AFI Highlights

The American Film Institute recognized their ten best films of the year, swapping out Joe Wright's "Darkest Hour" for Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman in comparison to yesterday's Critics Choice Awards. It's a move that shows a lot of progression in taste, although Wonder Woman probably won't be making my personal list, it's a welcome addition.

The AFI Top Ten are:

The Big Sick
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
The Florida Project
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Wonder Woman

The list makes one wonder if The Big Sick could muscle its way into the competition. It's also looking like Sean Baker's The Florida Project could be in good hands. Neither of these films, however, yield much else in terms of nominations. TBS should have a nomination for Holly Hunter's supporting performance; ditto for Willem Dafoe for TFP. But even their strong screenplays are going to have to push hard to crack the well-established top five (Get Out, Lady Bird, The Post, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri).

All the same, these seem to spell out the highlights of the season.