The bitter fight over custody of Rubina – who was abandoned as a baby by her mother and raised by father Rafiq Qureshi and stepmother Munni – started after reports that Qureshi tried to ‘sell’ his daughter. – from Dailymail

Indian police are investigating claims and counterclaims by the parents of a child star in “Slumdog Millionaire” after a British tabloid alleged the father tried to sell the 9-year-old girl to an undercover reporter.

- from Yahoo News

Slumdog Millionaire, this year’s critical darling about a young boy from the slums of Mumbai who discovers love and fortune, arrives on Blu-ray Disc With Digital Copy and DVD March 31st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Garnering top honors at the 2009 Academy Awards* including Best Picture – Christian Colson, Best Director – Danny Boyle, Best Original Score – A. R. Rahman, Best Original Song – A. R. Rahman and Sampooran Singh Gulzar for “Jai Ho,” and Best Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire also won four Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Danny Boyle, Best Original Score – A. R. Rahman and Best Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy, and seven BAFTA Film Awards** including Best Film – Christian Colson, Best Director – Danny Boyle, Best Music – A. R. Rahman and Best Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy.

“A gaudy, gorgeous rush of color, sound and motion” (Manohla Dargis, New York Times), Slumdog Millionaire is loosely based on the fictional novel “Q and A” by Indian writer Vikas Swarup, which tracks the life of Jamal Malik, an impoverished child living in Mumbai’s sprawling slums. After losing his mother, Jamal (played as a teen by Dev Patel) and his brother Salim (played as a teen by Madhur Mittal) must do whatever necessary to survive. Jamal’s travels are filled with memorable encounters, good and bad, but along the way he meets another orphan child, Latika (played as a teen by Freida Pinto). When Jamal and Latika become separated, he becomes romantically determined to reunite with Latika… even if it means appearing on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Jamal begins drawing on his past experiences to answer the questions that will inevitably lead him to vast wealth and lost love. But after lasting longer than anyone ever expected, Jamal is accused of cheating and must prove to the police and the show’s producers how he knows the answers by retelling his arduous childhood in a series of flashbacks. Providing a glimpse into the tough existence of homeless children in Mumbai while juxtaposing optimism and love, director Danny Boyle’s (Trainspotting, Millions) “beautifully rendered and energetic tale celebrates resilience, the power of knowledge and the vitality of the human experience” (Claudia Puig, USA Today). Featuring heartfelt performances by a largely Indian cast, Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel (Skins), Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal (Say Salaam India), Irrfan Khan (The Namesake, Haasil) and Anil Kapoor (Taal, Pukar). Boasting a memorable and flawless soundtrack that blends modern and traditional Indian music by acclaimed Indian composer A. R. Rahman (Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India, Taal), Slumdog Millionaire also features tracks from artist M.I.A. including the Grammy nominated song for Record of the Year “Paper Planes.” Special features include commentary by director Danny Boyle, star Dev Patel, writer Simon Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson, behind-the scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and more. The Slumdog Millionaire Blu-ray Disc With Digital Copy will be available for $39.98 U.S. / $49.95 Canada; the DVD will be available for $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada. Prebook date is 03/04/09.

Synopsis
Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Each chapter of Jamal’s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show’s seemingly impossible questions. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its exuberant storytelling lies the intriguing question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

Blu-ray Disc With Digital Copy Specs
Slumdog Millionaire will be presented in widescreen format (2.35:1aspect ratio) with English/Hindi 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio. Bonus features include:
• Disc One
o Slumdog Dreams: Danny Boyle & The Making of Slumdog Millionaire
o Deleted Scenes:
• Chase Through Slums Longer Version
• Boys At Container Yard/Beanbags/Yellow Dress
• Prem At Police Station
• Frederick Stevens Question
• Jamal at Opera, Boys Leave Agra
• Jamal Searches, finds Arvind
• Chowpatty Beach And Tulip Star
• Jamal Returns To Tulip Star
• Jamal Wakes In Slum
• “Why Can’t You Leave It Alone”
• Jamal Loses Latika, Calls Salim
• The Folder
o From Script To Screen: Toilet Scene
o Indian Short Film – Manjha
o Bombay Liquid Dance Music Video
o Commentary by Director Danny Boyle and Actor Dev Patel
o Commentary by Producer Christian Colson and writer Simon Beaufoy
o Slumdog Cutdown
• Disc Two
o Digital Copy

