AFT Awards: Halfway List

It is a bit past the halfway mark, but I feel it is important to take stock of the great offerings that are released within the first half of the year. Come December, many of these films will have fallen off my (and Oscar's, for that matter) radar, and my list will have very much changed. After further reevaluation, some of the performances and films may have simply fallen off the list, so all the better to recognize them now. This list is comprised of 53 films I have seen, all released in theatres since January 1, 2007. Most of these films are either foreign or independent, so do not be concerned if you have not heard of them, but I recommend checking them out. Many are already available on DVD. Without further ado, if the year ended today, my list of nominees would be:

Best Picture
After the Wedding
Avenue Montaigne
Eagle vs. Shark
The Lives of Others
Starter for 10

Best Director
After the Wedding
Avenue Montaigne
First Snow
The Lives of Others
Waitress

Best Actor
Mads Mikkelsen, After the Wedding
Ulrich Muhe, The Lives of Others
Justin Kirk, Puccini for Beginners
Alan Rickman, Snow Cake
James McAvoy, Starter for 10

Best Actress
Cecile de France, Avenue Montaigne
Loren Horsley, Eagle vs. Shark
Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Keri Russell, Waitress

Best Supporting Actor
Rolf Lassgard, After the Wedding
Albert Dupontel, Avenue Montaigne
Paul Rudd, Knocked Up
Irrfan Khan, A Mighty Heart
Ioan Gruffudd, The TV Set

Best Supporting Actress
Stine Fischer Christensen, After the Wedding
Gretchen Mol, Puccini for Beginners
Alice Eve, Starter for 10
Rebecca Hall, Starter for 10
Adrienne Shelly, Waitress

Best Original Screenplay
Avenue Montaigne
Eagle vs. Shark
The Lives of Others
Ratatouille
Waitress

Best Adapted Screenplay
Freedom Writers
Hairspray
A Mighty Heart
Paris, Je T'aime
Starter for 10

Best Cinematography
After the Wedding
Days of Glory
First Snow
The Lives of Others
Snow Cake

Best Film Editing
After the Wedding
Avenue Montaigne
The Lives of Others
A Mighty Heart
Smokin' Aces

Best Art Direction
After the Wedding
First Snow
Grindhouse
Hairspray
Smokin' Aces

Best Costumes
Black Book
Hairspray
Nomad
Ocean's Thirteen
Zodiac

Best Original Score
Days of Glory
The Hoax
The Lives of Others
The Lookout
Ratatouille

Best Original Song
Music & Lyrics, "Pop Goes My Heart"
Once, "Falling Slowly"
Once, "Leave"
Once, "Lies"
Once, "Mind's Made Up"

Best Sound
Days of Glory
The Lives of Others
Seraphim Falls
Shooter
Smokin' Aces

Best Sound Editing
Live Free or Die Hard
Seraphim Falls
Smokin' Aces

Best Visual Effects
Live Free or Die Hard
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Spider-Man 3

Best Documentary
Sicko

Best Animated Film
Ratatouille