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Slumdog Millionaire

4. Slumdog Millionaire
directed by Danny Boyle
"It doesn't have the sweet innocence of Boyle's last film, Millions, but the heartwarming and redemptive payoff at the end is worth the gritty journey through the brutal slums of Mumbai." "Many are calling it the feel-good movie of the year, and it certainly earns its Bollywood ending." "Kind of a modern day, socially conscious Joseph story, with all things working out for good." "Terrific performances and captivating direction from Boyle make it a winner." "Full of verve, color, energy, and a distinctly humane sensibility." "Boyle displays a mastery of pure cinema—of sound and color and uncanny film editing—in his unashamedly romantic, mythic fairy tale about love and destiny. The most gripping and suspenseful film of the year, and one of the most joyful." "There are few true visionary and creative directors making films today that capture you into a world like Danny Boyle." (Our review.)

4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days

5. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
directed by Cristian Mungiu
"Heartpounding and devastating, it forces you to view a hot-button topic—abortion—with new eyes." "A film about a real-world nightmare, and viewers should be strongly cautioned that there are horrifying scenes of criminal misbehavior and devastating evil. But the film does not sensationalize or condone the evils of its characters—rather, it boldly exposes them in order to reveal the consequences of communism, the dangers of capitalism, and wages of selfish sins." "A heartbreaking film, delicately told and viscerally acted. It's about abortion, and not for the weak of heart, but it's a film that beckons to be seen and appreciated." "Deliberately mundane in its naturalism, crafted with subtle but rigid formal precision, 4 Months offers a true 'fly on the wall' perspective on appalling events surrounding an illegal abortion, making an unanswerable case for the victimization of both the mother and the unborn child." (Our review.)

Man on Wire

6. Man on Wire
directed by James Marsh
"A compelling documentary that brings the magic of Philippe Petit's wire-walking—and the majesty of the World Trade Center towers—back to life." "An inspirational account about aiming high, pursuing a beautiful vision, and what is possible when people cooperate, concentrate, and dream. It also has the strange effect of redeeming the sight of the New York skyline, helping many of us learn to admire that sight again without being dragged down by dark memories." "Its greatest masterstroke is the way it allows its central character to simply tell his story—a story so rich and exciting, it needs no embellishment to make it one of the most mesmerizing and inspiring stories seen on the big screen all year." "A truly gripping, enthralling adventure of a film." "A concise film with broad, life-affirming reach, though it doesn't hammer you over the head with its significance." "Documentaries aren't often edge-of-your-seat affairs, but Man on Wire is. At turns fun, terrifying, mind-boggling and strange, the tale of the French artist who walked between the twin towers is a fascinating and engaging masterpiece." (Official site.)

Gran Torino

7. Gran Torino
directed by Clint Eastwood
"Easily Clint Eastwood's most audience-friendly movie in years. It's another fine performance from the classic actor, recalling some of the greatest roles in his career." "A deeply personal film with the fingerprints of its auteur all over it, Eastwood's latest is a movie that only he could have made, and it summarizes everything he's done up to this point." "A marvelous finale that captures the essence of unconditional love and the very spirit of John 15:13." "A film that is profound on a number of levels—a commentary on our contemporary zeitgeist but also a timeless story of redemption, sacrifice, and grace." "It's Eastwood working through his own Dirty Harry mythos, atoning for his own cinematic sins in the same way that any of us much reckon with our past as we age and the world changes." "Despite the offensive content associated with its portrayal of a racist Detroit widower (played by Eastwood), Torino show great heart as that man finds redemption because of the unconditional love of those he discriminates against." (Our review.)

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