Shiralie Chaturvedi
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2008, in retrospect, was a year when varied movies across genres came up that were all trailblazers. It wasn’t an era of just a particular type of cinema, it was a gamut of characters and storylines that gave us movies which would be looked back as hallmarks in their genres. There were movies about war, about love, about social upheaval, about vampires. About everything. And we bring to you the best of the best, that maybe a decade old, but are quintessentially evergreen.
1. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
This tragic tale set during World War II, brings to light a perspective on the Holocaust that perhaps was the most somber bit about it. The innocent lives of children that were needlessly intertwined.
2. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt is one of his finest roles, taking into account a character that makes you questions the wrath of pure fate.
3. The Dark Knight
This was the movie that gave us one of the most immortal on-screen portrayals of the Joker. Heath Ledger in his finest, and his last.
4. Funny Games
The scare that is to suffer inside your haven and your safe cocoon, is a scare that cripples you endlessly.
5. Kung Fu Panda
An animated movie that not only changed that genre forever, but changed the way children’s movie were made into wholesome entertainment.
6. Mamma Mia
Meryl Street and ABBA are a combination we seldom get to enjoy, and this romantic-comedy musical is an absolute thrill to watch!
7. Milk
Harvey Milk’s story as told to perfection by Sean Penn is an important lesson in social stigmas and sovereignty of self.
8. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Indie movies always boast of a classic OST, and this one with its quirky leads is an absolute winner of a story!
9. Revolutionary Road
A story about love, and it’s relationship with time and your sense of belonging. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio brought brilliance on-screen through their typical chemistry!
10. Shutter
Almost as good as its Thai counterpart, this horror movie brought to fore not just an insidious force of supernatural- but also a new side of a scorned lover.
11. Stop Loss
The ramifications of a war are terrible, and not just in terms of loss of lives. Wars ruin families and its a personal battle that those who survive it, live through everyday.
12. Taken
This movie made sure that most of us never travelled to Europe without 90 layers of protection. What a thriller, Liam Neeson really set the bar high with this one.
13. Twilight
Team Cullen or Team Jacob. This movie was iconic and remains so in the hearts of most people who grew up during that era.
14. Vicki Cristina Barcelona
Rebecca Hall’s subtle beauty juxtaposed with ScarJo’s eclectic oomph matched with Bardem’s charm and Penelope Cruz’s wild abandon – this movie was a starcast made out of dreams!
15. Waltz with Bashir
Another movie on PTSD, which used a tool as unusual as animation to bring to fore political strife and violence. This movie is a must-watch for all cinephiles.
