Top 5 films Of 2008

A change of pace, but after spending the day watching films on my laptop I decided to share this post with you all, just in case any of you missed these great films. Any other suggestions/comments would be duely appreciated, as i'm running out of things to watch.

5. Wristcutters: A Love Story - Saw this at the Edinburgh film festival before going to see Regina Spektor, it must have been great because itstead of starring intently at her i kept thinking about this film. What's even better is it's cast includes Tom Waits and G.O.B From Arrested development. Its a story of a man who finds himself in some form of purgatory. Its just like our world but a little worse!. On finding out his ex girlfriend has also commited suicide, he and his new russian sidekick head on a road trip to find her. Full of great music and a querky tale based on a short story by Israeli novelist Etgar Keret.
Best moment: Eugene telling his story of how he got where he is
Best Song: 'Dead and lovely' Tom Waits
IMDB score and link: 7.4/10
Trailer:
4. There Will Be Blood: P.T Andersons adaptation of Upton Sinclairs 'Oil' is a mesmorising 'tour de force' (Sorry) that from the very begining draws you in to its uncomfortable world. The story centers around oil tycoon Daniel Plainview and his latest venture in the god fearing west. Daniel Day Lewis is phenominal as the leading man with great support from Paul Dano. Anderson, Lewis and Dano have already made names for themselves in hollywood though, and the real revalation here is the score by Radioheads Johnny Greenwood. The strings pound a beat through the story that makes it almost unwatchable at times, but in a good way


Best Moment: "I drink your milkshake"
Best song: The opening strings that pierce your ears
IMDB score and link: 8.3/10
Trailer:
3. Les Chanson D'amour: Not everyones cup of tea, ut after watching this i found myself skipping down the road singing in made up french sounding words. If you love french new wave cinema like i do then you'll love this wonderful reimagination of the genre. A musical based round a threesome which becomes disrupted by a tragic event. I really like Louis Garrel and this is a great performans by him. All the music is done by a man called Alex Beaupain, and its the way his songs flow effortlessly into the dialogue that make this film amazing. Plus its uber french and cool.


Best Moment: Singing outside the cinema
Best Song: Je n'aime que toi
IMDB score and link: 7.2/10
Trailer:
2. The Fall: I can't rave enough about how wonderful this film is. Staring Lee Pace off Pushing daisies fame, it contains the same trype of style. An excellent example of storytelling at its best. Anything that gives you that feeling of being tucked up in bed and being read a story is all good by me. The story centers around a young (very cute) spanish girl who, whilst in hospital meets a suicidal stuntman. In an attempt to gain her confidence he tells her a fantastical story of heroes and villians. But theres a twist, as there normally is. The story begings to show signs of reality and you realise he's after something else from her, other than her company.



Best Moment: When the mystic shows his skills
Best Song: Symphony No. 7 in A major
IMDB score and link: 8.0/10
Trailer:
1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Based on the biography of Jean Dominque Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, who one day, quite unexpectidly had a stroke which left him completly paralized apart from the use of one eye. Determined to tell his story he works with a speech therapist developing a blinking technique to convey his words. Wonderfully directed by Julian Schnable, this 'unfilmable' story is brought to life with such style its hard to draw yourself away. The montage shots are pure magic and its a film which really helps you see the true beauty available to you in this world. Interesting fact, Schnable, an american decided to do the film in French due to the horrible sounding letters of the English language. This film is a true classic already.

Best Moment: The montage scene showing the collapse of the cliff facings
Best Song: 'Don't kiss me goodnight' - Ultra Orange
IMDB score and Link: 8.1/10
Trailer:

Notable Mentions (Click film for link to trailer and IMDB score for link to site)

• Paranoid Park: Gus Van Sandt, skaters, Christopher Doyle cinematography! Enough said 7.0/10
• Beaufort: First great anti war film based in the middle east. A great film about friendship in troubled times 6.9/10
• In Bruges: Wonderfully funny, even Colin Farrel puts in a great show. Really want to go to Bruges now 8.1/10
• The Go-Getter: It has Zoey Deschanel and the music is done by M.Ward! Also its due to this film that we have the wonderful 'She & Him' 6.9/10
• In Search Of A Midnight kiss: If Clerks met 'Before Sunset' a very good romantic comedy 7.4/10

Also Rans: Assisation Of Jesse James, Eastern Promises, Blame It On Fidel, Warsaw Dark & Hunger (Trailer below because it just looks so godd dam good, would of made the final list but its far to gritty to watch more than once)

n.b Wrestler was no.3 till i realsied that was this year