Yes I know. Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, Richard Corliss, Lisa Schwarzbaum, and every other critic in the galaxy have released their Top Ten lists. Lucky for them they are able to see every official 2005 film during their two-day “Oscar eligibility” releases. With the Oscars around the corner, I think it is high time Ben and I throw out our picks before we are way too late. So just in time for the Oscars, here they are!

*I would like to note that I have yet to see TransAmerica, Ms Henderson Presents, or Match Point.

10. Millions- Danny Boyle has certainly proven his talent. After mastering Trainspotting and 28 Days Later he brings us…a family film. Millions is indeed kid-friendly, but Boyle’s signature style is still there. In fact, I would only recommend this to older children due to scenes of scariness. This movie not only looks great, but the storyline put a big smile on my face. Millions is hard not to like.

9. Sin City- What good is a Top 10 list if you don’t include a movie that is not praised by critics, but simply rocked your world? Sin City takes the prize for that. How can you go wrong with Robert Rodreguez’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel? The amazing green-screen techniques create a world unlike any other, and Rodriguez pulls it off without making things look too ridiculously artificial. Kudos to hasbeen Mickey Rourke for stealing the show as a miserable ex-fighter named Marv.

8. Junebug- I usually have a thing for more exciting films when I construct a Top 10. Junebug is my more tame entry. While it is rather slow-moving, this indie drama very accurately depicts the small town life without making the characters look like Gomer Pyle-esque charicatures. Amy Adams is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and she truly deserves the trophy as a naive pregnant girl with a wide-eyed fascination for her big city sister-in-law.

7. Munich- Spielberg hits another one out of the park. Unlike his crappy blockbuster this year known as War of the Worlds, Munich is a truly intense outing. Once again, there is controversy all around about whether Spielberg’s message of “violence begets violence” is correct, especially when directing it towards the Israeli people. I guess it is hard for me to give a crap about that debate when there is such a well-made film being presented to me. Frankly, I dig it for its well-crafted suspense and great performances from underrated talents such as Eric Bana and Daniel Craig.

6. Murderball- The reason I am not a fan of sports films is because most of them get away with a horrible crime: showing too much sports play and not telling a good story. In my opinion, if I want to watch sports, I’ll sit at home and watch ESPN. Fortunately, Murderball is a sports film that gets it right. This is a documentary that looks at the lives of physically disabled athletes that compete in a full-contact wheelchair sport known as….murderball. The film succeeds because it skips boring, drawn-out sports play and focuses on the lives of the players. This is powerful and entertaining on many levels.

5. Brokeback Mountain- Yes of course Brokeback Mountain has made my list of favorites. I didn’t want to be cliched and rave about this movie like every other critic has, but they are all right. This love story is hard not to like, unless you are a homophobic redneck. You know the story: two male cowboys fall in love in the 1960’s, and overcome societal obstacles to figure out their true desires in life. Great acting from Heath Ledger of all people, and breathtaking shots from Ang Lee and his DP crew.

4. Oldboy- This is certainly one of the more overlooked films this year. Chanwook Park’s Korean dish is certainly not for everyone. In fact, this may be one of the most disturbing films I’ve ever seen. But damn, I can’t resist its sweet direction and demented storyline. The film follows a man that is locked in a room for 12 years, and is released. He is given the opportunity to find the truth which results in some of the most twisted revelations every applied to celluloid. This movie needs more recognition, so please be sure to rent it.

3. Good Night and Good Luck- Movies with political agendas are not my cup of tea. I can’t help but feel pissy when I go to enjoy a movie and feel like I have to defend myself against manipulation. Good Night has been criticized by some as George Clooney’s attempt to mock the Bush administration’s “you’re either with us or against us” terrorist belief. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Politics aside, this is a wonderfully directed film about Edward Murrow (David Strathairn) and his co-workers taking on the Red-fearing Senator McCarthy and his blacklisting witch hunts. This is a solid piece of nostalgia in crisp black and white that is not only entertaining, but is a pretty damn good history lesson.

2. History of Violence- I realize that co-writer Ben does not come close to feeling the way I do about this flick, as he indicated last week that I have a “boner” for this movie. What can I say? It is hard to hide my excitement. David Cronenberg’s masterpiece about a diner owner (Viggo Mortensen) whose screwy past catches up with him is one of the most disturbing, brilliant flicks to hit screens this year. This film has it all from kinky cheeleader sex, to genuinely creepy Philly mobsters, to brief moments of graphic violence that clearly reflect the graphic novel from which it is based. Let’s not forget the 10-minute appearnce from William Hurt that will make a person laugh and fear their life in a short period of time.

1. Crash- Yes, I went there. I realize that following its mostly positive grades in theaters, that people came forth and expressed their disdain for Paul Haggis’s “hyperlink” drama about race in Los Angeles. I am fully aware that there are scenes with the blatant “I’m racist, you’re racist, we’re all racist” subtext. However, that is not stopping me. This is brilliant storytelling that delivers all the right emotional punches thanks to performances from Matt Dillon, Michael Pena, Thandie Newton, and Terrence Howard (among a huge ensemble cast). This film should not be missed.

Runners Up- Batman Begins, Hustle and Flow, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Capote