DVD Specs
Slumdog Millionaire single-disc DVD will be presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English/ Hindi 5.1 Dolby Surround. Bonus features include:
Slumdog Dreams: Danny Boyle & The Making of Slumdog Millionaire
• Deleted Scenes:
o Chase Through Slums Longer Version
o Boys At Container Yard/Beanbags/Yellow Dress
o Prem At Police Station
o Frederick Stevens Question
o Jamal at Opera, Boys Leave Agra
o Jamal Searches, finds Arvind
o Chowpatty Beach And Tulip Star
o Jamal Returns To Tulip Star
o Jamal Wakes In Slum
o “Why Can’t You Leave It Alone”
o Jamal Loses Latika, Calls Salim
o The Folder
• Commentary by Director Danny Boyle and Actor Dev Patel
• Commentary by Producer Christian Colson and Writer Simon Beaufoy
• Slumdog Cutdown

People are going to make millions on this,so it’s the least that can happen.

Two child actors from the film Slumdog Millionaire will be moved from slums to new houses by Indian authorities. Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, who played young versions of two main characters, were discovered by casting agents in Mumbai’s Garib Nagar slum. There was an outcry when it was found they were still living there after the success of the Oscar-winning film. – From BBC

And they thought their good fortune peaked when they met Mickey. Two of Slumdog Millionaire’s child actors are, quite literally, slumming it no more, with the Indian government rewarding the poverty-stricken toasts of Hollywood with new homes for their families outside of the Mumbai slums. Amarjeet Singh Manhas, the chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, said that Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, who played the youngest versions of Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal’s characters in the Oscar juggernaut, “are special and have won laurels for the country and we want to felicitate them.” – From Eonline.com

Goodnite….

We told you. Slumdog sweeps the Oscars… Everyone, on stage! “Passion and belief, anything is possible.”

Best Picture goes to Slumdog Millionaire…

Steven Spielberg? “Capable of anything…” “Destiny.”

Best Actor goes to… SEAN PENN! “You homo loving commie sons of guns…” “Equal rights for everyone…” Nice nod to Mickey….

Ah, Randy the Ram. “The returning champ…”

Sean Penn, has got to win this….

OLD GUYS! Okay, Best Actor. Frank! Sean Penn! Funny, DeNiro! Brad Pitt. Blah… buttons…

“I was 8 years old, staring into the mirror, talking into a shampoo bottle…” “Whistle something!” “Anthony and Sydney, this is for you…” Great speech, lovely.

KATE…..!!!! Of course, KATE WINS IT! Deserves this win.

Angelina intro by Nicole. Not much warmth…

Wonderful, but Kate is gonna win this.

Best Actress!!! Wow, such legends… Awww, Anne….

Best Director — should go to Danny Boyle. YES, THE SWEEP CONTINUES, DANNY TAKES IT!!!! SLUMDOG!!!! Tigger… What a great film maker… Such great movies, each movie different. A real artist.

Reese is way too thin!

Move on dot org guys…

The Queen… Always sad. Ollie Johnson. Bernie Mac. Roy. Issac. Richardo. Stan Winston! Chuck. Anthony. Pollack. Paul Newman. Wow.

On with the show! (shot!) Left the room for a few… who’s that guy?

(I didn’t know Hoover still made vacuums…)

SLUMDOG TO WIN ALL!!!! Ha… Bollywood takes Hollywood!

Wow, Slumdog is rocking the house! I think we know they’re gonna win all.

Slumdog sweeps continues. Best original score!

Ok, I’m getting tired, let’s move along.

“This touches my heart…” – Jerry Lewis.

Poor Eddie Murphy… Looks nice and thin, tho. Jerry is less puffy. He better not bash the gays… Hello Dino!

A tribute to Jerry Lewis next… Good nite….

And the sweep continues on…… Slumdog!

Slumdog sweep continues!

Will Smith. ok. Visual effects. The Dark Knight has gotta take it! Buttons?! Blah. Sound editing…. Dark Knight?!! YESSSSS So cool….

Wait, are these the 2008 Oscars? Fuck!

