thank you for inviting me to do this, aleem! this is quite difficult for me because i’m such a movie junkie that when i get asked what my favorite movie is i have to reply “one?! how about 100, better make that 200”. another reason this is hard for me is because unfortunately, chicago doesn’t get all of the movies i want to see, so they either haven’t made it here yet or won’t (lucky new york & l.a.) & i also missed a few when on vacation. some of these are- Junebug, Color Me Kubrick, Brick, Nine Lives, the Dying Gaul, Cache, Ellie Parker, Transamerica, the Matador, the Devil & Daniel Johnston, Occupation Dreamland, Keane, Lemming and the Libertine. no wonder i can never seem to get my netflix queue below 300 in the 6+ years i’ve had it! the first 7 came to mind very easily since i was so crazy about them. the last three aren’t as strong of contenders for me, but still great. so here’s my top 10 of 2005…

1.Brokeback Mountain
2.Munich
3.the Edukators
4.the Squid and the Whale
5.Jarhead
6.Crash
7.School of Rock
8.Thumbsucker
9.March of the Penguins
10.the Ballad of Jack & Rose

i also really enjoyed Syriana, Capote, Proof, Funny Ha Ha, Apres Vous, Batman Begins, Murderball and Dear Frankie.

the worst i saw in 2005 had to be Derailed and War of the Worlds.

Looking forward to reading everyone else’s picks!