Critical Consensus: The Films Of 2008 (early days)

If you're looking for some real consensus about the films of 2008, it's far too early. Late December / mid-January will see the Movie City News tally of critic Top Ten lists pretty much complete, which is one fun way to keep track. There are others.

But if you're just looking for tips on what to watch (on big screens and small) over the next couple months, here's a start for you. A compilation of Roger Ebert's year-end list, the Gurus Of Gold Oscar-prediction list at Movie City News, the Independent Spirit nominees for best picture, and - destroying all credibility and statistical legitimacy, but just because I feel like it - Jeffrey Overstreet's comment that such-and-such a film "would be my #1 pick if I had to choose today." And if I'm going to privilege Mr O's comment in so cavalier a fashion, I'll also toss in the three or four titles that currently top my own list and will almost certainly end up in my Top Ten. PS Added a few days later: Yes, Shotgun Stories is fine, fine, fine. Just like Mr Overstreet says.

THE LIST
(Vancouver venues: Fifth Avenue, Tinseltown, Granville 7, Hollywood, Silvercity, Richmond Centre)
1. Rachel Getting Married ( 40 points ) 5th G7
2. Ballast ( 32 ) NY release Oct 1
2. Shotgun Stories ( 32 ) Videomatica
2. Slumdog Millionaire ( 32 ) 5th
5. Frozen River ( 31 ) This week only at The Hollywood, 7:30 nightly
6. Milk ( 30 ) 5th Scotia
7. Frost/Nixon ( 29 ) limited US release Dec 5
8. Revolutionary Road ( 28 ) limited US release Dec 26
8. Wrestler, The ( 28 ) limited US release Dec 17
10. Dark Knight ( 27 ) Videomatica Dec 9
11. Doubt ( 26 ) limited US release Dec 12
12. Reader, The ( 25 ) limited US release Dec 10, wide release Jan 9
13. Silent Light ( 21 ) played VanCity in June: DVD not yet available
14. Curious Case of Benjamin Button ( 20 ) wide release Dec 25
14. In Bruges ( 20 ) Videomatica
16. Wall-E ( 19 ) Videomatica
17. Wendy & Lucy ( 18 ) limited US release Dec 10
18. Che ( 16.5 ) limited US release Dec 12, wide release Jan 24
19. Appaloosa ( 14 ) DVD Jan 13
20. Gran Torino ( 13 ) limited American release Dec 12, wide release Jan 29
21. Australia ( 12 ) TT SC RC etc.
21. U23D ( 12 ) played Imax Jan/Feb: DVD not yet available
23. Band's Visit ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Chop Shop ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Encounters at the End of the World ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Fall, The ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Happy-Go-Lucky ( 11 ) played Vancouver in November: DVD not yet available
23. I.O.U.S.A. ( 11 ) limited release since August
23. Iron Man ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Man On Wire ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. My Winnipeg ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Standard Operating Procedure ( 11 ) Videomatica
23. Synecdoche, New York ( 11 ) TT
23. Trouble The Water ( 11 ) in limited release since August
23. W. ( 11 ) played Vancouver Oct/Nov: DVD not yet available
36. Defiance ( 9 ) limited US release Dec 31: wide release Jan 16
37. Visitor, The ( 7 ) Videomatica
38. Redbelt ( 6 ) Videomatica
39. Valkyrie ( 5.5 ) Videomatica Dec 9
Be Kind, Rewind | Videomatica
Boy In The Striped Pajamas | TT 5th
Burn After Reading | G7
Changeling | TT SC etc
Day the Earth Stood Still, The (Derrickson) | wide release Dec 12
Four Christmases | TT SC RC etc
I've Loved You So Long | 5th
Let The Right One In | G7
Tell No One | G7
Tropic Thunder | Videomatica