1. The Dark Knight
What could fairly be called the most anticipated film of the year didn’t disappoint at the box office or with critics. The sequel to the franchise-saving reboot “Batman Begins” raised the stakes and the scope, introducing Batman’s archnemesis, the Joker, played to the hilt by Heath Ledger. What more can be said about Ledger’s performance? Terrifying? Magnetic? Darkly funny? All of the above. Although eclipsed by the Joker, Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent makes a convincing and frightening transformation as well.
The very fact that a film based on a decades-old comic book character has been transformed into pretty-damn-close-to-high art is a testament to director Christopher Nolan’s conception of the world of Gotham City as a real, vibrant and decaying universe. Nolan creates complex motivations for all the characters rather than just accepting their archetypes as heroes or villains. In addition, the action, set pieces and stunt work are phenomenal and can placate anyone’s inner 14-year-old. Remember when that semitruck flipped over? That was awesome.
““ Jake Ayres
2. Slumdog Millionaire
I was completely sick of MIA’s “Paper Planes” until the catchy radio hit found its way into this movie. This small detail is a testament to director Danny Boyle’s incredible solidarity of vision in this simultaneously gritty and inspirational third-world, rags-to-riches love story. It follows impoverished Mumbai resident Jamal, who ends up on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” All three unknown Indian actors who play Jamal at different ages are outstanding, and the non-linear story line weaves the serendipitous journey beautifully, all while painting a complex, non-condescending portrait of modern India and its orphaned children.
““ Jake Ayres
3. Wall-E
The bug-eyed, rusting, garbage-collecting titular robot that stars in the delightful animated film has stolen the hearts of children, adults and critics alike. Wall-E, apparently the only inhabitant of the trash-covered future planet Earth, falls in love with the shiny robot Eve, and the pair proceeds to save the planet while aboard a spaceship inhabited by the remaining humans. The film is both comical and touching as it manages to give a poignant humanity to the two robots and simultaneously warns against the environmental destruction of the planet. Equally deep and fun, “Wall-E” is a must-see for 2008.
““ Paige Parker
4. Iron Man
Long live the Robert Downey Jr. comeback! Finally, a superhero franchise gets off the ground without being a reboot (aka do-over) and manages to deliver the goods. The writing staff wisely updates the Cold War-era Vietnam origins of “Iron Man” to Afghanistan, but keeps billionaire industrialist Tony Stark’s playboy personality. Downey elevates the character of Stark with alternating boozy sarcasm and newfound sincerity. For once, the comedy in a superhero film isn’t entirely forced (see “Spider-Man 3″), and the film manages to also touch on terrorism, the military industrial complex and arms manufacturing. Jeff Bridges, as the brooding Obadiah Stane, and Gwyneth Paltrow, as the ever loyal secretary Pepper Potts, provide great support. When a superhero movie takes care of its characters, it can rise above the rest. And when Tony first takes flight in his self-made suit, it’s actually pretty exhilarating.
““ Jake Ayres
5. Pineapple Express
The Apatow gang decided to do the world a favor and resurrect and elevate the stoner comedy by combining it with guns, car chases, explosions and ninjas. In other words, they made a “weed action movie.” UCLA alumnus James Franco stands out among the two protagonists as the gentle, naive and extremely stoned drug dealer Saul. Danny McBride steals nearly every scene he’s in as Red, with his unsettling flat-top, Texas twang and near invincibility.
Where the movie really succeeds is in its elevation of action movie tropes to where they are experienced by two normal schmoes, making gun battles and vehicular carnage exciting again. And as always, the highly improvised Apatowian dialogue succeeds because it’s the kind of breeze-shooting you and your friends would do ““ especially if you just narrowly escaped an explosion.
““ Jake Ayres
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Film fans familiar with the previous collaborations between Brad Pitt and director David Fincher (“Se7en,” “Fight Club”) were in for a very heartfelt surprise this holiday season with this grand cinematic achievement. Based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story about a man who is born old and ages backward, “Benjamin Button” offered Pitt his meatiest role in years (if not his whole career) and allowed Fincher a far broader canvas than ever before. Between the cinematography and the technical effects that allow Pitt and co-star Cate Blanchett to age so seamlessly, the sheer ambition of “Button” is a marvel. After years of putting this project on his back shelf, Fincher reaches for the stars and creates a timeless picture about love and life.
““ Kate Stanhope
7. Frost/Nixon
This award season brought not one but two highly-awaited play adaptations. While the performances in the first, “Doubt,” will surely garner acting nominations come Oscar time, “Frost/Nixon” is the true front-runner. Director Ron Howard brings back the play’s original stars, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, but takes full advantage of the heightened dramatics the big screen can offer and also attaches an impressive supporting cast that includes Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell and a standout performance by Kevin Bacon. Howard adapts the play, about the 1977 interviews between former President Richard Nixon and British TV personality David Frost, to a suspenseful and perfectly paced cat-and-mouse game that manages to captivate history buffs and less-informed audiences alike.
““ Kate Stanhope
8. Mister Lonely
After this film, it’s clear that Harmony Korine may in fact be the most misunderstood Gen X director. This new film follows the dreamlike budding romance between a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) and a Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Samantha Morton) in Paris. Despite the film’s (and director’s) penchant for idiosyncrasy, this is Korine’s most accessible film to date. The film delves into Lynchian surrealistic imagery but remains funny and touching at the same time. The appeal of this introspective film can almost not be articulated.
““ Patrick Mallon
9. The Wrestler
Periodically reemerging from the woodwork to give indelible performances, Mickey Rourke has come back once again to demonstrate some of the best acting of the year as a washed-up, semipro wrestler trying to rebuild his life. Helming this story of redemption is director Darren Aronofsky, who has managed to create something vastly different from his previous work such as “Pi” and “Requiem for a Dream.” The film sports easily the best ending of the year, as well as a fantastic supporting performance by Marisa Tomei as an aging stripper.
““ Patrick Mallon
10. Doubt
What do you do when you’re not sure? Playwright John Patrick Shanley adapted and directed his own award-winning play to examine this very question through the story of a Catholic school in 1960s New York. The conflict emerges between Philip Seymour Hoffman’s liberalizing Father Flynn and Meryl Streep’s hard-core old-guard Sister Aloysius who accuses Flynn of unseemly conduct with a student. Shanley and his actors manage to turn the normally tranquil atmosphere of a Catholic school into an absolute pressure cooker, filled with suspense and dread generated by excellent dialogue and a constant air of suspicion. The ending leaves you frustrated with the title word, questioning your faith in one character or another and your own concepts of proof and blame. Isn’t that what good art is supposed to do anyway?
““ Jake Ayres