I'm just getting around to writing some of my new year posts. So here comes movies of 2008: my favorite and least favorite movies for this past year.

My Favorite Movie of the Year: Elegy
I might as well start with the best. I loved Elegy. Everyone knows that Ben Kinglsey is the man, but Dennis Hopper and Penelope Cruz are also pretty great in it. It's kind of a downer, but not in the typical way. Even though a lot of the issues the characters face don't apply to me at all, this movie still really resonated with me in a lot of ways. I won't say anything else except that you should watch it. I love seeing a great movie without knowing anything beforehand, so Ill give you the same pleasure.

Worst (or Most Disappointing) Movie of the Year: Appaloosa
What a letdown. Even Viggo Mortensen's fantastic, yet subtle, acting couldn't save this movie. Nothing Renee Zellweger's character did made any sense and it was extremely anticlimactic for a Western. Even Jeremy Irons had a pathetic character. Made me miss the Jeremy Irons from Die Hard 3.

Fun Sleeper: Be Kind, Rewind
This movie isn't very coherent and meanders a lot, but the rewarding moments in it are too good to pass up. Would have been great if they left the moral ending out of it and just kept going with the Sweded movies, but what are you going to do. Added bonus: huge youtube collection of amateur Sweded videos in a promotional contest for the movie, which is awesome in itself.

Overhyped: The Dark Knight
I'm sure any and all comments on this post will hate me for this. But... it was just a superhero movie like any other. And I thought Ironman had more charm and cleverness (or maybe I just love it that it's a nerd who gets to be the superhero?).

Biggest Surprise: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
I went to see this because nothing else was out, so my expectations were low to begin with, but I love this movie! And I really wish they would actually make the Muppet musical in the movie so that I could watch it over and over (I like the Muppets).

Movie I liked that nobody else I know liked: The Happening
This is a horror movie, not a thriller like his usual movies. Given that classification, I can ignore the lack of any character development and Mark Wahlberg's crazy acting. But for a horror movie, it was cool.

Worst David Mamet Movie: Redbelt
So many things going on in this movie. So many things that it decided to just drop and never explain or come back to. Also, definitely not enough action or fighting for a fighting movie.

Honorable Mentions: Tropic Thunder, Vicky Christina Barcelona, and Wall-E
These were just great movies. It took me a long time to see Wall-E, but I'm glad I finally did see it, and in the movie theater to boot. I'm also glad I saw it before I watched Ratatouille on netflix because then I definitely wouldn't have seen it. I think it's the most charming movie I've seen in a while. Robert Downey Jr. stole Tropic Thunder and even though it was the Three Amigos part II, it's still hilarious. The only other comedy with laugh out loud moments every single scene that I can think of is the classic SNL Coneheads movie. Vicky Christina Barcelona was also a nice surprise. Great movie from Woody Allen. After Cassandra's Dream I was worried he was losing it, but this is definitely worth seeing.

Well that's all I have for 08. Hope there's some good ones in 09!