1. Milk
2. The Wrestler
3. The Class
4. The Visitor
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6. Man On Wire
7. Revolutionary Road
8. The Dark Knight
9. In Bruges
10. Role Models

Honorable Mentions: Slumdog Millionaire; Doubt; Frost/Nixon; WALL-E; Iron Man; Waltz With Bashir

i have to agree, rebecca hall surprised me in VCB, i didn't know her before this… i'll be watching more of her movies..

1. The Dark Knight.
I'm really aware of all it's flaws and problems but still with that, we can forget the good performances, the incredible score, the great editing and superb screenplay. I loved this movie and it's one of my all-time favorite behind Moulin Rouge.

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
This movie touch my heart in a way almost no-movie had make before. The story is literally about life. About the people thta we meet in life and how we change them or touched them in way or another. Great visual effects and really good performances, especially Tarajee P. Henson.

3. In Bruges.
Another incredible movie which being honest, I don't know if it have to be in 3er. or 2nd. place. There's not even ONE bad performances in this movie. Brendan does it incredible, Ralph Fiennes acts like I have never seen him before and Colin Farrel… what can I say of Colin Farrel? I would give him all the awards in the world for his amazing performances and a regretful hitman with a past tha overshadows him day by day. Hilarious dialogue and too many one-liners to say one in here.

4. I've Loved You So Long.
I rented this movie thinking that it would be one of those slow-kind of independent movie. But.. it wasn't it. It tells the story of a mysterious woman and every 10 to 15 minutes the movie reveals you a new shocking fact about his past life and why is this woman so depressive and stranged. This, with Colin Farrel, were the two biggest snubs of this year Academy Awards. Kristtin Scott Thomas does a Magnificent work as the main character of this incredible directed story.

5. The Wrestler.
I saw this movie the other with no wish to see it. Simply because for me Mickey Rourke was a beast and drug addict actor who get this one-chance in life. But once again… I was wrong. This man, believe or not, make tears fall from my eyes with his majestous performance as a wrestler in search for a REAL home. Great movie that gets into your heart and make you feel what Randy "The Ram" is feeling. Incredible job from the director, Darren Arafnosky(or something like that).

6. Australia.
Ok, let me explain Brad. I have realize that every good review that you see of Australia, the first thing you notices is that the author say "I'm a fan of Moulin Rouge" or "I loved Moulin Rouge!". You can check IMDB or Metacritic. So, I don't understand how you put that grade to this beautiful movie, being you a fan of Moulin Rouge (by the way, please one of this days when you're bored, make an official review of Moulin Rouge, with grade and everything:D) Personally, Moulin Rouge is my all-time favorite movie. Nicole Kidman does a great job and Hugh Jackman too. The editing is incredible and the cinematography is just unbelivable. The score is really good if you haven't notice. The few bad things are the CGI views and the begining of the movie (as also happen with Moulin Rouge).

7. Synecdoche, New York.
Another one that you hated… I'm a huge fan of Charlie Kauffman, and I loved his last movie, Eternal Sunshine. But this one, was simply crazy. But crazy in a good way. It had so much motifs like the burning houses and the huge warehouse. And this made my movie. It's so crazy that you loved. The comedic relief is really good and Hoffman does an excellent job. The ideas and dialogue are just unbelievable. Really loved this movie and it was one of the hardest movies to review of my life.

8. Slumdog Millionaire.
Personally, a totally overrated movie. Benjamin Button is one-hundred times better. Still with that, this isn't a bad movie at all. The performances are really good and the idea is really original. I loved the score and music. It's really a hymn to life and how people have to live it while others enjoy being rich and wasting money on things that are no that valuable.

9. Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Huge Woody Allen fan. Ironically, last summer I bought all old films like Manhattan, Hannah and her Sisters, Annie Hall, and I see them all. I don't know how the Oscars didn't nominated it to Best Original Screenplay. Penelope Cruz does an excellent job as Maria Elena and Rebecca Hall acts incredible too. The music is really cool and the sotry itself is really interesting. Make me remember of favorite films like Before Sunset, Before Sunrise and Lost in Translation.

10. Wall-e.
Pixar has created a new generation of cartoon movies. And Wall-e is the best of it. Wall-e is a movie for the whole family and also is a movie that you even forget that you're seeing cartoons. The sound mixing is incredible as the idea. You really fall in love with Wall-e and feel his love for Eva. Incredible how this movie have get to where it is. Almost no dialogue, but with real feeling, the movie makes you feel real love.

Honorable Mentions.

Changeling.
Frost/Nixon.
Tropic Thunder.
The Visitor.
The Fall.
Nothing but the Truth.

In my opinion, it should've been Winslet(Revolutionary Road), Kristin Scott Thomas and Rebecca Hall instead of Winslet(The Reader), Anne Hathaway and Jolie in those three spots.

Among the oscar nominees, I'm still to watch Vicky Christina Barcelona which I honestly don't think will be able to penetrate the Top Ten.

FROM BRAD: You mean films such as The Class and I've Loved You So Long? Or maybe Ballast, The Edge of Heaven and The Fall? I just want to check, sorry for the confusion.

The Dark Knight (yes, it is a masterpiece)
Wall-E
The Fall

I also think "Doubt" and "Rachel Getting Married" will make the list as well. And maybe "Iron Man." I still need to watch Benjamin Button and "Slumdog Millionaire," though.

