2. Control Room
Jehane Noujaim's documentary on the controversial news station Al Jazeera is an insightful meditation on media that proves objectivity within it is mostly a myth -- at least during wartime. Noujaim presents the war on Iraq through the eyes of the Arab world -- a perspective that could leave you wishing you had more control.
3. Garden State
It's not like I thought Zach Braff was some scrub of a sitcom star, but damn! We may have an auteur on our hands. His story is affecting, his direction is graceful and stylish and his performance is hilarious and self-effacing. Not to mention a killer soundtrack and supporting cast. Turns out there is something redeeming about New Jersey (just kidding, Mom).
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
To all the drama queens (and, um, kings?) contemplating getting memories of your ex surgically removed -- please see this movie. Everyone else, too. Jim Carrey deserves another Oscar nomination he'll surely be snubbed for in this deeply moving drama that tenderly bends your mind without quite f'in it.
5. The Incredibles
If only I had a few billion dollars… Pixar would be mine! Who wouldn't want to own the genius machine that created 'Toy Story,' 'Nemo' and now this? Brad Bird's superhero family tale is a rollicking good time, and the director even manages to steal the show as diva Edna Mode. Now if only they could make live-action movies this incredibly well.
6. Hotel Rwanda
'In the Name of the Father' scribe Terry George set out to show the world the horror of genocide we turned our global back on -- and the result is a painfully poignant and unsettling account. Like Paul Rusesabagina, the Schindler-esque savior he portrays, Don Cheadle works wonders in the lead.
8. Good Bye, Lenin!
Alex (Daniel Bruhl) goes to great extremes to protect his fragile mother from the potentially fatal shock of learning the Berlin Wall has fallen in this lovable, heartfelt and delightfully stylish German import. Watch this one with your mama -- but then again it might just remind the both of you what a terrible son or daughter you are.
9. Kill Bill Volume 2
Move over, Ripley. The Bride (Uma Thurman) is officially the baddest badass heroine in recent memory, as she continues her vengeance quest to, you know, kill Bill (David Carradine). This latter chapter may not be as wholly stirring as 'Volume 1,' but in its entirety Quentin Tarantino's revenge saga is a bloody masterpiece.
10. Shaun of the Dead
Hilarious from the onset, this "rom-zom-com" doesn't rely entirely on satire, and boasts plenty of genuine comic bits -- especially as its humble heroes fail to realize London is being overrun by zombies. Of course, there's also the dilemma of trying to decide which vinyl to use to decapitate the living dead. That's just never easy.
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