Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

If you have any sense, you will have already seen this film. I thought when it won 4 Golden Globes that it surely couldn't be that good, especially not better than the upcoming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, however I was proven very, very wrong.

From the go, intense and charismatic performances dawn upon the screen, giving every character a glorious sense of life. Jamal's stages through life are flawlessly executed by three terrific actors, especially by Khedekar, the youngest version of Jamal. It has to be said, however, that Dev Patel's performance is terrifically unique and bold, displaying the strength within the young man with great vigor.

If you pay attention enough, you start to notice a few continuity errors, but this is just nit-picking. The overall performance of everyone sets all of that aside, and it truly is the best film of 2008 (I say this knowing I don't even need to see the others).

28 Days Later (2002)

Danny Boyle has been questionable of late, with the exception of his Golden Globe winning Slumdog Millionaire (2008). However, his post-apocalyptic triumph of 28 Days Later is something that really does show his dedication to new ways of film making. Sunshine (2007) was pushed away as something said to be too complex and melodramatic for its own good.

This destructive and bleak view of a world destroyed by its own inhabitants. The concept of humans being as vile and ruthless as the infected is something heavily pursued, as Boyle displays a side of humans all of us would rather ignore, yet cannot.

On a film making scale, it is a big triumph. The scenes featured closed of sections of London were so well filmed that it really did give the idea of an aftermath of a world-wide atrocity. It really was a pioneering film for digital film making, and something Boyle will hopefully stick with in the third installment.

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

The first major release from the IFC, and a huge success. With such a gripping storyline and brilliant performances, it's hard to go wrong.

Despite that, it is hard to ignore the social controversy taking place within the film. Underage girls performing oral sex, a man twice their age attempting to seduce them, a six-year old meeting a woman he's met online, and the sexual inuendo's which he says, without knowing the implications of them. It really is a brilliant film in the way in which it disregards any sense of age or safety, and focuses in on basic human nature.

One of the first films I've seen in 2009, and could well be the best one.

2008 in Fim

Best films released this year (in order):

1. The Dark Knight
2. Twilight
3. In Search of a Midnight Kiss
4. Good Dick
   
5. Nights and Weekends
   
6. Burn After Reading
7. Iron Man
   
8. Choke
9. W.
10. Wall.E

My top 10 films of all time (in order):

1. Garden State
2. Control
3. The Dark Knight
4. Twilight
5. Into The Wild
   
6. Fargo
7. Donnie Darko
8. Stranger Than Fiction
9. Full Metal Jacket
10. The Tracey Fragments

Most anticipated for 2009:

1. 9
2. Milk
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
5. Che
6. Watchmen
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. The Soloist
9. New Moon
10. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
    

Twilight (2008)

With so much hype around this film, it would be very disappointing for it not to live up to its expectations. It's fair to say that it didn't disappoint, but it was dazzling either.

The unfortunate thing is that, despite being the best opening indie of all time, you can't help but feel Hollywood has seeped its way into the mind of Catherine Hardwicke. The concept of a 'teen movie' is something all too prominent throughout the first hour or so, along with the stereotypical plasticity of west coast American teens. It is nice, however, to have an Englishman being the lead in an otherwise all American cast. A cast which is rather disappointing, and has too many of the west coast teens present for my liking.

It would be hard to compare the book to the film due to the huge inconsistencies, as with many book to film scenarios. With a more ironic humor, the film does stand up for itself, but the emotional edge provided by the novel is something that cannot be matched.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

I've never been a big fan of Tarantino, however this, along with Pulp Fiction are my exceptions. Personally, Kill Bill did nothing for me, I thought it was a complete waste of time.

Reservoir Dogs is, in contrast, a film that takes away the sword-fighting and Uma Therman in Lycra, and devours itself with blood and endless violence. Despite being a 'carpe noir' gone wrong, I do think that it can stand up for itself due to the meanings behind the endless violence, perhaps suggesting than Tarantino did give the script a thought or two before he charged for the nearest production office.

My one real problem, is how it compares to other films. Goodfellas, the Scorsese classic, outclasses the rough and uncut style of Dogs, and shows how Tarantino was still far off the big leagues.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The greatest sci-fi ever made? It's debatable, especially when you consider the realism of this space epic in comparison to the first Star Wars trilogy, which despite having lasers and lightsabers, failed drastically when it came to the models (something which Kubrick made sure was perfect).

I think, rather than looking at this film as a typical film, it should be viewed as a piece of art, which has focused on such intricate details. For instance, almost a tenth of the budget was spent on a 30 tone rotating structure as part of the space ship. Something MGM wasn't all too happy with.

But forget all that. Just think, as you sit down, preparing to spend two and a half hours of your life in front of the screen, that you're going to see a film that is ingenious in very few ways, but completely spectacular.