We critics are often accused of being too negative, and I agree with that assessment to a certain degree. It's one of the reasons I enjoy compiling a Top-10 list each year, since I get to sound like an unabashed fan for a change.
Here are the films that really impressed me this year, led by "The Queen," filmmaker Stephen Frear's examination of the British monarchy, which was a nearly perfect combination of writing, direction and performances; Helen Mirren already seems like a shoo-in as Oscar's best actress.
There was something relevant in the way the film spoke to the public's love-hate relationship with political leaders — elected or not.
1."The Queen." Classy, but also smart and funny in ways that few films are anymore.
2."Thank You For Smoking." BYU grad Aaron Eckhart really came into his own in the role of an amoral tobacco lobbyist.
3."Letters From Iwo Jima" (opening locally in February). Clint Eastwood's poetic companion piece to his World War II drama "Flags of Our Fathers" tells things from the Japanese perspective.
4."49 Up." This moving documentary was part of filmmaker Michael Apted's "mural" on aging.
5."Pan's Labyrinth" (Feb. 2). "Hellboy" director Guillermo Del Toro has made perhaps the creepiest fantasy of all time.
6. "The Departed." It was foul-mouthed and violent, but this crime drama marked Martin Scorsese's reassuring return to form.
7."So Much So Fast." The recent death of its subject only made this documentary about Lou Gehrig's disease more poignant.
8. "A Prairie Home Companion." The late Robert Altman went out on a high note with this goofy, sweet comedy.
9."Children of Men" (January undated). Powerful, speculative science-fiction that's only made scarier by its plausibility.
10."Borat: Cultural Leanings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Those who could stand the assault on their sensibilities were enlightened.
THE REST OF THE BEST (alphabetically): "Brick," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Jesus Camp," "Jet Li's Fearless," "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey," "Miss Potter" (Jan. 12), "The Proposition," "Tsotsi," "V For Vendetta," "Volver."
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com