Year In Review: Movies

As promised, here are the the movies that made the best list this year, along with the performances. Posted following the Oscar noms, the one good thing that happened this week, other than the tragedies (Heath Ledger died? Global recession? Justine Henin lost to Maria Sharapova?).


BEST DRAMA
Atonement, a WWII drama that follows on the romance of Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in the time of the war. Their relationship is cut short by false accusations made by Oscar-nominated Saoirse Ronan which leaves them apart and McAvoy sent to war. The film leads the BAFTA nominations and won the GG for Best Drama.

BEST COMEDY
Knocked Up, starring Katherine Heigl in her star-making debut, where her character, a twentysomething reporter for E! gets pregnant by a slacker. The months to follow prove to be a test for this accidental couple, with family and office issues. Ryan Seacrest, Giuliana Rancic and Catt Sadler makes cameos as E! reporters.

BEST MUSICAL
La Vie En Rose, a French production that follows the life and tragedies of legendary French star Edith Piaf, played by Marion Cottilard in an Oscar-nominated role. Cotillard actually played the character through 4 decades, using a different layering of makeup to portray different stages of Edith's life - and emotional being.

BEST ACTION
The Bourne Ultimatum, one of the great movies of this year. Mark Wahlberg reprises his role in the hunter-turned-hunted saga, following the success of the prequels, with Julia Stiles and Joan Allen also given scene-stealing roles. The film's ending leaves it hanged though, leaving room for a possible fourth installment.

BEST FANTASY
Enchanted, a Disney flick starring Amy Adams as a princess cursed by Susan Sarandon to a place "where there are no happily ever afters" - which turns out to be New York! There she meets Patrick Dempsey and of course, the rest of the story is like any fairytale book. Three songs got Oscar noms, although Adams was snubbed by the Academy.

BEST THRILLER
There Will Be Blood, a chilling tale about oil kings in the turn of the 20th century, and their quest for money and power. Starring Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis in a powerful performance as a wealthy oil explorer, the movie is hailed as being "ahead of its time" by critics and of course, the notorious line nobody will forget, "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE".

BEST ANIMATION
Ratatouille, also a Disney film, is an out-there story about a rat who has an incredible sense of cooking and subsequently helps an orphan boy become the greatest chef in Paris. The screenplay is great, supported by great visuals and solid voicing. Ratatouille won the Golden Tomato award earlier this week.