01 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 120

This was a difficult concept to pull off: the bulk of the movie is a journey through the mind of a man who is in the process of having his memory erased. That it makes perfect sense as you’re watching it is a testament to the skill of Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman. Kate Winslet is absolutely convincing as the wild-haired, free-spirited woman all of us intellectual-types dream of falling in love with. Jim Carrey actually acts, instead of just clowning around, and guess what – he’s pretty damned good at it. The rest of the cast--Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Wilkinson in particular--also turn in fine performances. Visually stunning, conceptually challenging, and spectacularly performed - what else could you want from a film? [Dan Filowitz]

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02 Garden State – 52

From the first time I saw the trailer for this film while seeing Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind at the theater until now, Zach Braff's coming out is just plain old refreshing. Edgy and real enough to seem sloppy but with enough of a story and well developed yet mysterious characters, this film is a diamond in the rough. [Eric J. Herboth]

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03 Fahrenheit 9/11 – 51

Ah yes, this was definitely the year that George W. unwillingly gave one of the most comedic on screen performances. Mind you, Michael Moore’s commentary and angle was definitely slanted, but the footage was literally priceless and we have Moore and this film to thank for all the fun. [Randy Gaudreau]

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04 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 – 45

The final installment of Quentin Tarantino’s two-part revenge tale. This one had no anime and in its place a lengthy backstory. Vol. 2 was less massive carnage and more aimed violence as Uma Thurman’s character, Beatrix Kiddo, struggles to settle the score with her ex-gang leader and mentor Bill. For those who like to keep tabs, Kiddo survives being shot twice and buried alive. The film series will certainly live on as a great cult classic. [Josh Zanger]

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05 The Incredibles – 43

I absolutely hate animation, but I loved this movie. [Jonah Flicker]

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06 Napoleon Dynamite – 38

One of the funniest movies that came out this year, in the tradition of '80s comedy greats. [Jonah Flicker]

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07 (tie) Shaun of the Dead – 35

Most surprising movie of the year to me. I didn't expect much, but it was very funny, well written, well directed, and the performances! Oh, the performances! [Stephen Smith]

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07 (tie) Sideways – 35

How can a movie about middle aged men and wine be this good? Because no one understands the dark underbelly of the average American like Alexander Payne does. Because no one plays challenging and frustrated men quite like Paul Giamatti. Because Thomas Hayden Church gives a surprisingly deep performance, and Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh are simply delightful to watch. Funny and touching and never ordinary, this is a “small” film that demands large attention. [Dan Filowitz]

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09 Coffee and Cigarettes – 31

A black-and-white flick that gathers famous people with a cigarette between their fingers and a cup of coffee. A definite highlight features Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. [Helder Gomes]

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10 Super Size Me - 28

Just for the thought-inducement factor, this film makes the list. What I already suspected is proven and what many people need to know is spelled out. [Eric J. Herboth]