Blending documentary footage and photographs with the film (Good Night and Good Luck) and attempting to capture the realist feel (too many examples to list) are not, I’m afraid, original or new enough to be called a renaissance.

To me, 2008 was one of the worst years I have witnessed in my lifetime, but you are right about one thing: It was a year of good and interesting documentaries. Even the ones that aren’t (due to their simple and entertainment-driven nature (Milk, Frost/Nixon)) tried desperately to have a documentary feel, which was honestly ridiculous.

Have you seen The Fall? I haven’t seen it on your list and it made me curious…

i was pleasantly surprised to find out that F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the short story upon which Benjamin Button (the movie) was based, then mention this in the opening credits

Wonderful list indeed Joseph! Your inclusion of DEAR ZACHARY is classy, and with deserving choices like MAN ON WIRE, SLUMDOG, WRESTLER, BENJAMIN BUTTON and ENCOUNTERS, you really have a top-rank listing here, that I am thrilled to lay my eyes on. I look forward to an eventual elaboration on a few of these. Great work!

Joseph: THE VISITOR was my #2, and MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS #7, so you knowI’m completely with you there on both!

It’s a mixture of real life, a sabbatical of sorts (or laziness…can’t decide), and a rethinking of what I’m doing.

I’m considering doing away with rating the films that I review (or at least not putting much stock in them). Especially around this time of year it’s evident that some of my favorite films have lower ratings than other films.

Hmm…that sounds like a future post…

But rest assured, I will be writing more after the Oscar buzz dies down, and especially more in the Summer.