Every year Hollywood strives to offer marketable fare, so the majority of films are always going to be generic formulaic re-workings of movies to guarantee box office profits. Movie going fans may be thrilled by the prospects of more 2006 sequels (another Mission Impossible episode a la Cruise on the way) and additional TV series rip-offs (Miami Vice, which may be salvaged by director Michael Mann), but I try to avoid most of those movies. The few that I end up seeing are usually forgotten by the time I've started up my car to leave the Cine-Plex parking lot.

The films that contain true greatness are ones with enough depth to warrant multiple viewing. In practical terms, that means movies that I'd strongly consider adding to my DVD collection without having "buyer's remorse." My list for the best of 2005 follows:

1. Brokeback Mountain

Too many refer to Ang Lee's poignant love story as the “gay cowboy” movie while tearful viewers emerge from theaters to point out that this label is insufficient. Lee's sparse storytelling matches the prose of its source material and puts audiences into Ennis Del Mar's lonely western world--a place that all audiences can relate to, regardless of sexual orientation. This one feels like a true landmark film--one that bridges the fears and misconceptions of the ignorant and homophobic to paint a picture of gay lovers (who "ain't no queers") as ordinary people. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal deftly perform a fine balancing act for this extraordinary film, and Ledger establishes his acting credentials for the first time. Brokeback Mountain is the “must see” movie of 2005.

2. A History of Violence

Often obscure and always cinematically gratifying, David Cronenberg crafts a simple and profound portrait about peaceful Indiana diner owner Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen), who reveals his dark past when forced to heroically protect his friends and family. Full of tension and plot twists, Cronenberg also forces us to examine our own inner natures and just what could compel us to resort to violence. The final shot is certain to be cited as one of film history's landmarks.

3. 2046

No one has ever illustrated the pain of unrequited love with as much cinematic eloquence as Wong Kar-Wai. He follows up his tour de force In the Mood for Love with a sensual sequel of sorts that is truly genre bending. Viewers can debate whether it's science fiction, fantasy, or erotic drama and some confused watchers will try to sort out a sensible narrative thread, but there's no debate about the film's beautiful imagery and effect. Sad and profound, Wong Kar-Wai's actors improvise their way through an unforgettable landscape found only in dreams.

4. The Squid and the Whale

Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney head this well made independent film about a dysfunctional family dealing with divorce and navigating a thick web of denials. Touching and humorous, the story feels very real. And it is, as writer/director Noah Baumbach draws from his childhood experiences to illustrate the mind games that collegiate intellectuals can play on the people they love when they don't really know how to express it. We're all novices at that, and this fine little film plunges into this area in refreshing fashion.

5. Match Point

Tightly constructed and set in London, Woody Allen abandons his usual jazz to create an genre bending operatic thriller with some new actors, headed by Jonathan Rhys-Myers and Scarlett Johansson. It's refreshing to see Allen's take on the English class system, but he doesn't stop there. Match Point still has familiar Allen touches of humor and themes, most closely resembling Crimes and Misdemeanors that probes deeper into Dostoevsky. But the big news is that the Woodman isn't done making films, as this is the best Allen project in a decade. Here's hoping that he won't get stuck in another rut!

6. The Constant Gardener

The political thriller of the year wasn't about the Middle East and it didn't star George Clooney nor was it directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on John le Carré's best selling novel about corporate corruption in Africa, The Constant Gardener relentlessly reveals its dark secrets over time. But not before getting us intimately involved with its intriguing leading characters, played expertly by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. Coming on the heels of his compelling City of God, Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles establishes himself as someone to continue watching!

7. Capote

Truman Capote's masterpiece In Cold Blood has deservedly found its way into numerous collegiate literature courses as the definitive example of non-fiction writing. And now we have a devastating cinematic channeling of the manipulative master writer in one of the year's strongest performances by character actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Although primarily a complex character study of the flamboyant Capote, the film also features Catherine Keener's strong portrayal of Harper Lee in the year's “must see” for the literary set.

8. Pride & Prejudice

As one English major who deliberately avoided all courses dealing with English manners, I've got to give credit to any film that overcomes my natural prejudices against them. Allegedly Joe Wright was unfamiliar with Jane Austen before launching this project, but he's exactly the right director to draw non-Austen readers into the fold. Unencumbered by expectations and sensibilities of Austen devotees, he sets out to make a film that works on its own while remaining true to the essential spirit of Austen's masterpiece. Who would have thought that Keirra Knightley would have the depth required for Elizabeth Bennet, but she does and proves it by standing her ground equally with the likes of Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland!

9. Batman Begins

After the last few lame Batman sequels, why did we need another? I wasn't particularly looking forward to Christopher Nolan's retake on the legendary comic hero, but found myself continually recommending people to see this movie. It was the best popcorn flick of the summer, going far beyond the action and special effects to bring depth to Bruce Wayne's character and actually incorporating Eastern philosophy with the material. To paraphrase Roger Ebert's wonderful description, this is the Batman movie that I didn't realize I wanted to see.

10. King Kong

After the horrendous 1976 remake, someone had to do justice to the 1933 classic. And that someone is rightfully Peter Jackson, an avowed King Kong geek, who was inspired to become a filmmaker largely due to the original. Jackson remains faithful to the spirit of the original, makes numerous and often humorous references to it, and unleashes his state of the art CGI wizardry to create a credible homage that turns out to be the top popcorn flick of the year. The non-stop action during the middle third on Skull Island contains some of the most exciting footage ever created on celluloid, yet it also establishes the true leading hero of the film and motivates the woman he loves. Jackson doesn't miss a step, and an added bonus aside from his movie itself is the fact that it finally inspired Turner Home Video to turn out a DVD for the original.

Special Mention: Best of Youth—Marco Tullio Giordana's compelling 2003 Italian mini-series that theatrically screened for the first time in the U.S. in 2005, so I'm not sure about its eligibility. Some critics listed the six hour epic last year while others included it in their 2005 list. After recently sitting through two consecutive screenings (3 hrs. each), I'd list it second if it is considered a 2005 film. So involved did I become in the family story that the time literally flew by. Thankfully, Best of Youth is now out in DVD release. That will allow people to proceed at their own pace, but I'm sure that many film buffs will opt to see it in one sitting.

Honorable Mention: Other worthy films that missed my top ten, roughly listed in the order I'd rank them:

Paradise Now

Caché

Murderball

Grizzly Man

March of the Penguins

Broken Flowers

Good Night and Good Luck

Millions

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit

Munich

Crash

Junebug