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AFI Top Ten Films

Posted by Susan Thea Posnock On December - 14 - 2008

Thanks to Jack for sending these:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
FROST/NIXON
FROZEN RIVER
GRAN TORINO
IRON MAN
MILK
WALL*E
WENDY AND LUCY
THE WRESTLER

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    No Response for "AFI Top Ten Films"

    1. David December 14th, 2008 at 4:38 pm 1

      I guess I just have way over estimated Rev. Road. Apparently critics just have little respect for the work. Strange.

      Additionally, I saw Gran Torino this weekend. While Eastwood was good. the production really seemed cheap at times, and the casting was pretty bad. I did like the film despite its “after school special” feel.

    2. DBibby December 14th, 2008 at 4:42 pm 2

      Wow. I’m pleased I picked Frozen River, but Wendy and Lucy is a surprise! Over Revolutionary Road, The Reader, Doubt, Rachel Getting Married, Changeling…

    3. Ryan December 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm 3

      So we’re to assume that Slumdog Millionaire wasn’t eligible, yes? Otherwise, pretty interesting list. It’s nice to see Wendy and Lucy in the mix for something and the random Iron Man pick.

      Revolutionary Road, Rachel Getting Married, and Doubt disappoint.

    4. Sasha Stone December 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm 4

      Rachel Getting Married and Revolutionary Road both deserve to be there but I think the AFI like to be slightly different from the norm — yay Frozen River.

    5. dlen December 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm 5

      Thankfully the AFI did not overlook Milk (grrr, HFPA) and kudos for acknowledging Frozen River and Wendy and Lucy, two films I hope will make their way to Oz very soon.

      But no Slumdog? Or Doubt? Or Revolutionary Road? I definitely would have liked to have seen RR on the list.

    6. Euan December 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm 6

      But AFI is irrelevant, right?
      who picks for them anyway?

    7. Michael December 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm 7

      Very surprised to se Wendy and Lucy there. Had thought about Frozen River but didn’t really know which film to drop. I was right about Iron Man being included. 8 out of 10 is not bad :-D I had Revolutionary Road and Doubt wrong.

    8. Seth December 14th, 2008 at 4:59 pm 8

      This is very interesting but i do not foresee much impact at the Oscars

    9. Ricky December 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm 9

      If I can assume that Slumdog was ineligible, then that list makes me VERY happy and whether or not the voting bodies are similar to AMPAS, I think this brings us even closer to confirming our final 5. I have not seen Wendy and Lucy nor Frozen River yet, but I have a strong feeling that I am going to love them so their inclusion makes me very happy.

      Interesting things:

      1. TWO comic book movies. I can’t say I disagree. While TDK’s spot is entirely deserved, Iron Man is a nice surprise and truly was one of the best films of the year (maybe not top 10, maybe so, but still excellent).

      2. Another win for Wall-E. Enough said.

      3. No Revolutionary Road, Doubt, The Reader. I am happy about the exclusion of the first two and have not seen The Reader yet so I can’t really complain about that. If RR came through with a BP nomination, I would not only be surprised, I would frankly be upset.

      4. More love for Gran Torino and Frost/Nixon. I’ll be watching these both this week so I’ll have more to say then, but I think both of these could slip into BP consideration (more on the latter’s part). Never underestimate Clint’s sway over AMPAS (see the unfortunate win of M$B and the incredibly deserved but surprise nom for Letters From Iwo Jima).

      5. The Wrestler. This could be our quite monster for the year, racking up 6 or 7 noms in odd categories.

      6. Aside from Slumdog, I think our other top 4 are in this list almost any way you shake it (aside from RR and Doubt which I hope are out of consideration at this point).

      My BP list does not change

      Button
      Frost/Nixon
      Dark Knight
      Milk
      Slumdog

    10. Manos December 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pm 10

      Laughable list.

      With the mediocre Gran Torino, Iron Man and Wendy and Lucy, but no Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire or The Reader.

    11. Scott December 14th, 2008 at 5:20 pm 11

      Hard to count RR out completely when it’s up for 4 GG’s, but I haven’t seen it yet either so I can’t really comment.

      I’m still hoping Benjamin Button doesn’t get a best picture nomination. I just didn’t think it was good enough.

