Films you should have seen in 2008

I have put together a list of my favourite films of 2008, if you haven't seen these films yet, then i urge you to go out and buy them now or whenever they come out on dvd if not out yet. Here we go then:

20. Son of Rambow - Wonderfully sweet and touching film, about two friends who form a bond over the Rambo films and decide to make their own sequel.

19. Funny Games- Two friends intrude upon a young familys holiday home and terrorise the family. Dark satire which plays around with the conventions of the Hollywood thriller genre.

18. Diary of the Dead- Romero on top form. A group of students filming a horror movie, try to escape when the dead really start to rise, documentary style footage give it a gritty edge.

17. Charlie Wilson's War- Not a great film, simply made the list at number 17 because of Phillip Seymour Hoffman's performance. He is truly outstanding as CIA agent Gust. Cannot take your eyes off him for a second.

16. Lars and the Real Girl- Completely different take on romance, but affecting all the same. Shy guy Lars, introduces his new girlfriend Bianca ( A plastic doll) to his brother and sister-in-law. Gosling is truly brilliant here.

15.Gone baby, Gone- Four year old girl dissapears, and detectives Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) are called in by the childs aunt and uncle. Beautifully crafted, haunting thriller with a highly thought provoking ending.

14. Wanted- After the success of Daywatch and Nightwatch, Bekmambetov again shows his prowess in the action/thriller genre. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is brought out of his dull, boring life by super-assassin Fox (Angelina Jolie) who opens up his world.

13. The Savages- Anything with Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in, is going to be a hit with me, and this is no exception. Brother and sister Wendy and Jon Savage are forced into the difficult situation of how to care for their ailing father, when he never cared for them. Extremley dark comedy, but endearing all the same.

12. [.Rec]- Spanish horror. When a tv crew are following firemen, things take a turn for the worst, as they become trapped in a building with no way out. Again employs the hand-held camera to terrifying effect.

11. Burn After Reading- Second offering of 2008 from the brothers Coen, and kept up the high standard of No Country for Old Men. Very dark comedy, great performances, an all round treat.

10. Juno- The breakout indie hit of the summer. Great soundtrack, great cast, great performances. Heartwarming and endearing.

9. Wall-E- Pixar's best movie, even surpasses both Toy Storys. The animation is perfect, who would have thought a movie about a metallic box with long periods of silence could be such a success. But it works beautifully, the first half an hour is wonderful.

8. The Orphanage- Powerful, and terrifying psychological horror. A movie that will stay with you a long time after the credits have rolled.

7. The Mist- Often overlooked film, that had the best ending of any film in 2008, bar none.

6. In the Valley of Elah- Human look at the Iraq conflict. After his son goes missing, Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) sets off to find his boy. Hugely powerful and moving perfomance from TLJ.

5. Changeling- Beautifully crafted story of revealing L.A.P.D corruption. Jolie has never been better.

4. The Dark Knight- Eagerly anticipated follow up to Batman Begins did not dissapoint. Heath Ledger's performance is truly outstanding, terrifying and beautiful at the same time.

3.No Country for Old Men- Saw the Coen's return to form after a couple of bleak offerings. Dark thriller, has there ever been a scarier villian than Javier Bardems, Anton Sugar

2. Waltz with Bashir- Gritty animation, about a mans journey to recollect his memories of the Israel, Palestine conflict. Powerful and affecting despite the fact that it is animated. Haunting, and truly memorable.

1. There Will Be Blood- Cinema at its finest. Beautifully crafted, cinematography is wonderful. Daniel Day Lewis at his brilliant best.


There were a few films missed off this list, which I have not got to see yet, and I think would have troubled the list, if I had.

4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days
Things we lost in the fire
The diving bell and the butterfly
Man on Wire
My Winnipeg
Gomorrah
The Baader Meinhoff Complex
Hunger
Persepolis

Overall 2008 has been a pretty fine year for Cinema, and 2009 looks set to be even better, i will be blogging on my most anticipated films of 2009 soon.