indieWIRE CRITICS' POLL '08 | Susan Gerhard

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.

Susan Gerhard
SF360.org

Best Film
1 - Let the Right One In
2 - Wendy and Lucy
3 - Rachel Getting Married
4 - Paranoid Park
5 - In the City of Sylvia
6 - The Edge of Heaven
7 - Standard Operating Procedure
8 - Man on Wire
9 - Waltz with Bashir
10 - Snow Angels

Best Performance
1 - Sean Penn, Milk
2 - Michelle Williams, Wendy & Lucy
3 - Samuel L. Jackson, Lakeview Terrace
4 - Sam Rockwell, Snow Angels
5 - Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Supporting Performance
1 - Amy Adams, Doubt
2 - Wally Dalton, Wendy & Lucy
3 - Kathy Bates, Revolutionary Road
4 - Viola Davis, Doubt
5 - Heath Ledger, Dark Knight

Best Director
Kelly Reichardt, Wendy & Lucy

Best Screenplay
Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married

Best First Feature
Medicine for Melancholy

Best Documentary
Standard Operating Procedure

Best Undistributed Film
1 - Three Monkeys
2 - The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins
3 - 24 City
4 - Lads and Jockeys
5 - Sita Sings the Blues
6 - Vasermil
7 - Medicine for Melancholy
8 - Touching Home
Note: NOT RANKED