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National Board of Review, Top 10 Independent Films

Posted by Ryan Adams On December - 4 - 2008

National Board of Review, Top 10 Independent Films of 2008:

(In alphabetical order)

  • FROZEN RIVER
  • IN BRUGES
  • IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS
  • MR. FOE
  • RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
  • SNOW ANGELS
  • SON OF RAMBOW
  • WENDY AND LUCY
  • VICKY CRISTINA BARCELON
  • THE VISITOR
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29 Responses for "National Board of Review, Top 10 Independent Films"

  1. Joao Mattos December 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm 1

    “Snow Angels” is amazing and David Gordon Green one of the most interesting directors working in USA right now.

  2. James December 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm 2

    Not surprisingly, this list is HOTT.

  3. Dan S. December 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm 3

    No ‘Ballast’? Seriously?

  4. VCB December 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm 4

    hurray for Snow, Vicky, Rachel, and The Visitor.. i wana cry..

  5. Sertan December 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm 5

    I think their independent list makes more sense than the other list.

  6. ladylurks December 4th, 2008 at 3:11 pm 6

    My top 5 films of the year are on this list: In Bruges, Frozen River, The Visitor, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Rachel Getting Married.

    Well done, NBR!

    So much better than their big list, LOL.

  7. Haifa December 4th, 2008 at 3:26 pm 7

    Huh? So since Slumdog won, it doesn’t get included on the “best” lists?

  8. ladylurks December 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm 8

    “Huh? So since Slumdog won, it doesn’t get included on the “best” lists?”

    Yes. That’s the way it works at NBR.

  9. Ben M. December 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm 9

    While I didn’t care for Frozen/River, I’m glad to see The Visitor, Rachel Getting Married, Vicky Christina Barcelona and In Bruges get some recognition. Also I know almost all the films on this list have their fans even if I have only personally seen half of them.

  10. Rod December 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm 10

    fantastic list

    the visitor, frozen river, rachel getting married, vicky cristina barcelona, wendy and lucy, and in bruges

  11. CeciliaTallis December 4th, 2008 at 4:00 pm 11

    This list is so much better than the top 10 films list!!!

    With a Best Picture Comedy/Musical and a Best Actor Comedy/Musical mention at the Satellites, mentions for Picture, 2 mentions for Actor, Screenplay, and Editing at the British Independent Film Awards (with a win for Screenplay,) and now a mention today on the short list of the National Board of Review’s Best Independent Films, this strange boycotting of In Bruges on this site must come to an end! This film is very much a contender! It’s time you took the time to see it Sasha!

  12. Gentle Benj December 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm 12

    How many years before the “main” top ten starts looking like the ghettoized one?

    Cecilia, it’s not bias on Sasha’s part. In Bruges has a shot at a screenplay nomination, but that’s it.

  13. Vance December 4th, 2008 at 4:11 pm 13

    This was a lame year for movies, and looking at that list you can see the indies weren’t exempt from that either. I think the only really good movie I saw this year was Wall-E. I saw most of the movies on that list, and none of them sat well with me.

    The inclusion of Snow Angels and Son of Rambow over Ballast and some of the foreign indies this year is puzzling to me.

  14. CeciliaTallis December 4th, 2008 at 4:14 pm 14

    I in no way suggested it was Sasha’s fault, but I am pretty sure that Sasha will only put films on the Contender Tracker that she herself can vouch for. Since it is not on the contender tracker, I assume she hasn’t seen it. I’d say it’s chances at getting a nomination for Best Original Screenplay are pretty good, though I would expect nothing more.

    Also, I hope that this mention can maybe build a momentum for Frozen River to receive a Best Picture Nomination?!? I know it is an INCREDIBLE longshot, but it is still the only film to be shortlisted by the ISAs, SAs, Gothams, and NBR!

    Such a lovely film. In a perfect world, Courtney Hunt would be nominated for Best Director.

  15. Mr. F December 4th, 2008 at 4:32 pm 15

    Nice to see Son of Rambow getting some love. It is one of my favorites of the year.

  16. Patrick G December 4th, 2008 at 5:45 pm 16

    “Mister Foe” is a great little film. Glad to see it on this list (a much more respectable list to wind up on, I might add).

    Does anyone know what category “I’ve Loved You So Long” would have fallen under? It didn’t make any of these lists? Not Indie, not Foreign Language, not general top 10?

