Let's begin....
2008
Top Five
I would dub 2008 the year the comic book film was reborn and that young boys falling for supernatural creatures was a big plus.
I have to acknowledge that there are two films on many peoples tops of 2008 lists that I have not seen- The Hurt Locker and In Bruges. I have meant to watch both but haven't got around to it so who knows if I redo this in another 10 years, the list might change. Onto the list...
The Dark Knight
I think of all the films made in 2008 this is the one I have re-watched the most- I'm actually watching it again as I type. I said I wasn't ranking but I think it just ecks out best film of 2008. It is without doubt the best Batman film ever made and even this Marvel fan who rarely has a positive word for DC cinematic fare in its current form (see my least favourite films for the last two years), can admit that this is actually likely the best comic book film ever made. Nolan creates a filmic journey in this and also the previous film in the series (the third is less good) that started to show that comic books could be treated seriously in adaptation. The craft that went into this film and the previous film is something that had not been seen in a comic book film before (Burton's first Batman was the closest) and hasn't been since. Also Nolan and co pull an Empire Strikes Back/ Godfather II and gave us a sequel that improves on the original. Bale remains the best person to don the Bat cowl whilst also being a believable Bruce Wayne, Michael Caine the perfect Alfred, Gary Oldman a brilliant Gordon, Morgan Freeman a classic Q (wait that is Bond...Lucius Fox I mean) BUT all of them were in the first film. Maggie Gyllenhaal picks up Katie Holmes's original role and improves it, and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/ Two Face does a great job BUT just with them it would equal the first film not improve on it. The reason it is better than Batman Begins comes down to two things, plot and one performance. The film has a much more robust plot than the first film and in many ways it is significantly darker. Performance wise the film belongs to Heath Ledger and his powerhouse performance as the Joker which is what turned this into the cinematic classic that it is today. Ledger might not to be the best Joker in my opinion (the animated versions voiced by Mark Hamill are) but he did manage the near impossible task of overtaking Jack Nicholson as the best live action version of the character and I call huge shoes to fill for Joaquin Phoenix for the 2019 Joker film especially after Jared Leto's spectacular failure in Suicide Squad. The first comic film to take home an Oscar in a non technical category for Ledger, and along with Iron Man (also a 2008 film that would be just outside my top 10 or so for the year), this film marked 2008 as the year that pretty much spawned the current era of the comic book film.
Also as a preview of 2018, Christian Bale will be getting a mention there too. Ever since Little Women, he has been one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood for the last few decades. Where is his Oscar? Granted sadly I don't think this year will be his year either but come on academy!
Slumdog Millionaire
This hasn't come across in my top films of recent years as T2: Trainspotting was just outside my 2017 top 15 and his other films predate my doing a yearly count down, but I'm a massive Danny Boyle fan. Shallow Grave and Trainspotting are up there with my all time favourite films and I think both A Life Less Ordinary and Sunshine are highly underrated films. This might not crack a lot of people's 2008 top 5s but it is definitely one of mine. It is a beautiful and at times deeply heart wrenching. Also it is the film that introduced the world to Dev Patel and as a fan of his since Skins, I could not have been happier.
Låt den rätte komma in (or Let the Right One In)
Below is a scene from the film as I cannot find the trailer...
Truth be told, I only watched this for the first time today but it is instantly clear that it was one of the best films of 2008 and it is the first two foreign language films on my tops of 2008. Beautiful if violent and a harrowing portrayal of outsiders struggling with loneliness in the two main characters. Outstanding turns from the two leads who are both 12 and I believe this might have been both of their first films. Also as I said this and the next film show that 2008 was the year for films about young boys falling for not humans...films of the same year that had older female teens doing the same fared much worse.
Gake no ue no Ponyo (or just Ponyo)
See two foreign language films and two films about boys building friendships/relationships with not humans- granted the boy in Ponyo is five so it isn't any hint of romance as there is in the relationship between the 12 year olds in Låt den rätte komma in. This might be my second favourite Miyazaki film after Princess Mononoke. As you might recall from my 2013 end of year countdown which included The Wind Rises, any Miyazaki film is an immediate in for my best films of the year. Ponyo has beautiful animation, a great message (like many Miyazaki films ecology and the environment is a major theme), and adorable characters. I cannot comment on the dub as I haven't seen it though the voice cast is quite good- the only Miyazaki film (or anime generally) I recommend the dub on is Howl's Moving Castle, always go with the sub when you can.
Burn After Reading
I know that there are some who consider this a lesser Coen brothers film and yes if it was up against Lebowski or Fargo or No Country for Old Men or O Brother Where Art Thou? it would be solidly bested. However it is in my opinion, the funniest film of 2008 and as a portrayal of stupid, selfish people there are few films that get near it. I need to do a re-watch of it soon and I recommend others do too as it gets better with the savouring of it.
