The American Film Institute Awards' list of the top 10 movies of 2008 includes lots of predictable favorites like "The Dark Knight," "Wall-E" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," but there are surprising omissions. Among the missing: "Doubt," "The Reader," "Revolutionary Road," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "The Visitor." "Slumdog Millionaire" isn't cited because it's a foreign production (Britain).

The inclusion of two comic book flicks ("The Dark Knight," "Iron Man") and one animated film ("Wall-E") isn't unusual because the American Film Institute Awards usually make an effort to include popular movies that are often left off snooty critics' top 10 lists. In the past, such frat-boyish comedies as "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" also made the AFI Awards list, but this year's equivalents such as "Tropic Thunder" and "Pineapple Express" aren't cited.

The AFI Awards' choices add curious twists to this year's derby track. "Milk" was snubbed in the best picture race at the recent Golden Globe nominations, but made the institute's top 10 rundown. "Revolutionary Road" rallied at the Globe bids after being snubbed earlier in the week at the Critics' Choice Awards, but it was just tripped up by the American Film Institute.

What does this list mean for the Oscars derby? Perhaps a lot, perhaps not. "Sweeney Todd" and "American Gangster" were left off the list last year just prior to being snubbed by Oscar in the best-pic race. "Dreamgirls" made the cut in 2006 but wasn't nominated at the Oscars. That same year, however, Oscar's best picture champ "The Departed" was left off the AFI list.

AFI'S 10 BEST MOVIES OF 2008
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Frozen River"
"Gran Torino"
"Iron Man"
"Milk"
"Wall-E"
"Wendy and Lucy"
"The Wrestler"

The jury that decides the list is a politburo of journalists, academics and industry honchos, chaired by Leonard Maltin of "Entertainment Tonight." The jurors: Jeanine Basinger, Wesleyan University; Mary Corey, UCLA; Mark Harris, author, Entertainment Weekly; Jim Hosney, American Film Institute; Rick Jewell, University of Southern California; Elvis Mitchell, The Treatment; Daniel Petrie Jr., writer, producer, director; Tom Pollock, producer, vice chair and chair emeritus, AFI Board of Trustees; Richard Schickel, Time; Vivian Sobchack, UCLA, AFI Trustee Emeritus; Anne Thompson, Variety; Robert Towne, writer, producer, director. See more at the AFI site.

To see the AFI Awards' list of best TV shows of 2008, CLICK HERE!

Photos: Disney, Warner Bros., Oscilloscope Pictures

Below are the top 10 TV shows of 2008, according to the AFI Awards. All of the following programs were snubbed after being on last year's list issued by the American Film Institute: "Dexter," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock," "Ugly Betty." Also missing are such new TV programs as "True Blood," "The Mentalist" and "The Starter Wife."

10 BEST TV PROGRAMS OF 2008
"Breaking Bad"
"In Treatment"
"John Adams"
"Life"
"Lost"
"Mad Men"
"The Office"
"Recount"
"The Shield"
"The Wire"

The American Film Institute Awards TV jury was chaired by Richard Frank, AFI Trustee Emeritus. The jurors: Neal Baer, writer, producer; John Caldwell, UCLA; Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI president emerita; Mary McNamara, L.A. Times; Kathleen Nolan, actor; James Poniewozik, Time; Del Reisman, writer, senior lecturer, AFI Conservatory; Matt Roush, TV Guide; Ellen Seiter, University of Southern California; John Shaffner, president, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, University of Arizona; Tony To, director, producer.

Photos: AFI

Just an hour or two before "Doubt" screened before its first industry audience tonight, the America Film Institute announced the news that "Doubt" will replace "The Soloist" as the opening night film of AFI Fest on Oct. 30.

In fact, just moments after the "Doubt" screening concluded in New York where it was shown to its original Broadway cast plus a few dozen journalists and film industry honchos, producer Scott Rudin told Gold Derby the AFI news, adding, "I don't know if the story's broken in the trades yet or will come out tomorrow morning, but I'm very nervous about this. The decision was made to open AFI before we got the first reaction to the film from industry people. It was a big gamble. But I think we made the right decision based on the reactions I've heard so far."

Sources tell Gold Derby that AFI was reluctant to replace "The Soloist" after news broke last week that its release will be delayed till next March, but DreamWorks execs pressed hard for it being swapped out, leading to an initial stand-off. Only when DreamWorks made it clear that it could not guarantee that "The Soloist" stars, who voiced queasiness about such an advance debut, would appear on the AFI red carpet did pressure build on the fest to buckle. Obviously, "The Soloist" would have to be replaced with another prestige film whose stars would agree to last-minute plans be in L.A. next week. Few options seemed to be immediately available, but Scott Rudin rallied his team to meet the challenge. Apparently, that means that stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams will be in attendance.

"It was hard enough to pull everything together in such a short time," Rudin said, "but to do it before we even had the first industry reaction to the film — that was the hardest part. But we did it and I'm glad we did."

Rudin had early confidence in the film based upon two screenings held before test audiences over the past few months, but viewers did not include industry pros. Several film critics who write for long-lead publications were given separate, private screenings, but their verdict is still, well, in doubt because they've not yet published their reviews.

(Miramax)

Considering the release of "The Soloist" has been bumped to next March, it's been widely assumed that its premiere will no longer launch the AFI Film Festival on Oct. 30 at Hollywood's Cinerama Dome. Now the word is official. The replacement film will be announced later today.

In a joint statement, Paramount, DreamWorks and Participant Media announced: "Due to the change in 'The Soloist' release date, we unfortunately had to withdraw from the AFI Film Festival. It was an honor to be invited as the opening night film and we are very grateful to the festival for their support and understanding. 'The Soloist' filmmakers, DreamWorks, Universal, Participant and Paramount are very proud of this film and we are excited and committed to bring it to the world in March."

AFI Fest artistic director Rose Kuo adds: "While we are greatly disappointed that AFI Fest will not have the opportunity to offer the world premiere of 'The Soloist,' AFI's priority is to honor the artists. We wish to be supportive in any endeavor that will help a film of this quality reach a greater audience."

Photo credit: Paramount/DreamWorks