The REEL Addict 

10. IRON MAN
I’m not a fan of superhero action movies, and generally do not go out of my way to see a lot of mainstream cinema, yet the lure of Robert Downey Jr. was enough to get me to see this…and boy am I glad I did. Raucous, fun and sporting a script that didn’t make me cringe, I was more than happy to sit back, munch on some popcorn and turn my brain off for a couple of hours.

9. INSIDE (A L’INTERIEUR)
This stylish French movie, about a pregnant woman fighting to keep her in utero offspring from being snatched by a crazy woman with a dark secret, subverts expectations at every turn. I can honestly say that I’ve never squirmed in my seat more than I did while watching this and in this case, that’s a good thing.

8. MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY
I enjoy a nice bit of fluff every once in a while and that’s exactly what I expected when I sat down to watch this.  What I got instead was a nostalgic and tender-hearted little comedy reminiscent of a Preston Sturges movie.  Add to the mix, the always perfect Frances McDormand, the ever-adorable Amy Adams, the surprisingly yummy Lee Pace and some gorgeous art deco production design, and I was in movie love.

7. YOUNG @ HEART
I actually get a little weepy whenever I think about this documentary.  It follows a few months in the lives of the Young At Heart Chorus whose members’ average age is 80.  Despite this, they perform contemporary pop and rock songs and travel around the world doing it.  The film shows them preparing for a sold-out hometown performance and the highs and tragic lows that happen along the way.  This is a movie that can truly be enjoyed by all ages which is rare these days.

6. THE SIGNAL
A strange electronic signal makes everyone go all rage-y and we get to see the outcome as told in three different, intertwining perspectives. This movie is a balls-out, uber-gory thrill-fest that attacks your senses with a mallet and doesn’t let up until the end.  I squirmed and sweated and enjoyed the hell out of this movie even while watching it through my fingers.  It’s not for the faint of heart, but you won’t get more bang for your buck from any other movie on this list.

5. SON OF RAMBOW
I actually first saw this movie in 2007 but since it was released in 2008, it’s eligible to be included on this list.  It’s a sweet story of two boys who become unlikely friends after seeing the movie First Blood on a bootleg videotape.  They band together to make a sequel and neither of their lives are ever the same.  This film is a tribute to the way that movies can spark your imagination and make you dream big.

4. TROUBLE THE WATER
Armed with a video camera, a woman and her husband provide a first-hand account of their survival as they are trapped in their house by Hurricane Katrina.  This documentary unfolds like a horror movie, even after the storm is long over.  Prepare to be moved, enraged and inspired as you witness the way that US citizens are treated like refuse yet still manage to triumph over adversity.  This is yet another movie that got a very limited release in theatres, which is a crying shame because it’s one of the most important documentaries you’ll ever see.

3. THE WRESTLER
Mickey Rourke as a beaten down wrestler who has pretty much failed at life is this movie’s anchor.  You’re right there with him, rooting for him no matter how many bad decisions he makes and despite the bleak subject matter, you (or maybe it was just me) still come out of the movie not totally depressed. It’s a rare actor that can take what should be an unlikable character and make you fall in love with him, just a little bit.  I will personally weep if Mickey does not sweep every eligible acting category out there this coming awards season.

2. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
This was one of the most enjoyable movie experiences I had all year.  Gorgeous Spanish locations, the pure electricity radiating from Penelope Cruz, the delicious chemistry between Javier Bardem and well…everyone; suffice it to say that I didn’t want this movie to end.  During a summer overrun by blockbuster-type studio projects, this was a refreshing plunge into the female fairy tale pool.  It’s sexy, funny and romantic.  I honestly do not know what else one could ask for in a movie.

1. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Far and away the most surprising and unique film I saw this year.  Moving, haunting, breathtaking…there simply aren’t enough adjectives to describe how I feel about this movie.  It’s all at once a horror movie, a coming-of-age tale, and a love story; there’s a little something for everyone.  I have no doubt that this movie will be heralded as a modern classic and will be studied for years to come.  Unfortunately, it was only released in a very few cities and the upcoming re-make is sure to strip away the very thing that makes this movie so special.