Editor's note: While Danny and I disagree somewhat on the year's best movies, remember he's the expert. Here are his picks.
"Knocked Up"
Judd Apatow and his talented cast (many of whom come from his canceled shows "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared") prove that a comedy can be consistently funny and well made (unlike "Wedding Crashers").
"Once"
"Once" is a stunning and beautiful musical that has none of the choreographed dance sequences and general visual overkill that weighs down most of its genre. Instead, writer/director John Carney and musicians/stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova tear down the musical to its most important parts: music and emotion.
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
In a year marred by questionable third installments of big-budget franchises, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is a godsend. Director Paul Greengrass treats his second "Bourne" outing with intensity and political sensibility. There's a reason why even the "007" films saw the need to imitate "Bourne," and "Ultimatum" epitomizes it.
"The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"
A story about the culture of competitive video gaming and the rivalry between the reigning champion of Donkey Kong and a suburban upstart sounds like fodder for a bad comedy, but this documentary never treats its subjects like a circus sideshow. It's like a real-life version of "The Office," complete with the cringe-worthy but hilarious statements by rampant sociopaths.
"Hot Fuzz"
The wonderful thing about "Hot Fuzz," like Edgar Wright's previous film, "Shaun of the Dead," is that it is not a parody. "Hot Fuzz" is really an action movie in addition to being a comedy, and it succeeds at both.
"The Darjeeling Limited"
Wes Anderson has become a more focused filmmaker since the mixed reception of "The Life Aquatic," giving us a story without the excessively stylized quirk that turned off viewers to his last film. Here, the style comes from the film's setting, which appears to be a country tailored to Anderson's aesthetic.
"Eastern Promises"
David Cronenberg directed yet another minimalist crime drama/character study with Viggo Mortensen, and lightning struck a second time. "Eastern Promises" is a compelling look into the world of the Russian mafia and the violence that surrounds us.
"Ratatouille"/"Beowulf" (tie)
While they have only one thing in common (I'll let you guess), both movies signal where the animation genre should be going. "Ratatouille" takes the tired talking animal movie and makes it fresh with its high-concept plot (as opposed to the usual "Look! Talking fish!"). Similarly, "Beowulf" benefits from a smart script that shows that a computer-graphic action movie need not be soulless.
"I'm Not There"
This is the film "Across the Universe" should have been. Todd Haynes' avant-garde Bob Dylan tribute/biopic constantly bounces around his life, featuring actors such as Christian Bale, Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett (easily the best of the group) to either play Dylan or represent some aspect of his life.
"Hostel 2"
Contrary to popular belief, Eli Roth's "Hostel" films are not simple "torture porn" (I really hate that term), but rather studies of xenophobia and American attitudes abroad. With this sequel, Roth shows his growth as a filmmaker and puts a new spin on the first film.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
"Black Book," "300," "Grindhouse" (well, just "Death Proof"), "Superbad," "Black Snake Moan," "Stardust," "Rescue Dawn"
