9)“Thank You For Smoking ”
Runner-up for “funniest movie of the year,” this film is gloriously un-P.C., and seems to revel in nasty, acidic comedy. First-time director Jason Reitman is another fresh face to keep an eye on.

8)“Stranger Than Fiction”
Not every great movie has to be heavy-handed and complex. Featuring a nice serious turn from Will Ferrell and a cute-as-a-button Maggie Gyllenhaal, this film is the cinematic equivalent to a bowl of ice cream: Light, fluffy, sweet, and the perfect palate cleanser.

7)“The Prestige”
Another film that seemed to rile up critics, this film definitely requires you to pay attention. If you do so, however, you’ll be treated to a tight, little mystery about secrets and betrayal. And also David Bowie doing a Hungarian accent. How could you not love that?

6)“Pan's Labyrinth”
This film surprised me: I thought I was walking into an upbeat children’s movie and what I got instead was a complex and surprisingly dark meditation on fantasy versus harsh reality. Roger Ebert was right, this is an excellent fairy tale for grown-ups.

5)“The Departed”
Everyone talks about this movie as the “return” of Martin Scorcese, as if he ever left. Granted, it is his return to crime drama, but it’s not just another “Goodfellas” retread. Props also to William Monahan’s witty script, and to one of the best ensemble casts of the year.

4)“Children of Men”
They don’t make sci-fi like this anymore. The film is a simple story, never over-complicating its fascinating premise. It also stands as the most technically stunning movie of the year, featuring several long shots (all done in one take) that will have your jaw dropping.

3)“Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story ”
A movie based on a novel written in the 18th Century seems like an unlikely candidate for “funniest movie of the year,” but here you go: Wickedly clever, infectiously quotable, and featuring a fantastic lead performance by Steve Coogan.

2)“The Fountain”
Many critics lambasted this film, but I’ll stand by it as one of the most honest and passionate films ever made. It’ll inspire awe and move you to tears—and that’s coming from a jaded bastard like myself.

1)“Brick”
Perhaps not the best crafted film of the year but certainly the most original, “Brick” announces first-time director Rian Johnson as a force to be reckoned with.

Honorable Mentions:“Monster House,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Casino Royale,” “A Scanner Darkly,” and “The Good Shepherd.”

Bottom Three:

When it comes to the worst films of the year, the truly terrible ones are not the mass-produced horror movies, the lame college sex comedies, or the hyper-edited action flicks. No, what makes a movie one of the worst of the year is if it squanders potential. That said, here a couple of films that should have been a lot better:

3)“Cars”
I love Pixar, but “Toy Story” this ain’t. For the first time it feels as though the studio is going through the motions, playing off the same ol’ formula, the same ol’ plot, and the same ol’ wacky side characters. The animation is gorgeous, but Pixar has always known that it takes more than eye candy to make a good movie. This time, unfortunately, they seem to have dropped the ball.

2“Superman Returns”
This movie cost roughly $250 million dollars to make, and I honestly don’t know where that money went. Superman has always been an inherently boring character to me, but even so, this movie should have been perfect summer popcorn fare. Instead, however, it became a cinematic sleeping pill.

1)“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ”
Yes, the kraken was cool and Johnny Depp is dreamy, but what the hell was going on in this movie? I don’t know why the writers/producers/director felt the need to stuff this movie to the brim with plot—needlessly shoehorning every, single character from the first film in—but my eyes suffered because of it.

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