AFI's Top 10 Films Of 2008

LOS ANGELES — The Batman epic "The Dark Knight," the political biopic "Milk" and the gritty drama "The Wrestler" were among critical favorites that landed on the American Film Institute's list of the year's 10 best movies.

Also on AFI's list, released Sunday, were the animated "Wall-E," Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino," the superhero blockbuster "Iron Man," the indie dramas "Frozen River" and "Wendy and Lucy," the adapted play "Frost/Nixon," and the Brad Pitt epic "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Unlike other film honors, the institute does not rank films or pick one as the year's best. The filmmakers behind the top 10 choices will be honored at a luncheon Jan. 9.

Many of the films on the list picked up Golden Globe nominations last week and are expected to compete for Academy Awards. Oscar nominations are to be announced Jan. 22.

Among Globe best-drama nominees were "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," David Fincher's drama about a man who ages backward, starring Pitt and Cate Blanchett; and Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon," based on the Peter Morgan play about the famous TV interview of Richard Nixon by David Frost, starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen.

The AFI also released a top 10 list of TV shows for 2008, featuring "Breaking Bad," "In Treatment," "John Adams," "Life," "Lost," "Mad Men," "The Office," "Recount," "The Shield" and "The Wire."

The top 10 lists were chosen by two 13-member panels, one each for movies and television. Members included writer Mark Harris, filmmaker Robert Towne, and critics Leonard Maltin, Elvis Mitchell and Richard Schickel.

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On the Net:

http://www.afi.com

Comments

[bubbuh]

So, the majority sentiment is that a movie must be boring or at least solemn to earn a place on an awards list . No wonder Daffy Duck never got his Oscar.

Happy Yappy 2009, Y'all!

May your "sphincter" show best!

[redlinemetro]

Batman should not be on this list. Sentimentality has no place in ranking. That's what we have award shows for. Moving assbackwards to give trophies not for work with substance but because someone was overlooked by the academy years ago and are now being thrown a bone.

[adamsmith3]

Why didn't they pick Incredible Hulk? That movie was AWESOME!!

[DWGRadio]

The Dark Knight and Wall-E were excellent as entertainment. Wall-E was more than animated fun, it was a great distopian piece and provided unique insight into what Americans would happily become if iPods came attached to comfy floating chairs. Not that it made the list, but it is worth mentioning that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was an abomination that shouldn't have been produced.

If you haven't seen Milk, you are missing what I would consider the year's best film. Sean Penn is brilliant and the story is genuine and moving.

[bluescat47]

Dark Knight was the most boring, unsuspenseful movie I saw all year. What a turkey. Even Ledgers great role couldnt keep this dumb story from sinking.

[andvoodoo2]

I thought it was great! It was fun and Ledger was spectacular!

[OdaNobunaga]

Opinions are like sphincters. Everyone has one and no one cares about yours.

[bubbuh]

LOL

[adamsmith3]

Where are all of the black and white indie films with gay cowboys eating pudding?

[Eric8869]

in your mind

[thebuddhacat]

sounds like you got a great idea for a screenplay . Alot going on in those dark corners of your mind, cowboy

[leftbehind2000]

How does "Dexter" miss anyone's TV list of top 10? That show is classic. Every minute is gripping.

[andvoodoo2]

"Dexter" IS good. I also like "In Treatment". The acting on that show is superb.

[Bitsko]

Just caught a showing of "Gran Torino," and it's on the top of my list of the year's best.

[chayefsky]

The new film, Doubt, should be on that list. It's in limited release now so many may not have seen it----yet. The leading actors are superb, especially Meryl Streep, who never ceases to astonish me with her ability to inhabit a character.

[LTCJeffWhite]

Inhabit ? That's good.
But seriously, Doubt is so ABOUT something, too. In addition to being substantive, well-written, and brilliantly conveyed in period (cool period, too) -- there may be four true standout actors in this film.
I bet it will gather serious steam as more people see it.
Amy Adams is amazing - lighting up the screen even in the dourest nun's habit, with her compelling combination wide-eyed innocense and gutsy indignance-in-the-face-of-intimidating-authority. She inspires me. But no less impressive are Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Viola Davis who also turn in awesome performances!

