69. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"Burton is maybe at his best while he's at his darkest. Or at least his most endearing. With 'Sweeney Todd' he brought to the big screen a fantastic revenge tale and musical that actually never bored and never went too over the top. Johnny Depp and Helena Boham Carter also give two of their strongest performances to date and "Borat" and "Bruno" star Sasha Barron Cohen is hilarious and highly impressive in a small, but memorable performance.
68. "Juno"
Despite the rapid anti-Diablo Cody people at there that have since hurt the film, it's still a great piece of work. It really takes some special people to tell a story as rough and often tragic as teenage pregnancy and make it funny, witty and entertaining as well as emotional. Director Jason Reitman and Oscar winning writer Diablo Cody are that blend of perfection that could dance across that tight rope of a story and Ellen Page made a name for herself.
67. "The Ring"
Still one of the only good American remakes of already pretty lame Japanese horror films. I recently got a chance to re-watch the entire movie and while it isn't the scariest thing ever, it's still a brilliantly crafted mystery that hits ever not correctly. Naomi Watts is a great actress who has proven she can play tough, scream queen, rom-com hottie and be very funny and this was my first film I saw her in and still I found her as a lead for this perfect. She has the right mannerism, tone and look throughout the picture. Also like she studied Janet Leigh beat for beat before shooting. Also this is one of Gore Verbinkski's best directed pictures, know just how to make the film atmospheric and creepy in all the best ways.
66. "Unbreakable"
One of the best super hero origin stories ever made. M. Night Shyamalan's follow up to "The Sixth Sense" was a smart and taunt domestic drama/thriller about a man coming to terms that he might in fact be a super hero. Bruce Willis is one of few hollywood mega stars that can successfully play an average joe and even better is his acting range to play these quiet and very internal characters. On the other spectrum is Samuel L. Jackson, the comic book collector and man who is convinced of Willis' supernatural gifts. Why I love this so much is because of how grounded in reality it all felt. For me this ranks as Shyamalan's best film and his most endearing.
65. "Persepolis"
Based on the graphic novel of an Iranian girl growing up in the 1980's, a very rough time in their culture. The film is animated in pretty much the same style as the book and is wildly original, funny and heartbreaking. A bit long feeling at times, but such an amazing tale demands it.
64. "Ali"*
One of Michael Mann's most underrated pictures, but one that's still remembered as the first film where we really got to see the acting chops of Will Smith. Mann fills the screen with vigor and insight into one of the sports worlds most impressive and memorable athletes. Smith along with Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Jada Pinkett Smith and Mario Van Peebles deliver some stellar performances and Mann's particular style makes for one highly engrossing and interesting dramas.
63. "Doubt"
The 60's tend to be filled with dramas I loved and "Doubt" was among the best ensemble casts that I saw in 2008. One major thing is that every actor and actress in this film has done so many movies that I forgot how talented they are. Meryl Streep does so much and his terrific in all of it, but often doesn't explode like she used to. But her she damn sure does it every time she's on screen. Amy Adams reminds me that she too is a fucking fantastic despite doing some very, very bad films from time to time. And then Philip Seymour Hoffman is better than ever as the accused priest.
62. "Good Night, and Good Luck"
George Clooney's second and best directed film to date. A black and white, PG rated re-telling of legendary news man Edward R. Murrow and his news crew. David Strahrin delivers one of the best performances of the decade and the massive cast with everyone from Clooney to Robert Downey Jr. to Patrica Clarkson to Jeff Daniels is phenomenal. Clooney's use of black and white and the particular look it's given makes it feel truly old, but what these people stood up for is quite timeless.
61. "The Pianist"
Directed by Roman Polanski (someone who's been in the news a lot lately) it's the most personal and perhaps the most important of his films. He was a child during the Holocaust and his vision of German occupied Poland and France is quite strong. Adrian Brody's Oscar winning performance helps to bring you into the very dark, emotional and harrowing picture.
60. "Crash"
Another backlash drama, but I give credit where it's due and it's due. First off it proved that a little indie picture could still compete with the big dogs in the box office and at the awards. As a film it's that first, fresh viewing where I feel it works best. It's emotional and strong and filled with great scenes of dialogue that flow with an almost Spike Lee type rhythm to it. The following viewings... for me anyway have never been as strong. It's still a good movie, but not quite what it was the first time. But it did showcase Sandra Bullock actually acting and proving that Brendan Fasier could do the same.
*film pictured above.
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