indieWIRE CRITICS' POLL '08 | Cheryl Eddy

This is the latest ballot in indieWIRE's 2008 Critics Poll, continuing the tradition of a national survey of critics by calling attention to the year's best -- and, in many cases, most overlooked -- films, providing a meaningful counterpoint to much of the year-end hoopla. Note that some lists are unranked at the discretion of the critic. For all categories except Best Undistributed Film, eligible feature films had first-run theatrical engagements in the U.S. during 2008. Films without a U.S. distributor, screened anywhere (festival circuit, one-off screenings, etc.), are eligible in the Best Undistributed Film category. The full list of critics poll ballots is available here at indieWIRE and tabulated results are being published by indieWIRE later this month.

Cheryl Eddy
San Francisco Bay Guardian

Best Film
1 - Milk
2 - The Wrestler
3 - Happy-Go-Lucky
4 - Wendy and Lucy
5 - Let the Right One In
6 - The Dark Knight
7 - Viva
8 - Frost/Nixon
9 - Rachel Getting Married
10 - Mr. Lonely
Note: NOT RANKED

Best Performance
1 - Sean Penn, Milk
2 - Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
3 - Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
4 - Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy
5 - Lina Leandersson, Let the Right One In

Best Supporting Performance
1 - Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
2 - Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
3 - Josh Brolin, Milk
4 - Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
5 - Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Note: NOT RANKED

Best Director
Gus Van Sant, Milk

Best Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, Milk

Best First Feature
Medicine for Melancholy

Best Documentary
Trouble the Water

Best Undistributed Film
1 - Go Go Tales
2 - Tokyo Sonata
3 - In a Dream
4 - Neshoba
5 - 3 Days to Forever
6 - American Swing
Note: NOT RANKED