10 Good Movies to Rent 2008

Last year was a great time to be a film buff, and these 10 Good Movies to Rent 2008 are all the proof you’ll need. So whether you prefer to rent from a brick-and-mortar location or an online outfit like Blockbuster Online or Netflix, this list should provide plenty of quality cinematic choices. And it’s just the tip of the ‘ol iceberg, as there are literally dozens of good films from 2008 to enjoy.

If you can think of more, be sure to mention it in the comments section below, or head over to our movie forum and weigh in with your opinion.

  1. Encounters at the End of the World – Director Werner Herzog takes his camera and journeys to Antarctica, but this isn’t a film about penguins. Instead, we’re treated to the stories of people who live and work in this inhospitable climate. Raw and honest, it’s the latest in a long line of masterpieces from this German visionary.
  2. Synecdoche, New York – Does art imitate life, or is it the other way around? That’s the question posed in this unique directorial debut from Charlie Kaufman (writer of Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as a theatre director who receives a grant that allows him to pursue his most exotic artistic interests. He does this with great vigor, constructing a false city inside a warehouse and hiring actors to mimic the futile and mundane nature of the outside world. You’ll either find this one to be a great piece of art or a complete disaster. Either way, it’s worth a look.
  3. Happy-Go-Lucky – Actress Sally Hawkins won numerous awards for her role as a perpetually optimistic schoolteacher in this British comedy/drama. Critics have referred to the film as “life-affirming” and “more than a movie, it’s a gift.” Go rent it, and see what all the fuss is about.
  4. Ballast – When a man tries to take his own life, we see the effect it has on three other individuals. Winner of Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, critic Roger Ebert admitted that it made him cry. How many of the good movies to rent 2008 can make that claim?
  5. Shotgun Stories - Another Ebert favorite, Shotgun Stories tells the story of two sets of brothers, both sired by the same man. But while one group remembers him as a kind man, the others only recall a violent brute who made their lives miserable. When the old man dies, the half-siblings are thrown together at the funeral, and a series of violent confrontations ensue. Michael Shannon is at his gloomy best.
  6. Slumdog Millionaire – When a young man from India finds success on the show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, it draws the suspicion of both the local cops and the show’s slimy host. How could a person of such humble origins know the answers to such difficult questions? As the story unfolds, we learn the answers in a series of inspiring and heart-wrenching flashbacks. The biggest Oscar winner from 2008, it stars the distractingly beautiful Freida Pinto.
  7. Iron Man – After years of supporting roles and substance abuse problems, actor Robert Downey Jr. finally busts out in a major way with this comic book adaptation. Expect the franchise to be around for years to come, and the first installment co-stars Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard. Downey is picture-perfect as the charming playboy who likes to drink just a little too much.
  8. Milk – Sean Penn won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, a politician and gay rights activist who was tragically gunned down in 1978. Gus Van Sant directs, and the film co-stars Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna. Sean Penn seems like a humorless jerk, but the guy sure can act.
  9. Frozen River – This powerhouse film revolves around two desperate women (Melissa Leo and Misty Upham) who join forces to smuggle illegal immigrants from Canada to the U.S. via the frozen waters of the St. Lawrence River. Leo received an Oscar nomination for her performance.
  10. Frost/Nixon – Based on a successful play, Frost/Nixon takes a somewhat fictional look at the events which led to broadcaster David Frost’s (Michael Sheen) series of interviews with the former President of the U.S., Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). Directed by Ron Howard, the film also co-stars Kevin Bacon, Toby Jones, Rebecca Hall, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell. Anyone interested in history or politics should give it a look.

Hopefully, you haven’t already seen all these good movies to rent 2008. If you have, then check out the following entries for even more quality films to enjoy:

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am and is filed under Good Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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2 Responses to “10 Good Movies to Rent 2008”

  1. 10 Good Movies to Rent 2008 | Cinema Feed says:
    December 22, 2009 at 11:45 am

    [...] Excerpt from: 10 Good Movies to Rent 2008 [...]

  2. Top Grossing Movies of 1978 says:
    March 3, 2010 at 11:36 am

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