Not everyone is going to agree when a top ten list is released. There’s always going to be a film on the list that may be undeserving of the position and another left off that should have been leading the pack. The American Film Institute’s annual top ten list is no exception.
According to Variety, AFI picked The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Frozen River, Gran Torino, Iron Man, Milk, Wall-E, Wendy and Lucy, and The Wrestler as the top ten films of 2008. It’s a nice mix of blockbusters and indies. Speaking of indies, where is Slumdog Millionaire? Kate Winslet got a double dose of snubbing from AFI. Both The Reader and Revolutionary Road are nowhere to be found. The list also lacks a comedy. It’s nice to see the comic book genre well represented, but the films that make us laugh till our stomachs hurt need some recognition too.
When it comes down to it, there’s just no way to formulate such a list and please everyone. The list was created by a 13-member panel including filmmaker Robert Towne and critic Leonard Matlin. Unlike top lists released by other organizations, AFI chooses not to rank their choices and equally spread the honor of being named one of the best of the year. The filmmakers responsible for these films will be honored on January 9th at a luncheon.
AFI also released their top ten list for TV shows. The list includes Breaking Bad, In Treatment, John Adams, Life, Lost, Mad Men, The Office, Recount, The Shield and The Wire.
