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

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!!!!