Edgar Wright Picks the Top 29 Films of 2008
Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 16, 2008
When he isn’t acting or directing in some of our films like Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright plays the part of film lover. Now his top 29 list of 2008 is out and we’re ready to put it to the test.
Let me start by saying I am already near my limit of seeing “Best of” lists, but they are great devices to stir up debate. So by that argument a top 29 list by a person who isn’t a stuffy blowhard should be even better, right? Here’s the top 29 films Edgar Wright chose.
1 – LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
2 – SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
3 – IRON MAN
4 – NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION
5 – MAN ON WIRE
6 – HUNGER
7 – FROST / NIXON
8 – THE DARK KNIGHT
9 – BURN AFTER READING
10 – WALL-E
11 – RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
12 – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
13 – HAPPY GO LUCKY
14 – GRAN TORINO
15 – KUNG FU PANDA (IMAX)
16 – REC
17 – CLOVERFIELD
18 – JCVD
19 – SON OF RAMBOW
20 – RAMBO
21 – THE RUINS
22 – HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
23 – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
24 – THE FOOT FIST WAY
25 – TROPIC THUNDER
26 – MILK
27 – W.
28 – ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
29 – PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
I am thrilled that he chose Let the Right One In to top the list. That film is superb and is worthy of every bit of praise it receives. Not Quite Hollywood, like Let the Right One In and JCVD, was shown at Fantastic Fest, the bad ass Austin festival I got to attend. So high marks go out to the Alamo Drafthouse and Tim League for knowing good films when they see them. I do take issue with Iron Man being so high, especially ahead of The Dark Knight. Both are excellent films but I felt the story was stronger in the latter of the two.
The films that stand out on the list as shockingly out of place come in the way of The Ruins, Rambo and Pineapple Express. There is not enough nug in the world to make me put those on my ‘Best of” list, but the beauty of these lists is that we’re all entitled to our opinions. And Wright has stated that he is ready to defend his choice of Rambo to the fullest. If you want to argue with him go to his MySpace page.
One more thing, Wall-E is overrated. There, I said it.
What do you think of Edgar Wright’s top 29 list? What are your favorite movies of the year?
Read more articles by Adam Sweeney
