Here is a list of the best leading and supporting actresses in 2008, ranked in order:

1. Meryl Streep, Doubt
   Streep is all but expected to turn in Oscar-worthy performances, though we can forgive her for Mamma Mia and only hope she struck up a revenue sharing deal for that film. Playing an ultra conservative, fiercely authoritative nun in Doubt, she is wonderfully wicked in this play adaptation. Her scene with Philip Seymour Hoffman is downright mesmerizing, and as great of an actor as Hoffman is, you know who will win the battle.
2. Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
   Hathaway turns in a career-defining performance as an alcholic who, fresh out of rehab, has arrived to create chaos at her sister’s wedding. The movie is depressing and Hathaway’s character is the main contributor, as she time and time again makes every scene as painful as possible. She, in many ways, is like the serious, realistic and more damaged version of Michael Scott from “The Office,” and should be commended for it.
3. Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
   Winslet is required to show up on lists such as this one, and she does not disappoint in 2008. Her performance as a depressed housewife and mother in the 1950’s is tragic. While she isn’t my #1 pick, I would be quite content if she took home the Oscar this year – and in fact would be quite surprised if she didn’t.
4. Amy Adams, Doubt
   Adams is hot, but she’s also an excellent actress. People may not have noticed, but she’s starting to rack up a respectable career in just the few years since she sneaked into the spotlight, and her performance as an innocent, naive nun proves just how strong of an actress she really is. Even though Streep chews scenery in every scene she’s in, Adams holds her own and establishes herself as the perfect counterbalance to the stronger-willed character.
5. Melissa Leo, Frozen River
   Frozen River is a good movie, but it’d be a forgettable B-grade drama-thriller without the performance of Melissa Leo. Leo plays desperate and tough at the same time, and never for a second do we question her motives for engaging in illegal, risky behavior. Everything about her is perfect in this movie – too bad she has such stiff competition.
6. Viola Davis, Doubt
   Viola Davis only has one scene in the entire movie, but boy is it a doozey. While neither Adams’ or Hoffman’s characters can stand up to Streep’s, Davis’ puts the head nun in her place with a tear-jerking and downright disturbing speech that essentially condones pedophilia when it comes to her own son. That’s messed up, but brilliant.
7. Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
   McDormand is one of the best actresses working today; she can do drama, comedy and anything in between – or often at the same time. As a gym employee who is desperately trying to save up for cosmetic surgery, McDormand delivers a stellar performance, even when matched against the likes of Brad Pitt and George Clooney, both of whom tend to steal the spotlight.
8. Gwenyth Paltrow, Iron Man
   Everyone has been praising director Jon Favreau and actor Robert Downey Jr. for making Iron Man the massive blockbuster that it is, but Gwenyth Paltrow who, in what could have been a thankless and forgettable role, made her character anything but. She has great chemistry with Downey Jr. and looks as hot as ever.
9. Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
   Anne Hathaway is the one everyone’s talking about in regards to Rachel Getting Married, but her on-screen sister – the title character, no less – is nearly as good. Though not nearly as frustrating or depressing as Hathaway’s character – and thus not nearly as noticeable – DeWitt manages to portray the more reasonable sister with just as many flaws and issues as her alcoholic sibling.
10. Kate Winslet, The Reader
    I didn’t really like Winslet’s performance when I first saw The Reader – and I am not a huge fan of the movie itself – but she has grown on me. After all, when you think about how unlikable, flawed and ugly she is in this movie, you realize that with just a touch of makeup this actress transformed herself into an enigma of a character, one whom the main character cherishes and loves, yet who others despise for the atrocities she committed.
11. Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Dark Knight
    The praise has been all about Heath Ledger, and if people play it safe they mention Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine. Still, Gyllenhaal turns in a great supporting performance here. I’m one of the few who didn’t mind Katie Holmes in the original, but when you watch one film right after the other – like I did the other night – you realize what an upgrade director Christopher Nolan pulled off when replacing one with the other. Gyllenhaal’s final scene is as emotional as it is due to the actress’s ability to reveal to the audience her sudden, momentary shock that everything is not going to end happily.
12. Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
    Interestingly, when people think of this movie, their minds immediately go to Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz making out. Mine does, too, but it also goes to the third actress who, in fact, plays the main character. Rebecca Hall, the least-known name in the entire movie, was hardly marketed at all, but not only is she prettier than Johansson and Cruz (a very, very hard feat), she also delivers a compelling performance.