      My BP Prediction:
      – The Dark Knight
      – Milk
      – Slumdog Millionaire
      – Frost/Nixon
      – Revolutionary Road

    12. The Natural December 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm 12

      I heard “Wendy and Lucy” was boring and quite bad. Weird choice putting it on here.

    13. chase kahn December 14th, 2008 at 5:28 pm 13

      @ Ricky — I assume you mean Ron when you say Clint, I doubt Clint Howard has a big say in the Academy… :)

    14. Chris Price December 14th, 2008 at 5:32 pm 14

      I was 7 for 10, although I picked Slumdog Millionaire and I guess it wasn’t eligible. Should’ve thought to put Iron Man as an alternate. Also, I’m not surprised they went for Wendy And Lucy. A twentysomething treks around the country with little to no means on a journey to Alaska? Sounds like something else they really liked (cough…..intothewild……cough).

    15. KJS December 14th, 2008 at 5:49 pm 15

      Wendy and Lucy has an 80 at Metacritic and an 88 at RT. I loathe people who refer to themselves as film lovers yet, only like a film if it jumps in your face. Sometimes films that have an atmosphere effect, without intense drama and tons of dialog can be very rewarding and moving.

    16. Ricky December 14th, 2008 at 6:18 pm 16

      @chase kahn I was in fact referring to Clint Eastwood which you can see if you read whats in parentheses right next to it, though I can see how that may have come off as confusing haha

    17. ditas December 14th, 2008 at 6:29 pm 17

      Where is the official list? I went to their website, but I can’t find it there.

    18. rafe December 14th, 2008 at 6:44 pm 18

      so glad that WENDY AND LUCY made it in there. that is real film making. personally i would have left dark knight and ironman off the list, but that’s just me.

      must be that slumdog was not eligible. if it was and they skipped over it, they need to have their heads examined.

    19. daveylow December 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm 19

      From what I gather, the AFT judges often put their favorite filmmakers on the list. I’m disappointed by this list.

    20. Helena December 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm 20

      Pretty small group determines the winners:

      The AFI Awards selections were made by a 13-person jury composed of scholars, industry professionals, critics and AFI trustees.

      Among the film jurors were USC film professor Rick Jewell; writer/director/producer Robert Towne; critics Richard Schickel, Elvis Mitchell and Leonard Maltin; and columnist Anne Thompson

    21. Chris December 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pm 21

      Solid list, however I am kind of surprised to see Iron Man on there.

    22. Paul Outlaw December 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm 22

      My predictions:

      The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
      The Dark Knight
      Frost/Nixon

      Forgetting Sarah Marshall
      or Frozen River
      Changeling or Gran Torino
      Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
      or Revolutionary Road (so glad I was wrong about these)
      Milk
      Rachel Getting Married
      WALL-E
      The Wrestler

    23. Ryan Adams December 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pm 23

      But AFI is irrelevant, right?
      who picks for them anyway?

      13 “jurors” this year:

      Leonard Maltin (chairman)
      Jeanine Basinger (Wesleyan U film prof)
      Mary Corey (UCLA film prof) (?)
      Mark Harris (Sasha’s buddy)
      Jim Hosney (renowned high school film teacher)
      Rick Jewell (USC film prof)
      Elvis Mitchell
      Daniel Petrie Jr.
      Tom Pollock (Universal Studios exec)
      Richard Schickel
      Vivian Sobchack (UCLA film prof)
      Anne Thompson
      Robert Towne

    24. Ryan Adams December 14th, 2008 at 8:07 pm 24

      You did great, Paul — by cheating and choosing alternates!
      :-)

      I chose two alternates too, but mine were Doubt and The Visitor. :-(

      So I got 6 right. Dismal. I thought I knew the AFI better than this. But they betray me with their bi-polar love for all things Superhero and Downtrodden Female. And their nostalgia for muscle cars.

    25. Ryan Adams December 14th, 2008 at 8:15 pm 25

      I Wake Up Screaming (Oscar BP nominees edition):

      Frost/Nixon
      Gran Torino
      Happy-Go-Lucky
      Tropic Thunder
      W.

    26. Paul Outlaw December 14th, 2008 at 8:23 pm 26

      Of course I cheated, Ryan, but in a colorful way… believe it or not, there was a rhyme and reason to those pairings… ;-)

      Here’s my “Let-the-Wrong-One-In” Best Picture nominations list:

      Changeling
      Gran Torino
      The Reader
      Revolutionary Road
      Valkyrie

    27. Ryan Adams December 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm 27

      Just teasing, Paul.
      I tried to cheat too, but you did it more cleverly.

