Academy Award Nominations:

 

1) SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - The Oscar winner, which gives a graphic look at life in the streets of India. This was a little known film that opened at Civic Arts at Monument. Certainly worth renting but not our Oscar pick.   B-

 

2) THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON - Starring Brad Pitt - A very unusual film, to say the least, depicting the life of Benjamin Button being born an old man and growing younger with age.  Excellent Makeup and Special Effects, holding your interest throughout. A must see.  B+

 

3) FROST NIXON - Starring Frank Langella as Nixon, is a griping re-enactment of the famious Frost interiew where Nixon finally admits wrong doing. Excellent acting by both Langella and Michael Sheen as Frost. An important piece of history that is a must see and our pick for Oscar Winner.  A-

 

4) MILK - Starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the gay activist who set the stage for gay rights in SF. An excellent performance by Penn and the supporting cast, particulary John Franco. We highly recommend Milk depicting a key part of local history.  B+

 

5) THE READER - Starring Kate Winslet. The story of a Concentation Camp guard in Nazi Germany who develops an intimate relationship with a young man played by David Kross.  Her trial as a Nazi war criminal is compelling. A beautiful movie throughout with outstanding acting by Winslet and Kross. Be prepared for the nudity and some graphic war sequences, but is a must see. Our pick for runner-up Oscar.  A-

 

 

Here are our top 10 other Movies, many of which warrent consideration for an Oscar Nominee. Note that the 2008 movie year goes through Feb 2009, prior to the Academy Awards in March:

 

1) MAMMA MIA - Starring Meryl Streep. You don't have to be an ABBA fan to love this adaptation of the Broadway play. This is total fun and entertainment.  A

 

2) DOUBT - Starring Meryl Streep, Any Adams,  and Philip Seymore Hoffman. A gripping drama about possible sexual abuse with outstanding acting. This should  have been nominated for an Oscar and could have won. Don't miss this if you haven't seen it. A

 

3) CHANGLING - Starring Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich. An excellent 1920's drama of child abduction. Jolie is often overlooked as an actress but performs brillantly as a mother in search for her child, hindered by a corrupt Police Force. A must see.  A-

 

4) TRANSIBERIAN - Starring Ben Kingsley, Woody Harrelson, and Emily Mortimer. An independent film that was never broadly shown, but an outstanding suspense. It's the  story of travellers on the Transiberian Railroad who are engulfed in a web of suspense. Our surprise movie of 2008.  A

 

5) IN BRUGES - Starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. A dark comedy about "hit men" hiding from authorities in Belgium. We really enjoyed it.  -A-

 

6) DEFIANCE - Starring Daniel Craig (James Bond fame) and Liev Schreiber. Story of two brothers who defy the Nazis to rescue a group of Jews in Nazi occupied Poland. An inspirational drama based on a true story, and one of the best war dramas of the year.  A-

 

7) BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS - Another WWII drama of a Commandant's son who befriends a Jewish boy  in the neighboring Concentration Camp. A very heavy drama that is not for the squimish, but a gripping portrayal of the horrors of Nazi Germany. Highly recommended.  B+

 

8) CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI - Starring Jonathan Rhys Myers. Very inspirational true story about the life of Oxford journalist George Hogg in war torn China during the Japanese occupation in WWII.  B+

 

9) ELLIGY - Starring Ben Kinglsey and Penelope Cruz. This is a romantic drama that will warm the hearts of our SIRS group. Story about a professor in his 60's who strikes a romantic relationship with a young student, Penelope Cruz. It is warm and poignant story which is worth a look, with the added attraction of Cruz  at her best.  B+   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10) THE BANK JOB - Starring Jason Statham.  Story of the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery in London, which has never been solved. It mixes fact and fiction in a very entertaining comedy/drama that exposes the London Police in not the best  light. You'll enjoy it.  A

 

I purposely omitted some of the large blockbusters, i.e. Dark Knight, Iron Man, Rambo, Sex in the City etc. since you've undoubtedly heard enough about them.  Dark Knight and Iron Man are especially noteworthy and warrent a look.