Top Movies of 2008

And now for my films of 2008. This is more of a challenge for me as I don’t feel I can speak with as much authority when it comes to movies as music. However here’s my first try, think I have played it fairly safe but here goes…

1. Frost Nixon

A gripping and stunning performance from both Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Intriguing to see David Frost in his youth as a player! Who would have guessed? Nixon as the fallen president trying to justify his abuse of power and a young ambitious journalist with the opportunity of a lifetime. Both had something to prove and the movie sheds light on both individuals. Truly awesome

2. Milk

Because of guys like this and the rights they fought for during the twentieth century I am able to live, for the most part, the free and open life that I live. So, if for that reason alone it deserves a place in the top films of the year. Yet, Sean Penn’s performance as Harvey Milk is nothing short of stunning. A must see!

3. Blindness

A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant white blindness and those effected are instantly quarantined in a mental hospital. Order breaks down and chaos assures. The dark side of human nature soon shows itself. There are no names of characters, the city, in fact the country, isn’t even named. This movie will probably go down as one of my favorite of all times and not just of 2008 in years to come.

4. Happy go lucky

The movie follows Poppy, that one friend you have who no matter life throws at them they are always cheerful and optimistic to levels that just appear alarming at times. I’m sure people like this are cheery at funerals too! A great British movie notwithstanding Sally Hawkins’ blinder of a performance here. Great dialogue, great drama and the odd interjection of humor along the way.

5. Grand Torino

If Clint Eastwood never ventured into directing I would have rated him as a one-trick-pony actor forever associated with westerns. His Movies seem nothing short of stunning, every one of them! This is no exception. Clint plays a disgruntled, racist old man who see’s everything bad with the world yet takes it upon himself o reform the his young neighbor and save him from the life of inevitable crime he seems destine to end up in. You actually feel there is hope of changing any racist bigot after seeing this. Emotional to the very end.

6. The Dark knight

Ledger’s performance is worthy tribute to his legacy and turns the light hearted joker into a psychopathic sadist who loves anarchy. Nolan and Eckhart both pull of Batman and Harvey Dent in convincing performances respectively.

7. Ironman

Robert Downey Jr is amazing in this role and its pure fun from begging to end. Surely the start of a new franchise here and this is coming from someone who doesn’t even really like action hero movies!

8.Wall E

I wasn’t expecting much from this movie but I certainly got it. Hints of totalitarianism, nods to 2001 a Space Odyssey, environmentalism, romance, technological overuse, humor. This movie has it all.

9.Slumdog Millionaire

An impoverished Indian teen enters Who Wants To Be A Millionaire but with a rather different motive than anyone else who has entered before. He doesn’t have the prize money on his mind but the love for his friend Latika. Unwittingly he appears to be able to do rather well on the show not due to any high intellect just purely by the experiences he has faced throughout his young yet eventful life. A great idea for a story and well told.

10.Australia

It’s like one of the old traditional movies made in a by gone era It has all the elements here; romance, sadness, drama, comedic moments and pretty decent acting to go along with it. I believe this movie will get more credit in years to come.