13. Evan Rachel Wood, The Wrestler
    Marisa Tomei has been getting all the attention when it comes to supporting performances, but maybe I was too focused on her incessant nudity throughout the film. No, my praise lands on Evan Rachel Wood, who once again delivers a strong, emotional performance as the estranged daughter of Mickey Rourke. She only has a few scenes, but those scenes are the most powerful of the movie.
14. The ladies of Sex and the City: The Movie
    OK, so I wouldn’t give any of these ladies Oscars, but they should be commended for bringing their TV counterparts to the big screen in a funny, sentimental and believable way. Thanks to the chemistry these women have with one another, Sex and the City catapulted female-oriented movies into arenas normally reserved for adrenaline -filled action flicks.
15. Nicole Kidman, Australia
    Kidman isn’t amazing in Australia, but she fits the part perfectly. Her performance in the first third of the movie is particularly memorable, as she plays a surprisingly funny, Scarlett O’Hara-esque Brit who doesn’t know the first thing about life down under. There’s a reason why she’s at the bottom of this list, but she still is worthy of recognition.

Below are 23 overlooked movies released in 2008. Some of these are box office duds and others are ones that the critics sunk their teeth into for no good reason. And there are even some blockbusters on this list that some people have refused to watch out of some sad, misguided preconception of the picture, franchise or actor involved.

Here are the hidden gems of 2008, in no particular order:

• In Bruges
  A movie completely ignored by audiences, this looked like an enjoyable but forgettable comedy based upon the previews alone. My brother thought it looked downright boring, though I always argued in its favor – but never got around to seeing it in theaters. Netflix finally sent it to me, and it sat on my TV stand for two weeks before I got around to it. And… wow. In Bruges is clever and hilarious, with great acting and a sharp screenplay. Both Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell are top notch, and Ralph Fiennes throws in a viciously good performance to boot. Highly recommended, as long as you’re not offended by swearing, bloodshed or jokes about midgets.
• The Visitor
  Richard Jenkins turns in an Oscar-nominated performance with The Visitor, a surprisingly engaging little drama. I don’t think I ever watched the trailer for this movie, because after seeing the poster, I was sold… on not seeing it. The poster featured Jenkins sitting in what looked like a subway station playing a drum, and that was not enough to tell me this was going to be a boring, forgettable film. But word of mouth finally reached me and gave it a chance… and here we are.
• Tell No One
  One of my favorite movies of the year, I probably would have never watched this one if not for the recommendation from my brother (yes, the same one who dissed In Bruges). Tell No One is an incredibly complex murder mystery/thriller that works as both a drama and as an exciting suspense flick. The movie keeps you guessing, but when everything comes together, it actually makes sense. Highly recommended, as long as you don’t mind subtitles.
• The Express
  This sports movie is about Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner. A movie that came and went from theaters faster than Davis could run 100 yards, this Dennis Quaid-starring drama looked just like every other sports movie. The good thing is that a lot of sports movies are entertaining, dramatic and exciting, and The Express is no different.
• Let the Right One In
  This Swedish vampire flick has been showing up on a lot of top ten lists, but so few people have seen it that it can only be considered a hidden gem. Notably, when everyone should have been talking about Twilight, they were talking about this one instead, a sincere and engaging picture about a female vampire who befriends a little boy. In fact, the movie is so good that Hollywood is remaking the picture for next year – of course, they will massacre it.
• Man on Wire
  The Oscar-nominated documentary about a crazy Frenchman who sneaks onto the World Trade Center to tightrope between the two 100-story-tall buildings may sound boring, but it’s actually one of the most entertaining and well-made films of the year.
• Rambo
  This movie opened reasonably well for January, but assuredly most action fans shrugged this flick off as a forgettable attempt to resurrect a career long since destroyed. However, this new Rambo is surprisingly gritty and action-packed, with lots and lots and lots of gore. It may be brainless, but it really isn’t that brainless. More importantly, it is entertaining enough that I’m looking forward to Rambo 5… which they are making.
• Revolutionary Road
  This one counts as a hidden gem because many critics dissed it and it didn’t quite take off like some of the other Oscar-nominated films did. This is sad, because Revolutionary Road, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is better than all five movies nominated for Best Picture.
• Baghead
  This horror-comedy is not necessarily a horror movie, nor is it a comedy, but it is a strange amalgam of the two that keeps you guessing. Is it real? Is it a hoax? Who knew that a movie about a stalker who wears a bag over his head could be so creepy… or clever.
• Australia
  This drama epic starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman was scorned by critics and audiences alike, but look at the reviews carefully: there aren’t too many damning reviews. In fact, there are a lot of favorable ones – just not so favorably to boost the picture into Oscar contention. Australia is a fun, entertaining drama that is almost excellent – but has to settle for very good.