Special mention
As I said, I watched Låt den rätte komma in for the first time today so I feel I need to shout out the film it ousted from the top five which was Doubt. It is a masterclass in acting with four of the best performances in film at its core.
Worst film
This is actually a hard call because 2008 was a year I saw a LOT of bad cinema. Did my not shared by many hatred of Forgetting Sarah Marshall give it the crown even if it features many actors I love and a not bad performance by Russell Brand? Did Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull kill the franchise that much? Did the writer desperate and ridiculous need to have Carrie end up with Big, and their messing with Miranda and Steve (my favourite couple from the show) worsen Sex and the City (the movie version) to a sufficient degree? Was the "loom of destiny" and other stupidity enough to lift Wanted from terrible to funny enough to not be completely terrible? Did the jokes I could make at the expense of Twilight lift it to not thoroughly awful?
I looked at the Razzies for that year and oddly of the above only Kingdom of the Crystal Skull got nominated (it won in fact for the worst sequel/remake/prequel) category.
I have to say it comes down to Sex and the City or Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for me, and in the end ruining a beloved franchise, giving Cate Blanchett the worst part and (spoilers) UNNEEDED ALIENS, lands Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as my worst film of 2008.
1998
Top Five
The Big Lebowski
I ended my best of 2008 with a Coen brothers film so let's started 1998 with one. Again I wasn't planning on ranking but this is one of my all time favourite films so yes it is definitely my favourite 1998 film. So funny, so many quotable moments, and so perfect a performance by Jeff Bridges. The dude abides!
The Truman Show
The film that showed us all that Jim Carrey actually could act. Funny and at times poignant and beautifully directed by Peter Weir. Carrey is amazing as the title character but Ed Harris's performance as the man who directs the show definitely deserves praise as well.
Ringu (or The Ring)
Not the American remake, it came out in 2002 and I've never seen it...the Japanese original. I believe Ringu stands the test of time as one of the most terrifying horror films ever made. I know many people who were too scared to sleep after watching the remake but those I know who have seen both all say the Japanese original is better and scarier.
The Opposite of Sex
Sadly no trailer for this one. You'll have to hunt for it online. If you look on IMDB, you might be thinking 'really? its only a 6.5 on IMDB'. I suggest you look at Rotten Tomatoes and you'll see the problem. It seems audiences didn't love this as much as I did or as much as critics did. Deeply dark and not remotely PC hilarity and an amazing turn by Christina Ricci in the lead role. This isn't a guilt pleasure or anything, it is straight up solidly awesome film.
Rushmore
Now if you knew this was released in 1998, you knew it was coming as I have repeatedly spoken of my love for Wes Anderson and he will be getting a mention in my 2018 countdown as you likely will have guessed. Perfectly cast awkward young Jason Schwartzman and as always with Anderson films, the brilliance of Bill Murray. Love it!
Special mentions
Nods needs to be given in the directions of the film that was my favourite film back in 1998, Shakespeare in Love (for all its sap, I still have a soft spot for it), and to the film I had questioned including above and then left off, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. The above is very American with one exception so I need to nod at other countries at least a little even if it is just the UK.
Worst film
This is impossible as looking at IMDB, four films that I consider among my least favourite films of all time came out in 1998. 2008 had mess but nothing on this scale as I could easily exclude the films I was picking between in 2008 when it came down to it and I cannot for the life of me do that for 1998. That means you get all four...
Firstly the boring waste of talent and mix of TOO many accents that is Man in the Iron Mask which has no trailer I can easily link to. How could you do this to me, Leo???
Then, three of the least scary, most boring and poorly made, horror films ever in Urban Legends, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (love the first one, this sequel deeply SUCKS), and Disturbing Behaviour. These are also peak 1990s fare as both Urban Legends and Disturbing Behaviour feature folk from Dawson's (Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes respectively) and ISKWYDLS adds Brandi to a cast that already in jammed full of 90s royalty.
The Urban Legends trailer I cannot find but here is Disturbing Behaviour...
And I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (ugh this title is so long)...
Just to point out these four films tie for worst film of 1998 in my opinion despite the fact that Wild Things came out that year and yes I have seen it.... Also the teen horror focus here ages me very clearly as yes I was a teen in 1998.
1988
OK I was expecting mess as I was a child in 1988...but this is not that hard. The difficulty at present as you saw in 1998, the further back we go, the fewer trailers I can find...
I have to flag, despite being a Miyazaki fan, I haven't seen My Neighbour Totoro which was a 1988 film. I'm sure it would be top 5 had I seen it and also I actually have two anime films in the top 5 already so I hope others can forgive this oversight.
