ATANARJUAT: THE FAST RUNNER You may not think that a nearly three-hour film about Inuit people could the most compelling film of the year, but The Fast Runner sinks in slowly but thoroughly. By the end, this representation of a fascinatingly unique culture just might have you wishing for more fur-scraping and naked men running on ice.

CHICAGO If Hollywood was looking to revive the traditional musical, Rob Marshall's first feature film was a brilliant choice. It's undeniably fun and highly styled. And as its nominations have shown, it's one of few musicals that is as much respected for its performances as it is for its music and choreography.

SECRETARY It would seem that Steven Shainberg's debut could be nothing more than a one-note movie about office S&M. But with help from Maggie Gyllenhaal's career-making performance, it becomes filled with complex ideas of everyday dominance and submission and about harmless of concensual sexual deviation.

TALK TO HER Just a few years ago, I don't think anyone would've guessed that Pedro Almodovar, the Spanish prince of the sexual romp, would be making such poignant films. Without losing any of his cinematic quirkiness, his latest examines the lives of four characters (two are comatose) with humor, beauty and brilliance.

Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN As with Talk to Her, the most refreshing thing about Alfonso Cuaron's sexual coming-of-age road trip movie is that it proves cleverness doesn't have to be synonymous with irony. With a sharp-witted script, the film shows that however cliche a basic premise, if you give it an edge, it can be still be strikingly original.

PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE Adam Sandler may have a long way to go before we can forgive him for Happy Gilmore, but that doesn't mean he didn't shine in P.T. Anderson's first film to prove he's got more to his style than talented ensembles. Every aspect of the film is carefully choreographed. Anderson's got all the reason to dance.

MINORITY REPORT Most science fiction flicks have a certain level of disbelief to overcome. And normally, I never come close to giving in. But Spielberg's well-crafted, futuristic vision of commercialism and eyeball swapping was just too fascinating for me to nit-pick about the ridiculousness cars speeding down skyscrapers sides.

TIME OUT After Vincent loses his job, the French family man, skillfully played by Aurelin Recoing, shows just how quickly a desperate man can begin to make irrational choices. Unable to bring himself to tell his wife and kids about his unemployment, he dig himself into a deep ditch with a brilliantly subtle intensity.

ABOUT SCHMIDT Jack Nicholson gives his most remarkable performance in years in Alexander Payne's film about a recently retired man reflecting on his life. Its smart screenplay, co-written by Payne and Jim Taylor, is paced so well that is heightens both its comedic and dramatic elements in one motion.

FAR FROM HEAVEN Director Todd Haynes' homage to the Douglas Sirk melodrama is not only a visually gorgeous achievement, but it's also an exiquisite study of personal values and public perception. Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid lead a solid cast in a piece that does nothing less than extend the artistic potential of film.

TOP TEN OF THE YEAR Toward the year's end, buzz was swirling around for an unusually large crop of films. Many of them turned out to be big disappointments. See which ones deserved all their acclaim. HONORABLE MENTIONS Making the top ten is no joke. Films I love get pushed off the list every year. Here are the movies that just missed the cut and that I'd just feel too guilty to ignore completely. GREAT PERFORMANCES Sure, I appreciate the traditional award-worthy cry-my-face-off scenes, the performances that make dramas, well, dramatic. But this year it was actors in comedic roles that ruled. OSCAR GUIDE As arbitrary as the Oscars prove they are every year, I can't help keeping track of the race. Check out my take on the list of nominees and view my predictions of the winners. PREVIOUS LISTS Did you love Cider House Rules? Do you have cravings for Chocolat? Sorry, but you won't find them on my year-end film lists.