1. Slumdog Millionaire (review)
Fox Searchlight and director Danny Boyle shock audiences with an unexpected story about life, adventure and the lengths one will go to to find the one they love. Filled with emotion and inspiration, Slumdog Millionaire is an up and down film that will encompass your mind and give you reason to believe in the powers of fate. However, the film's 'it' factor proved to be its cast, which came together seamlessly throughout the movie.

2. The Reader (review)
While the story is nowhere near generic, it is still quite simple and bland. However, throw in a solid performance from Kate Winslet and a stellar supporting cast, and the film generates sympathy and emotion; two characteristics that you would never expect to feel for a woman who saw so many die at her discretion. As a result, the movie reaches astonding heights, soaring past the competion and becoming one of 2008's finest.

3. Milk (review)
Fully engrossing the real-life character of Harvey Milk, Sean Penn sells himself to both the film and its message. However, the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to ever be elected to public office, sparks emotion and inspiration, creating appeal and comfort in relation to the many civil rights fights that are occuring across our country these days. The end result is a film of magnitude as it tells a story that is historic; though still screams volumes in terms of current local affairs.

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (review)
"I was born under unusal circumstances." What more needs to be said about Benjamin Button. Containing a unique and cleverly twisted premise about a man who ages backwards, the film jumps off of the screen, building a strong connection with its audience. However, the best part of the picture is the combined work of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, both of whom age and transform drastically during the course of the film.

5. Wall-E (review)
Known for the inability to create a flop, Pixar has been under extreme pressure over the last two years as studios and fans await their first official dissappointment. For many, they felt that it would come with Wall-E, a tale of Earth's last robot trash collector. However, after the film was released last July, criticism was put to rest as the film containined all the necessary ingrediants to forming a solid story-centered film. From Wall-E and his human like qualities to the hilarious life aboard the spaceships, the film is a truely remakable piece of art, though those who know better never doubted the film's end result.

6. Waltz With Bashir
Much like last years Persepolis, Walts With Bashir tells a grown up story through the visual images of 2-D animation. However, unlike last year, Waltz doesn't play anything say, giving audiences the intense mental games that come with war and the art of active combat. However, even though the story is strong throughout, it relies more on its final ten minutes than anything else. Graphic and emotional, the film touches many sensitive spots; though in the end, each is warranted in the telling of the story, making you appreciate the film all the more.

7. The Dark Knight (review)
Though officially tabbed as the 2nd highest grossing film ever, The Dark Knight is much more than a summer blockbuster. Containing a strong, character centered story, a ginormous cast and a riving performance by the late Heath Ledger, the story jumps off the page, becoming a mind racing journey that will hold your attention for its entire 2 1/2 hour running time.

8. Man on a Wire (review)
The lone documentary to crack out Top 15 , Man on a Wire tells the extrodinary story of Philippe Petit, who stunned people across the globe when he walked out on a wire rigged between New York City's Twin Towers. Though a simple concept, the personality that comes from Philippe and his daring adventures provides the film with small segments of comedic relief; a great distraction from the otherwise intense, edge-of-your-seat film.

9. Stop-Loss (review)
It is never easy to sell a war film; especially when said war hasn't even ended. Yet Kimberly Pierce's Stop-Loss focuses on a different aspect of war as it follows a man through his battle with the government, his family, his friends and most imporantly himself. The story is presented exceptionally well as you are taken on a rollar coaster ride of emotion and self-discovery; one that can only be understood after watching the film in its entirety.

10. Doubt (review)
With the ability to create tension through the simple use of dialogue and facial expressions, the cast of Doubt helped to sell the story of a young priest who is thought to be having inappropriate relations with the Catholic school's first black student. However, more than just selling the film, each actor sold thier character, making something of the situation and bringing the story to life with full force.

11. The Wrestler
Coming out of nowhere to shock audiences across the country, Micky Rourke gives the comeback performance that we have all begged for, brining the film and story to the screen in fine fashion and giving audiences the pleasent surprise that they have been waiting for all year.

12. Frost/Nixon (review)
Recreating the intense and climatic set of interviews between the recently resigned President in Richard Nixon and Australian talk-show host David Frost, Frost/Nixon contained a load of attention-grabbing content that will keep you the edge of your seat in high anticipation. However, the story plays second to the chemistry between lead stars Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, who worked along side each other for months prior to the film in the staged play production by the same name.

13. The Ruins (review)
When four teenagers decide to make their exotic vacation a bit more educational, they wind up playing sacrifice to a village and its leathal ruins. Starring Jenna Malone in the lead character, the film reaches great heights as it causes the characters on screen to doubt themselves as well as each other. Through the process, the ruins begin to take over the innocent vacationers, making the escape impossible and deadly.

14. Frozen River (review)
Courtney Hunt's Frozen River is the classic exacmple of an indie-film done well. Featuring a superb, underappreciated lead actress in Melissa Leo and a heart-pounding script, the film proved that big name stars and special effects are only distractions when it comes to a solid story. Not to mention that the premise is based off true events, giving it and the film that extra push needed to enter into our top teir of movies in 2008.

15. The Bank Job (review)
Though Jason Statham has appeared in a series of disasterous films, he finally hit the nail on the head with The Bank Job. Featuring a story that is intense, action packed and 'true,' the movie exceeds all expectation, giving audience members a reason to go to the theaters last spring. Throw in some hot bodies and a historic feel and the film scores the final spot in our list of fifteen.