Bill Maher… zzz. Man on Wire. Brilliant docu! Fuck u, Bill, he did deserve.

Heath Ledger is the only winner. ONLY WINNER! Heath Ledger wins Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Family goes up… “Ever so humbling…” “Son’s amazing work.” “Validated… in an industry he so loved….”

Cuba Jr. is here for the free food! Idiot.

Another glass. Another hour…

More Hugh! The musical is back. Beyoncé? Didn’t somebody punch her? Grease! Baz!

Seth is still way too thin. Fatten up, boy. Something won…. toyland?

ZZZZ. Ok mini-Judd Apatow flick. SETH! FRANCO! Zohan!

Jessica Biel. Really ?!?

Badger dog is great…

Get on with it. Stiller? Portman? Funny. Take that, Phoenix! Slumdog sweep continues….

Some dbag from Twilight… Hottie from Veronica Mars! Romance?

Best Make Up… Buttons. Blah. Whatever. Nice laundry list.

Ok, costumes… The Duchess… Never watched, don’t care. Get off the stage… Zzzz.

Horseface and Daniel Craig! Blah blah blah Buttons… Looked great tho.

Best short animated film? Who gives a fuck… Getting a drink. Oh, I loved Presto tho. Something else won. Ok… Drink.

WALL-E the ONLY WINNER! Should’ve been Best Picture. Yes, WALL-E takes it! Andrew Stanton back on stage again. Pixar rocks.

Maniston! Black! Jennifer is terrible… Why is this TV hack even here?

Screenplay – best adaption… Fuck Buttons! Dig Frost/Nixon!!!! Slumdog Millionaire!! The Slumdog sweep begins here.

Screenplay – best original… WALL-E! But Milk takes it! Worth it, deserves it. “Hope to live my life.” Touching speech. Fuck, i need more drink…

Tina Fey has that retard girl but fuckable look.

Ok, next. So far, enjoying new format. Tina Fey! Steve Martin!

Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz. I still don’t think she knows where she is… Thanks Woody, thanks Harvey. She’s from aqua velva? Spanish!

Philip Seymour Hoffman. Take off your fuckin’ stocking hat — what, is it too cold there?

Hot Oscar ladies — yeah! Oh wait, not hot at all. Is Whoopi pregnant?

Meryl Streep. 15 nominations!

Why is Philip Seymour Hoffman wearing a stocking hat?

“I’m Wolverinnnnnne!”

The Reader number was brilliant….

Man, I want to titty f – Anne Hathaway…

Brad Pitt seems to be enjoying himself.

Great opening number… Hugh is perfect doing this. Wow, so great on stage. Musicals are in his blood. Need more booze…

“Australian playing an Austrian in Australia.” – hilarious Hugh.

Kate Winslet, oh, I’m so shy. C’mon…

Hugh Jackman… Fuckin’ Wolverine!

Glittery gay Hollywood! Pretty set.

Live for the Kodak Theater. And Diet Coke… Wait, what?

Shot of Johnny Walker during the commercial. On with the fuckin’ show!

The ABC red carpet sucked! Why are they always douchebags?!

The Judd Apatow gang! Man, Leslie Mann is hot! I bet she gives great head. Seth Rogen is looking too thin. All for the Green Hornet movie, which I doubt will ever be made, so fatten up, Seth!

Jack Black. Hilarious and awkward.

Penélope Cruz. I don’t think she knows exactly where she is…

Meryl Streep. I’d still do her.

Less Billy Bush on the Red Carpet, which is always a good thing.

Welcome to show. Smoke em if you got em.

Check this space — I, Alex will be live bloggin ‘the 2009 Oscars with a MacBook and bottle of Johnny Walker scotch. No, really, dangerous, huh? Live reactions will be here. New stuff at top, older at bottom. Simple, right? Join me in comments below.

