"The Dark Knight"(2008)
"Empire Strikes Back", Aliens", Terminator 2: Judgment Day". All sequels that unquestionably topped their predecessors and Chris Nolan's phenomenal follow-up to "Batman Begins" joined that elite group almost immediately. What more needs to be said about the late Heath Ledger's towering portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime? It's one of those performances that becomes permanently engrained in the public consciousness like Brando's Vito Corleone and Pacino's Tony Montana. The Best Supporting Actor Oscar seems insufficient. You almost feel sorry for the rest of the cast because they never had a chance of making a huge impression, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is a better actress than Katie Holmes and Aaron Eckhardt gives us a proper rendition of Gotham's tragic DA Harvey 'Two Face' Dent. Christian Bale's Batman has no limits and Nolan refused to stay within the limits of a comic book movie when he made an epic tale of crime and corruption with real world drama and an unexpected level of darkness. The result was a staggering $533 million domestic box office total
"The Wrestler"(2008)
The rise-and-fall-and rise-again of Mickey Rourke is a tale. The brooding 1980s bad boy was granted leading man/heartthrob status, which he promptly rejected to try his hand at boxing(you read that right). His return to acting in the mid-'90s was met with snickers and lousy roles and so began the long, improbable road back to respectability. His stunning transformation into Randy 'The Ram' Robinson was the ultimate vindication and the closest thing this cinematic era has to a "Raging Bull". Director Darren Aronofsky pulls back the curtain on the previously unexplored world of professional wrestling, a "fake sport" where the pain, personal sacrifice and shocking amount of drug-related casualties couldn't be more real.
"Milk"(2008)
"Frost/Nixon"(2008)
As you can see, 2008 was a banner year for male acting as Frank Langella also turned in a career-best performance
"Doubt"(2008)
"Iron Man"(2008)
Mickey Rourke wasn't the only big comeback story in 2008. Marvel Studios took a sizeable risk when they rested their immediate cinematic future on the shoulders of a man more famous for multiple drug arrests than anything he had done onscreen. But Robert Downey Jr.'s talents were never in question and he brought a charm, likability and sense of humor to Tony Stark that the wealthy industrialist playboy wouldn't have had otherwise. Gwyneth Paltrow is a good match as his assistant/love interest Pepper Potts and the special effects are top notch with Tony's first appearance in the red and gold suit being the real standout. "The Dark Knight" may have been the movie event of the summer, but the "IM" franchise has turned Marvel into a multi-billion dollar behemoth with no signs of slowing down.
"W"(2008)
"Vicki Christina Barcelona"(2008)
We also have this film to thank for Rebecca Hall.
"The Reader"(2008)
"Changeling"(2008)
Honorable Mentions
"Rambo"(2008) A resurgent Sylvester Stallone brings some old school carnage to Burma.
"Sex
"Hancock"(2008)
"Tropic Thunder"(2008)
"Gran Torino"(2008)
"Revolutionary Road"(2008)
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"(2008)