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 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….