It’s that time of year when everyone reflects on their favorites.  My pal Dana posted her top albums of the year, I went to NPR to learn about some of the top books of 2008 and I of course came up with my top movies and performances of the year.  But while TakePart appreciates culture, what really gets us all excited is that place where social action and entertainment meet.  We like movies, but we really really like movies that inspire us to get involved in the world and that teach us about places, ideas and issues.  With that in mind I created a list of my Top 10 Movies That Inspired People to TakePart.

Let me know if I missed a film that inspired you and be sure to take note that each film comes with it’s own TakePart link - so you can get involved and learn more about the issues in the film.

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Standard Operating Procedure (Errol Morris) : For me this was the movie we needed to see in 2008.  It took something we all assumed we understood and showed us how we didn’t. By examining the photographs from Abu Ghraib, Errol Morris allowed us to question who was to blame for the torture that happened there and how the military works - specifically when it comes to females.  I can’t think of something more important for us to be thinking about.

takepart with the social action campaign for Standard Operating Procedure and take a stand for human rights.

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Milk (Gus Van Sant) : Given the recent passing of Prop 8 - I can’t think of a better time for a Harvey Milk biopic to come out.  A true underdog story of hope and the power of fighting for what one believes in, Milk is magical.

takepart to get involved with Join the Impact to promote equality for the LGBT community.

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Wall-E (Andrew Stanton) - A beautiful film about treating our planet right and buying less, Wall-E stole my heart for it’s love story and anti-consumerism message.  Also, it is a film FOR EVERYONE!

takepart to learn how you can help to avoid a Wall-E(esque) future.

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Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman) - The second animated film on my list is extremely powerful and reminds us all of what war can do to us.  It features beautiful images of ugly ugly things and showcases the importance of never forgetting the past (so we can never repeat it).

takepart to learn more the film and how they took Ari’s true story and animated it.

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The Unforeseen (Laura Dunn) - A complex portrait of development, The Unforeseen makes us think about what we have to give up when we decide to develop land.  What makes this film stand out though is that it doesn’t take one side completely, it looks at both sides and in doing so is all the more powerful.  You’ll leave wanting to have a discussion instead of just feeling more convinced of your own beliefs.

takepart with the Save our Springs alliance to help one of the film’s protagonists - Barton Springs.

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Trouble the Water (Carl Deal, Tia Lessin) - A film about the horror of Hurricane Katrina, survival, speaking up for your rights and the importance of digital video - Trouble the Water showcases what happens when people decide to document what is happening to them.

takepart to learn how you can get involved with Trouble the Water.

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Man on Wire (James Marsh) - This film is not about a social issue per se, but it is about the importance of having magic in our lives and the power of mystery and beauty.  It will cause your heart to swell and will inspire you to do that one thing you’ve always wanted to do and never have.

takepart and read more about how we can all do mysterious wonderful things for just the beauty of it.

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The Visitor (Thomas McCarthy) - A film that received much critical acclaim but was also the subject of debate on many blogs, The Visitor may not have been the film of the year in terms of cinema, but what it did do (regardless of your opinion of it as a film) was to get lots of people to the movie theater and in the process teach a lot of people about the truth of detention centers and the state of immigration in our country.  And that is pretty amazing (as is Richard Jenkin’s performance).

takepart with the social action campaign for The Visitor and learn how you can help protect immigrants.

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Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle) - I haven’t seen this yet but sometimes you just have to take the word of others.  While some pals have shrugged off Danny Boyle’s tale, many pals have said it was a film that moved them in ways they weren’t expecting.  Thus it finds itself here on my list.

takepart to find out when and where Slumdog Millionaire will be in a town near you.

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The Wire (David Simon and Ed Burns) - I know this isn’t a movie, but The Wire is honestly better than almost all movies that came out on 2008 (even though the 5th season struggled a bit).  A more complex portrait of the structures that make up a city and the realities of the poor, the rich and everyone in between, The Wire stands as necessary viewing for anyone wanting to understand the reason our country is the way it is.

takepart to get caught up with for fall in love again with The Wire.  Because it will be the best thing you do this holiday season.

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