Joker--the physical embodiment of chaos. This unforgettable film features breathtaking action, but it's a character piece first and foremost. Props to a stellar ensemble featuring Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and the late Heath Ledger.

DOUBT
Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, who won an Oscar for his Moonstruck screenplay back in 1987, Doubt tells the story of a genial priest whose suspected of the unthinkable by a stern principal at a catholic school during the 60's. This is essentially a three character piece featuring outstanding work by a compassionate Philip Seymour Hoffman, an innocent Amy Adams, and a cynical Meryl Streep. As great as the leads are, it is Viola Davis who walks away with the picture in an all too brief turn as the mother of the boy at the heart of controversy. Doubt is a challenging film and while it would have benefitted from a little more ambiguity in the final act, the performances and debate-worthy subject matter make it well worth watching.

THE FALL
This visual feast from Tarsem Singh has been called self indulgent in many circles, but I say if you've got it, flaunt. True, the central relationship in the picture – a surprisingly sweet natured bond between a suicidal stunt man and a young girl with a broken arm – is a bit rushed, but this flaw doesn't harm the overall effectiveness of this stunning visual achievement. This film is drunk in the pure love of movies. The plot structure reminded me a bit of The Princess Bride and Pan's Labyrinth, and while The Fall isn't as funny as the former or as powerful as the later, it's still an awe inspiring movie. This a maddening film experience, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.

THE FLYBOYS
Local boy Rocco DeVilliers makes good with The Flyboys, a rousing actioneer that celebrates the adventurous spirit of youth. Featuring winning performances by Jesse James and Reiley McClendon as two boys who inadvertently cross paths with the mob, The Flyboys gets an added kick from Stephen Baldwin and Tom Sizemore who turn in some of the best work of their respective careers as gangster siblings. Rather than resorting to a bunch of CGI trickery, DeVilliers has opted to shoot the action the old fashioned way. The highlight? A thrilling, if a tad nauseating, sky diving sequence I wont soon forget.

FROST/NIXON
Ron Howard's recreation of the famed Frost/Nixon interviews unfolds just like a boxing match. While the film is very conversational, Howard's creative directing approach keeps the film tense and exciting. Frank Langella and Michael Sheen are outstanding, and the screenplay by Peter Morgan never over dramatizes the proceedings.

IN BRUGES
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are stellar as a couple of hit-men who lay low in a sleepy little Belgium town after botching a job. The clever, hip word play and unexpected plot twists bring to mind the works of Quentin Tarantino and David Mamet. Writer/director Martin McDonagh has fashioned a wonderful morality tale about two men in an awful profession who are forced to re-evaluate what they've been doing with their lives.

IRON MAN
Director Jon Favreau scored big time with his energized adaptation of Marvel's Iron Man. Featuring an intensely lively performance from Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man proved to be a super-hero movie with timely themes. Great special effects but it's Robert Downey Jr.'s performance that I was thinking about after I left the theater. He was positively perfect for this role bringing equal measures swagger and humor to the table.

KUNG FU PANDA
Jack Black is an animated force to be reckoned with as oafish Panda bear Po, an underachiever who learns the way of Kung Fu to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Kung Fu Panda has breathtaking action to be sure, but it also has a lot of heart. A wonderful animated feature for audiences of all ages.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
2008 wasn't a very good year for the horror genre. The Swedish import Let the Right One In is far and away the best genre picture of the year. This moody, atmospheric thriller tells the story of Oskar, a picked on twelve year old who develops a bond with Eli, a girl whose been twelve for a long, long time. Yes, Let the Right One In is a vampire tale, but it's far more intriguing than that other bloodsucker opus that's been tearing up the box office. Young leads Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson are exceptional as the lonely twelve year olds. Let the Right One In is a poetic take on the vampire mythology and while it offers up horrific moments, it is also surprisingly tender and brimming with a wicked sense of humor. Director Tomas Alfredson is a talent to watch for.

MAN ON WIRE
2008 was a banner year for documentaries and Man on Wire was certainly one of the best. This poetic film revolves around tightrope walker Philippe Petit's infamous walk from one World Trade Center Tower to the other back in 1974. How he and his fearless crew pulled this stunt off is but one of the many joys of this amazing film. Through stock footage, breathtaking photos, current interviews, and intense recreations, Man on Wire paints a fascinating portrait of a man who uses his death defying skills as a metaphor for living life to the fullest. It's also a stunning glimpse at a gorgeous city in one of its most beautiful stages.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY
This light hearted film coasts along on the pure charisma of it's lead players. Amy Adams is adorable as a spoiled actress who learns a thing or two about life from a down on her luck governess (wonderfully played by a frumpy but confident Frances McDormand). There's a lot going on in this brisk, ninety minute movie, but thanks to sharp comic timing and committed performances, this film works like a charm. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day will put a great big smile on your face.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road is a brutal depiction of depressed suburbanites. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio give intense performances as an unhappy couple trying to salvage what's left of their marriage. Unlike Titanic, this is a story of people falling out of love. Mendes' theatric film is cold and uncompromising, but it's beautifully shot and Winslet and DiCaprio bring their A-game. Revolutionary Road also features a quirky but unforgettable turn by Michael Shannon as a disturbed individual who chillingly sum's up the status of Winslet and DiCaprio's seemingly doomed relationship in one of the film's most powerful scenes.

