Film Critics Pick Best of 2008

As 2008 comes to an end, critics are choosing the films they think are the best of the year. Far and wide, critics are choosing the same films and actors as best of 2008, suggesting who will be in the running for the Academy Awards.

The Chicago Film Critics Association have nominated Dark Knight and Slumdog Millionaire for best picture, with a tie in votes. Both films earned six nominations each. Close behind, earning five nominations each, were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Milk, and WALL-E. The final votes will be announced on December 18.

The Boston Society of Film Critics seemed to be unable to make up their mind, with several ties this year. They chose WALL-E and Slumdog Millionaire as ties in the best picture award. In the running for best actor in Beantown is Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn.

In New York, 27 Web writers and two print reviewers make up the New York Film Critics Online. Slumdog Millionaire again grabbed best picture, Sean Penn best actor, and Heath Ledger took best supporting actor for portraying the Joker, a role that may make him immortal and win him a posthumous Oscar nod.

Over and over, the same films and actors keep popping up as critics picks, pointing to a predictable, but heated, awards season in the spring.