This has been a year that I would like to forget, as there are many films that you can’t say, “It was a classic,” as most of the major films were very disappointing. But there were some very good films to come out this year.

Before I get to my top 10, the Honorable Mentions in no order: “Hamlet 2”, “The Signal”, “Slippery Slope”, “Cocaine Cowboys 2”, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”, “The Promotion”, “The Go-Getter”, “Be Kind Rewind”, ‘Mulberry Street”, and “Killing Zelda Sparks”.

The Top 10 of 2008.

10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Even though 2008 was a bad year for films, there have been a lot of good comedies coming out. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” was surprisingly funny and very entertaining. When I first thought about this film, I thought that this was going to be another annoying gross out comedy, but surprisingly, it wasn’t, which started the trend of very entertaining comedies this year. This film had a “Knocked Up” feel to it, in the way that the story takes more precedent than the gross-humor. The main reason for the film’s success was Jason Segel, who wrote the screenplay and was the main star of the film. This was a non-stop, laugh-out loud film, as the humor was written very well. The acting was also very good. Segel did a great job making his character very loveable and translating it, in his performance onscreen. The film also has some very good supporting performances from Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand (as that singer that you wanted to punch in the face so badly), and SNL’s Bill Hader.

9. Turn the River

“Turn the River" is a film that flew under everyone’s radar but mine. This was a very powerful and realistic film, with a powerful performance from Famke Janssen, as she really made her character dark and troubled. This was a character that you wanted something to go right in her life. The film also has a very good screenplay from writer/director Chris Eigeman. The screenplay really goes into Jenssen’s character. At least, I was happy that the film received an Indie Spirit nomination for Best Feature for under 500,000, so it got some notice. It’s really a film that people should be checking out. It's in video stores now.

8. Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading almost didn’t make it on the list, but after seeing it for a second time, it still holds up, as a very funny and entertaining dark comedy with an all-star cast, with the likes of George Clooney, John Malkovich, Francis McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt. The performances were very good, especially from Pitt, who should be considered for a Best Supporting Actor nomination. The Coen Brothers brought their trademark dark humor while making the characters and situations very weird and surreal. At least it wasn’t like “Intolerable Cruelty”, where the story didn’t feel humorous.

7. Brutal Massacre

“Brutal Massacre” is a very funny mockumentary on the horror genre. Director Stevan Mena does a great job with both the screenplay and his direction. This film felt like a Christopher Guest film, with the zany humor and weird characters. It's what “For Your Consideration” should have been, not a boring film with dry characters. What makes this film entertaining was the fact the cast was very funny. This was one of those comedies where I was laughing out loud a lot. The film has a lot of very notable horror personalities, like David Naughton (An American Werewolf in London), Ellen Sandweiss (The Evil Dead), Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead (1978)), and Gunner Hansen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), who steals the show with his comedic performance.

6. Crawford

Crawford was a very powerful documentary that focuses on the people of the town, instead of our soon to be ex-president. Director David Modigliani does a very good job, not injecting his own political view to this project, as it easily could have gone that route. You get to know, each of the people that you meet in the film. The director treated them with a lot of respect than you would see in other documentaries. It gives you that small town feel that makes each of the people interviewed very fascinating to watch.

There are three ways that you can see this film. The film is available for rental on Netfilx, Netflix Watch Instantly, and on the official film’s website at www.crawfordmovie.com.

5. A l’intérieur (Inside)

“Inside” is probably the most shocking and ultra-violent slasher film I’ve seen in years. I could see why both Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury were highly rumored to directed “Halloween 2” this past year. Their direction was flawless, as it had the suspense that classics are made of. The suspense in this film makes it very shocking, as you begin find out why the person is stalking the mother to-be. The film’s story was just great. They do a great job developing the characters and the film’s story until its shocking end. Also the film has great performances from both of its stars, Beatrice Dalle and Alysson Paradis. They make their characters so believable, which also helps sells the film’s suspense and make the story more interesting than just being a generic slasher film. It’s a film I highly suggest you seek out, if you’re a true slasher fan.

4. In Search of a Midnight Kiss

“In Search of a Midnight Kiss” was one of those great independent films that didn’t play in many theaters because, well, it was too good for the multiplexes. Like “Turn the River," it too received an Indie Spirit nomination for Best Feature under $500,000. Even though the film did get some exposure the IFC On Demand service, this is truly an indie gem. This was a very good look at relationships and the search for companionship. The film has two great performances from both Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds, as they made the characters very interesting. The direction and story was also good, as this is a great look at love in the 21st century. I hope you will have a chance to check out this film when it hits DVD sometime in 2009.

3. The Dark Knight

The biggest blockbuster of the year was “The Dark Knight”. There was a lot of hype surrounding this film, with the death of Health Ledger this year. Everyone was saying that this was his best performance. Going into this film, I didn’t believe what everyone was saying, because I was one of those people that thought that Ledger was miscast and didn’t think that his performance would be better than Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of “The Joker” in Tim Burton’s “Batman”. Ledger’s performance did live up to the hype and then some, as this was a great performance. I truly believe if he was still alive today, this performance would still get the same attention that it’s getting, as he make the legendary character very dark and twisted. This film is brilliantly directed by Christopher Nolan. The film felt more like “Heat” or “The Departed” instead of a comic book film. It definitely should be getting Oscar consideration for Best Picture.

2. The Visitor

“The Visitor” is the most powerful drama I’ve seen this year. This film should be getting a lot of Oscar consideration, especially for Best Picture and Best Actor for Richard Jenkins (who also co-stars in “Burn After Reading”). One of the people that’s not getting enough praise for this film is writer/director Tom McCarthy, who previously directed the critically acclaimed “The Station Agent”. Like that film, “The Visitor” really touches you in a way. McCarthy does a great job developing the story, as he spends time developing the relationship between this professor and the couple, who has taken refuge in his apartment. It helps you be emotionally invested in the film and its characters. He also gets great performances from his cast, as this one of the best ensemble acting pieces of the year. The film also has an Oscar worthy performance from veteran character actor Richard Jenkins. His performance makes you very tuned to his character and the events that will change his character’s life forever. This could have been easily boring, but Jenkins makes sure that his character becomes one that you sympathize with by the end of the film. It’s a film that I highly recommend you go out to your local video store and rent it, as “The Visitor” is truly an independent gem.

1.Wall-E

Isn’t weird that TonyD and I both agree on the best and worst film of 2008. I’ve seen this film three times. To me, this film just gets better every time I watch it. I’m so glad to anonounce this film as the best film of 2008. This is one of those films that I didn’t get a chance to see until DVD. Wall-E is truly the best film that Disney has put out since Toy Story 1 & 2 and it might also be the best film that Pixar has put out. This is a film that everyone will enjoy, as it also has some adult themes along with all the zaniness that the kids will enjoy. Andrew Stanton’s direction was pure magical. He and the screenwriters did a great job making this film very accessible to everyone and not its target audiences. They also did a great job moving the pace of the film along, considering that the film was almost dialogue-less for the half of it. But what makes it so great is the fact that the characters were very likable and charming. For a family film to be successful for kids and adults, the characters and humor must be perfect. I was surprised that it was perfect in both aspects. I liked how they also go into adult themes like the environment and the issue of obesity to name a few. But what makes this film very successful is the fact that it has a story that is very heartwarming. Every film fan or regular fan can’t say that this movie is awful, because it is not. It’s a film that within the next ten years or so will be on the AFI Top 100 Films lists, as it’s a film that can truly be considered as a classic.