indieWIRE CRITICS' POLL '08 | Kristin M. Jones

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.

Kristin M. Jones
Film Comment, Frieze

Best Film
1 - The Exiles
2 - Milk
3 - Ashes of Time Redux
4 - WALL-E
5 - Wendy and Lucy
6 - Happy-Go-Lucky
7 - Momma's Man
8 - Flight of the Red Balloon
9 - Still Life
10 - The Last Mistress

Best Performance
1 - Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy
2 - Sean Penn, Milk
3 - Asia Argento, The Last Mistress
4 - Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
5 - Micky Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Supporting Performance
1 - Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
2 - Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
3 - Catherine Deneuve, A Christmas Tale
4 - Tarra Riggs, Ballast
5 - Tilda Swinton, The Man from London

Best Director
Wong Kar Wai, Ashes of Time Redux

Best Screenplay
Ari Folman, Waltz with Bashir

Best First Feature
Hunger

Best Documentary
Constantine's Sword

Best Undistributed Film
1 - Captain Ahab
2 - Afterschool
3 - The Headless Woman
4 - False Aging
5 - RR
6 - The Diptherians Episode Two: The Rhythm That Forgets Itself
7 - Mock Up on Mu
8 - Aberration of Starlight
9 - Winter
10 - Sarabande
Note: NOT RANKED