Best Films of 2008

Best films (25, including documentaries) of 2008, listed in order of viewing:

• There Will be Blood (USA)
• Persepolis (France)
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks, & 2 Days (Romania)** [Easily the best film of the year]
• Zodiac (US)
• The Band's Visit (Israel)
• Beaufort (Israel)
• The Counterfeiters (Germany)
• Alexandra (Russia)
• Tuya's Wedding (China)
• Tell No One (France)
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Spain/USA)
• Edge of Heaven (Turkey/Germany)
• Frozen River (USA)
• I've Loved You So Long (France)
• A Secret (France)
• Rachel Getting Married (USA)
• Let the Right One In (Sweden)
• Milk (USA)
• Doubt (USA)
• Frost/Nixon (USA)

Documentaries:

• Deliver us from Evil (US)
• Manufactured Landscapes (Canada)
• Terror's Advocate (France)
• Primo Levi's Journey (Italy)
• Deep Water (England)
• No End in Sight (US)
• Sicko (US)
• The Rape of Europa (US)

Note that some of the first films on my list actually opened toward the end of 2007 but didn't screen in SF until January, 2008. Also some highly rated films that have not yet opened here, Revolutionary Road, Waltz with Bashir, and The Class, for example, will probably make next year's list. Overall, 2008 had some very good films, but not as strong as 2007. Have a great New Year, filled with more wonderful films on the big screen.

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