• Ghost Town
  This comedy starring Rick Gervais (the British version of The Office) is painfully cringe inducing, but in a good way. Gervais plays a socially awkward dentist who, after an accident, can now see ghosts – and those ghosts want him to do things for them. While not the best comedy of the year, it is one of the most overlooked movies of the year that were, in fact, funny.
• Towelhead
  Written and directed by the writer of American Beauty, Towelhead wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping, but it does grow on you. Striking some similarity to the aforementioned Oscar winner, the movie is about a Middle Eastern teenage girl who is starting to explore her sexual urges in the Texas suburbs. Darkly funny and at the same time disturbing, there are some memorable moments in Towelhead.
• Transsiberian
  This thriller has a surprisingly good cast (Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley, among others) and a gripping story, so it’s a little strange that it didn’t get a wider release than it did. About a married couple who travel across Russia on the transsiberian railroad only to end up involved in a murder and drug conspiracy, Transsiberian is entertaining and engaging.
• Traitor
  This Don Cheadle thriller was largely ignored by audiences thanks to its lack of promotion and odd August release date, but it’s a smart, effective film nonetheless. While it isn’t quite Bourne material, it does bear similarities – and should be enough to tide one over until The Bourne Identity 4 is released.
• Doomsday
  This cheesy action film is funny, goofy and action-packed all at the same time, and we can only hope that it’s all intentional. A rip-off of about a dozen films all thrown together, Doomsday develops a strange synergy that made it one of the earlier surprises of 2008.
• Special
  Iron Man and The Dark Knight got all the glory this year, but there was another decent superhero movie released in the fall: Special. Michael Rapaport turns in an excellent performance as a man who starts taking an experimental medicine that has the unintended side effect of giving him powers. Unfortunately for him, the pills are actually just giving him delusions.
• Swing Vote
  This Kevin Costner movie was bashed by critics and ignored by audiences, but both my roommate and I enjoyed this comedy about an ignorant hick who inadvertently becomes the singular swing vote for the Presidential election. The situation makes absolutely no sense, but if you can get past that, it’s an amusing picture that plays to Costner’s strengths.
• Timecrimes
  This foreign flick is currently being remade in Hollywood, and unlike Let the Right One In, I’m holding out high hopes for it. The original, about a man who gets caught up in an ever-increasing time travel scheme, is extremely clever – though the director and main actor aren’t good enough for the material. Nevertheless, Timecrimes is a fun movie that will keep you guessing.
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  This may have made over $100-million at the box office, but it made this list for three reasons: 1) it was considered a box office dud; 2) most people shrugged it off as a forgettable sequel; and 3) most people don’t even remember that it was released in May of 2008. Not a huge fan of the original, I didn’t have high hopes for Prince Caspian, but it is darker, faster and more exciting than The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Action fans should overlook the PG rating and give this one a chance.
• The Hammer
  This Adam Carolla comedy pretty much went straight to DVD, but it is funny, sincere and entertaining. Carolla plays a construction worker who decides to return to amateur boxing. Beyond Carolla’s trademark humor, the boxing sequences are effective. If any film can be considered a hidden gem, it’s this low-budget flick.
• Valkyrie
  OK, so Valkyrie surprised everyone by performing strongly at the box office this December, but there are a lot of Tom Cruise haters who refused to see this movie. So, I’ve included it here. The Bryan Singer action-drama isn’t perfect, but it still is one of the better thrillers of the year.
• Body of Lies
  This Russell Crowe/Leonardo DiCaprio movie from Ridley Scott performed poorly with critics and audiences alike, and it’s no surprise that the marketing team had trouble promoting this realistic CIA picture. That being said, the critics are wrong: Body of Lies is a refreshingly believable and exciting spy thriller.
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
  This children-fantasy movie was yet another contender to be the next Harry Potter franchise, but given the oversaturation of the genre, it’s no surprise that it never completely caught on. Still, The Spiderwick Chronicles is a well-written, clever and exciting flick about invisible monsters and other things that go bump in the night. It’s not for little children who scare easily, however.

