(Note: This article pertains to to stuff I watched/read in 2008, which doesn’t mean it necessarily came out in 2008)

Funny Games (brutal – Haneke makes a perfect case of what’s wrong with our addiction to violence on the silver screen… in his own words “if you didn’t walk out half-way through the film, there’s something wrong with you”);

Juno (”overrated but witty and boasting great performances all around… go Michael Cera!)

There Will Be Blood (love P.T. Anderson… “I drink your milkshake!”)

Iron Man (R.D.Jr is the man, and this comic adaptation flies, surpassing its source by a significant quotient)

Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog never disappoints… this is more than just about some crazy man living with the Grizzlies)

The Darjeeling Limited (on par with Wes Anderson’s “Royal Tenenbaums”)

The Lookout (enthralling, hard-edged thrill ride – Hollywood hack thrillers, take note); Paprika (tripped-out anime with spectacular visuals)

This Is England (one of the best performances by a young actor you’ll ever see + a blistering account of growing up in 1980s England)

The Station Agent (a perfect little gem, imminently re-watchable)

Triplets of Belleville (the best, most unusual animated feature which you will never forget – I promise)

Away From Her (who knew Sarah Polley had it in her?)

Wall-E (Pixar’s best)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Guillermo Del Toro can do no wrong – bring on The Hobbit!)

The Dark Knight (is there anyone who didnt like it? some of the editing is confusing, some plot points are over-explained, and the action is murky – but the transcendent power of this comic book adaptation is undeniable)

Brothers (Danish) (one of the best Dogme films I’ve seen so far – you will tear up in the middle of this film – watch it to see what I mean)

Pineapple Express (it’s not THAT good, but several jokes are classic, and Danny McBride’s character is brilliant)

L’Enfant (Belgian) (best film of the year, maybe the decade)

Tropic Thunder (”You went full retard”)

Persepolis (not as good as the graphic novel it’s based on, but still excellent, if slightly overly-political)

The Signal (unusual horror flick, all the more impressive for being made in 3 weeks by 3 different directors (!!)… the first third is the best one, by far)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (all hail Jason Segel)

In Bruges (overlooked by the Academy – the screenplay is ingenious, and Colin Farell karate-chops a midget)

Dawn of the Dead (Zack Snyder’s Director Cut) (in my opinion – and this is gonna cause controversy – better than the original)

The Visitor (Richard Jenkins can outact 90% of Hollywood elite with barely a twinkle of his eye)

Read My Lips (French) (Hitchcock would be proud of this unpredictable thriller)

Slumdog Millionaire (best film of the year? maybe not – it glamorizes a life that isn’t as cotton-candy as it presents… and yet its all about hope and the power to overcome obstacles + i love danny boyle, so give the man his well-deserved Oscar already!)

The Son (Belgian) (again, the Dardenne brothers – L’Enfant – deliver… patient viewers will be richly rewarded)

Happy-Go-Lucky (little English gem with a great central performance)

Revolutionary Road (beautifully filmed, powerfully acted dissection of American suburbia)

Burn After Reading (the Coens strike again – fall off the chair funny)

Gran Torino (one of the best Clint Eastwood films I’ve ever seen… cunningly subtle despite seeming in-your-face cliched… the ending will sneak up on ya)

W. (underrated bio of America’s last president… Josh Brolin is terrific, and the film is merciless)

Coraline (technically, 2009) (Pixar, take note – this is how it’s done)

Man on Wire (Phillip Petit has just become one of my idols… if only everyone aspired to achieve their dreams the way this guy did)

Rachel Getting Married (who knew Anne Hathaway had such acting chops in her? and why isn’t Debra Winger in more films? and why isn’t Jonathan Demme directing more?)

Best TV Shows I’ve Seen in 2008:

30 Rock (the wittiest show on US television, bar none – Tina Fey’s genius)

The Office (remain a hit-and miss, watered down, sentimentalized version of the UK classic, but still filled with cerebral humor and top-notch performances)

Summer Heights High (Chris Lilley embodies high-school stereotypes perfectly – i KNEW those people…)

Peep Show (Ricky Gervais called this “the funniest show on British TV for a reason… totally addictive, and very relatable)

Flight of the Conchords (unconventional, laugh-out-loud deadpan hilarity – extremely quoatable)

This American Life (the most poignant, touching and laconic show about… life)

US of Tara (weirdly compelling, despite the fact that nearly everything that happens in this show annoys the hell out of me and makes me wanna scream ‘noooo!’)

Weeds (came back with a vengeance in its last season, partially due to the new locale, and the appearance of the indisputably great Albert Brooks)

Real Time With Bill Maher (love him or hate him – Maher is the most cunning, opinionated and entertaining talk-show host on television)

Best Books I’ve Read in 2008:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy (it’s Cormac McCarthy… need I say more?)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (the way Chabon structures his sentences is extraordinary… wannabe writers need to read this book as a guide of ‘how to…’)

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (a great epic, following the lives of an immigrant family in Detroit… from the guy who wrote “Virgin Suicides” – but much better)

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn (”what if every being with a ‘Y’ chromosome on Earth died? the book examines political, social and deeply intimate reprecussions of this unexpected event, and it never seems forced or pretentious… possibly the best graphic novel I’ve read since “Sandman” – makes me pissed off I didn’t come up with this idea)

The People’s Act of Love by James Meek (the Russian revolution, cannibalism, and bite-your-fucking-fingers off suspense… oh, and absolutely beautiful language… you must read this)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (my favorite current author (”Sandman” is still the best book I’ve ever read) brings us an unconventional road-trip through America, overtaken by Gods, both ancient and modern – and it’s all seen through the eyes of an emotional ex-convict…)

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware (hard to get into, but richly rewarding once you overcome the seemingly indecipherable structure… a tale of loneliness and isolation, with outbursts of gut-busting humor)

Endangered Species by Gene Wolfe (he writes like Marx Ernst paints – head-scratchingly beautiful, surreal, seemingly simple but exquisite)

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (touching, funny, and educational)

Black Hole by Charles Burns (wow, what a book… very dark, very unusual graphic novel… not for everyone – but those who like their depiction of teenagedom with a splash of allegorical horror will dig this one)

Fables by Bill Willingham (consistently entertaining tale – what if all the fairy tale characters lived right next to us in NYC? oh, and it’s not for kids, trust me)