Top 5
Heathers
I was expecting there would be a trailer for this online but there isn't. Again I wasn't planning on ranking but my favourite film of the year in question is first (that said this had strong competition from the next film on the list and the fifth film listed for 1988). This is without compare the funniest teen film ever made even though it is also super dark and would have been darker still had the original ending been maintained. Without it we would not only not have the musical version (which is super enjoyable if you get chance to see it) or the new TV series (I've not seen it), but teen comedy would be a different place entirely- if you think Mean Girls changed the face of teen comedy, go and watch Heathers and see that it wouldn't have existed if this which is a better film had not come first. Sharply hilarious, great acting from Winona Ryder and Christian Slater in particular, and super quotable. If you don't believe me, 94% of folks on Rotten Tomatoes can't be wrong (yes it is super highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes).
Die Hard
How apt considering Christmas has just passed to have one of the best Christmas movies of all time to include here. Just as Heathers changed teen comedy, this majorly shook up the action film and like Heathers super quotable. It is one of best paced action movies ever made and how can you go wrong when Alan Rickman is your villain. I did my yearly Christmas re-watch a few weeks ago and this seriously stands the test of time (though a few more women in the cast would be nice).
Akira
It is an age since I've seen Akira but it still makes the 1988 cut as it is a true anime classic. It does in cartoon form what Die Hard does in live action as in it is perfectly paced action. As you would expect, it (and the other anime I'm getting to) show better animation in 1988 than you see in some Western animation houses nowadays and it is particularly of note in Akira where which is very quickly paced and includes things like motorcycle chases.
A Fish Called Wanda
I fondly remember this as a family favourite in the early 90s. It is deeply hilarious film in particular for the performances of Michael Palin and Kevin Kline. I'm sure there are parts of it that haven't aged as well but I don't care, I still love it.
Hotaru no haka (or Grave of the Fireflies)
Now I'm saying this of a film that came out the same year as Beaches which is a lot of people's go to film if they want to cry, SADDEST FILM EVER MADE! I cried buckets when I saw this and struggled to stop. That is a testament to its brilliance because Western animation reserves this type of emotion for brief moments in films about animals (the death of Bambi's mother is the best example that predates this and obviously the death of Mufusa occupies a similar space but post dates this). To use animation to tell human story which is packed with pathos in the way this film does is yet to be matched.
Special mentions
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Rain Man which got pushed out from the above. It is still a great film and considering the above are anime, genre pieces, and a comedy, I'm not shocked Rain Man took home all the Oscars in 1988. Also shout out to some childhood favourites from 1988 which are actually of varying quality in Scrooged (yes my Bill Murray love dates back to childhood), The Land Before Time, Willow (I am aware it isn't great but kid me loved it), and Young Einstein (same caveat as Willow).
Worst film
There was A LOT of crappy horror released in 1988 but what I have seen of it is of the "so bad, it's good" variety so shockingly not pure horror just one thriller with horror elements to mention. So first dishonourable mentions to My Stepmother is an Alien and The Seventh Sign (which I liked as a teen but later realised is super bad). Ultimately in the era of too many sequels of sub par films, the worst film of 1988 in my opinion was fourth sequel (i.e. number 5) in its franchise.
When to many sequels aren't enough, you have Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach
I cannot believe the trailer for this is online and the trailer for Heathers isn't!!!
1978
Now we are in the zone that predates my birth and a quick scan of IMDB tells me time to stop as classic horror aside, there is little I have seen. Though looking at the Oscar nominees I may have been remiss in not having seen more. So I give you two top films for 1978 and call it a day...
Grease
Can't go past Grease especially as I have a brooch of Rizzo. Whilst it likely doesn't crack my top 5 movie musicals, for the character of Rizzo and all sex talk that I missed as a kid and the catchy songs and dialogue I can quote more than I like to admit, it is still a film I love.
Halloween
I watched this and Friday the 13th for the first time within a day of each other about a decade ago to see if they were legitimately scary classics or now tired as they aren't also silly/funny. Friday the 13th has not aged well BUT this has because of its clean cut suspense. Especially when watched alone at night, it still packs a scary punch.
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So there you have it, best five, a few special mentions, and worst films of 2008, 1998, and 1988, and two bests for 1978. I did see a theme of me liking Japanese films. I'm going to try and do this every year so hopefully should I still be able to access this in 10 years, I will revisit the years ending in 8. Also there is every chance that we will hit a year in the future where I can actual make a bigger dent into the years prior to my birth- that said just looked at 1968 and maybe I should have had a crack at it (Oliver!, 2001 (likely my favourite of that year but there is strong competition), Rosemary's Baby, and The Lion in Winter were all up for Oscars that year so maybe 1978 was just a dud year for me in terms of films I've seen). Nope I've called it and will stop. 2018 films coming at you soon....
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