10. The Namesake: While nominally the story of a young man's struggle to define his cultural identity, the real gem in this film is the quietly beautiful depiction of his parents' relationship. Less a story of an Indian-American family than it is of generational change, The Namesake reflects on what is gained and what is lost in the process of assimilation.

9. The Savages: It's fitting that theater plays such a prominent role in the lives of the Savage siblings in this dialogue-heavy tragicomedy about the ties that bind, since this film's screenplay would be just as at-home on an off-Broadway stage. The offbeat and witty writing, brought to life in touching and nuanced performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, makes The Savages resonate with an emotional truth rooted in the compromises and limitations of real life.

8. Across the Universe: This larger-than-life musical tour-de-force, directed in vivid imagery by painter Julie Taymor, effectively captures the heightened existence of youth in the nineteen-sixties. Taymor interprets many of the Beatles' songs in unexpected and innovative ways, giving visual expression to the convictions and experiences of a generation that defined its identity so strongly through its music. Across the Universe is a sweeping, vibrant rendition of personal transformation in a period of tremendous historical change.

7. 3:10 to Yuma: As a native New Yorker, I have never been a fan of Westerns, but 3:10 to Yuma encapsulates the best of the genre so expertly as to transcend it. Nuanced performances by both lead and supporting actors root the film firmly in an exhilarating and wildly violent moment in the mythology of American history. Director James Mangold navigates a stunning landscape with such spatial precision that the exuberance and abandon of the limitless frontier quickly give way to a claustrophobic labyrinth defined by the movements of the hunters and the hunted.

6. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead: This expertly cast film supports some of the strongest performance of the year in a captivating story of family betrayal. The tight writing and intense pacing of this crime drama is consistent even in the most devastating emotional scenes, as the characters are tragically propelled forward by their own limitations. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is an affirmation of the type of meaty, old-school filmmaking that leaves you wanting more.

5. I'm Not There: The success of I'm Not There depends so heavily on the details of Bob Dylan's life that it may be inaccessible for those less familiar with the singer/songwriter's biography. But Dylan fans will delight in this film, which effectively captures the central essence of an icon who has remained an enigmatic figure throughout his career. The fact that such coherence is created through overlapping stories of imagined characters, each representing a different aspect of Dylan's eccentric and often contradictory personality, is testament to the brilliance of director Todd Haynes' artistic vision.

4. No Country For Old Men: The latest Coen brothers film to explore the most despicable aspects of human nature is made all the more frightening by a homicidal Javier Bardem whose psychosis is never impulsive or uncontrolled, but consistently deliberate and even principled. With technical brilliance, the Coen brothers deliver a tense and invigorating thriller that will do more than just keep you on the edge of your seat; No Country for Old Men will move you with the desperation of its characters as they try to claim a stake in a chaotic and cruel world.

3. There Will Be Blood: Daniel Day-Lewis' riveting performance in this ominous tale of all-consuming ambition is guaranteed to provide some of the most quotable tirades for years to come. Paul Thomas Anderson's skillful and deliberate direction turns this vicious American saga of capitalistic greed into a haunting study of the compulsive convictions that drive one man toward limitless material success and beyond the reach of redemption.

2. Into the Wild: Based on the true story of idealistic drifter Christopher McCandless' search for truth in an artificial culture, this film is at once daringly hopeful and heartbreakingly real. An internal meditation on the desire for self-knowledge free of human attachment, Into the Wild quietly reflects on the bittersweet and eventually tragic yearning for spiritual freedom through isolation.

1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A soaring affirmation of the human spirit and a devastating reflection on the limitations of human existence, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a truly visionary film. The innovative cinematography and superb direction by Julian Schnabel create a softened portrait of a once cynical man-of-the-world who, while struggling to communicate after a debilitating stroke, is awakened to the limitless capacity of his own ability to feel. The dreamlike imagery juxtaposed with his raw suffering creates a cathartic emotional experience that celebrates life while it mourns its loss.

Home  ·   ThoughtsOn Awards   ·   About   ·   Index (A-Z)