1. The Dark Knight
   I am not one of those people who usually put action movies in their top ten lists. I like dramas. I especially like depressing dramas. I love action films, too, but when it comes to the best films of the year, they rarely rank well. 2008 was an exception for two reasons: 1) the year, in general, was weak. There were some hilarious comedies and some great action movies, but few absolutely stunning dramas. In other words, there were no There Will Be Blood’s this year. This opens the door for… 2) one of the most amazing action films ever made. No, The Dark Knight is not the best action film out there – in terms of your typical action movie. However, few films manage to transcend the genre and deliver drama, suspense, crime and action in such a seamless, brilliant format. Christopher Nolan really outdid himself, and it is unlikely we’ll see another comic book movie top this one anytime soon, if ever. Oh yeah, and Heath Ledger is halfway decent in the movie, too.
2. The Wrestler
   If not for The Dark Knight, this one would be #1. Well, duh. The Wrestler is an incredible piece of work, a movie that is entertaining, dramatic, powerful and sad all at once. Darren Aronofsky, who was once rumored to direct the next Batman film, comes back down to earth after the strange The Fountain to direct his most normal film yet, but the director elevates an otherwise simply story to another level. The film looks great, but it’s Mickey Rourke’s performance that makes the picture worth it. With incredible acting, superb direction and stellar screenplay, it’s a real shame that The Wrestler isn’t getting honored with more Oscars – but leave it to the Academy to ignore great films.
3. Tell No One
   This French film is not the typical Top Ten selection: it’s a thriller about a man who begins to suspect that his wife, who was murdered several years earlier, is actually alive. Unfortunately for him, the police also think that he’s responsible for her death – and a series of other murders that have emerged. Tell No One is a clever, carefully crafted thrill ride with great acting, a suspenseful story and lots of cool twists. The movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, yet it is also engaging on a level that transcends its genre. Why France elected to have The Class be its representation in the Oscar race confounds me.
4. Doubt
   Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and written and directed by the author, Doubt is a captivating tale of suspicion and stubbornness that leads to the destruction of real people. Some people may be put off by the theatrical dialogue, but John Patrick Shanley lured me in with his every word. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Viola Davis were all nominated for Oscars for their performances in the picture, and Shanley for his screenplay, which begs the question: how does a movie with incredible acting and an award-winning screenplay not get nominated for Best Picture? What more do you need?
5. Revolutionary Road
   Perhaps the worst reviewed movie on this list, the Sam Mendes movie is a disturbing look into a hollow marriage in the 1950’s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet turn in some of the best performances of their already sparkling careers as a couple whose marriage deteriorates over a number of years. It’s a troubling film that is more depressing than everything else, but it’s pretty spellbinding. The supporting cast, most notably Kathy Bates and Oscar-nominated Michael Shannon, do a lot to assist the leads where possible.
6. Milk
   Sean Penn turns in yet another unforgettable performance in Milk, which makes the race for Best Actor a close one with Mickey Rourke. Penn plays gay activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was fatally shot early in his career. The movie looks, feels and acts like a Best Picture winner, and given that my top five movies were not nominated for the coveted award, it is my choice to win. Will it win? Probably not, but it deserves to. The subject matter is eerily similar to the current political climate, with churches and “liberals” facing off over a bill that parallels today’s Proposition 8. Great acting from everyone involved and superb direction from Gus Van Sant makes this a must-watch film.
7. WALL-E
   Wall-E is an animated film, but it is so much more than that. Few, if any, cartoons are as unique as this picture, which is both perfect for children and captivating for adults. What’s so remarkable is that Pixar, the studio that continues to defy expectations, managed to make a movie with so little dialogue so damn entertaining. The visual effects are amazing, the title character is cute, and Pixar delivers a disturbing message about environmental collapse and America’s reliance on consumer goods. Whether you prefer shots of a devastated New York or a scene that involves hundreds of fat people rolling over each other, Wall-E has it all.
8. Gran Torino
   Come the middle of 2008, everyone expected Clint Eastwood’s Changeling to be a front runner for Oscar glory, but that movie failed to deliver. Gran Torino, however, doesn’t. Eastwood turns in an excellent and hilarious performance as a cynical, racist grandpa who instinctively decides to protect his Hmong neighbors from a local gang. The movie, while by no means an action movie, give Dirty Harry fans something to feast on, and gives everyone else a downright bitter screenplay full of tongue-in-cheek racial slurs that will have you rolling in your seat. Gran Torino doesn’t leave as much of an impact as some of the other movies on this list, but it is genuinely entertaining and worth watching multiple times just to remember some of the funnier lines. And yes, it’s a drama.
9. Slumdog Millionaire
   The front runner for Best Picture, it will be surprising if the Danny Boyle drama-romance doesn’t win. While Boyle deserves a directing Oscar, the movie, about a young man on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” who is on the verge of winning the top prize despite growing up in the slums of Mumbai. The picture is flashy, unique and entertaining, but it lacks the power I was expecting given its early buzz. The movie is a product of its own hype, but it’s still a quality film with some memorable moments, terrific directing and an original score.