ROLE MODELS
Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J. Thompson, and Jane Lynch are absolutely hilarious in the year's most consistently funny film. The plot is positively generic, but in the end, this is a film about funny people in funny situations saying funny things. Role Models is irreverent to be sure, but when I wasn't laughing my ass off, I was smiling.

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED
Roman Polanski committed a crime. There's no doubt about it. But the fascinating documentary Wanted and Desired is more of an indictment of the publicity hungry judge who forced the film maker to flee the country, than it is a swipe at one of our most celebrated directors. Through insightful interviews (including one with the woman who Polanski had an affair with when she was only thirteen years old) and archival footage, this movie doesn't forgive Polanski for his actions, but it will force audiences to look at his unfair trial in a completely new light.

SHINE A LIGHT
What happens when you bring one of the film industry's greatest directors together with one of music's most iconic rock bands? You get the dynamic, energy filled Rolling Stones concert film Shine A Light. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese (whose similar chronicle of the Band "The Last Waltz" pioneered the genre) Shine a Light captures the essence of this iconic rock band in their prime. Yes, I said in their prime. Forget that the Stones have been rocking for nearly forty years. They're as vital now as they were in the 60's and 70's. With a high energy performance by The Stones and unforgettable guest appearances by the likes of Jack White, Christina Aguilera, and Buddy Guy, Shine A Light will leave you exhausted and awestruck.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful independent film from Danny Boyle. It features Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, an eighteen year old whose plucked from the Mumbai slums and plunged into the world of underdog celebrity as he gets a shot at 20 million rupees on the India version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" After making it through to the final question, Jamal is interrogated by authorities who suspect that he might be cheating. Through a most inventive plot structure, we see first hand how Jamal came to know the answers to the questions. This is a heartfelt tale of love, friendship, and perseverance. Boyle wouldn't seem the likely choice for this picture, but that's what makes him so extraordinary. Further props to Boyle for the Bollywood dance number at the end of the picture.

TOWELHEAD
Alan Ball's Towelhead is the most uncomfortable film of the year, but it's hard to deny the overall power of this provocative movie. Featuring a breakout performance by newcomer Summer Bishill as a young Arab American girl who moves in with her stern father in the Texas suburbs, Towelhead exists on a plane not unlike American Beauty (which Alan Ball also wrote). This picture doesn't shy away from going into some really tough places, but by the end, Towelhead offers up a surprisingly hopeful message. Richly textured performances by Bishill, Peter Macdissi, Toni Collette, and Aaron Eckart (in a role you won't soon forget), keep the proceedings firmly grounded in reality.

TROPIC THUNDER
Ben Stiller's stab at overly serious movie industry types is a laugh-out-loud-hilarious war epic. Featuring brilliant comical turns from the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Jack Black, and Nick Nolte, Tropic Thunder had me in stitches from the opening faux trailers. Again, the entire cast brings the funny but it's Robert Downey Jr. who steals the show as a method actor who goes under the knife to play an African-American soldier.

U2 3-D
Being a huge fan of the band, I'm certainly biased when it comes to anything involving Ireland's legendary rock group. U2 3-D is a celebration of rock n' roll and an even bigger celebration of technology. The 3-D process used to bring this stunning concert film to life not only allows you the audience member to take a seat in the front row, but it also permits you to inhabit the space of the rock star. Add to this the band's stunning live performance and you have an unforgettable concert experience. While I suspect U2 3-D will eventually be released on DVD, this an experience that can't be duplicated in the home. It's simply not the same. With any luck, this dynamic film will be re-released in theaters. If it is, you have to see it!

THE VISITOR
This is a quiet, restrained little film from Tom McCarthy, the director of the effectively low key The Station Agent. The Visitor features an award worthy performance by character actor Richard Jenkins as Walter Vale, a lonely economics professor from Connecticut whose given a new lease on life after he bonds with a pair of illegal immigrants who've been secretly living in his vacant apartment. Jenkins is a revelation here. His Walter does go through a transformation of sorts but it's a subtle one. The sheer lack of cynicism in this picture is downright refreshing, and while the end of the film is a bit on the melancholy side, Walter Vale's final moment will inspire you.

