It’s always hard to squeeze in your ten best movies of the year, but it’s even harder to rank them when you love each one for different reasons. Looking back at 2008, I compiled a list of the top 10 movies of the year in relation to the film’s entertainment value, how well the film was produced and how likely it will win some awards. Some of the action-packed summer blockbuster favourites did not make this list.

Top 10 Best Movies of 2008

10.

Gran Torino

It might not be a must-see-in-theatres film, but Clint Eastwood gives a terrific performance as Walt Kowalski, a disgruntled racist Korean War veteran. After a Hmong teen attempts to steal his 1972 Gran Torino, Kowalski finds himself protecting the boy and his family from the gangs that are threatening their neighbourhood. The film has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and a Critics’ Choice Award for Clint Eastwood’s role. Will Gran Torino be making an appearance at the Oscars in February?

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9.

Burn After Reading

The Coen Brothers know how to make people laugh! This hilarious comedy stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins. Burn After Reading has been nominated for two Golden Globes and one WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay. Is the film capable of turning these nominations into awards?

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8.

Doubt

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman take their roles seriously in this film about a priest who is suspected of molesting a black student. Doubt has received several award nominations, including five Golden Globes. Its dreams of winning an Academy Award are not far off.

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7.

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke is making a comeback! Having a tough acting career over the past few years, Mickey breathes life into his character. If you like director Darren Aronofsky’s rough cut style, you’ll love this film about a retired wrestler wanting to go back into the ring. There has been much buzz in the industry and amongst critics about this film. The Wrestler has been nominated for three Golden Globes and is bound to be nominated for a few Academy Awards.

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6.

Milk

Sean Penn is extraordinary in his role as Harvey Milk, a San Franciscan gay rights activist who runs for office during the 1970’s. Director Gus Van Sant assembles a biopic that smoothly incorporates vintage footage with modern actors. Many of the actors resemble their real-life counterparts. Milk has won twelve awards from various film associations and has been nominated for twenty-four others, however it only picked up one Golden Globe nomination. How many Oscar nominations will it receive?

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5.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This star-studded cast delivers a great film, but is two hours and forty-five minutes a little too long? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay and Best Leading Actor (Brad Pitt) at tonight’s Golden Globes. How many will it pick up? Looking towards the Academy Awards, this film has potential in many categories, including Best Makeup.

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4.

Rachel Getting Married

Anne Hathaway has been receiving praise from critics for her performance ever since the film made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. Hathaway plays the role of a young woman who returns home from rehab for her sister’s wedding. It is arguably her best performance in her young career. She has been nominated for an acting award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and will be contending for an Oscar nomination later this month.

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3.

The Dark Knight

The best blockbuster of the year and the top grossing film of 2008, The Dark Knight is a must-see! The film will be returning to IMAX theatres on January 23rd, giving you a last chance to see it on the big screen. Heath Ledger’s Joker is the big attraction in this flick and will definitely win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

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2.

WALL-E

Disney-Pixar’s WALL-E is a masterpiece! An animation where nobody talks for the first forty-five minutes, except for a little robot making noises, and still be entertaining is magic! Over time, the audience falls in love with the little robot who is left to clean up the garbage on Earth while humans take a space cruise to get away from their own mess. WALL-E has been nominated for several animation and musical score awards.

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1.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire has been winning awards like if they were going out of style! The film took over the 14th Annual Critics Choice Awards earlier this week as it carried home five of six awards it was nominated for. It has received four nominations for tonight’s Golden Globes and, looking forward to the Oscars in February, Slumdog Millionaire will be in contention for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay and a few more.

The cinematography of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire gives you a colourful glimpse at the beauty of Mumbai’s slums. Dev Patel gives a gripping performance as Jamal Malik, an empoverished Indian teen, who, after winning India’s version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, is suspected of cheating.

Slumdog Millionaire has been released in a limited number of theatres across North America for the past two months. If you have the chance to see it, the film is worth watching as it will touch the heart.

Don’t agree with our list? What are your top 10 films of 2008? Discuss with others in our new movie forums. Register by clicking on the image below.

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