1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Put simply, There Will Be Blood is the most viscerally raw and original piece of cinematic American fiction since David Fincher’s seminal Fight Club. Yes, it’s that good. And in a year of high-quality cinema-going material, it is far and away the best thing released in the last 12 months, even taking into consideration the second coming of the Bat (see no. 2). Loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil!, Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic takes no prisoners with Daniel Day Lewis owning the screen as main man and all-round unlikeable oil prospector Daniel Plainview. Chewing up and spitting out Anderson’s lyrical lines of dialogue and dominating his beautifully-framed, expansive vistas like a man possessed, it’s a turn in a movie quite unlike any other.
2. THE DARK KNIGHT
In a summer of supes (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Hancock, Hellboy II), Chris Nolan’s second Caped Crusader chronicle was a cowl and pointy ears above the rest. Dark in name, dark in nature, The Dark Knight swooped out of a sea of expectation and clever-clever Internet-based advertising to blow everyone away with its awesomeness, taking the iconic character to even greater heights than he’s scaled before, arguably in any medium. Best superhero-based film ever? You bet, Bat-fans. And how about that turn from the tragically-taken-before-his-time Heath Ledger? No hyperbole can even come close.
3. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
How good were the films on offer this year if a five-star modern classic from the Coen bros can only rate third best? Take a look above for proof. But don’t overlook this now almost-forgotten gem (it came out waaay back at the beginning of February) because any other year this slice of cinematic perfection would easily top any poll. Based on a brilliant book by brilliant novelist Cormac McCarthy, No Country is a brilliantly bleak neo-Western that not only stands as one of the year’s best but one of the best from the brothers Coen as well. And they’ve made some half decent movies in their career.
4. WALL-E
How they can keep topping themselves is quite something. Toy Story 1 & 2, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E. That’s some strike rate. But not only is WALL-E the best film Pixar has given us thus far, it is also the riskiest and most uncommercial production yet. On pixel (sic) at least. Of course, having the cutest robot in the whole cosmos as your main character is a good starting point. Brought to beeping life through the genius sound design of Ben Burtt, WALL-E is a near-silent movie star to rate right alongside the greatest and most loveable: Buster Keaton and Gromit.
5. SON OF RAMBOW
An original piece of film-making in every possible way, Son of Rambow also announced the uber-talented writer/director Garth Jennings as the UK equivalent to Michel Gondry (whose Be Kind Rewind just missed out on the top five) or Spike Jonze. Which is no mean compliment in anyone’s book. Blighty’s answer to Stand By Me, Rambow is a poignant ode to friendship, childhood wonderment and innocence and also the magic of movies. Which anyone reading this must surely share in. Besides, it’s British through-and-through, which should be celebrated and championed ‘cos the Brits can make quality too.
FIVE MORE
Juno – A five-star surprise on first watch, Juno just misses out on top five status due to some of its sparkle fading upon repeat viewings. Still manages to stand out in an impressive year for cinematic releases all-round though.
I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Okay – Bonkers but brilliant, Park Chan-Wook’s demented rom-com was about as far removed from his violent vengeance trilogy as it’s possible to be (bar the Terminator-riffing massacre). But when the outcome is this good, then that’s okay.
The Mist – Moody and murky with a pervading sense of dread throughout and a downer-than-downbeat ending, The Mist was one of the most gripping and nerve-shredding films released this year and yet further proof of Frank Darabont’s (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) film-making genius.
Gone Baby Gone – After a delayed release on these shores thanks to its (surface) similarities to the Madeleine McCann disappearance, Gone Baby Gone eventually announced the second coming of Ben Affleck – less big-chinned leading man, more superior nuanced film-maker. His sophomore offering is eagerly anticipated.
Be Kind Rewind – Michel Gondry’s ode to geek was a whimsical tale of a Capra-esque community that featured some of the most loveable scenes of the year.
...AND ONE TURKEY
Shudder at this list of nominees: Aliens vs Predator: Requiem, 10,000 BC, Diary of the Dead, The Love Guru... But step forward M. Night Shyalaman’s The Happening, an undeniable force of awfulness that is either the end or the wake up call to Shyalaman’s career. It features possibly the worst scene of 2008 in Marky Mark Wahlberg’s showdown with a domestic houseplant.
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