WALL-E
It's really unfortunate that Wall-E was attacked by some audiences who couldn't get past it's environmental message. Unfortunate because Wall-E has so much more going for it. Visually speaking, this is one of the most dynamic pictures of the year. Look no further than the first thirty minutes of the film in which we're introduced to the title character, a beguiling robot who continues to go about his trash compacting duties even after the planet Earth is no longer inhabited by humans. There is no dialogue in the first act of this picture. It's straight up visual storytelling and the end result is positively breathtaking. While the second half of Wall-E doesn't quite measure up to the first half, this is still a spectacular Pixar effort. It's an enchanting tale of love, friendship, and humanity as seen through the eyes of a most unlikely soul.

THE WRESTLER
Micky Rourke gives one of the strongest performances of his career as Randy "The Ram" Robinson , a broken down wrestler who must decide whether or not it's time to retire. What's really interesting about Rourke in this film is that the character he plays mirrors who he is in real life. When "The Ram" gives a stirring speech to his fans towards the end of the film, it feels as if Rourke may just as well be addressing movie audiences who grew up on his memorable performances in the 80's (i.e. Pope of Greenwich Village, Diner, Body Heat, etc.) Director Darren Aronofsky–whose known for more stylized fare like Pi, Requiem For A Dream, and The Fountain–has not only cast this picture to perfection but he wisely shoots The Wrestler in a documentary like fashion, bringing a welcome sense of intimacy to the film. Filled with humor and heart, The Wrestler plays like a rousing underdog sports picture, and surprisingly, it avoids the sentimentality some might be expecting. Randy "The Ram" Robinson is a flawed man with real problems, but these flaws make him all the more human. A remarkable film.

YOUNG @ HEART
The wonderfully charming documentary Young @ Heart, follows a senior citizen chorus group as they tour the country covering rock songs. This is an inspirational look at the power of music but more importantly, it embraces the golden years with open arms. Young @ Heart is filled with unforgettable moments. For me, the most powerful one comes in the form of a haunting rendition of Coldplay's Fix You performed by a chorus member as a tribute to his sick friend. If that doesn't put a lump in your throat, then I don't know what will.

Honorable Mention:

THE BANK JOB
BURN AFTER READING
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
HAMLET II
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
PRIDE AND GLORY
REDBELT
TELL NO ONE
VALKYRIE
W.

Buzzed about film I have yet to see:
MILK, DEFIANCE, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, FROZEN RIVER, WENDY AND LUCY, CHE, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, JCVD, THE READER, BALLAST, SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK, WALTZ WITH BASHIR, THE BROTHERS BLOOM, THE DUCHESS, and LAST CHANCE HARVEY.

Most Overrated Film of 2008:
MAMMA MIA!
Putting aside the fact that Pierce Brosnan can't carry a tune, Mamma Mia! is one clumsily executed musical. There is a certain level of joy in the energy that Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried bring to the film, but overall, this blockbuster is pretty uninspired. Hairspray was infinitely more appealing.

Biggest Disappointment of 2008:
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
I'm first to admit that my astronomically high expectations got the better of me where this latest Indiana Jones adventure was concerned, but if you ask me, The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull is far and away the weakest chapter in the series. Harrison Ford is in top form and Spielberg is still perfectly adept at shooting action sequences (the motorcycle chase in the first act of the picture is vintage Spielberg), but ultimately, David Koepp's weak screenplay, misused CGI, and Shia LaBeouf's romp through the jungle with animated monkeys, kept this picture from being what it could have been.

Worst Film of 2008:
THE HAPPENING
M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening is a horrible misfire. A shame too because the premise isn't half bad. Ultimately, this would be suspense thriller is unintentionally hilarious. Marc Wahlberg and Zooey Descehanel can be engaging performers, but here, they're saddled with dialogue so bad, that they are unable to rise above the ridiculous material. I suppose there were worse films in 2008, but I wanted to go with a high profile title. Great cinematography and a nifty set up only get you so far, and The Happening is a perfect example of this. I'm a fan of Shyamalan, but lately, I'm starting to wonder what's going on with this guy.

Dishonorable Mention:
Prom Night
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Star of the Year:
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
True, Heath Ledger gave the most mesmerizing performance of 2008, but it was Robert Downey Jr. who emerged as the Star of the Year. With outstanding work in both Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, this one time party boy, finally has a couple of blockbusters under his belt and the buzz on the upcoming The Soloist is equally strong. I'm hesitant to call this Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback year, be quite frankly, he never left. Congrats to this gifted actor for finally getting the recognition he deserves.