[chayefsky]

I agree with you although Amy Adam's doe-eyed characterizations are wearing a bit thin with me. Hoffman and Davis are truly excellent but the film belongs to Streep.

[rightuseofwill]

Waltz with Bashir - BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!!!!!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE OF THE YEAR!!

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR!!!!!

http://waltzwithbashir.com/

[Sparty1]

Wall E was HORRIBLE! I'm sorry, but that has to be one of the most boring animated films ever. I was sitting there with my kids and their friends thinking are they trying to reach kids or are they trying to reach adults about climate change. I fell asleep twice and only heard laughter from the audience a few times.

[BassMent]

I think it depends on the age of your kids. Mine (11 and 14) LOVED it... the DVD was at the top my daughter's Christmas wish list.

An animated film with essentially no dialogue is going to be a stretch for younger kids, that's for sure. It's a film that requires patience, and the ability to extrapolate ideas simply from the imagery. I thought it was brilliant, and was glad my kids "got it." I understand from other parents, though, that kids under 9 or 10 were kind of lost, especially at the start.

There was lots of laughter in the theater where we saw it, especially once Wall-E got up to the space ship. The obese, zoned-out humans in the hovering lounge chairs just killed my son... he thought that was hilarious. Of course, he's 14, so he's really starting to pick up on satire and other more adult forms of humor.

[Sparty1]

Yeah, you're right. My 2 kids and their friends were 5 and under. It was cute once he made it to the spaceship, but that took forever. My brother-in-law sent the DVD to them recently and we even tried to watch it again to no avail. Everyone started doing other things during the movie.

[lynninny]

Sorry, I respectfully beg to differ. I thought it was amazing, touching, smart, funny, well-directed, everything. And my two four year old boys were mesmerized, even during the non-speaking opening. They asked to see it again.

[dashboard]

Slumdog Millionaire is by far the best movie of the year ---no contest.

[Sandsy04]

Slumdog Millionaire doesn't qualify for the AFI list because it's not an American production.

[broody]

2009 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture

http://celeb9.com/slideshow/21/2009-oscar-predictions/131/frost--nixon

[RockySoldier]

the snobbish backlash against 'the dark knight' is stupid. just because a movie is entertaining and widely appreciated is not necessarily indicative of a shallow offering. the idea that only esoteric, not widely-released arthouse movies are the 'best of the year' is something only a true self-righteous snob would perpetuate.

get off it. 'the dark knight' is among the top 3 movies of the year. get over it.

[blastocyst]

I've always loved the concept of Batman. (and Robin when I was a child)
My dear, late Mother, an accomplished artist and seamstress, once made a Robin costume for me when I was 4 or so. That made such an impression on me that even some 48 years past the time when I was swooping through our home as a red, green and yellow blur, whenever I see the proper combination of those colors present in the Robin costume, I become seized by nostalgia, remembering.

As I got older I shared my enthusiasm for Micheal Keaton's Batman with my Daughter. That campy passion between she and I endures even as she's 32 years old now. We were 3rd in line for the 11 a.m. '89 premiere of Keaton's realization of the character.
All of that being said, Christian Bale's Batman scares the sh*t out of me.
Hail Batman!

[c1ee]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[txgal44]

Sounds like you had a great mother.

[Scottso]

I agree that big-budget blockbusters should not be automatically ignored in awards season, but I just don't think The Dark Knight was that great. Batman Begins was stellar. The Dark Knight was a big step down from there...primarily due to the writing.

[richchaplin]

As far as the TV shows go, I just know that 7 of AFI's picks are/were on my "don't miss" list, so I think it's pretty solid. But I do think Dexter shud be on it. And isn't it a shame that 2 of the 10 took their final bows, 2 were miniseries and 2 have been "on the bubble" for cancellation.