10. Let the Right One In
    It was the year of the vampire, but of the three vampire productions that hit audiences in 2008, Twilight was the least significant. HBO’s True Blood turned out to be a pleasant surprise, but it was Let the Right One In that turned heads. While I debated long and hard on which movie would take this tenth spot, I finally settled on the little Swedish vampire flick – which is unfortunately being remade in English in 2010 – due to its uniqueness. The movie couldn’t have cost much to make, but there isn’t a cheap thing about it: the story is intriguing, the atmosphere spooky and the ending is downright bad ass. Recommended.

The Best of the Rest

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  Brad Pitt stars as a man who ages backwards, and that’s pretty neat. The movie is a pleasing fairytale that spans decades, and is an all-around good film. Still, compared to Forrest Gump, it doesn’t quite hit the emotional chord.
• The Visitor
  Richard Jenkins turns in a great performance and the movie itself, about a guy who gets into drums, is surprisingly captivating. Ultimately, the picture lacks the power needed to be among the year’s best, but it works for what it is.
• Defiance
  James Bond… er, Daniel Craig… stars as a man who defies the Nazis and flees into the woods with hundreds of Jewish survivors. The movie looks great and offers fine performances from its stars, but is missing just that special something. Edward Zwick has the knack for making good films that don’t quite click on all cylinders.
• Frost/Nixon
  I’ve been hating on this movie for no good reason, other than that it isn’t as good as the buzz indicates. Ron Howard was nominated for directing the picture – and the movie itself was nominated for Best Picture – yet aside from the last 30 minutes, it isn’t anything more than your average end-of-year film. Still highly recommended, but other than Frank Langhella’s fine performance as Richard Nixon, there’s nothing award-winning here.
• Body of Lies
  This Leonardo DiCaprio/Ridley Scott venture got ravaged by critics, but I found it to be an engaging and slickly directed thriller about terrorism in the Middle East. The ending is a little weak, but it’s still an understated film that should appeal to fans of the genre.
• Man on Wire
  This documentary about a tightroping individual who attempts to cross a wire connected between the two World Trade Center buildings sounds like it’d be pretty boring, but it’s actually one of the most engaging and entertaining films of 2008.

View a full list of movies reviewed in 2008.

Note that “disappointing” is different from “bad” or “worst.” Some of the movies on this list are just plain bad (The Happening), and most of them aren’t that great, but there are a few on here that I would watch again – they just simply didn’t live up to expectations. The higher up the list they are, though, the more they disappointed.

Without further ado…

1. The Happening
   Easily one of the worst movies of 2008, The Happening also showed promise. Sure, M. Night Shyamalan has been making progressively worse movies every year, but aside from Lady in the Water, his movies haven’t been disastrous. This one, starring the typically fun Mark Wahlberg, looked to get Shyamalan back on track – at the very least, The Happening had to be better than Lady in the Water. Right?
   Wrong, biotchs! The Happening is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It is laughably bad. The writing is terrible. The acting is terrible. The direction is terrible. And our print of the movie even revealed the boom mike much of the time, which at least had my friends and I rolling in our seats giggling. Without that poor boom mike, I don’t know if we could have been able to sit through this disaster. And I’d been looking forward to it.
   Yes, The Happening is the most disappointing movie of 2008 – and the worst.
2. The X-Files: I Want to Believe
   I am a huge X-Files fan. Yes, the last couple seasons weren’t so great, but the first several were awesome. In fact, I’d say the series is one of the best to ever grace the small screen. While some people didn’t like the first X-Files movie, I thought it was pretty damn good – and compared to its sequel, it’s Schindler’s List.
   I was pumped for the sequel. Sure, the previews weren’t that great and the title I Want to Believe is absolutely terrible, but this is X-Files. How bad can it be? The producers had also promised that this would be a stand alone picture, promising to be a scarier, less confusing film.
   Unfortunately, The X-Files: I Want to Believe is more of a drama than a horror flick. The producers got so caught up with the characters of Mulder and Scully that they forgot to give fans (because, let’s face it: no one else showed up) a compelling story. The movie is pretty boring, isn’t scary and, most importantly, does not feel like The X-Files. There isn’t much at all of a supernatural slant to the movie, so… what the hell is the point? What a letdown.
