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Best 2008 Movies You Probably Missed

Salon's critic's favorite flicks are an eclectic bunch

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 25, 2008 5:18 PM CST
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(Newser) – Behold: a top 10 movies list that doesn't include The Dark Knight. In a year that's hard to sum up, Stephanie Zarachek pulls together an eclectic mix of great flicks for Salon:

  • Even repeated viewings don't betray any flaws in Happy-Go-Lucky, a "luminous" tale of a London school marm by British director Mike Leigh.

  • French director Arnaud Desplechin wields "a weird kind of magic" with A Christmas Tale, which transcends cliché with its "sawtooth lyricism."
  • Greg Kinnear as a ghost and Ricky Gervais as romantic lead? It works in David Koepp's "close to perfect" Ghost Town.
  • A stellar cast sparkles in Cadillac Records, Darnell Martin's story of the famous Chi-town music label Chess Records. Beyoncé Knowles in particular is "supurb" as Etta James.
Follow the link for the rest of the list.

Sally Hawkins in a scene from Happy-Go-Lucky.
Sally Hawkins in a scene from "Happy-Go-Lucky."   (AP Photo/Miramax Films, Simon Mein)
Sally Hawkins as Poppy, left, and Alexis Zegerman as Zoe in a scene from Happy-Go-Lucky.
Sally Hawkins as Poppy, left, and Alexis Zegerman as Zoe in a scene from "Happy-Go-Lucky."   (AP Photo/Miramax Films, Simon Mein)
Ricky Gervais, left, portrays a dentist who, after a near-death experience, can see ghosts, in Ghost Town.
Ricky Gervais, left, portrays a dentist who, after a near-death experience, can see ghosts, in "Ghost Town."   (AP Photo/Dreamworks LLC., Sarah Shatz)
Beyoncé Knowles portrays Etta James in a scene from Cadillac Records.
Beyoncé Knowles portrays Etta James in a scene from "Cadillac Records."   (Sony TriStar)
Adrien Brody portrays Leonard Chess, left and Jeffrey Wright portrays Muddy Waters in a scene from Cadillac Records.
Adrien Brody portrays Leonard Chess, left and Jeffrey Wright portrays Muddy Waters in a scene from "Cadillac Records."   (AP Photo/Sony TriStar, Eric Liebowitz)
Actors Ricky Gervais, left, and Greg Kinnear participate in a news conference for Ghost Town during the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.
Actors Ricky Gervais, left, and Greg Kinnear participate in a news conference for "Ghost Town" during the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
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A trailer for the new comedy "Ghost Town," starring Ricky Gervais.   (goodfilmtrailers)
A clip from director Mike Leigh's new fiim 'Happy-Go-Lucky.'   (MiramaxFilm)

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Shannonals
Dec 27, 2008 3:14 AM CST
Cadillac Records was a great movie

Big Hollywood moments of 2008
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Utah critics stick with 'Dark Knight'
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movie review • critic • foreign film • movies • Best of 2008

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