      I never thought I’d be in the position of hoping a Ron Howard movie edges out a Clint Eastwood film.

    28. Paul Outlaw December 14th, 2008 at 9:05 pm 28

      I never thought I’d be in the position of hoping a Ron Howard movie edges out a Clint Eastwood film.

      I know, I know. My “wrong” list consists of two Eastwoods, a Daldry, a Mendes and a Singer. How weird is that?

    29. Gentle Benj December 14th, 2008 at 10:52 pm 29

      I had a feeling in my guts about Wendy and Lucy showing up here. I should have trusted it. Still, 8/10 isn’t too bad. I said Rachel Getting Married and Revolutionary Road instead of Iron Man and W&L.

      AND I didn’t use alternates. Booyah!

    30. Paul Outlaw December 15th, 2008 at 12:33 am 30

      FYI: Only 9 people predicted Iron Man and only one (MrF) predicted Wendy and Lucy.

    31. luis December 15th, 2008 at 5:13 am 31

      I think Gran Torino is the best film of the year and Clint Eastwood’s performance is the best of the year.

    32. Dominik December 15th, 2008 at 5:15 am 32

      Luis, did you see more than that film this year?

    33. luis December 15th, 2008 at 6:07 am 33

      Yes,I saw the bored milk,the bored frost/nixon and the bored doubt.I`ve seen the suberb Changeling and the best fim of the year Gran Torino,among others.

    34. Dominik December 15th, 2008 at 7:44 am 34

      I see, you are really a Clint Eastwood-fan… :-)

    35. joesboxoffice December 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am 35

      No REVOLUTIONARY is telling, same with DOUBT. I think they exclude ‘non-American’ movies, meaning SLUMDOG?

    36. rtu0572 December 15th, 2008 at 6:46 pm 36

      having seen Benjamin Button, Dark Knight, Iron Man, Wall-E, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, the Wrestler, and Revolutionary Road, I still think Revolutionary Road tops my list of movies for 2008. I’m not quite sure why it’s getting left off so many top 10 lists….


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    • 82nd Oscar Ceremony

      Hosts: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin
      Producers: Adam Shankman, Bill Mechanic
      Director: Hamish Hamilton
      Music: Marc Shaiman

      Quentin Tarantino
      Pedro Almodovar

      Ampas Breakdown

      Actors-1,205
      Producers-462
      Executives-436
      Sound-405
      Writers-382
      Art Directors-373
      Directors-375
      Public Relations-370
      Members at Large-254
      Shorts/Feature Ani-335
      Visual Effects-272
      Music-233
      Editors-227
      Cinematographers-201
      Original Score-234
      Documentary-145
      Makeup-115
      Total Voting Members -approx 5,777


    • 82nd Oscar Ceremony

      Hosts: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin
      Producers: Adam Shankman, Bill Mechanic
      Director: Hamish Hamilton
      Music: Marc Shaiman

      Quentin Tarantino
      Pedro Almodovar

    • 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



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      “The Academy is composed of mostly older members making this movie a dark horse. The acting is top notch, the dialogue is intelligent, and the subject matter is timely. The weighted ballot system may just push this deserving movie to the top of the heap.

      Reitman’s picture is the most consistent of the nominated films I have seen, with each scene adding to the whole. Reviews have stated that some of the firing scenes were unnecessary and detracted from the film. In an odd way, they provided relief from all the tense personal relationships in the film, so I believe that the many interviews were valid.

      Up in the Air’s kind of ending, somber, isn’t what is keeping it from being a mainstream hit at this point. The content that deals with job loss is the biggest detractor above all else, even though the subject matter is handled with expertise. Movies with somber endings are dominating the award season. Up in the Air, Precious, Avatar, and The Hurt Locker have far from rosy endings.

