1. “The Pillow Book.” A visual masterpiece by director Peter Greenaway about the connection between sex, words and art. The most challenging film of his storied career.
2. “Ulysses’ Gaze.” There are images from this epic tale of one man’s search for truth, art and peace in war-torn Yugoslavia that still haunt me months later.
3. “Mrs. Brown.” A beautifully realized true story of love and loss, with Dame Judi Dench giving the best single performance of the year as Queen Victoria.
4. “The Sweet Hereafter.” A story of despair, in its myriad shapes and forms, as a small town copes with a deadly school bus crash. Canadian director Atom Egoyan just keeps getting better and better.
5. “Ulee’s Gold.” Peter Fonda is great as a taciturn beekeeper, but the film as a whole is even better, as it examines the terrible responsibilities of being part of a family.
6. “Titanic.” Big, beautiful and audacious. Somewhere, Cecil B. DeMille is smiling.
7. “As Good As It Gets.” Superior writing always rises to the top, especially when Jack Nicholson is delivering the lines. A romantic comedy for people who don’t usually like romantic comedies.
8. “Welcome To Sarajevo.” An impressive mix of real news footage and astounding recreations makes this study of war-torn journalism a cinematic spellbinder.
9. “Pretty Village, Pretty Flame.” A complex and disturbing tale of former friends–one Serbian, the other Croatian–who end up as bitter enemies on the battlefield.
10. “For Roseanna.” My pick for the most overlooked film of the year. A small gem about the eternal power of love.
