Daniel Longino: See also Emily Zemler's top ten, below
1. "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" USA, Directed by Quentin Tarantino This film can only be described as a two-hour sustained tantric orgasm. "Vol. 1" combines kung fu with blaxploitation, Sergio Leone Westerns with Japanese anime, and the bloody humor of "The Evil Dead" to create the best film of the year.
2. "Cidade de Deus (City of God)" Brazil, Directed by Katia Lund and Fernando Meirelles "City of God" came out of South America like a firestorm early in the year, but a film like this is almost impossible to forget. This film makes Scorcese's "Gangs of New York" look like the overdramatic sludge it was.
3. "American Splendor" USA, Directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini Part documentary, part biopic about the life of comic book writer Harvey Pekar, this film is brutally funny and Paul Giomatti's performance as Pekar is flat-out unbelievable.
4. "Capturing the Friedmans" USA, Directed by Andrew Jarecki Jarecki's film about the tragedy of the Friedman family is one of the best documentaries ever made. As Arnold and Jesse Friedman struggle with charges of child sodomy, the family disintegrates on the screen, thanks to Friedman's other son, David, who filmed and recorded the family's fights. Jarecki brilliantly paces his film and it unravels like a true mystery.
5. "Finding Nemo" USA, Directed by Andrew Stanton Story is king at Pixar, and there's no better proof than the studio's latest release, "Finding Nemo." "Nemo" found its way into the hearts of young and old alike, being simultaneously funny, heartfelt and artistic, and that's a true accomplishment.
6. "Bubba Ho-Tep" USA, Directed by Don Coscarelli Imagine Elvis is alive and well, but residing in a retirement home with an old black man who believes himself to be John F. Kennedy. Plus, their fellow residents are terrorized by an ancient mummy. This ludicrous plot works due to the performance by B-movie legend Bruce Campbell as Elvis, the king himself.
7. "Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no tobira (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie)" Japan, Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and Hiroyuki Okiura Visually gorgeous and action packed, "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" has some of the best animation on the big screen today. "Cowboy Bebop" masterfully blends Western and Eastern culture, producing outstanding fantasy filmmaking.
8. "Lost in Translation" USA, Directed by Sofia Coppola Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson deliver excellent performances as two lonely people who meet in Japan, one a washed-up actor, the other a confused and troubled 20-something. The film is romantic, comedic and beautifully shot while never conforming to any one genre.
9. "A Mighty Wind" USA, Directed by Christopher Guest Guest's third mockumentary, this one about three different folk groups, reunites the ensemble cast, seasoned veterans of Guest's other films, who improvised the entire film with a subtle comedic ability unmatched by any sketch comedy group today.
10. "Cabin Fever" USA, Directed by Eli Roth First-time director Eli Roth's low-budget horror film about a flesh-eating virus builds on the tradition of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Evil Dead" and puts a fresh new spin on the horror genre.
Emily Zemler: Skip to Daniel Longino
1. "The Sea" Iceland/ France/ Norway, Directed by Baltasar Kormakur This obscure, but brilliant film, loosely based on Shakespeare's "King Lear" and done completely in Icelandic, is a melancholy, original look at life and the relationships people have with each other.
2. "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" USA, Directed by Quentin Tarantino Tarantino's latest creation is violent, campy fun for those old enough to stomach it. Plus Uma Thurman kicks ass.
3. "Swimming Pool" France, Directed by Francois Ozon This French film is an understated murder mystery that blurs the line between reality and fiction, and offers some of the hottest sex scenes in any movie this year.
4. "21 Grams" USA, Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Inarritu's second film is a depressing and gritty look at the way an accident can affect the lives of three people, which proves that Inarritu is one of today's most talented directors.
5. "Irreversible" France, Directed by Gaspar Noe This extremely well-made film crosses a lot of lines in terms of sex and violence and offers a beautiful performance by Monica Belluci who was completely underestimated in the "Matrix" sequels.
6. "I Capture the Castle" UK, Directed by Tim Frywell Frywell's adaptation of Dottie Smith's novel is a unique love story that is refreshingly unglamorized, beautifully filmed and solidly acted.
7. "Buffalo Soldiers" UK/ Germany, Directed by Gregor Jordan Jordan's anti-war and anti-military film is well-timed and relevant and features one of Joaquin Phoenix's best performances.
8. "Beyond Borders" USA, Directed by Martin Campbell This film, which was falsely advertised as a love story, takes a true look at underdeveloped countries that causes one to reevaluate his or her life.
9. "Pirates of the Caribbean" USA, Directed by Gore Verbinski Johnny Depp. Orlando Bloom. Pirates. Enough said.
10. "What a Girl Wants" USA, Directed by Dennie Gordon Amanda Bynes' first big film is heartwarming fun for everyone, not just those with a penchant for pre-teens.
