2008 was a mediocre year for cinema, but it did have a greater than average number of  fine political dramas (such as “Milk,”   “Frost Nixon”  and “W”), documentaries (“Encounters at the End of the World,” “ Body of War,”  and “Constantine’s Sword”) , horror films (“Let the Right one In,”  “Mother of Tears,”  and “Teeth”,)  as well as French imports (“The Class,”  ”Girl Cut in Two,”  and “Tell No One”).    Many of the films being pushed for  the Oscars (such as “The Reader”  and  “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) are high profile snooze fests.

The blockbusters (with a few exceptions such as “The Dark Knight,” “Ironman,” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) were more expensive, sub literate, and more unwatchable than ever. Remember this is the year that “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” topped the box office reports for several weeks.  Does any one need more evidence of cultural decline? But the news is not all bad . Gus Van Sant had an astoundingly good year, and he had two films in my top five (both of them far better than his smarmy, Oscar winning “Good Will Hunting”).   It remains to be seem if his monumental cinematic achievements will translate into awards (Oscar people take note), but frankly I have my doubts.  I don’t ever remember a director having such a good year since Steve Soderbergh did both “Erin Brockovich” and “Traffic” in 2000. 

Overall 2008, was a much weaker year for film than 2007, and I don’t think “The Dark Knight” and “The Duchess” would have made my top 10 in most years. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the newest films by two of my favorite film makers: Guy Maddin and Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino” or “ My Winnepeg ”),  so there may be a few holes in the list. Now, without further adieu here’s my top 10 list and 15 honorable mentions.

1.       The Class-Compelling and timely French film focuses upon multi cultural classes in a modern French high school.  Unlike many other high school films (such as “Dead Poets Society” and “Dangerous Minds”) most of the film takes place in the grittily realistic confines of the class room.  This is hands down the best film I have ever seen about education, and most other school films seem phony, dated or contrived in comparison. In French with English sub-titles Opening in Chicago on February 5.
 

2.       Paranoid Park-Gus Van Sant’s hypnotic, non-linear film about a murder in a skate boarding community is the one of the year’s most visually interesting and intellectually challenging films. This may be the ”L’ Avventura “ of this year. Nothing much happens, but rarely has nothing represented something so well.
 

3.       Rachel Getting Married-Anne Hathaway gives one of the year’s richest, most multi layered performances as an unstable woman who has just gotten out of drug rehab. Her whole family is worried that she will ruin her sister’s wedding, and her/love hate relationship with her sister is beautifully developed.  This film also includes a fine cameo by Debra Winger who deserves consideration for best supporting actress for a gripping but brief verbal confrontation scene. This is director Jonathan (“Melvin and Howard”) Demme’s best film in decades.
 

4.       Milk-Sean Penn completely transforms himself for a triumphant role as a great gay civil rights leader, Harvey Milk.  This film is just as impressive as Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X,” and it is more inspiring than any other recent bio pic.  And with recent developments in California law, this film is more relevant than ever.
 

5.       Encounters at the End of the World-Werner Herzog’s cool idiosyncratic documentary about Antarctica offers more scenes of dazzling  natural beauty than any other film this year, and it also has an important environmental  message. Where else can you find out about how to build an igloo or insanity in the penguin population? This would make a great double bill with Herzog’s previous “Grizzly Man.” The DVD package contains a fascinating discussion between Herzog and Jonathan Demme which is almost as good as the film.
 

6.       The Visitor-A professor mourning his wife’s death accidentally meets a young immigrant couple and they help him reconnect with his emotions.  The sweetest, most humanistic film of the year gets better every time you see it.
 

7.       I Served the King of England-Amusing Chaplinesque Czech film about a man who survives Nazi and communist rule without becoming politically committed. He  wants to get rich above everything, and finds out that getting what you ask for could ruin your life.  In Czech with English sub-titles.
 

8.       Constantine’s Sword-Enlightening documentary about the history of religious bigotry was so potent that I had to rush right out, and read the sprawling 600 plus page source text.
 

9.       The Duchess-Keira Knightly (in her best ever role) gives a heart wrenching performance as an aristocratic woman who marries the richest philanderer in England.  She is trapped in a loveless marriage and imprisoned by societal limitations for women. The parallels with the late Princess Diana are obvious, but the cast brings this film to life and raises it above most other costume dramas.
 

10.   The Dark Knight-Heath Ledger gives a mesmerizing performance as the maniacal Joker in this stylish, morally ambiguous action film (Ledger’s so good that the best scenes in this blockbuster action film are of him merely talking).  Aaron Eckhart is almost as good as a tragic DA, Harvey Dent.  Director, Christopher Nolan outdoes himself creating a visually arresting Gotham City.  Sorry Tim Burton, but this is the definitive Batman film, and it may be the high point of the whole superhero film genre. Who would have thought that a franchise film would be a worthy project for Christopher (“Memento”) Nolan?

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

Best  film-The Class

Best director-Gus Van Sant for Paranoid Park and Milk

Best cinematography (tie)-Anthony Dod Mantle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best actor-Sean Penn

Best actress-Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married

Best supporting actor-Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best supporting actress- Lina Leandersson for Let the Right One In

Best original screenplay-Jenny Lumet for Rachel Getting Married

Best adapted screenplay- Guillaume Canet for Tell No One

Best soundtrack- (tie) Jan Kazmarek for The Visitor and Jean Lauise Aubert for I’ve Loved You So Long

Best makeup- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best comedy-Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Best animated film-Wall E.

Promising Chicago based directors-Renay Kerkman and Thomas Realm

Most promising performer- Jess Weixlier for Teeth

Most promising director-Thomas Alfredson for Let the Right One In

Comeback of the year- (tie) Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler and Robert Downey Jr.  for Ironman

Worst Film of the year-Zombie Strippers