Blame the political climate, the wars or the natural disasters--one thing is certain: it was an outstanding year for tragedy. It's rare that my ten favorites share a theme as coherently as this year. Violence, done to humans by humans, in the name of power, greed, and sometimes love, appears at the center of most films on the list. Runner-ups include "Capote," "Turtles Can Fly," "3-Iron," "Tropical Malady," "Down to the Bone," "9 Songs," "King Kong," and "The Beat My Heart Skipped."
1. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
I realize it's unfashionable to declare love for George Lucas' epic space opera, but for my money, "Revenge of the Sith" delivered the most consistently intriguing, astoundingly timely, surprisingly complex, breathtakingly beautiful, and all-around satisfying movie-going experience of 2005. "Sith" features more ideas per frame than any other film this year, and who else has ever capped a six-film storyline with such splendid, mythic grandeur?
2. Downfall
We read a lot about "bunker mentality" these days; "Downfall" defines the true meaning of that phrase. Bruno Ganz's terrific performance as Adolf Hitler is spine chilling, and so are the dozens of minor portraits of carefully differentiated evil. Oliver Hirschbiegel's sprawling tapestry about the destruction of the Third Reich is one of the best movies about World War II.
3. Munich
Even in the run-up to its release, Spielberg's terrorism-and-revenge thriller is getting a lot of heat by those who seem to have vested interests in the perpetuation of the cycle of violence. A stunningly accomplished entertainment and a passionate plea for peace, "Munich," written by Tony Kushner, is also the best American film about September 11 yet.4. Darwin's Nightmare
Lake Victoria hides terrible secrets in Hubert Sauper's must-see documentary about the impact of globalization on Tanzania. With Boschian images and a carefully observing camera, this shocking documentary reveals the hellish underside of the global economy, and we're all implicated.
5. My Summer of Love
A deceptively light and delightful coming-of-age film that exposes the power struggles and desperation inherent in young affection. Beautifully shot and acted, Pawel Pawlikowski's film deserves much wider attention than it received.
6. Head-On
Fatih Akin's award-winning Turkish-German love story is raw and passionate. Few films jump off the screen and grab the viewer like this one, and anybody who has seen it can't wait to see more of its first-time star Sibel Kekilli.
7. The Constant Gardener
A gripping thriller about the dealings of pharmaceutical companies that makes a fine double feature with "Darwin's Nightmare," Fernando Mereilles' gorgeous second film sticks in the mind for its unabashed romanticism in the face of violence: an unbelievably romantic love story that works because of the terrific chemistry between Ralph Fiennes and the irrepressible Rachel Weisz.
8. Look at Me
It's been a while since I saw Agnes Jaoui's wise and wickedly smart satire about ambition, self-image, and being French, but just thinking of it makes me smile, still. A welcome breath of relief from the tragedy that abounds on this list.
9. Paradise Now
What drives people to become suicide bombers? Hany Abu-Assad's drama about two Palestinians who strap explosives to their bodies is an eye-opening exploration of the minds and hearts of two perfectly aimable slackers who turn into terrorists.
10. The Warrior
Despite its title, this overlooked film is not about war. Its themes echo with "Paradise Now" and "Munich," but unlike those two films, it affirms an almost Gandhian belief that the responsibility to end violence rests with each and every one of us. Asif Kapadia has crafted an honest, beautiful and affecting meditation on what it takes to bring about peace.
