1. Mulholland Dr. (2001): In dreams.

Casino Royale (2006): The Bourne Bond.

Ghost World (2001): The pleasures and perils of geekdom.

Lost In Translation (2003): Words fail.

No Country For Old Men (2007): On the border, a mop-top with a stun gun: Death, the great equalizer.

Solaris (2002): A love story set in space.

The Two Towers (2002): (KC's feature).

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008): A portrait of the artist as a rich dog in Spain, on perpetual holiday, and the women who (think they) love him. KC hates it.

Wonder Boys (2000): Afternoon of a stoned author.

Zodiac (2007): Chasing a dead-end: The case of a shadowy villain who revels in his own mythology, and the professionals bent on bringing him to justice.

With honors

Almost Famous (2000): A rock & roll fantasy with heart.

American Splendor (2003): Paul Giamatti, a loser who writes comic books.

The Dark Knight (2008): (KC's review).

A History Of Violence (2005): The past is never past. You can't hide who you are forever.

Million Dollar Baby (2004): A love story with boxing as the backdrop.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006): Childhood magic and loss.

Sideways (2004): Paul Giamatti, a loser who drinks wine and writes books that don't sell.

Spirited Away (2002): Another film about childhood magic and loss.

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004): Another film about the pleasures and perils of geekdom.

Quentin Tarantino: Kill Bill (2003, 2004); Death Proof (2007); Inglourious Basterds (2009): Soul cartoons, only nothing as soulful as the great Jackie Brown.

Runners up

Adaptation (2002): The crazy dream-life of creative people.

The Cell (2000): Inside the mind of a killer.

The Departed (2006): Scorsese on auto-pilot.

Extract (2009): Office Space redux.

Femme Fatale (2002): Pure cinema.

The Hurt Locker (2009): War is a drug.

Let The Right One In (2008): Because of its Swedish setting and its knowing regard for innocents, a refreshingly different kind of vampire story.

Match Point (2005): Crimes And Misdemeanors redux.

The Prestige (2006): Illusionists compete in a film that explores the power of illusion.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001): The Glass family is brought to life onscreen.

2010-01-25 - Joe Cormack