Top 10 of 2008

Seeing as it's the 31st of December, what better time is there to name my top 10 films of 2008.
But first-

The Worst Film of 2008 - Twilight - So god awful that I nearly pooped my pant just so I could get out of there and have something better to do (cleaning my pants)



So, here goes

10:Speed Racer - Pure fun and a great family film. Sadly underrated

9: Tropic Thunder - Both Downey Jr and Tom Cruise were brilliant but it is also proof that Ben Stiller is talented - when he feels like it or he doesn't need to pay his mortgage

8: Burn After Reading - The Coens return to black comedy after the brilliant but disturbing N.C.F.O.M. Clooney and Pitt are great in their roles but Frances McDormand steals the show

7: Wall E - Pixar do it again, though not as good as 2007'S Ratatouille Wall E is cute, humourous and leaves us feeling guilty

6: Iron Man - "Oh yeah - I can fly" says it all really

5: Forgetting Sarah Marshall The funniest film I saw all year, so brutally truthful and at the same time ridiculous hamming by Russell Brand made this a winner. Great script and preformances - plus for the ladies: Penis shots (high five!)

4: The Painted Veil - Although this film has been around a while it was only released here this year. Beautiful cinematography (on location in China) and solid performances made this film a solid number 5.



3: Hellboy II The Golden Army - Director Guiilermo Del Toro fresh ofthe success of Pans Labyrinth brings back Big Red , bigger badder and better. The only director other than Peter jackson who could bring the balance of fantasy and reality to Middle Earth

2: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Having seen this film literally hours before I write this speaks of it's profound effect on the viewer. A truly wonderful story anchors you from the opening frame to its last lingering shot of an abandoned clock ticking backwards slowly. Alongside the story is performances from all leading cast members that are great. Pitt shows us that he is not just a pretty faced man with a powerful seed an an extremely hot missus - but an actor willing to go that extra mile to take the audience on a ride. Credit must go to the probably hundreds of digital artists who have again made leaps and bounds with motion capture etc to create the different age stages of Benjamin's life. Guided by the assured hand of director David Fincher, in what is probably his first movie that wasn't full of darkness and despair.

1: The Dark Knight - Superhero flick/Crime Drama/Greek Tragedy/Study of Human Duality or all of the above. The Best film of the year if not the last few years. Expectations were high - then reached fever pitch after the unfortunate passing of Heath Ledger who commands this film, even when he's not on camera you feel his Joker's lurking, tongue flicking presence. One of the Jokers final lines "It seems we are destined to do this forever" hinted at what was to come, but now sadly may not happen. Ledger aside, Christian Bale is by far the best Batman and overall it is Christopher Nolan's assured direction that made this an amazing film.