2)  After Life (Japan, dir. Kore-eda Hirokazu)
You have just died... In your afterlife, you can choose one memory to relive for eternity. Which single memory would you choose? This question is explored, almost in pseudo-documentary style (many of the featured subjects were real people interviewed by the director apparently) in the gem of a gentle film. The film takes place in a strange way-station... foggy, wintry, with a cold building where angels wait for you solemnly at tables to discuss and counsel you about the important decision of choosing your single memory. You have a week to choose (in case you might re-think your choice and change your mind). When you have made a decisions, these angels recreate (in a charming, low budget way) as best as possible your memory, and film this memory for you so you can take it with you. I've already heard that some American directors are chomping at the bit to "remake" this movie, but I doubt a Hollywood hand would have such a sweet, gentle touch as Kore-eda did in creating this lovely film.

3)  Run Lola Run (Germany, dir. Tom Tykwer)
Lola (Franka Potente) is a modern punk babe with flaming red hair. Her boyfriend Manni calls her, panicking that he just lost 100,000 marks that he owes a gangster in 20 minutes... He need to find the money, or else he's dead... can Lola help him? Well, what's a good girlfriend to do? She starts running to find the money. Run, Lola, run! We watch... with funky camera angles, with animation, with that cool freeze-frame spinning thing that hipster filmmakers like doing these days, and with still snapshots... all to urgent, thumping techno music, as Lola tries to solve the problem in 20 minutes. We see it three times (to real time), each with different endings as she tries to make things right. It's a relatively simple idea, but done with such hipness and exhilaration, that, well, you can't look away... great fun!

4)  Being John Malkovich (USA, dir. Spike Jonze)
I'm just extremely pleased that strange movies get made at all. But who'd expect one with big name stars, and Hollywood cred? How did this movie EVER get made?!? John Malkovich (yes, the real-life actor, playing himself... what a good sport!) has a portal passage into the inside of his head. This portal happens to be behind a file cabinet in a business office on the 7th-and-a-half floor of a corporate building. John Cusack discovers it, his wife (a surprisingly frumpy Cameron Diaz), and the office vixen (the always fabulous Catherine Keener), find out, and hilarity ensues. It is impossible to explain without giving anything away... and you'd have to see it to believe it anyway. The humor is somewhat Brazil-esque, dark and strange... the characters are all selfish and for the most part unlikable. Of course I loved it!

5)  The Sixth Sense (USA, dir. M. Night Shyamalan)
The critics hated it, audiences loved it... and a word-of-mouth hit was born. I think this movie had the most staying power, week after week, since Titanic... and not only that, but everyone kept the secret! A little boy is traumatized because he "sees dead people". A subdued Bruce Willis, playing a child psychologist, tries to help him, because nobody else seems to be able to. With a very little amount of gore, with strong performances all around (especially I thought, of Toni Colette as the boy's mother, and now-famous Haley Joel Osment as the kid), and a whammo ending.... Well, this is one of the few huge blockbusters that I thought for once was worthy of the fuss. 

6)  The Matrix (USA, dir. Andy and Larry Wachowski)
Intelligent sci-fi... why don't we get movies like this anymore? I'll admit, I liked this film better on the second viewing. The first time around, I had heard all the hype and was expecting to be blown away. But I ended up being slightly disappointed by the cracker jack philosophy and a very thinly veiled Jesus story (which it is). But heck, it's extremely well done. The second time, I relaxed and enjoyed it for what it is:  the oldest story ever told, but with really cool music, cyber-goth characters looking good in black, and lots of silly ultra-violence and eye-popping special effects. My request:  make the next movie about Trinity! Keanu was OK, but Trinity (Carrie Anne Moss) kicked ass!

7) Election (USA, dir. Alexander Payne)
Wicked, black comedy about a high school election for student body president. Reese Witherspoon is Tracey Flick, the smarty pants girl that annoys everyone (didn't we all know one of them, and secretly wish them to self-destruct?). She assumes that she is of course a natural to lead the school, running with the slogan "Pick Flick", making elaborate posters, handing out buttons, etc. But even a teacher, played by grown up Bueller, Matthew Broderick, secretly wants her to fail. Sabotage ensues. By the way, this film has the best (and most accurate) high school assembly scene I've ever seen. 

8)  Boys Don't Cry (USA, dir. Kimberly Pierce)
Devastating account of the true story of Teena Brandon, a young woman who wants to live life as a man. Brandon Teena moves to small town Nebraska, finds a circle of friends, and even a girlfriend... but of course his secret is found out, with tragic results. Hilary Swank, who came from nowhere (I had never heard of her), is astonishingly good as Brandon... Brandon is sweet and charming, and you can see why Chloe Sevigny (also excellent) falls for him. Which makes the story all the more heartbreaking. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart, as there is some very disturbing violence that is extremely hard to watch.

9)  Show Me Love (Sweden, dir. Lukas Moodysson)
You know, sometimes I really hate the practice of renaming foreign films, especially to protect "sensitive" American audiences. This Swedish film is known as Fucking Ĺmal in its native country (with Ĺmal being the name of the boring town the teenage characters live in) and was a box office smash there. That title is much more appropriate for this funny, charming little film. Awkward Agnes has a secret crush on Elin, a popular girl with a racy reputation, who of course doesn't know Agnes exists. Elin kisses Agnes on a cruel dare, which of course sends Agnes into a spiral of despair... until Elin reconsiders. The film is also populated with other teenage friends and siblings, all perfectly cast, reflecting the cruelty, bitterness, rumors, and jealousy that is adolescence. And it is all very funny. These are the most real teenagers I've seen on film in a long time, with all the the mumbling, tantrums, apathy, and fun that I remember growing up in a town with not much to do.

10)  The Iron Giant (USA, dir. Brad Bird)
What? An American animated film that isn't Disney? Not only that, but much better than Disney! This is kind of an E.T.-esque tale of a boy who finds a giant robot in the woods and has happy times with his new friend... until the evil government finds out. The details and artwork are fabulous, as the story takes place in America in the 1950s. In fact, I swear this is the first time I've ever seen a cartoon beatnik in a major motion picture! There is no wacky sidekick, there are no song and dance sequences (thank god!), and I actually even choked up and shed a few tears at the end. Highly recommended for kids AND adults! (Interesting trivia: The Iron Giant is based on a story by poet Ted Hughes, probably best known as the ex-Mr. Sylvia Plath.)

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