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.
R. Emmet Sweeney
Freelance, IFC
Best Film
1 – The Flight of the Red Balloon
2 – Still Life
3 – A Christmas Tale
4 – In the City of Sylvia
5 – Gran Torino
6 – Wendy and Lucy
7 – The Duchess of Langeais
8 – WALL-E
9 – Razzle Dazzle
10 – Step Brothers
Best Performance
1 – Juliette Binoche, The Flight of the Red Balloon
2 – Anna Faris, The House Bunny
3 – Chiwetel Ejiofor, Redbelt
4 – Jacques Nolot, Before I Forget
5 – Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy
Note: NOT RANKED
Best Supporting Performance
1 – Kathryn Hahn, Step Brothers
2 – Hafsia Herzi, The Secret of the Grain
3 – Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
4 – Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
5 – Wally Dalton, Wendy and Lucy
Note: NOT RANKED
Best Director
Hou Hsiao-hsien, Flight of the Red Balloon
Best Screenplay
David Mamet, Redbelt
Best First Feature
Ballast
Best Documentary
My Winnipeg
Best Undistributed Film
1 – Sparrow
2 – The Headless Woman
3 – United Red Army
4 – A Gentle Breeze in the Village
5 – Night and Day
6 – 24 City
7 – The Sky, the Earth, and the Rain
8 – Cargo 200
9 – Somers Town
10 – Four Nights With Anna
Note: NOT RANKED
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