3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
   Many people will surely be putting this one at the top of their list. In hindsight, I was mildly entertained. It had enough Indiana Jones moments, and overall it was fun to see Harrison Ford back in one of his trademark roles. Still… the only reason Indiana Jones 4 is not in the #1 spot is that the movie trailers, from the beginning, suggested that there was just something slightly off about the picture, which dampened my expectations from the beginning. After all, could such a movie, even if it were directed by Steven Spielberg, be as good as the first three? The odds were against it before it ever hit theaters.
   Nevertheless, expectations were still high, and Spielberg, George Lucas and Ford did not truly deliver. There was the “nuking the fridge,” scene, which killed it for a lot of audience members right then and there. Then there was the stupid-looking crystal skull, which looked goofy as hell. Don’t forget the jungle-swinging scene, full of dancing monkeys and Tarzan-like goofiness. Oh, and the killer ants. An uninteresting performance by Karen Allen. And, most importantly, aliens and spaceships, which begs the question, What the f**k was Spielberg thinking?
   Ultimately, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull could have been a lot worse – but it could have so easily been a lot better.
4. Semi-Pro
   You can never expect too much from a Will Ferrell movie, but you still expect to laugh. With Ferrell starring as the owner of a horrific and cheesy 70’s semi-pro basketball team, it looked like a gimme that Semi-Pro would follow in the vein of Anchorman and Blades of Glory. Unfortunately, the movie is amazingly unfunny. Boring even. All of the good parts are shown in the previews, and the rest is just a complete and utter waste of time. Truly disappointing.
5. Blindness
   Not a bad movie by any means, Blindness is the perfect example of expectations run amok. Fernando Meirelles is the director of City of Gods and The Constant Gardener, two visually stimulating and superbly done films. Logic would dictate that Blindness, about a contagion of blindness that sweeps the globe, would follow this trend. I was expecting this to be an Oscar contender and a legitimate thriller.
   Again, Blindness isn’t a bad movie – it just isn’t anywhere as good as it could have been. The picture is poorly directed and edited at times, and goes in a few directions that I wouldn’t have taken it. It picks up near the end, but other than that… rather disappointing.
6. Leatherheads
   George Clooney and Jim from “The Office” star in this throwback football film could have been an instant classic. Clooney is always funny, and the previews made the picture out to be a goofy dramedy about the beginning of the NFL. Unfortunately, Leatherheads isn’t nearly as funny as it thinks it is, gets bogged down in a rather disappointing legal storyline about a war hero who isn’t quite what he appears to be, and just feels overly long. All in all, it’s pretty boring.
7. Appaloosa
   I like modern westerns. When done right, they can be gritty, entertaining and exciting. When I saw that Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris were starring in an old-fashioned western about two lawmen who take on a large group of thugs in a small plains town, I was excited. Directed by Ed Harris, Appaloosa couldn’t possibly be bad. When it opened, it received positive reviews, which only drove my expectations higher.
   Unfortunately, Appaloosa is rather dull, has inconsistent pacing and lacks the proper shootout it so desperately needed. In his attempt to make an old-fashioned-looking movie, Harris made Appaloosa old fashioned – and that’s not a good thing.
   The movie was still OK, but not the entertaining western I expected.
8. Quantum of Solace
   After the absolutely amazing Casino Royale, expectations were high for this James Bond sequel. While the movie did deliver with lots and lots of action, it was missing the character development and complexities of its predecessor. The new director, not accustomed to action films, didn’t quite get it at times, and thus Quantum of Solace came off as feeling a bit empty.
   Upon second viewing, though, I liked it much more than at first… but still, it could have been a lot better.
9. Son of Rambow
   I went with one of my buddies to go see this one. No, it’s not another Rambo sequel; it’s a comedy about a couple of boys in Britain who set out to make their own homemade Rambo film. The previews were funny and cute, and this looked like a winner.
   Instead, Son of Rambow is one of the most boring movies I’ve seen in a long time. It has its moments, but many of these moments are shown in the previews. Otherwise, the picture just lacked the charisma and entertainment value I was expecting.
10. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
    OK, in reality, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot out of this movie. The second Mummy movie was awful, with an overly cheesy approach and terrible special effects. But I did have moderate expectations for the movie. God-awful director Stephen Sommers was out, replaced by Rob Cohen. Imotep the mummy, who had been the villain for the last two movies, was gone, replaced by Jet Li. Egypt was replaced for China. And Brendan Fraser was returning. This one had the promise to be moderately entertaining, but…
    The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is cheesy, stupid and boring. The characters – and actors – seemed disinterested, as if they were dragged back to the picture through some blackmail deal that Rachel Weisz somehow managed to avoid (smart girl). Maria Bello turns in a terrible performance, and Cohen can’t decide whether Fraser or his on-screen son is the star of the show. Oh, and when yetis show up to act look like football players, all chances of success go right out the window.