  17. Mr.Sizemore December 4th, 2008 at 7:05 pm 17

    What happened to the Wrestler?

  18. Andrea December 4th, 2008 at 8:10 pm 18

    Not sure I would classify Vicky as an “indie” film, though I did love it.

  19. Cahiers December 4th, 2008 at 8:49 pm 19

    Nice to see “Snow Angels” getting some recongnition.

  20. ladylurks December 4th, 2008 at 11:58 pm 20

    @Mr.Sizemore

    The Wrestler made their main list.

  21. alex December 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am 21

    Snowangels is a perfect choice. In a perfect and just world, Sam Rockwell would be getting a nomination for his absolutely outstanding performance. And it was cool to see Amy Sedaris give a serious (well, somewhat) performance.

  22. Julianna December 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm 22

    Cecilia, I have to agree with you.

    I think it’s quite strange how “In Bruges” is being silenced. So what if it’s best shot is at a screenplay nomination. I also don’t suggest that it’s Sasha’s fault, and in fact Gentle Benj I truly think you might be right about the slim chances.

    However I’ve already commented on another post that I just find it really strange that its seven nominations at the BIFAs didn’t impress anyone. I think it’s a pretty big compliment, and you can’t just completely take it back just because “it might not win”. It’s a good film that deserves lobbying. If we stop having faith in films that probably won’t take home more than one award, what’s the use of these events anymore? Honestly I think we can all say Slumdog Millionaire, a fantastic film, will probably do best this year. So is it over, then? I mean, we can just stop talking about it now because we know anyway. I’m not trying to be in any way unfriendly, I’m just trying to point out that for me that’s just not an attitude I can adapt to.

    I think In Bruges deserves nominations, even if there’ll be no wins, because it was a good film. And rewarding it by giving it attention, regardless of its bankability or putting it on any bandwagon, is important to me. I think Martin McDonagh is a very promising feature film maker and I support every bit of praise that this film gets, because it will make a next one more likely, and I do love film.

    I do honestly wish it would be mentioned or supported a little more.

  23. glimmer December 6th, 2008 at 8:21 am 23

    wow… Julianna… :)

  24. Julianna December 6th, 2008 at 9:51 am 24

    LOL sorry Glimmer, I’m a little fanatic about In Bruges :P

  25. glimmer December 6th, 2008 at 11:38 am 25

    it’s cool, your not an inanimate object. ;)

    i’m rooting for this film too !!!! :)

  26. Julianna December 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm 26

    LOL! I love that quote. That has to be one of the best lines ever.

  27. Grant Langdon December 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm 27

    Does ANY ONE out there care for rewarding exceptional, breath-taking performances? Aka Sophie Okonedo in “Skin”! She was Amazing!

  28. Grant December 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm 28

    Maybe the release date for “Skin” is in 2009? I sure hope so because this film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and Okonedo was Unbelievably Incredible and Brilliant!

  29. ed February 14th, 2009 at 9:28 pm 29

    Crazy list. i cant believe no black film makers were on the list. this is the year of obama and we all have to love all black people even if they deserve it or not. republican racists!!!!


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  • Contender Tracker

    Best Picture
    Up in the Air
    Nine
    The Hurt Locker
    An Education
    Precious: Based on the Novel
    Push by Sapphire

    A Serious Man
    Inglourious Basterds
    Up

    Julie & Julia
    Star Trek
    District 9
    Bright Star
    Where the Wild Things Are
    A Single Man

    Best Actor
    Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
    Colin Firth, A Single Man
    George Clooney, Up in the Air
    Matt Damon, The Informant!
    Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
    Viggo Mortensen, The Road
    Ben Foster, The Messenger
    Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
    Michael Sheen, The Damned United

    Best Actress
    Gabby Sidibe, Precious
    Carey Mulligan, An Education
    Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
    Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
    Helen Mirren, The Last Station
    Michelle Monaghan, Trucker

    Best Supporting Actor
    Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
    Alfred Molina, An Education
    Stanley Tucci, Julie & Julia
    Peter Sarsgaard, An Education
    Robert Duvall, Crazy Heart
    Peter Capaldi, In the Loop
    Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover
    Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker
    Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker

