If you hate lists, sorry, that’s what December is all about. From Best [Insert Category] of the year, to drafting what you want from ol’ Saint Nick, as we count down to the New Year that’s what your going to get. This afternoon, the American Film Institute dropped their list of what they deem as "culturally and artistically representative of the year’s most significant achievements in the art of the moving image."
So eleven films, and ten TV shows get the honors (in no particular order), and there’s not much in the way of surprises. There are no real outliers or shocks in either category, and as far as year-end lists go it’s pretty tame and safe. The AFI really loves the big studio awards bait, and they are watching premium cable just like everyone else. Though, we are glad to see some love for "The Knick," which can always use a little more, and same goes for "Nightcrawler." But seriously, no "True Detective"? WTF.
So, take a gander at the lists below. Agree? Disagree? Let us know.
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR
AMERICAN SNIPER
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
BOYHOOD
FOXCATCHER
THE IMITATION GAME
INTERSTELLAR
INTO THE WOODS
NIGHTCRAWLER
SELMA
UNBROKEN
WHIPLASH
AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
THE AMERICANS
FARGO
GAME OF THRONES
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
JANE THE VIRGIN
THE KNICK
MAD MEN
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
SILICON VALLEY
TRANSPARENT
I\’m sorry I just do not get the TV show list. "The Americans"???? "Silicone Valley"???
Shame that shows like "The Walking Dead" will never get on a list as it\’s just too popular? I don\’t know. Just don\’t get this list.
I know lists are opinions and not everyone shares mine, but these are supposed to be industry professionals and True Detective was one of the critical and commercial smash hits of not just last year, but any year. A top ten that excludes it simply isn\’t credible.
God, yeah that TV top ten list is so off they need to explain, it makes for a huge credibility loss, which is a shame for any top ten that does at least include Transparent.