The AFI releases a list of the ten best films and movies of the past year, but doesn’t rank them or choose one as the best. Their picks don’t generally mean much in terms of the Oscar race, but they are one of the first groups to announce each year so they get a bit of attention.
Here are this year’s selections:
Movies:
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
TV
BREAKING BAD
IN TREATMENT
JOHN ADAMS
LIFE
LOST
MAD MEN
THE OFFICE
RECOUNT
THE SHIELD
THE WIRE
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m disappointed that Dexter didn’t make their list. It is one of the most smartly written shows I’ve seen. The characters are so rich and the actors do a top rate job portraying them. I love it and I don’t think it gets as much credit as it deserves. I know it got Golden Globe attention for Drama and for Michael C. Hall (who is brilliant!), but I think the subject matter keeps it out of a lot of people’s lists…
Admittedly, I didn’t start watching it until CBS aired it during the writer’s strike last winter to fill air time, but as soon as I saw the first episode, I was hooked and I watched the first two seasons in about 3 weeks’ time via Netflix. Serial killers, in general, are not something I enjoy being reminded of (especially after living in Gainesville circa 1990), but the way Dexter is written (and even moreso now that the writers aren’t basing it on the two books by Jeff Lindsay that started it all), you could almost forget that’s what it’s about. There is so much more going on. Anyway, that’s my 2 cents worth.
I am glad to see the Dark Knight made their cut. I do hope it gets some Oscar love even if the Hollywood Foreign Press didn’t see fit to give it any. We bought the DVD when it came out last Tuesday and have watched it twice already. It’s just as good as I remembered! 🙂
First thought – how many groups can possibly miss the greatness that is Friday Night Lights?
Second thought – what about Rachel Getting Married?
Third thought – at least these bozos put the much better Iron Man alongside the highly overrated Dark Knight (;-) sorry Batman lovers)
Speaking as a “Batman lover” (isn’t that Vicky Vale??), I couldn’t agree with you more that Iron Man belongs on that list. Loved the both and hope they both get the accolades they deserve. 🙂
That should say “them both…”
I would like to have seen The Visitor on the list. I’m glad Milk is there and I’ve read great things about Frozen River and Grand Torino–need to see them. I’ve never thought about watching Dexter, but Kerrie’s comments may lead to a netflix trial. I thought Michael C Hall was so good in six feet under, and this certainly appears to be a completely different character. It can’t be bloodier then True Blood, can it?
I was actually surprised by the lack of blood on Dexter. They show some yucky stuff, but mostly it is left to the imagination. There are a couple episodes later in the first season that are especially bloody, but those scenes only last for a minute and they weren’t enough to put me off the show because they were so essential to the story. You should give it a try.