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Best of the year from Cathy Edsey Collins

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2004

By Cathy Edsey Collins

1) MUNICH

A bold, brave venture by Steven Spielberg that has provoked controversy---the measure of a great film.

2) BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

An unusual love story that embraces the notion that life offers limited opportunities to love and be loved---and the sadness that accompanies those lost chances.

3) GOOD NIGHT, GOOD LUCK

A dead-on reincarnation of journalist Edward R. Murrow by David Strathairn, amidst a fascinating recounting of the McCarthy era.

4) CRASH

An uncomfortable, tense film that exposes the underbelly of racism with a stellar ensemble cast and an impressive directorial debut for Paul Haggis.

5) BATMAN BEGINS

A surprisingly intelligent rendition in the franchise, with a stellar performance by Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader.

6) THE MATADOR

A highly original script bolstered by a bravura performance by Pierce Brosnan as an aging hitman.

7) BROKEN FLOWERS

An off-kilter road comedy by Jim Jarmusch, with a bizarrely unique performance by Bill Murray and his harem of co-stars.

8) CINDERELLA MAN

A "feel-good" offering from director Ron Howard based on the true story of boxer Jim Braddock, played to perfection by Russell Crowe.

9) PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

A lush re-telling of the classic Jane Austen novel, with a luminous performance by Keira Knightley as a feisty Elizabeth Barrett.

10) KING KONG

A technical marvel that explodes on the screen and nearly makes one forget any other version of this timeless tale.

Cathy Edsey Collins © 2005

Cathyedsey@aol.com