Too bad. It's nice to see he liked a lot of the movies I did too, but I really would've liked to see an exact ordered number. I don't know, maybe I'm just being picky.

Alphabetical? That's the way I do it too.

Eh, I wouldn't put Iron Man in my list.

How can he name off his top 20 films of 2008 without having seen all of the December releases? Even using screeners, I'm sure he hasn't seen Benjamin Button yet. So what gives?

I love how the majority of critic's top ten lists will not include movies no one has ever heard of, but movies that aren't even out yet.

I'm just glad he didn't include "Lakeview Terrace," because he definitely gave it 4 stars.

Wait has he seen Benjamin Button yet?!? Or is this list just so far this year?!?

where's your list peter!

The Fall and Rachel Getting Married are certainly my two favorites of 2008, so far.

YES! The Fall. So glad some peopel liked it

It makes sense for Ebert not to number them. If he could, he'd drop his star rating system altogether to force people to read the review. Honestly while it may seem easy to name your #1 or 2 films for the year, all the subsequently numbered choices tend to be arbitrarily assigned anyway.

What's more important is that people are aware of these great films and have a reason to seek them out :) I'm glad he mentioned The Band's Visit. That's an incredibly sweet and funny film that most people looked over. It's definitely worth a watch!

...there was a screening of Benjamin Button at my school (USC) two days ago. If a bunch of film students could see it by then, I'm sure that the most famous film critic in the country could have seen it earlier.

Where's the Wrestler?

I agree about the numerical listing, I think its more important to shine a broader spotlight on amazing and overlooked films. Rankings are so subjective anyways and there is plenty of other venues for that

Too right, another generic comic book remake. Nothing special at all.

Very difficult to quantify the difference between 4 and 5 in terms of overall enjoyment (or whichever criteria you are using).

The way they've been back loading quality releases in December it almost needs its own "best of..." category.

I knew he was going to put the masterpiece Synecdoche on his list, but it's good to see it there anyhow. It's too bad not as many people get to see it in theaters as they should. Hell, that could be said with a lot of movies this year including Ballast, Frozen River, Wendy and Lucy, etc. It's sad that I can go see Beverly Hills Chiuaua over a span of three months but can't even find any of those films playing in a theater near me for even three days.

I was wondering the same thing. There is such positive buzz going around, I am sure it could easily replace something like W..

Why would Ebert do this when there are movies from 2008 that he has not seen yet?

Maybe his "2008" includes December 2007, and his "2009" list will include December 2008, or maybe he has seen these movies everyone keeps mentioning and he just didn't think they were in his Top 20

Iron Man a remake?

How can be people be upset that he's including movies people haven't seen yet, but at the same time be upset that Benjamin Button is not on the list.

Alphabetical? That's the way I do it too.

But hey, at least he didn't put one of his other four-star movies on the list: "Lakeview Terrace."

Ebert is an A-level newspaper critic. Believe me, he's had press screenings of eery film to come out this year, including the late december releases. For instince, I'm just an online writer and I've seen Ben Button, and that doesn't come out until Christmas

Happy Go Lucky was fun and I'm glad to see it get some big-time attention; Sally Hawkins deserves an Oscar.

So he could name 10 films and number them every year since like the 70s and has named the top 10 films, and ranked them, for entire decades but all of a sudden he can't even rank a top 20 list for a single year? Going senile much?

I don't trust Ebert on his reviews...sorry, he likes everything...i mean EVERYTHING. He liked Hitman...enough said

I'm surprised In Bruges wasnt on his list. It received 4 stars and he acclaimed one most original movies of the year

Hmmm...and yet Iron Man and W. are better than Benjamin Button? I mean, maybe he felt that way, it just seems really peculiar to me.

I wish the Dark Knight wasn't on there, but I'm really glad to see Shotgun Stories

How about Let the Right One In?

You mean nobody here thought Twilight should be on his list?

{grin}

That was the one I was going to mention... I am a bit surprised Iron M

whoa... it cut me off... I was a bit surprised Iron Man mad his list... although I agree it should be there

Numerical listings are a meaningless formality. I think it takes more guts not to number them. If all the movies are top ten worthy they will all have equal worth at different times in your life.

So because you don't always agree with him you don't trust him? Did you go see Hitman solely because he liked it?

Why are you so convinced Button is a masterpiece if you haven't seen it

Yeah I take issue with a some of his reviews, but by and large I think he is a great barometer and writer on top of that, his editorials lately have been amazing

do a list peter!

Shotgun Stories was great. Let the Right One In should be on his list too.

Most intelligent thing I've heard all day...kuddos...I completely agree...

In Bruges was so good, brendan gleeson should have got a best supporting nod

No 'Let The Right One In,' no care. Sorry Roger.

I'm dissapointed then, that Ben Button isn't on his list. It' was one of my most anticipated of the year.

no "The Wrestler"? hmm

Iron Man was good, but one of the best of the year? i dont know about that

can anyone believe that freaking "Wizard" magazine, the so called "Guide to Comics" ranked Iron Man the best comic book movie of all time over The Dark Knight?!

BLASPHEMY!!! ROT IN HELL WIZARD!!!

God dammit. What's so hard to understand about the fact that these movies get reviewed by dozens of critics before the public will ever get to see them? I'm making a "conjecture" - based on early word about the movie. How I feel about the movie when I eventually see it has NOTHING to do with this.

I am merely surprised and intrigued that Ebert wouldn't have made mention of it - since it seems to be one of the best movies coming out this year. Is it because he hasn't actually reviewed it yet, or what? If so, then why didn't he hold off on this list until 2008 got closer to a close? I'd like to know. That's all. It's just conjecture based on early word and curiosity.

Jesus. I didn't shit in your cereal or anything.

THE CHASER (Korean)
RED CLIFF (China)
MAN ON WIRE (UK)
SON OF RAMBOW (UK)
PAINTED SKIN (China)

all should be on the list

Goro, you BONE-HEAD!

I saw Son of Rambo recently. Good little flick that one.