      I agree that it appeals to older adults because of its subject matter. Job loss, lack of commitment, and the feminist bent of the film add up to something many forum posters will not champion because it doesn’t appeal to their young sensibilities. However, youth does not rule the Academy.”
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      Awards So Far

      NBR Winner+
      /top ten*
      LAFCA Winner+
      BFCA Critics Choice Win+/Nominee*
      NYFCC Winner +/*
      SEFCA Winners+/*
      Golden Globes Nominee+/*
      SAG Winner+/Nominee*
      National Society of Film Critics winners+
      Producers Guild Winner+/Nominees*
      Directors Guild Winners+/Nominees*
      Art Directors Guild Nominees*
      Writers Guild Nominees*
      American Cinematographers Society*
      American Cinema Editors*
      Cinema Audio Society*
      BAFTA Nominations*


      Best Picture
      The Hurt Locker*+++**+++******
      Avatar*+********
      Inglourious Basterds***+****
      Up in the Air+*+*******
      Precious******
      District 9*****
      A Serious Man*****
      An Education*****
      Up****
      The Blind Side

      Best Actor
      Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart++++*
      George Clooney, Up in the Air+*++***
      Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker**+*
      Colin Firth, A Single Man****
      Morgan Freeman, Invictus+***

      Best Actress
      Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side+++
      Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia++++**
      Carey Mulligan, An Education+****
      Gabby Sidibe, Precious****
      Helen Mirren, The Last Station**

      Best Supporting Actor
      Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds+++++++*
      Woody Harrelson,The Messenger+***
      Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones****
      Matt Damon, Invictus***
      Christopher Plummer, The Last Station*

      Best Supporting Actress
      Mo'Nique, Precious+*+++++*
      Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air+****
      Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air****
      Penelope Cruz, Nine**
      Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

      Best Director
      Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker++++*++*
      Jim Cameron, Avatar*+**
      Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds****
      Jason Reitman, Up in the Air***
      Lee Daniels, Precious**

      Best Original Screenplay
      Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds+*
      Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man+*+*
      Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker***
      Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Up*
      Oren Moverman, The Messenger

      Best Adapted Screenplay
      Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air+++++*
      Armando Iannucci, In the Loop+
      Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious**
      Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell, District 9**
      Nick Hornby, An Education*

      Best Editing

      Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron, Avatar+**
      Chris Innis, Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker***
      Julian Clarke, District 9**
      Joe Klotz, Precious
      Sally Menke, Inglourious Basterds**

      Best Cinematography
      Mauro Fiore, Avatar+**
      Christian Berger, White Ribbon+++*
      Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker***
      Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds***
      Bruno Delbonnel, Harry Potter

      Best Art Direction

      Avatar+**
      Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus*
      Nine*
      Sherlock Holmes
      The Young Victoria

      Best Sound Mixing

      Avatar+**
      The Hurt Locker***
      Star Trek* **
      Inglourious Basterds
      Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen*

      Best Sound Editing

      Avatar
      The Hurt Locker
      Up
      Star Trek
      Inglourious Basterds

      Best Costume Design
      Sandy Powell, The Young Victoria +*
      Catherine Leterrier,Coco Avant Chanel*
      Janet Patterson, Bright Star**
      Colleen Atwood, Nine*
      Monique Prudhomme, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

      Best Original Score
      Michael Giacchino, Up+*
      Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, The Hurt Locker!
      James Horner, Avatar*
      Alexandre Desplat, The Fantastic Mr. Fox
      Hans Zimmer, Sherlock Holmes*

      Best Foreign Language Film (submissions)

      A Prophet, France+*
      The White Ribbon, Germany**
      El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Argentina
      Ajami, Israel
      The Milk of Sorrow, Pru


      Best Documentary Feature

      The Cove++**+
      Food, Inc.**
      The Beaches of Agnes++*
      Burma VJ*
      The Most Dangerous Man in America
      Which Way Home


      Best Animated Feature
      Up+++**
      The Fantastic Mr. Fox+*+***
      Coraline****
      The Princess and the Frog***
      The Secret of Kells

      Best Visual Effects

      Avatar+*
      District 9* *
      Star Trek**

      Best Makeup

      The Young Victoria**
      Star Trek*

      Il Divo*


      Best Song
      The Weary Kind – T Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham, Crazy Heart ++
      Down in New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog
      Almost There – Randy Newman, The Princess And The Frog***
      Loin de Paname, Paris 36

      Best Live Action Short
      The Door
      Instead of Abracadabra
      Kavi
      Miracle Fish
      The New Tenants


      Best Animated Short
      French Roast
      Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty
      The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)
      Logorama
      A Matter of Loaf and Death


      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
      Music by Prudence
      Rabbit a la Berlin