Now, there are things I disagree with, but nothing major. I would wonder why he chose to do a list of 25 if his articles wasn't so exhaustive. He does not, unlike Roger Ebert, say he simply can't bear to cut ten movies out because the year was so incredible. And, he takes a shot at another critic, which is usually not the order of the day, blasting Shawn Edwards for turning a trick to get in the TV ads for Four Christmases. All right...so Shawn Edwards isn't so much a "critic."
And by and large, I'd say his rankings of the top 25 movies of 2008 shows a lot of variety, and he doesn't elevate too many films that don't deserve it, and like me, he thinks Slumdog Millionaire and In Bruges are two of the year's five best.
But Roeper has also been considerate enough - or inconsiderate enough, depending on your perspective - to do a Ten Worst list, and I've always thought those are valuable. There were some real black eyes this year, so it's worthwhile to see that list, too. As is our practice when it comes to these critics' lists, we don't pick them apart or wonder why, in this case, Frost/Nixon isn't in Roeper's top ten. It's his list, he saw the movies just like I did, and this is what he came away with.
But if you'd like to comment, feel free.
And to show you just how complete his 2008 recap is, we'll kick off the countdown with a ranking I totally agree with...
Freida Pinto - Slumdog Millionaire
Olga Kurylenko - Quantum of Solace
Odette Yustman - Cloverfield
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
The Wrestler
In Bruges
I've Loved You So Long
Gran Torino
Milk
The Visitor
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Frozen River
Doubt
Snow Angels
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Seven Pounds
Iron Man
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
W.
Henry Poole Is Here
Burn After Reading
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WALL-E
The Bank Job
Tropic Thunder
Che
The Love Guru
What Happens in Vegas
The Women
10,000 B.C.
88 Minutes
Funny Games
Fly Me to the Moon
Over Her Dead Body
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
