Best Films of 2008

A beautifully tragic portrait of a married couple simply trying to make things work, Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" combines the fantastic acting of leads DiCaprio and Winslet with a heartwrenching and honest screenplay by Justin Haythe to form one of the most intensely-emotional pictures of the last 20 years. Superbly directed, acted, and written, this film is the Best of 2008 so far.

A modern masterpiece directed with intense passion and flair for the subject matter, Clint Eastwood (finally) shows us his feminine side and crafts one of the most beautiful, touching, and impactful tales of feminism and corruption ever put onto film. Angelina tops her widely-snubbed performance in "A Mighty Heart" here, turning out the best work she's ever put forth. A great supporting cast, beautiful cinematography, and a fantastic original score round out this (at least in my book) hugely-underrated masterpiece of modern storytelling, cinematic or otherwise.

A dazzling throwback to the films that Hollywood was built upon, Baz Luhrman's superbly-directed epic romance "Australia" is a visual and spiritual cinematic treat. Perfect context performances from Kidman and Jackman, dazzling visuals and cinematography, lavish art direction and a powerful (albeit cliche) storyline are all directed with passion and finesse from the master reinvetor of genres that have fallen by the way. The Best of 2008 so far.

Simply one of the most beautiful films ever made, both visually and spiritually. A masterpiece from Wong Kar-Wai, who successfully makes the transition from star Chinese director to mastermind of American drama.

Michael Haneke's brutal and unflinching excersize in violence and torture may hold a much deeper meaning than meets the eye. Funny Games is not a story about brutal murder, but rather a powerful, deliberate attack on the state of American horror and how we the consumer drove it to its doom. Aside from the important message Haneke shoves in our face, the film is also a refreshing look at literal horror as well. Elements of Kubrick and even Hitchcock are present here, and all come together to form a magnificent feat in filmmaking.

Yu Li paints an engrossing portrait of the modern-day Beijing underworld of sex, money, and deception. Extremely strong performances from vets such as Tony Leung add to the overall dramatic impact of this masterpiece of modern Asian cinema.

"Cloverfield" is a triumph of a genre...a true masterpiece of a modern monster movie that keeps you on your toes until the very last frame. Quite possibly the most intense film ever made, "Cloverfield" will leave quite an impression. The film also does something its genre brethren have always struggled with; it seamlessly incorporates a subplot with characters that have actually been developed enough for you to care about them into its pulse-pounding forefront premise. "Cloverfield" is ultimately a testament of what an action/adventure film can really be...it is a genuine and unique take on a tired and common premise that will leave you breathless. Already on my list of best films of 2008.

Despite at times suffering from stale, awkard dialogue and hints of superficiality, The Other Boleyn Girl takes the period-drama to all-new levels. What would could have been a drawn-out, run-of-the-mill period piece instead turns into a campy, devious, and provocative picture unlike anything else in its genre. Punctuated by beautiful cinematography and gorgeous costumes, The Other Boleyn Girl is one of the best films of 2008 so far.

While dazzling us with amazing special effects and intense action sequences, Wanted also balances itself out with strongly-developed characters, taut performances all around, and a solid central storyline that contains interesting themes of morality and mortality. A great summer action flick that may leave you with a little something more than an adrenaline rush.