Predict the AFI Honorees

On Sunday, the American Film Institute names its ten selections for “Movies of the Year.” Typically a list populated with sophisticated titles, the AFI is also comedy-friendly, and usually finds room for the year’s best animated feature as well. The AFI 10 can be thought of as a time capsule of the year in American film. With no vain claims to be the “best” and no competitive rankings within the lists, the Movies of the Year embody a populist dignity, have aged well, and rarely include any groaners. If there’s ever doubt about what the AFI finds extraordinary about a particular film, they’ll explain in elegantly worded citations in a few weeks at the official presentation ceremony (Jan 9, this time around).¬† For example, the plaque for Into the Wild reads:

INTO THE WILD is a vast journey across America – and deep inside oneself. Writer/director Sean Penn’s sensitive adaptation and expansive direction brilliantly captures the exuberance and idealism of youth – and the danger of pushing love away. The story lives in the eyes of Emile Hirsch, the warm smile of Catherine Keener, and the luminous spirit of Hal Holbrook. INTO THE WILD celebrates the dreamer in all of us – and the danger of dreaming alone.

Take a shot at predicting this year’s AFI 10 Movies of the Year, bearing in mind that the American Film Institute takes its role as historic preservationist seriously, but appreciates a thrill and a laugh. The AFI committee respects what they deem to be lasting examples of artistic integrity, recognizing that movies exist to enlighten and inspire and, above all, entertain.

After the cut, take a look at the AFI 10 Movies of the Year for the past 5 years.

Titles in bold went on to receive Oscar nominations for Best Picture

2007

• Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le scaphandre et le papillon)
• Into the Wild
• Juno
• Knocked Up
• Michael Clayton
• No Country for Old Men (Academy Award for Best Picture)
• Ratatouille
• The Savages
• There Will Be Blood

2006

• Babel (Golden Globe for Best Drama Picture)
• Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
• The Devil Wears Prada
• Dreamgirls (Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Picture)
• Half Nelson
• Happy Feet
• Inside Man
• Iwo Jima kara no tegami (Letters from Iwo Jima)
• Little Miss Sunshine
• United 93

2005

• The 40 Year-Old Virgin
• Brokeback Mountain (Golden Globe for Best Drama Picture)
• Capote
• Crash (Academy Award for Best Picture)
• Good Night, and Good Luck.
• A History of Violence
• King Kong
• Munich
• The Squid and the Whale
• Syriana

2004

• The Aviator (Golden Globe for Best Drama Picture)
• Collateral
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Friday Night Lights
• The Incredibles
• Kinsey
• Mar√≠a llena eres de gracia (Maria Full of Grace)
• Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award for Best Picture
• Sideways (Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Picture)
• Spider-Man 2

2003

• American Splendor
• Finding Nemo
• The Human Stain
• In America
• The Last Samurai
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best (Drama) Picture)
• Lost in Translation (Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Picture)
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
• Monster
• Mystic River