And when I make that Top 10 list, I'll have to include "Repo! The Genetic Opera" on there. It was not without its faults (and some obvious ones, too, like its bad dubbing), but in sheer audacity and originality it must not go unrewarded. Who knew that the director of Saw II-IV would choose a bloody rock opera as his next project? Okay, the bloody part we all saw coming, but who saw a cast that would include Sarah Brightman, Alexa Vega, and Paris Hilton? That is audacity. Starting up a roadshow tour for it when Lionsgate dropped in on its head with no marketing took guts. And the movie was just plain fun. I will not say the music was amazing because there are other musicals that surpass it, but the lyrics were ingenious, and the songs definitely grow on you. Plus the premise was downright fascinating, and the story worked a whole lot better than I would have dream. All in all, a most spectacular experience, and if any of you are in driving distance, go see it! I took my two sisters on a 35-minute drive across town to catch it, and we were not disappointed! One of them is even talking about wanting to see it again.

1. Milk
2. Doubt
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Revolutionary Road
5. Repo! the Genetic Opera
6. In Bruges
7. Australia
8. The Reader
9. Frost/Nixon
10. The Air I Breathe

Honorable Mentions: Rachel Getting Married; Fireflies in the Garden; W.; Tropic Thunder

I didn't find much to like in Slumdog Millionaire or The Wrestler, and I'm one of those who can't watch The Dark Knight over and over because I keep finding flaws… so with repeated viewings, it's disappointing.

My list:
1. The Wrestler
2. WALL·E
3. Frost/Nixon
4. The Dark Knight
5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
6. Revolutionary Road
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8. Iron Man
9. In Bruges
10. Waltz with Bashir

Honourable Mentions-
Milk; Forgetting Sarah Marshall; Let the Right One In; Tropic Thunder; JCVD

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2.The Wrestler
3.Slumdog Millionaire
4. The Dark Knight
5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
6. Milk
7. Wall-E
8. In Bruges
9. Rachael Getting Married
10. Role Models ( This movie doesn't exactly go with the others but I liked the end of the movie and the fact that it had some sentimental qualities to it)

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. In Bruges
3. City of Men
4. The Dark Knight
5. WALL-E
6. Frost/Nixon
7. The Wrestler
8. Milk
9. Doubt
10. Slumdog Millionare

I'm giving serious thought to putting VCB 10th.

1. No Country For Old Men (released end of January '08 in NZ)
2. The Dark Knight (flawed it may be, but it's relentlessly thrilling and entertaining)
3. Wall.E (beautiful film, with an emotional killer of a final scene)
4. There Will Be Blood (released end of January in NZ)
5. In Bruges (surprisingly dark and thoughtful, but brilliant nonetheless)
6. The Escapist (I understand this hasn't come out in the US yet. It's a brilliant prison break film from first time British writer-director Rupert Wyatt, and it has a magnificent narrative, a blindingly good lead performance by Brian Cox, and stunning cinematography. See it as soon as you can.)
7. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (a late entry, but a stunning film)
8. Gone Baby Gone (released March in NZ)
9. American Gangster (released start of January in NZ)
10. Juno (released middle of January in NZ)

The characters were memorable

The plot was ingenious

The directing was amazing

This movie had it all.

Well, here are my top 10:

1. Slumdog Millionaire

2. The Wrestler

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

4. Milk

5. Frost/Nixon

6. Wall-E

7. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

8. The Dark Knight

9. Gran Torino

10. Revolutionary Road

I really liked Doubt…but it probably won't remain on my list once I see those still in very limited release. My problem with it, as well as No Country for Old Men, is the ambiguity. I hate endings that leave too many loose ends. I disagree on only wanting to see it once. Streep and Hoffman going at it was awesome. Unfortunatley, I felt the film didn't have the major showdown between the two that I was looking for.

Also, is there any way to explain why there is so much love for Milk and Slumdog? I have a feeling critics tend to hop on the bandwagon at times, like There Will Be Blood or Atonement for instance (sorry Brad…I thought the ending sucked…made the whole second half of the movie feel pointless).

1) Doubt (Although the direction, cinematography, and even the writing at times was shoddy, it was a brilliant piece with wonderful performances)
2) Slumdog Millionaire (wonderful story, and the acting was outstanding, even from the children)
3)The Wrestler (Mickey Rourke is now legendary to me. I couldn't even speak after his loving performance)
4) The Dark Knight ( I enjoyed it, I know it's overplayed, but Heath Ledger was fantastic, and the actual film is gorgeous. The other performances in it, and the writing however seemed shallow)
5) Milk (Great story of humanity. Sean Penn was great, but I always thought that actors that get nominated for doing great biopics are taking the "easy way out". Directed magically, and if it weren't for Benjamin Button, I would pick Milk for direction)
6)Cloverfield (To me, it was THIS film that made films a spectacle again)
7)The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (It was beautiful. Very much like a lullaby)
8) Wall-E (Can you tell I have a soft spot for beautiful movies?)
9)Iron Man (It was the best superhero movie of the year. I do not count The Dark Knight as a superhero film. Robert was exactly what the roll demanded, and it was…how shall I call it…effortless. I have always hated movies that use special effects as the "Here comes the movie MAGIC!" moments, but have found that they work best when they are used as they were in this film. offhandedly)
10) Tropic Thunder & BOLT( I also have a soft spot for true hilarity. I have met and worked with other actors and directors and producers and agents like this, and it matches the experience almost to a T. You could tell that these guys were sitting in a room being drilled by the creative staff, and decided to make the greatest movie experience spoof of all time.