    Best Supporting Actress
    Mo'Nique,Precious
    Anna Kendrick,Up in the Air
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
    Julianne Moore, A Single Man
    Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
    Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
    Samantha Morton, The Messenger
    Emma Thompson, An Education
    Cara Seymour, An Education

    Best Director
    Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
    Lee Daniels, Precious
    Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Lone Scherfig, An Education
    Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Neill Blomkamp, District 9
    Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are
    Tom Ford, A Single Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star

    Best Original Screenplay
    Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star
    Quentin Tarantino,Inglourious Basterds
    Michael Haneke,White Ribbon
    Bob Peterson, Pete Docter,Up
    Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, 500 Days of Summer

    Best Adapted Screenplay
    Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
    Nick Hornby, An Education
    Spike Jonze, Dave Eggars, Where the Wild Things Are
    Peter Morgan, The Damned United
    Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
    Scott Burns, The Informant!
    Tom Ford, A Single Man

    Best Editing

    Chris Innis, Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker
    Sally Menke, Inglourious Basterds
    Dana E. Glauberman,, Up in the Air
    Joel and Ethan Coen,, A Serious Man

    Best Cinematography
    Greig Fraser,Bright Star
    Robert Richardson,Inglourious Basterds
    Roger Deakins, A Serious Man
    Christian Berger, White Ribbon
    Bruno Delbonnel,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker

    Best Art Direction

    Where the Wild Things Are
    Julie & Julia
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Bright Star
    Inglourious Basterds
    White Ribbon
    District 9
    A Serious Man

    Best Sound Mixing

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    District 9
    Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
    The Hurt Locker
    Star Trek

    Best Sound Editing

    District 9
    Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
    Star Trek
    Up

    Best Costume Design
    Janet Patterson, Bright Star
    Jany Temime,Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
    Anna B. Sheppard,Inglourious Basterds
    Mary Zophre, A Serious Man
    Colleen Atwood, Public Enemies
    Consolata Boyle,Cheri

    Best Original Score
    Carter Burwell, Karen O,Where the Wild Things Are
    Carter Burwell,A Serious Man
    Michael Giacchino,Up
    Alexandre Desplat, Cheri
    Elliot Goldenthal, Public Enemies

    Best Foreign Language Film (submissions)

    Letters from Father Jacob, Finland
    White Wedding, South Africa
    A Prophet, France
    Dawson, Isla 10, Chile
    Nobody to Watch Over Me, Japan
    Prince of Tears, Hong Kong
    No puedo vivir sin ti, Taiwan
    Kelin, Kazakhstan
    Mother, Korea
    The White Ribbon, Germany
    Silent Army, The Netherlands


    Best Documentary Feature

    The Beaches of Agnes
    Burma VJ
    The Cove
    Every Little Step
    Facing Ali
    Food, Inc.
    Garbage Dreams
    Living in Emergency
    The Most Dangerous Man in America
    Mugabe and the White African
    Sergio
    Soundtrack for a Revolution
    Under Our Skin
    Valentino
    Which Way Home


    Best Animated Feature
    Up
    The Princess and the Frog
    Coraline
    The Fantastic Mr. Fox
    A Christmas Carol
    Mary and Max
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
    Ponyo


    Best Visual Effects
    Star Trek
    District 9
    A Christmas Carol
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Transformers


    Best Makeup

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    District 9

    Best Song

    Best Live Action Short

    Best Animated Short

    Best Documentary Short

    China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
    The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
    The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
    Lt. Watada
    Music by Prudence
    Rabbit a la Berlin
    Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak
    Woman Rebel

  • Ampas Breakdown

    Actors-1,222
    Producers-462
    Executives-436
    Sound-411
    Writers-388
    Art Directors-373
    Directors-375
    Public Relations-370
    Members at Large-254
    Shorts/Feature Ani-335
    Visual Effects-272
    Music-233
    Editors-227
    Cinematographers-197
    Documentary-145
    Makeup-115
    Total Voting Members -approx 6,000
  • Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Official Screen Credits forms due

    Monday, December 28, 2009: Nominations ballots mailed

    Saturday, January 23, 2010: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT

    Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Samuel Goldwyn Theater

    Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Final ballots mailed

    Monday, February 15, 2010: Nominees Luncheon

    Saturday, February 20, 2010: Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation

    Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT

    Sunday, March 7, 2010: 82nd Annual Academy Awards presentation