(Enlarge) Sean Penn turned in a brilliant performance as assassinated gay rights activist Harvey Milk in “Milk.”

The movie box office usually holds up reasonably well during a recession, because ticket-buyers still feel it's nice to get away from national worries for a couple hours.

Although many of the past year's movies fared better financially than artistically, it balanced out as a pretty good year in terms of quality.

Any regular moviegoer knows that blockbuster sequels will always be among us. The year's biggest sequel, "The Dark Knight," was such a brooding take on Batman that this viewer felt it took its comic book source too seriously. Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" at least proved that Harrison Ford is an active senior.

More lamentable were "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," and possibly the worst James Bond picture ever, "Quantum of Solace." And we won't even talk about "Saw V."

As for the year's completely original releases, the best of them comprise such an eclectic bunch that they don't lend themselves to trend-spotting observations.

Among the year's truly deplorable releases, it's possible to be dogmatic and assert that "The Hottie and the Nottie" easily wins as the most terrible movie of the year. It starred Paris Hilton, who appeared in nearly every frame, giving her ample opportunity to demonstrate her level of talent.

We'll always have Paris to ridicule; but instead, let's celebrate the year's finest cinematic achievements.

1) "Milk" (USA, director Gus Van Sant). Sean Penn gives a brilliant performance as assassinated gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Director Gus Van Sant persuasively mixes archival footage and dramatizations to evoke San Francisco in the 1970s. The film's expected anger is tempered by Milk's characteristic use of humor as a tactic to bring about social change.

2) "Shine a Light" (USA, director Martin Scorsese). This concert film with the Rolling Stones is loud-and-clear proof that the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band isn't just a nostalgia act. The director and band are really in tune here.

3) "Frost/Nixon" (USA, director Ron Howard). Although Frank Langella would never win a Richard Nixon look-alike contest, his sly performance lends considerable human interest to this docu-drama about the former president's 1977 TV interviews with talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen).

4) "Happy-Go-Lucky" (Great Britain, director Mike Leigh). A genuinely happy character rarely anchors a film, but English director Mike Leigh managed to provide a cheerful teacher with what might be termed comic weight. As the teacher, Sally Hawkins was a daffy delight.

5) "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (USA/Spain, director Woody Allen). Leaving New York turned out to be a smart creative move for Woody Allen in the movies he went on to make in England and now Spain. This charming romantic comedy has lovely performances by Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall.

6) "Let the Right One In" (Sweden, director Tomas Alfredson). Think of this Swedish vampire movie as "Twilight" for an adult audience. The early teen friendship between a lonely boy and a female vampire is sensitively handled in the script, and the filmmaking proves both technically impressive and coldly beautiful.

7) "I've Loved You So Long" (France, director Philippe Claudel). Kristin Scott Thomas is superb in this French drama about a troubled woman who returns to her family after a long absence.

8) "Frozen River" (USA, director Courtney Hunt). Director Courtney Hunt makes sure that your heart goes out to the single working mother here lured into an illegal scheme near an Indian reservation in upstate New York. There is nothing glibly sentimental about Melissa Leo's tough performance in that role.

9) "The Visitor" (USA, director Tom McCarthy). The story about a depressed college professor (Richard Jenkins) giving up his suburban life, moving to New York City, and renewing his life through several unexpected friendships totters on the brink of becoming therapeutic mush. Yet the film eventually discovers the humanity contained within that cliched premise.

10) "Encounters at the End of the World" (USA, director Werner Herzog). This documentary about Antarctica meanders too much, but leave it to visionary director Werner Herzog to bring a dreamy tone to his commentary about yet another unusual place he has explored.

Honorable mentions

"Mamma Mia!," "Man on Wire," "Cadillac Records," "Rachel Getting Married," "Appaloosa," "The Duchess of Langeais" and "Edge of Heaven."

user comments (1)

user sergal says...

I'd like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally using stolen biomaterial.Original Scarlett Galabekian last name is nice, CHRISTIAN young lady.I'll tell more,those clones(it's not only 1)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it's in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,Rhineland-Palatinate,Mr.Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning,H.Kohl staff strictly controlling their clones spreading around the world,they're NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family didn't authorize any activity with stolen biomaterials,no matter what form it was created in,it's all need to be back to original family control in Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Controlling clones is US military operation.Original Scarlett never was engaged,by the way

Posted 9:42 PM, 12.31.08

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