The 2008 Raymo awards

As predicted last December it was a patchy year at the movies but I still saw 33 films throughout the year, starting with the traditional light film P.S. I Love you and ending with Twilight. The difference between this and previous years is that I saw more crap movies or disappointing movies than ever before.
I don't know whether I chose wrongly or whether Hollywood's cheapening continued at a faster rate than usual - probably a bit of both. So here I present my top five films of 2008.

1. Lars And The Real Girl
A revelation. A film that dares to tackle a subject that could have been cheapened - man's longing for human contact. Ryan Gosling is outstanding as Lars, an average guy whose upbringing left him closed off emotionally and he turns to an internet ordered mannequin to find love. Yeah it sounds cheap but it is funny and touching and sad and utterly brilliant.
2. The Dark Knight
It's hard not to get caught up in the hype after Heath Ledger's death but this Batman sequel was his movie and he nailed it. I almost wish the film he was making when he passed doesn't come out because this is his supreme moment. He's taken an iconic character in the Joker and made Jack Nicholson look like a rank amateur. The best superhero movie made to date.
3. Horton Hears A Who
Jim Carrey's second attempt at a Dr Seuss classic is just that, an absolute classic. After a reasonable stab at The Grinch a few years back we head back to animation and Carrey steals the show, as he usually does, as the kind hearted elephant Horton who does his all to protect the world of the Who's which is located on a rogue speck of dust. Warm, very funny and with a message everyone can relate to. Loved it.
4. Gone Baby Gone
Casey Affleck stepped out of the shadow of his brother Ben (who directed the film very well) and produced one of the acting performances of the year, in one of the best films of the year and one where you didn't see the ending coming. Affleck plays a PI hired to find a little girl who has been abducted and he finds himself drawn into a web of lies, betrayal and mystery. A must see.
5. The Savages
If you like a film with flawless acting and a great story go no further. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney play siblings forced together to deal with their father who suffers from dementia. Both lead very different lives and learn valuable lessons from their estranged dad who actually sees much more than he is able to let on. Both actors are among my favourites and this is a tour de force for both. Not a flashy film but a worthy top fiver.

Honourable mentions: Prince Caspian (a worthy sequel), Twilight (but the book is heaps better), Never Back Down, Tropic Thunder (a classy comedy).
Surprise of the year: Newcastle. This Aussie surfie movie actually has a great coming of age story that you wouldn't have known existed from the trailer.
Flop of the year: Quantum Of Solace. A poor, poor cousin to Casino Royale which was actually able to hold your interest for two hours. This one couldn't make it past 90 minutes.

I had two films rated on 3 out of 10, the lowest I have ever given a film - they were The Happening (proving that the Sixth Sense was a fluke) and Harold And Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (proving yet again sequels aren't always needed).

With 2009 kicking off with a Jim Carrey comedy and a Harry Potter film due along with the Twilight sequel New Moon hopefully we are in for a better 12 months.