Bob Richards Movie Reviews

2008's Top 5 and Bottom 5 Movies

On the last day of 2008, it's time for me to wrap things up with my list of the year's worst and best movies. In some cases I've re-thought my original review, making one movie worse, and one better.

First, are the worst of the worst, the bottom of the cinematic trash heap…the dishonorable drek…

WORST

Number 5: Bangkok Dangerous
(Bangkok Dangerous - Lionsgate - Rated R)Nicolas Cage is an assassin with bad hair and an expression that says "I ate bad sushi." By the time it was done I lost a piece of my soul.

Number 4: The Love Guru
(The Love Guru - Paramount - Rated PG-13)I think it's worse now than when I first reviewed it. There is unintentional hilarity as Jessica Alba struggles with words that are longer than about three letters.

Number 3: 88 Minutes
(88 Minutes - Sony - Rated R )
Al Pacino stars in this utterly stupid unintentional laugh fest! (Especially entertaining is Al's beehive hairdo!)

Number 2: Disaster Movie
(Disaster Movie - Lionsgate - Rated PG-13)At least it tells you what it is in the title. Disaster Movie is a disaster of a movie.

And the Worst Movie of the Year is: Meet Dave
(Meet Dave - 20th Century Fox - Rated PG)The Eddie Murphy debacle is weird and not in a good way. He's just painful. I wish I hadn't met Dave.

BEST

2008 was a year where we reached some true cinematic triumphs. The funniest movie was Pineapple Express; Ironman and Changeling just missed my best list; and there were some terrific acting performances: Sean Penn in Milk, Meryl Streep in Doubt, and Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon.

Number 5: Gran Torino
(Gran Torino - Warner Brothers - Rated R)
Clint Eastwood is superb in this satisfying, funny and touching film which he also directed, that has echoes of Dirty Harry.

Number 4: The Wrestler
(The Wrestler - Fox Searchlight - Rated R)
Micky Rourke is all but certain to get an Academy Award nomination for his heartbreaking, stunning performance.

Number 3: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Paramount - Rated PG-13)
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are terrific in this touching, emotional yarn about a man who ages backwards.

Number 2: Wall-E
(WALL-E - Disney/Pixar - Rated G)
I've seen it twice since I first reviewed it and I like it better each time…I only gave it 4 ½ stars then, but now I think that should be 5 stars. It is an animated masterpiece.

And the Best movie of the year is: The Dark Knight
(The Dark Knight - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13)
What can you say about a film that has it all? It raised the bar for not just comic book movies, but all movies. Heath Ledger will win a rare posthumous Oscar for his mesmerizing performance as the Joker.

If you've missed any of these top five, try and make some time soon to see them. And have a Happy New year!