Meanwhile… Techcrunch…

This tip comes from a very good source that we shall call Felix, that is personally connected to the Buzz Newsroom team. Also, Felix has tripped us on other news that has panned out before; of course, we should always take tips with a grain of salt. He’s working on the ABC production team and close to Bill Condon and Larry Mark (the guys running the Oscar broadcast, respectively the director and the producer of Dreamgirls). If Bill and Larry are around, so is Felix. Here’s the text we received about 10 minutes ago, naming Slumdog Millionare as winner of Best Picture:

THINGS ARE HECTIC. RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS ON LOGISTICS, SECURITY AND FLOW. WE’RE WORKING ON MUSIC QUES, SO THE RIGHT SOUNDTRACK MUSIC CHIMES IN WHEN THE “WINNER” STEPS UP TO THE STAGE. IN THE BOOTH, THEY KEEP ON FOCUSING ON THREE THINGS: SLUMDOG MILLIONARE FOR BEST PICTURE, KATE WINSLET FOR BEST ACTRESS, HEATH LEDGER FOR BEST SUPPORTING. NOTHING ELSE. IVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE BOOTH, HOPE TO GET MORE INFO SOON.

We’ll you read all that here first, folks!!!!

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar and “Slumdog Millionaire” scooped four honors Sunday as the 81st Academy Awards got off to an electrifying and poignant start in Hollywood. Ledger, who died last year of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28, won the best supporting actor for his portrayal of Batman’s arch-enemy the Joker in last year’s summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” – from AFP

Kate Winslet has won the best-actress Academy Award for the Holocaust-themed drama “The Reader,” while best-picture favorite “Slumdog Millionaire” has cruised to seven Oscars, including best director for Danny Boyle. A five-time loser at the Oscars previously, Winslet triumphed for her role as a former concentration camp guard in an affair with a teenager. – from AP

“Slumdog Millionaire” is the Academy Awards champion, wrapping up its ghetto-to-glory story by winning best picture and seven other Oscars, including the directing honor for Danny Boyle. A story of hope amid squalor in Mumbai, India, “Slumdog Millionaire” also had wins that include adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and both music Oscars, score and song. – from NWI

Director Zach Snyder has a cameo in his new Watchmen film – a photo was released – nothing earth-shattering, but kind of fun.

Brett Ratner is looking to direct an adaptation of Rob Leifeld’s iconic graphic novel Youngblood. Considering how friggin’ crappy X-Men 3 was, it makes me sad.

Val Kilmer wants to be the governor of New Mexico. Considering how many crappy films he’s made of late, getting him involved with something else will be a plus.

The San Diego Comic-Con will have some Tron 2 fun. Expect some clips and panel type stuff.

The civil war at the Screen Actors Guild appears to be waning, as the moderates have solidified their hold on the board. Avoiding a prolonged legal squabble will be best for everyone.

We give up. We love Paul Blart now. We embrace the awesomeness of it all. Please post the exciting news for when the inevitable sequel gets announced.

Nice to see Slumdog pick up biz.

Kevin James scored another win at the box office this weekend with his comedy ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop,’ which brought in an estimated $21.5 million. The comedy starring the former “King of Queens” star as a mild-mannered bumbling security guard had a budget of just $26 million, but has already made $64.8 million in its first two weekends in theaters. – From Entertainment Weekly

Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” rocketed up the box office chart to No. 5 after picking up top Oscar nominations, grossing an estimated $10.6 million from 1,411 runs as it successfully expanded nationwide. Sony was the other big winner of the weekend, claiming the No. 1 and No. 2 spots with holdover laffer “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and new entry “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.” “Mall Cop” declined a mere 32% to an estimated $21.5 million in its second weekend for a cume of $64.8 million in its first 10 days, according to Rentrak. – From Variety

The Kevin James comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” captured the top spot at the North American box office for a second week in a row by edging out “Underworld, Rise of the Lycans.” “Mall Cop” — which cost only $26 million to make — sold an estimated $21.5 million worth of tickets over the weekend and has now taken in a surprisingly strong total of $64.8 million in two weeks, distributor Columbia Pictures said on Sunday. – From Reuters

Many kudos for the hugely deserving nomination for Ledger – he was the Dark Knight – and it’s a fitting tribute to his memory. Also, more kudos to the academy for recognizing Robert Downey Jr. for his brilliant comic role in Tropic Thunder. The accolades for Danny Boyle’s superb Slumdog Millionaire are great. On the down side, WALL-E was easily one of the best picture last year – and it gets shoved aside because it’s ‘only’ an animated film. Much like Ratatouille was in 2007, it may well be the best film of this year. And finally – the Reader for best picture? Where the hell did that come from. (The Full List Is Below).

