Top Ten Films of 2008

1. Synecdoche, New York - Charlie Kaufman's magnificent exploration of love, art and death featuring brilliant design elements and the best supporting actresses of the year - Dianne Wiest, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams.  It's just as complicated as you've heard and simultaneously totally straightforward and simple. I can't wait to see where Kaufman goes next.

2. The Wrestler - Darren Aronofky's deeply empathetic portrait of a wrestler and a stripper (played with natural ease and honesty by Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei) who are confronted with the very real consequences of their difficult professions. 

3. Rachel Getting Married - Jonathan Demme's compassionate and confrontational drama delves deeply into a families pain. Great acting by Anne Hathaway, Rosemary DeWitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin and Anne Deavere Smith.

4. Waltz With Bashir - Animated. Foreign. Documentary. It's a captivating, original piece of art. Please don't be afraid - Go see it.  

5. Slumdog Millionaire - The feel good fantasy movie of the year that doesn't shy away from the ugly and the real.  

6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Lovely, sexy, smart, intellectual comedy by Woody Allen. His best film since Bullets Over Broadway in 1994.

7. Happy Go Lucky - Mike Leigh drama about an Poppy, an eternal optimist who has figured out a very happy and healthy way to confront the brutality and sadness of everyone around her.  A remarkable performance by Sally Hawkins.

8. Let the Right One In - Swedish vampire movie. 

9. Burn After Reading - Fun, cynical, hyper Coen Brothers flick.

10.Doubt - Great story, acting and writing make up for some of Shanley's silly directorial flourishes. 

Runners-up

Frost/Nixon

Wall-E

The Dark Knight

A Christmas Tale

Flight of the Red Balloon

The Edge of Heaven

Paranoid Park

Wendy and Lucy

Gran Torino

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