It's time, once again, to say farewell to another year and welcome a new one. Looking back on the year in film, 2008 was a difficult year to gauge. The writer's strike, no doubt, had its effect on the quality of films produced by mainstream studios. The implications of a highly-charged election year also granted us a disproportionate amount of "message" films with subtle (and not-so-subtle) political positions. The result was a mixed bag that, in hindsight, posed a challenge for me to find ten that can be deemed as favorites.

By "favorite" I do not mean to imply the "best" films—I will leave that for others to decide. For me, a "favorite" is a film that I would watch again and again. It is a film that I would like to own in my personal library. It would be a film that resonates with me emotionally, mentally, and stirs something within my spirit to connect me to the narrative and the characters.

Not being a full-time film reviewer, I did not see everything that was released. Of the nearly five hundred films out there, I managed to only see a little over a hundred of them. A few of the intriguing films that are receiving early Oscar-buzz also have not been released in my city yet—Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler, and Gran Torino are among those that are slated for January. Others that intrigued me just managed to slip by—I can't wait to see Ballast, The Boy In the Striped Pajamas, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader and Waltz With Bashir. I will eventually get to those and, perhaps, this list may need to be revised.

But until then, for what it's worth, here is a list of my ten favorite films of 2008.

10. Under The Same Moon — Set in a southern California border town, this film accurately and powerfully tells the story that likely parallels many in my community. Rosario (Kate del Castillo), a young mother living in Mexico, leaves behind her son Carlitos (Adrian Alonso) to search for a better life in the United States. Circumstances send Carlitos on a perilous journey to find his mother state-side. In the midst of debates on illegal immigration, this film puts a face and a heart on an issue that is not so black-and-white. The story inspires hope, faith and courage which crosses all cultural lines.

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — Director David Fincher's fascinating fable of a man who is born old and ages backwards. The gimmick of watching Brad Pitt as an "old man" is quickly forgotten as we are absorbed into his unique life. It is unsettling to watch someone live life in reverse—joy, happiness, regret and sadness take on whole new meanings when viewed through the lens of someone living outside of the normal course of life.

8. Slumdog Millionaire — Indian teen Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) overcomes a remarkably difficult childhood on the streets of Mumbai to become a contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" As Jamal tackles each difficult question correctly, behind every answer is a story from his life. Jamal has his reasons for being on the show and the prize money is not one of them. This deeply layered story is a demonstration of providence, redemption, overcoming prejudice, and the power of loyalty and unconditional love. Director Danny Boyle's stirring tribute to Bollywood in the closing credits provides a fitting, celebratory end to this great film.

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