Good Movies of 2008

Searching for the good movies of 2008? Well, my friends, look no further. Below, I’ve compiled ten of the good movies of 2008, and it’s a varied list including indie hits, Hollywood blockbusters, and even foreign flicks. The next time you’re in desperate need of something to watch on DVD or Blu-ray, you’ll have a wealth of choices right at your fingertips. You’re welcome, world.

  1. Cloverfield – A group of twenty-something New Yorkers gather to throw a going-away party for a friend moving to Japan. At the same time, a gigantic monster decides to show up in the city and start fu*king things up. The resulting combination from director J.J. Abrams is a handheld adventure which puts a modern spin on the daikaiju. I’m amazed a sequel hasn’t already been made, but I guess Abrams has been pretty busy resurrecting the Star Trek franchise.
  2. Rambo – With more kills than the previous three movies combined, this Sly Stallone flick finds badass John Rambo living on the Thailand/Burma border and catching snakes for a living. After escorting a group of missionaries into Burma (including the lovely Julie Benz), Rambo later learns that the do-gooders have been captured by the vicious Tatmadaw (Burmese military). He agrees to escort a group of mercs to save them, and you just know it’s a matter of time before he brings out his bow and big-ass knife. If you’re squeamish, you may want to skip this one, as it features all kinds of flying limbs, bayoneted babies, and Rambo chopping people into pieces with a .50-caliber machine gun. Another sequel is planned for 2011, and it may involve Rambo taking on cult members who’ve kidnapped his daughter (dumb move, cultists).
  3. Be Kind Rewind – Jack Black and Mos Def team up in this warm-hearted tale of friendship, perseverance, and the joy of low-budget filmmaking. When Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover), the owner of a store that specializes in VHS tapes, goes out of town for a few days, he leaves his lone employee, Mike (Mos Def), in charge. But before you can say “wacky plot development,” Mike’s pal Jerry (Jack Black) has gotten himself magnetized and accidentally erased every movie in the store. When a customer shows up wanting to rent Ghostbusters, the duo hit upon an idea: they’ll remake the film and pass it off as the original. This leads to scene after scene where Mike and Jerry lend their own unique vision to pre-existing classics. While it doesn’t entirely live up to the possibilities of the rich premise, you could do far worse as a rental.
  4. The Bank Job – Jason Statham stars as petty crook Terry Leather (what a great name) in this British film about the real-life 1971 robbery of a Baker Street bank. Many of the facts have been changed, including the assertion that one of the bank’s safety deposit vaults contained photos of Princess Margaret in a threesome. But whether it’s fact or fiction, Statham does his usual fine job of portraying a plucky Brit trapped in a situation beyond his control, and Saffron Burrows is radiant as a treacherous former model.
  5. The Wrestler – Art imitates life. This saying is especially true in The Wrestler, as former washed-up actor Mickey Rourke portrays Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a pro wrestler who finds himself on the scrap heap of life. With no money, a bad heart, and a daughter who barely knows him, Randy struggles to find his way and still dreams of a big comeback. He also dreams of finding love, preferably in the arms of an aging stripper named Pam (Marisa Tomei). It’s not always easy to watch, as Randy suffers through one setback after another, but you’ll never stop pulling for him, even after the screen suddenly cuts to black.
  6. Redbelt – When I hear the words “David Mamet,” I usually think of his play, Glengarry Glen Ross, or his work on films such as House of Games and Heist. But did you know the Chicago-born author/director/screenwriter/playwright is also a fan of mixed martial arts and holds a purple belt in jiu-jitsu? This passion is demonstrated in Redbelt, a modern-day samurai film which Mamet wrote and directed. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Mike Terry, the owner of a Jiu-Jitsu studio who falls on hard times and must decide whether or not to compromise his principals. The acting is rock-solid (especially Ejiofor), and the film’s final minutes include a series of realistic martial arts battles. Perfect for serious fans of MMA.
  7. Changeling - Based on a true story, Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a woman whose son goes missing in 1928 Los Angeles. A frantic search is conducted, with the police finally informing her that the child has been found. But when Christine goes to collect her son, she’s stunned to find that he’s actually an imposter. She protests, which leads the cops to call her an unfit mother and eventually throw her in the nuthouse. Meanwhile, she’s still trying to find out what happened to her real son. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Changeling was based on a true story, and Jolie gives a powerful performance worthy of all her hype.
  8. The Dark Knight – Heath Ledger’s complex portrayal of The Joker makes Jack Nicholson’s version look plain silly, and Christian Bale lends a scowl and gravelly voice to the proceedings as Batman. The all-star cast is rounded out by Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman and Maggie Gyllenhaal (replacing Katie Holmes). The war on crime in Gotham City continues, and a madman known as The Joker offers the mob his services to fix their bat problem. When they refuse, this scarred psychotic goes on a rampage anyway, with both criminal and innocent citizen caught in the crossfire. While it‘s far from perfect (why is Hollywood obsessed with always having two villains?), it’s still the greatest film ever made when compared to the dreadful Batman & Robin.
  9. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – Evelyn and Rick O’Connell (Maria Bello and Brendan Fraser) return to once again face the perils of the undead. This time around, they’re joined by their grown son, Alex (Luke Ford), as well as a mysterious Chinese woman named Lin (Isabella Leong). Their opposition is led by the immortal First Emperor of China (Jet Li), his legion of resurrected soldiers, and a modern-day paramilitary group. Mummy showdowns follow, as well as appearances by three-headed dragons, Yetis, and a powerful witch. I expected a drop-off in quality from the previous films, but Tomb of the Dragon Emperor provides all the thrill and laughs of its successors.
  10. Body of Lies – Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, Body of Lies is set in the never-dull Middle East as the “War Against Terror” rages on. DiCaprio plays a CIA operative in the middle of hell on Earth, while Crowe is his scheming handler. The real star of the show, however, is Mark Strong, who plays the head of the Jordanian General Intelligence Department, Hani Salaam. There’s action and intrigue aplenty, and even a little romance thrown in for the ladies. Heck, it’s even got a track from Chinese Democracy over the end credits, so rush right out and get this one. And if you’re too lazy to leave the house, you can take advantage of Blockbuster Online or Netflix.

If you simply can’t get enough of the good movies of 2008, here are some more articles you’ll find of interest:

Best Movies of 2008 – This article takes a look at the top-grossing films of 2008, as well as several “best of” lists from critics. We’ve even got Stephen King’s top picks for the year.

Best Vampire Movies – Good Vampire Movies – Let the Right One In was one of the best films of 2008. If you enjoyed it, here are some vampire movies to sink your teeth into (har har).

Good Comedy Movies 2008 – From multiple Will Farrell films to Jack Black providing the voice for an overweight panda, this post highlights a number of the good comedy movies of 2008.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 at 7:00 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 “Good Movies of 2008”

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    December 16, 2009 at 6:45 pm

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