I don’t agree with their inclusion of the cattle herding scene from Australia, as that scene made sense within the mystical confines of the film. Instead, I would have replaced that movie with a few other scenes from Indiana Jones, including the vine-swining scene or the spaceship sequence at the end.

The electrical wire sequence from Eagle Eye certainly deserves a spot, and the cell phone bit in Journey to the Center of the Earth, which I haven’t seen and now never intend to, certainly is inane. Hancock’s twist was deservedly pretty bad, while the Yetis in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was utterly embarrassing. The Truman Capote Star Wars character is also pretty bad, as is the entire plot of The Happening. I wouldn’t have been so harsh on Street Kings or Twilight.

Check out the full Yahoo!Movies list of the dumbest movie moments of 2008.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
   Easily my most anticipated movie of 2008, The Dark Knight brings back nearly everyone that made Batman Begins so great, while adding Heath Ledger as The Joker. I was skeptical about whether it was smart to bring back The Joker after Jack Nicholson made an icon of the character in Tim Burton’s original, but there is no denying that Heath Ledger looks and sounds a heck of a lot more terrifying. Without all the back story that slowed down the first one (don’t get me wrong – I loved it), The Dark Knight promises to be more action-packed and even better.
2. James Bond 22 (2008)
   On Batman’s heels is the latest James Bond film, which once again stars Daniel Craig. After Casino Royale defied expectations and proved that the world could handle a blond Bond, I have huge expectations for this sequel. That being said, there have been a few worrisome developments. There was one article that suggested the producers wanted to inject more humor into the film, though I’m guessing that was fake news – after all, why would they mess with a formula that worked so well, both critically and financially, the last time out? Oh, and the director has never done an action movie before. Regardless, expectations have never been higher for a Bond film; I usually went to the theaters expecting some fun action and entertainment, but now I expect a truly quality film.
3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
   In other years, this movie might have been #1, but not this year. Still, there’s no denying that the biggest movie of the year will probably be Indiana Jones 4. We haven’t seen any previews yet, but with Harrison Ford returning to the role and Steven Spielberg back as director, there’s no reason not to expect another entertaining thrill ride. The only thing that could kill this film will be super high expectations; fans have been waiting nearly 20 years, and the anticipation in the weeks leading up to the film’s release will be crazy.
4. Star Trek (2008)
   The buzz is already big on this film. Abrams is flying high right now after Cloverfield launched big (and his previous directorial effort, Mission: Impossible III, was an awesome movie), and thus I am expecting nothing less than incredible for the new Star Trek movie. Looking back, the last several movies have been a bit cheesy and not all that great, but the teaser trailer for this film indicates that much of the cheese factor may be removed. How this rests with Trekkies is anyone’s guess, but hopefully fans of the shows (like me) realize that something like this is necessary to keep the franchise going – much like the Bond franchise needed Casino Royale.
5. Cloverfield (2008)
   This J.J. Abrams-produced movie has already been released in theaters, but even before I saw it, I was definitely looking forward to it. The marketing team did an incredible job of creating buzz for the film over a six-month period, and for the most part, the film lived up to expectations.
6. The X-Files 2 (2008)
   This sequel is flying under the radar right now, and often times I forget that it’s even coming to theaters this year, but once the trailer hits the airwaves, things will change. As a huge X-Files fan, I’m definitely looking forward to this long overdue film, but the question remains: will anyone care? It’s been a long time since The X-Files ended, and the movie is probably not going to make hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s anyone’s guess, but I hope it delivers big in one way or another.
7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2008)
   Normally, a Harry Potter movie would rank much higher, and in years past they have often topped my lists; however, after the disappointing last movie, it’s a waiting game for me. David Yates, who I pretty much blamed for the previous film’s lack of cohesion, is returning to direct this film, and I really have to wonder what Warner Brothers was thinking. That being said, the original screenwriter – who has done all of the other movies except for The Order of the Phoenix, is returning, and that should spice things up a bit. This prequel to the final movie (rumored to be two movies?) is an important one, and so Yates better not blow it again.
8. Rambo (2008)
   Okay, it might be endless entertainment, but if you’re a guy, you have to be at least a little excited at the prospect of watching a new Rambo movie. Sure, Sylvestor Stallone is scraping for any way to make a buck, but after Rocky Balboa managed to be halfway decent, I’m holding out hope. Furthermore, the previews have absolutely kicked ass; I don’t care how old Stallone is – if he’s tearing apart bad guys with his bare hands and blood is flying everywhere, I am in theaters opening night.
