The Best Films of 2008 or the Howies

Top Ten Movies of 2008

Best Picture: Reprise
The rest in alphabetical order

Antartica
Che
The Counterfeiters
Edge of Heaven
In Bruges
Let the Right One In
Love Songs
Tell No One
Waltz with Bashir

Honorable mentions:

The Dark Knight, Wall-E

Special mention for Documentary:

Man on Wire
Helvetica

A Special List of Movies only shown once in L.A. (at film fests, etc.) in alphabetical order:

Before I Forget
The Chaser
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
The Headless Woman
Solitary fragments
Summer hours

Special Award for Best ensemble:

Doubt (Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Note: I know this is cheating, but it freed up spaces on the best acting lists.


Best Actors of 2008

Best Actor:

Jacques Nolot – Before I Forget

The rest in alphabetical order

Francois Cluzet – Tell No One
Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder, Iron Man
Karl Markovics - The Counterfeiters
Sean Penn - Milk

Honorable mentions:

Collin Farrell – In Bruges, Cassandra’s Dream
Benicio del Toro – Che
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon


Best Actresses of 2008

Best Actress:

Melissa Leo - Frozen River
The rest in alphabetical order

Juliette Binoche – Flight of the Red Balloon, Summer Hours
Sally Hawkins – Happy Go Lucky
Maria Onetto – Headless Woman
Kirsten Scott Thomas – I Have Loved You So Long

Honorable mentions:

Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Kate Winslet – The Reader; Revolutionary Road


Best Supporting Actors of 2008

Best Supporting Actor:

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

The rest in alphabetical order

Josh Brolin – Milk
Ralph Feinnes - In Bruges, the Duchess, The Reader
Gilles LeLouche – Tell No One
Eddie Marsan – Happy Go Lucky

Honorable Mentions:

Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road;
Diego Luna - Milk

Best Supporting Actresses of 2008

Best Supporting Actress:

Penelope Cruz – Vicki Christina Barcelona
The rest in alphabetical order

Kathy Bates – Revolutionary Road
Lisa Kudrow – Kabluey
Elza Lyberstein – I Have Loved You So Long
Amy Poehler – Hamlet II

Honorable mentions:

Marissa Tomei – The Wrestler
Hannah Shygulla – Edge of Heaven

Best Direction of 2008

Best Director:

Che - Steven Sodenbergh
The rest in alphabetical order

The Chaser – Hong-jin Na
The Dark Knight – Christopher Nolan
The Good, the Bad, the Weird – Ji Woom-Kin
Reprise – Joachim Trier

Honorable mention:

Jon Favreau – Iron Man

Best Screenplays of 2008

Best Screenplay:

Reprise – Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt

The rest in alphabetical order

Antarctica – Yair Hochner
The Counterfeiters – Stefan Ruzowitzky
In Bruges – Martin McDonagh
Tell No One – Guilliame Canet, Harlan Coben