On the first anniversary of his death, Heath Ledger received a huge tribute: The late actor is an Oscar nominee for best supporting actor for his role as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” notched the most nominations with 13, including best picture, best director for David Fincher, best actor for Brad Pitt and a best supporting actress nod for Taraji Phenson. – From NY Daily News

Batman and Clint Eastwood? Forget about it. Instead, the far more serious Holocaust-themed The Reader slipped into the race for a best-picture Oscar and its director, Stephen Daldry, also managed to sneak into his category. The other nominees announced for top prize in the 81st Academy Awards Thursday morning in Los Angeles followed the script of the prognosticators: the era-spanning fable The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which led the crowd with 13 nominations; gay-themed political biopic Milk; TV-landmark drama Frost/Nixon; and romantic crowd-pleaser Slumdog Millionaire. – From USA Today

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” led all films with nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards on Thursday morning, picking up 13. The film, about a man who ages in reverse, earned nods for best picture, best director (David Fincher), best actor (Brad Pitt), best supporting actress (Taraji P. Henson) and best adapted screenplay as well as several other picks. The record for Oscar nominations is 14, held by “All About Eve” and “Titanic.” Both films won best picture. – From CNN

Frost/Nixon:

Milk:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button:

Slumdog Millionaire:

The Reader:

Performance by an actor in a leading role:
* Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
* Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role:
* Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year:
* “Bolt” (Walt Disney) Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* “Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney)

Achievement in directing:
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) David Fincher
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Ron Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features) Gus Van Sant
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company) Stephen Daldry
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight) Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature:
* “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild) A Pandinlao Films Production Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
* “Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment) A Creative Differences Production Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
* “The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production Scott Hamilton Kennedy
* “Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures) A Wall to Wall Production James Marsh and Simon Chinn
* “Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films) An Elsewhere Films Production Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best foreign language film of the year:
* “The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production – Germany
* “The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Haut et Court Production – France
* “Departures” (Regent Releasing) A Departures Film Partners Production – Japan
* “Revanche” (Janus Films) A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production – Austria
* “Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production – Israel

Best motion picture of the year:
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
A Kennedy/Marshall Production Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
* “Milk” (Focus Features)
A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)
A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production Nominees to be determined
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight)
A Celador Films Production Christian Colson, Producer

List of Winners and Losers.

“Slumdog Millionaire” lived up to its underdog theme at Sunday’s Golden Globes, sweeping all four of its categories, including best drama and director for Danny Boyle. Kate Winslet won two Globes all on her own, best dramatic actress for “Revolutionary Road” and supporting actress for “The Reader.” “The Wrestler” also had two, dramatic actor for Mickey Rourke and best song for Bruce Springsteen. – From Yahoo News

During an evening that otherwise belonged entirely to HBO, “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” continued a storybook year that has practically seen each series amass more awards than viewers by accepting top honors at Sunday’s Golden Globes. AMC’s period drama set at an advertising agency became the first back-to-back winner in that Globes category since “The X-Files” in 1998 (“Desperate Housewives” did so more recently on the comedy front). NBC’s “30 Rock” swept the key comedy prizes. – From Variety

Backstage at the Golden Globes – notes and reactions from behind the scenes.

10. Death Race – “Death Race is filled with laconic violence and blasting muscle cars, but just beneath the surface is a biting satire of reality TV.”

9. Redbelt – “… this is not your father’s Karate Kid.”

8. The Ruins – “It could have been ludicrous. Instead, it’s unrelenting.”

7. Lakeview Terrace – “Jackson’s performance deserves an Academy Award nod, but won’t get one. Too bad.”

6. The Bank Job – “High-tension cerebral thrills.”

5. Funny Games – “It works as a savage parody of the snuff-porn genre even as it transcends it.”

4. Tropic Thunder – “The funniest, most daring comedy of the year.”

3. WALL-E – “I don’t think it deserves a Best Picture Academy Award, but it certainly deserves to be nominated.”

2. Slumdog Millionaire – “It’s been years since the movies have produced such an affecting story about the power of friendship.”

1. The Dark Knight – “The best superhero movie ever. This is to cape-and-tights movies what Godfather II was to the gangster movie: a genre-defining event.”