Wes' Top 15 Films of 2008!

It’s been quite a year in movies. My most anticipated film of the decade finally came out and a few surprises all around. The year was so solid that I had to make a top 15 list, because there were so many films I wanted to list.

Honorable Mentions:

Frost/Nixon
I saw this and found it to be very good, but it felt a little un-even to me. I found it difficult for most of the picture to pull for Frost since the film was more focused on Nixon who is supposed to be the antagonist. He was struggling to get funding as the more interesting characters took care of the information they dug up on Nixon.

Mongol
The story of the rise of Genghis Khan was a fascinating look into his life, but it was a very exhausting, if not a bit redundant, film. Still, a great film and it would probably find a spot in my Top 20.

Two more films I really wanted to see, but have not had the opportunity are The Reader and Doubt. They seem like genuinely great films and I can’t wait to see them. Whenever I see them I might edit my Top 15 or change it into a Top 20.

#15



CJ7

A family film from director Stephen Chow (Kung-Fu Hustle, Shoaling Soccer) is a great family film. It’s very imaginative and also very tragic. It’s unlike any children’s film I’ve seen in years.

14



The Bank Job

A great heist film based on the true story of Baker Street Robbery in central London. They are sent to steal very important people’s “dirty little secrets” and have very dangerous people on their tail. An exciting, yet interesting film.

13



Inside (À l'intérieur)

One of the most disturbing horror films I’ve ever seen. A pregnant woman who loses her husband in a car accident has become a target for a psychopathic female who wants to take her baby out of her. Trapped in the bathroom in her home, the intruder kills anyone who tries to help her.

The power of this film is the cinemaphotography, the music and the pacing. There is quite a bit of gore, but it takes a backseat with how well-crafted this film is. Much of it, especially in the beginning of the film, seems inspired by John Carpenter’s Halloween. In fact, the directing duo were set to make Halloween 2 (sequel to the remake,) unfortunately Rob Zombie stepped back on board for the project.

Eli Roth should take notes, this is how you disturb your audience to the core.

12



Cloverfield

The Blair Witch style film making wasn’t just a gimmick. Cloverfield was a truly exciting experience which is almost comparable to a theme park ride. It was the first 2008 film I watched and it still managed to make it to my top 15.

11




Speed Racer

I personally feel that this was the most misunderstood film of the year. Most of the criticisms don’t make any sense to me. It’s based off of an anime series for crying out loud! The film is visually STUNNING (especially on Blu-ray,) the story was surprisingly great and casting was spot-on. It’s a shame that this failed at the box office, I would’ve really looked forward to a sequel.

10



Eden Lake

One of the most realistic and disturbing horror films I’ve seen in a few years. A couple go out on a trip to Eden Lake and are harassed by a group of delinquent teenagers. Things escalate to the point that the couple start running for their lives.

The film can be quite brutal, but it also has a disturbing message that rings true. The ending will stay with you long after the credits roll.

9



The Good, the Bad, the Weird

In 1930’s Manchuria, a good guy, a bad guy and… a weird guy fight each other over a treasure map. As the chase goes on, the Japanese army and Manchurian bandits join the fray resulting in an explosive finale.

This film has everything you want: action, comedy and bad-assery. This is one of the most enjoyable films I’ve seen this year. It’s plays homage to the old-style westerns while adding a neo-western vibe. The modern soundtrack is fantastic.

I hope this film is released stateside very, very soon.

8



Milk

So a Gus Van Sant film is in my top 10... I’m shocked. I usually hate Van Sant’s films since they are most pretentious crap ever put on celluloid. I kept forgetting that he directed Milk while watching it.

The story itself is an interesting look at an important figure and Sean Penn completely immerses himself into the character. This might very well be his best performance ever. That’s not taking anything away from the incredible supporting cast such as Josh Brolin, James Franco, and Emile Hirsch.

7



The Fall

Director Tarsem Singh, mostly known for his visually impressive but underwhelming film The Cell, finally made a film that’s as deep as it is gorgeous. In the 1920’s a paralyzed stuntman befriends a little girl and begins to tell her a story of 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured mind and her vivid imagination, the line between reality and fiction begin to blur as the story advances.

I’m not sure if this should be 2007 or 2008, but I’ll go with ‘08 since it was just released this past fall in the States. The imagination of a little girl and the dark reality of the world collide in a tragic, yet inspiring film. I might have already said that Speed Racer was one of the most visually impressive films, but this tops it. It’s simply a masterpiece.

6



Tropic Thunder

After seeing the red-band trailer I knew this film was going to be special. Ben Stiller shows that he has talent as a director as some of the scenes impressively shot. Robert Downey, Jr. has arguably one of the best performances of the year, it made Tom Cruise cool again, it was constantly funny throughout and the entire film was a big F--- YOU to Hollywood and what’s not the love about that?

5



The Wrestler

I’ve been a fan of wrestling sporadically throughout my life. Hell, a couple of years back I was watching it casually, but after the Benoit tragedy I was turned off from ever watching it again. Some of what disgusts me about wrestling is the extremely messed-up way the company(s) treat their talent.

This is a movie I’ve been waiting to come out for quite some time. Rourke gives the performance of the year (close to Penn) and Aronofsky’s subtle direction throughout gives this film a lot of weight.

4



In Bruges

A film released earlier in the year which I hope isn’t forgotten come awards time. It’s a perfect mix of dark comedy, crime action, and tragedy. I haven’t seen characters, violence and humor mixed as well as this since Pulp Fiction. Farrell, Gleeson and Fiennes all give extraordinary performances that play well off of each other.

3

Wall-E

How do you make a “post-apocalyptic” film for kids… well, Pixar pulled it off. Wall-E is not just a family movie, it’s a science fiction epic… it may very well be the science fiction film of the decade (still waiting on James Cameron’s Avatar though.) I haven’t been impressed this impressed with their movies since The Incredibles.

It’s incredible that a film with such little dialogue can keep kid’s attention. It shows how silent films were entering back in the day. Wall-E is like two films wrapped in one and it’s got this epic feel to it as well.

2



Slumdog Millionaire

A great fairly tale of a movie that took me by surprise. The story between the two brothers is extremely compelling as they go through highs and lows together. The love story is the main thrust of the film and it’s the best romance aspect of any film this year. Some scenes will have you sitting at the edge of your seat as Danny Boyle masterfully creates tension, but there is also plenty of tragedy and happiness. Definitely the feel good movie of the year.

1



The Dark Knight

Surprise, surprise. I was actually worried going into the fall that maybe I’d like another film more than the latest Batman film. It almost happened, but I keep remembering how great The Dark Knight was. My expectations were staggering and it STILL blew me away.

Several things amaze me about this film. The acting, the story and the faithfulness to the original source. But almost all of the effects and action pieces are done with practical effects and a very minimal use of CGI wizardy. This proves Nolan is an extremely classy director and among the best ever.

Although I have a deep love for Batman (in a very plutonic way) and the film is everything I could ask for as a Bat-fan, but it also takes the entire superhero genre and turns it on it’s head. This is the film people will measure comic book based films for years, perhaps even decades, to come.

The Oscar nominations will be announced in a few short hours as I type this, but I’m pretty positive The Dark Knight will get a Best Picture nod. How crazy is that? Who would’ve thought ten years ago, after the abomination that is Batman & Robin, that a Batman film would get a BP nod?