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BrotherReed:
Or 5, if you haven't seen very many. I just finished catching up on most of the movies I wanted to see. I usually watch movies at the dollar theater which means I don't get them until a few months after they first appear in other theaters, so I stay behind the curve a little. I've seen about 30 movies this year, and here are my favorites: [b]10. Gone Baby Gone[/b] Ben Affleck's gritty Boston drama about a pair of private detectives investigating missing children, a case that leads them to a wrenching moral dilemma. It's a slow boiler that gains strength in the second half and makes us think and evaluate. [b]9. There Will Be Blood[/b] An incredible performance by Daniel Day Lewis is the centerpiece of this sprawling, disrupting oil epic, the portrait of a madman. [b]8. I Am Legend[/b] I Am Legend succeeds on the strength of its quiet atmosphere, suspenseful moments and a sympathetic lead in Will Smith. Doesn't quite live up to its premise but it is an enjoyable movie with more depth than other blockbusters like Transformers. [b]7. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters[/b] I never would have imagined that a documentary could be this much fun. The King of Kong peers into a quirky niche community where truth is stranger than fiction, and two men face off to be the Donkey Kong champion of the world. [b]6. Enchanted[/b] Possibly the most purely sweet and sugary entertainment of the year, Enchanted succeeds at being the very kind of story at which is also pokes fun. Lighthearted happy ending fare with a magical turn by the adorable Amy Adams. [b]5. Live Free or Die Hard[/b] I had way too much fun watching this in the theater. John McClane is back, proving Bruce Willis is still a wise cracking action hero. It's over the top, loud, crazy fun that lives up to the spirit of its predecessors. [b]4. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street[/b] Darkly funny, scary and tragic musical adapted from the stage and directed by the always unique Tim Burton. I probably wouldn't watch it often due to all the throat slitting and blood geysers, but I can't deny the craft. [b]3. Into the Wild[/b] Heartfelt story filled with humanity. Based a true account of Christopher McCandless, an affluent youth who gave up his position and future to go hiking across the country and into the wilderness. Along the way he meets a variety of people who affect his life (and he theirs) and we share in his discoveries. [b]2. No Country for Old Men[/b] Stunning film that defies categorization. The cinematography, acting, script, and especially the sound editing - it's all pitch perfect in this disturbing, nihilistic tale of a Texas man who finds a case of money at the scene of a crime and is pursued by an uncompromising killer. [b]1. Ratatouille[/b] A joyful, beautiful movie that is one of Pixar's finest. Voiced with flare by a talented cast and featuring the best computer animation ever put on screen, Ratatouille is a touching, funny, rousing yarn about a rat with a great sense of smell who loves to cook, and a boy who can't. The form a symbiotic relationship that transforms the restaurant and changes people's perceptions. I smiled all the way through this movie (expect when I stopped to cry). It should have won best original screenplay and maybe even best picture. It's my favorite for the year. Those are my picks. What are yours?

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