The Washington Area Film Critics Association has selected the best film and best performances of 2008. The group, of which I’m a privileged member, gave its top prize to director Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” which I reviewed favorably for Crosswalk earlier this fall. But it didn't get my vote. As much as I liked and admired “Slumdog,” it wasn’t my choice among the nominees, nor did I list it among my list of five titles that I submitted for the WAFCA nominations.
Below, I’ve listed the official winners of the awards, which were announced this morning. Below that list is the full list of WAFCA nominees from which we selected the winners. And below that is the list of films I submitted as possible nominees. As one of more than 40 critics who submitted nominations, it's no surprise that a few of my favorites didn’t make the cut. But many did. I’m delighted with the list of official nominees, and with the final results.
Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire/Fox Searchlight 
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Original Screenplay: Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Animated: Wall∙E/Disney&Pixar
Best Documentary: Man on Wire/Magnolia Pictures
Best Foreign Film: Let the Right One In/Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing
Best Ensemble: Doubt/Miramax
Best Breakthrough: Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button/Paramount
Official WAFCA Nominees (My Votes are Marked Alongside My Choices)
BEST FILM:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL•E
BEST ACTOR:
Clint Eastwood, Gran
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
BEST ACTRESS:
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet,
