1. Lost in Translation - A dreamy and lovely ode to the life-altering friendships that can only be experienced when travelling discombobulated in a strange land
2. Finding Nemo - Magical, eye-popping, and touching... but best of all, very VERY funny. Made me ink from laughing too hard several times.
3. Triplets of Belleville - Droll dark humor combined with an almost gothy cityscape, this animated film was one of the big surprises of the year
4. Whale Rider - Not only an empowering story, but some scenes were so beautiful visually that I was reduced to a weeping mess
5. Latter Days - Pulled off a rare feat: a gay film that was not only good, but had depth and meaning
6. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World - A fabulously enthralling big-screen adventure, I felt like I was covered with sea spray when I left the theater
7. Winged Migration - Jaw-dropping camerawork (the DVD answers the question of just how they did it) created an almost wordless collage of glorious images
8. Family - Director Sami Saif's documentary about his search for the father that abandoned his family was more gripping than fiction
9. So Close - These super-hot assassin sisters (and the cop on their tails) can kick MY ass anytime!
10. Raising Victor Vargas - They may be foul-mouthed, but this perfectly charming (and perfectly cast) film proves that the kids are alright

The perfunctory Lord of the Rings Award:

Goes to... Return of the King, a film that ranked #3 of my Top Three Lord of the Rings movies list, only because I thought that as an independent film, it is the least successful in standing on its own. But as a three-and-a-half hour final installment to an epic 10 hour (or 11 hour? or 12 hour?) story, well, you have to admit it's good stuff! (Though I don't think I can take any more weeping hobbits... kiss him, Sam! JUST KISS HIM!!!)

Helen Mirren and Julie Walters in Calendar Girls, totally believable as life-long best friends

Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Cold Mountain... how do you say... "cold?"

Vicky Zhao (aka Zhao Wei) who is not only has fabulous comic timing, but can KICK ASS—she showed up in three winning roles in So Close, Chinese Odyssey 2002, and Shaolin Soccer

Jennifer Coolidge in A Mighty Wind (she described it as a cross between a Russian accent and a deaf woman)

Tobey, both real and fictional, in American Splendor (Just. Enunciate. Everything. Very. Clearly.)

Nicole Kidman's bemused and knowing expression as Anthony Hopkins fumbles to light her cigarette in The Human Stain

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle—no need to ANAL-yse it, just admit the movie was hilari-ASS

Ludivine Sagnier in Swimming Pool—Her (oft-exposed, and ever-present) breasts should've recieved top-billing!

"You are NOT a man of God!!! You are NOT a man of God!!!" (The Magdalene Sisters)

"I thought I was dying, until I realized I just needed caffeine." (teenage Anna in mom Jamie Lee Curtis' body in Freaky Friday)

Marcia Gay Harden in Mystic River, Natalie Portman in Cold Mountain, Shohreh Aghdashloo in House of Sand and Fog

Directors Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams), both inarguable Hottie McHottersons

 

Olympia Dukakis calling her dead son's answering machine, because she is starting to forget the sound of his voice in The Event

Keisha Castle-Hughes starting to cry onstage while talking about her grandfather, who doesn't come to her performance in Whale Rider

At the screening of the Audience Award-winning film Latter Days (a film about a devout gay Mormon coming out to himself and the church) at the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, the first person to stand up for the director's Q&A afterwards was a man that became so overcome that he couldn't speak for a full couple of minutes. Finally when he was able to choke out some words, he said to the director, "I thought I was the only one..." and started sobbing. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Seeing Gina Gershon, star of Prey for Rock & Roll, playing live at the Crocodile Cafe in support of her film. The Jews Harp solo was simultaneously impressive and baffling, and her guitar solos had us wondering if the guitar was even plugged in. Not bad, but the kids in School of Rock would kick her band's ass in a Battle of the Bands any day.