AFI picks best in '04 film, TV
AFI's best of '04
Dec 13, 2004
Adding its voice to the growing chorus of year-end kudos, the American Film Institute has selected 10 films and 10 television programs to receive its AFI Awards 2004.
The choice of films, announced Sunday, is an eclectic group, ranging from critical favorites like Fox Searchlight's "Sideways" -- which also was chosen as the year's best picture over the weekend by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. -- to such popular successes as Columbia Pictures' comic book-inspired "Spider-Man 2" and Pixar/Buena Vista's animated hit "The Incredibles."
The AFI Awards, which are chosen by jury and are bestowed upon the creative ensemble behind each project, cited a number of other specialty division offerings: Focus Features' "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," Seachlight's "Kinsey" and Fine Line/HBO Films' "Maria Full of Grace."
It found room for two studio features released earlier this year: DreamWorks/Paramount's "Collateral," director Michael Mann's noirish thriller set in an L.A. taxicab; and Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment's "Friday Night Lights," director Peter Berg's look at high school football in a small Texas town.
Two features that will be released in the coming days complete the list: Miramax Films' "The Aviator," Martin Scorsese's look at the life of Howard Hughes; and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Million Dollar Baby," Clint Eastwood's boxing drama.
On the TV side, the AFI Honors recognized ABC's two new hit series: "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost."
It hailed the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Deadwood" and "The Sopranos" as well as the HBO telefilm, "Something the Lord Made," director Joseph Sargent's portrait of heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, starring Alan Rickman and Mos Def.
FX's "Nip/Tuck" and "The Shield," Fox's "Arrested Development" and Comedy Central's "South Park" also received an AFI nod.
"AFI is proud to honor these 20 collaborative teams that have made 2004 such a remarkable year in film and television. As the institute recognizes and celebrates excellence across the century, these honorees will be part of the record that documents America's enduring cultural legacy," AFI director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg said.
The awards will be presented at a luncheon sponsored by Ellen Tracy on Jan. 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.
The motion picture jury was comprised of Roger Ebert, David Ansen, Jeanine Basinger, Leo Braudy, James Cromwell, Naomi Foner, Tom Pollock, Robert Rehme, Richard Schickel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Joan Micklin Silver, Michael Wood and Janet Yang.
The television jury included Richard Frank, Richard Askin Jr., Neal Baer, David Bianculli, Alex Ben Block, Barbara Corday, Mary Corey, Melanie McFarland, Tara McPherson, Janet Murray, Horace Newcomb, Jerry Offsay and Matt Roush.
The choice of films, announced Sunday, is an eclectic group, ranging from critical favorites like Fox Searchlight's "Sideways" -- which also was chosen as the year's best picture over the weekend by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. -- to such popular successes as Columbia Pictures' comic book-inspired "Spider-Man 2" and Pixar/Buena Vista's animated hit "The Incredibles."
The AFI Awards, which are chosen by jury and are bestowed upon the creative ensemble behind each project, cited a number of other specialty division offerings: Focus Features' "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," Seachlight's "Kinsey" and Fine Line/HBO Films' "Maria Full of Grace."
It found room for two studio features released earlier this year: DreamWorks/Paramount's "Collateral," director Michael Mann's noirish thriller set in an L.A. taxicab; and Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment's "Friday Night Lights," director Peter Berg's look at high school football in a small Texas town.
Two features that will be released in the coming days complete the list: Miramax Films' "The Aviator," Martin Scorsese's look at the life of Howard Hughes; and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Million Dollar Baby," Clint Eastwood's boxing drama.
On the TV side, the AFI Honors recognized ABC's two new hit series: "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost."
It hailed the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Deadwood" and "The Sopranos" as well as the HBO telefilm, "Something the Lord Made," director Joseph Sargent's portrait of heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, starring Alan Rickman and Mos Def.
FX's "Nip/Tuck" and "The Shield," Fox's "Arrested Development" and Comedy Central's "South Park" also received an AFI nod.
"AFI is proud to honor these 20 collaborative teams that have made 2004 such a remarkable year in film and television. As the institute recognizes and celebrates excellence across the century, these honorees will be part of the record that documents America's enduring cultural legacy," AFI director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg said.
The awards will be presented at a luncheon sponsored by Ellen Tracy on Jan. 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.
The motion picture jury was comprised of Roger Ebert, David Ansen, Jeanine Basinger, Leo Braudy, James Cromwell, Naomi Foner, Tom Pollock, Robert Rehme, Richard Schickel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Joan Micklin Silver, Michael Wood and Janet Yang.
The television jury included Richard Frank, Richard Askin Jr., Neal Baer, David Bianculli, Alex Ben Block, Barbara Corday, Mary Corey, Melanie McFarland, Tara McPherson, Janet Murray, Horace Newcomb, Jerry Offsay and Matt Roush.
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