9. Iron Man (2008)
   I was skeptical about this one at first. While I was a comic book fan as a kid, I never purchased a single Iron Man comic, though I’m sure I’ve read one or two over the years. The character never intrigued me very much, and the thought of a tin man flying around doesn’t sound like it could work. Still, the previews for Iron Man have suggested otherwise. The trailers are kick ass, full of explosions, special effects and everything else you’d want from a movie like this.
10. Hancock (2008)
    This superhero movie took me by surprise when I saw a preview for it in front of National Treasure 2; I hadn’t heard or seen anything about it up until then. But this movie, about a loser of a superhero who causes millions of dollars of damage to everything he touches, looks pretty damn entertaining. Did I mention it stars Will Smith? That alone means this film will be a blast, as he has yet to truly disappoint in a blockbuster flick.
11. Get Smart (2008)
    Steve Carrell is at the peak of his career right now, and Get Smart looks like it may finally capitalize on his sense of humor (since Evan Almighty sucked Jesus balls). The teaser trailer for the movie is spectacular, and features Carrell in all kinds of awkward, spy-oriented situations. The phone booth sequence is entertaining, as is the phone-throwing attempt. I usually don’t put too many comedies on my list, but Get Smart definitely deserves a place.
12. Wall-E (2008)
    This is the new movie from Pixar. Enough said. Okay, I’ll add that the visuals look great, and once again Pixar is doing something unique, which is more than what can be sound about their competitors.
13. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo (2008)
    The first movie looked completely awful, but it was so funny and I ended up watching it twice in the same day. The second movie looks pretty funny as well, though for these kind of films, you can never tell. The marketing team will of course be able to make a funny two-minute trailer out of ninety minutes of stupidity, but I’m holding out hope that this Harold and Kumar sequel will be pretty good.
14. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
    The trailer for this sequel isn’t as good as I would have liked, but since the first movie was such a refreshing jolt of excitement, I have high hopes for this sequel. All of the main cast members are returning, and it looks like Guillermo del Toro, fresh off his foreign-language masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth, has injected similar styles from that Oscar-nominated film into this one.
15. Jumper (2008)
    This Hayden Christensen/Samuel L. Jackson sci-fi thriller may end up being mindless fluff, but Jumper looks cool. The concept, about a young man who can teleport anywhere in the world, is relatively unique, and the special effects look good enough to back up the idea. The movie’s release date suggests it won’t be anything too intelligent, but you never know.
16. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
    I actually liked the first Hulk movie moderately enough, up until the absolutely horrible ending. That being said, if I watched it again, I would probably laugh at how bad it is. I’ve never been a fan of the Hulk – I never understood what the big deal is about an anti-hero who turns into a monster – but this movie does have potential. After all, the studio heard the complaints about the original film and have presumably made amends. The presence of Ed Norton as Bruce Banner doesn’t hurt, either.
17. Revolutionary Road (2008)
    Again, here’s another drama without a trailer, but come awards time, everyone expects this film to be right up among the major contenders. Why? The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, reuniting for the first time since Titanic, and is directed by Sam Mendes, who directed one of my all-time favorite movies, American Beauty. You may have heard of it.
18. Sex and the City (2008)
    I’m not anticipating this comedy as much as I am intrigued by it. Even though I am a 25-year old straight male, I have to admit that I have seen almost all of the Sex and the City episodes and thoroughly enjoyed them (living with two females for a year helped). It’s truly one of the best comedies ever to be seen on television; of course, HBO has an unfair advantage in that it puts a lot more dollars into its shows than the average sitcom. Whether the television show will work as a movie is anyone’s guess, but we’ll find out in a few months…
19. Run, Fatboy, Run (2008)
    Just to fill out my Top 20, I added one that I haven’t seen on anyone else’s list. Run, Fatboy, Run, starring Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) looks funny in a completely goofy kind of way, and that’s enough to have me looking forward to it. Pegg really hasn’t stumbled yet, and while I’m not expecting anything as clever as his Shaun or Hot Fuzz, this one should be a bloody good time.
20. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
    Some people are really looking forward to this movie. I’m holding my breath. The previews don’t make this one look as good as the first one, and the first one was a mild disappointment. I thought the first one looked cool, until I sat down for a two-and-a-half hour film that was mildly entertaining at best and boring at its worst, so the marketing department is really going to have to step it up to convince me that this sequel is different.