The other controversial film of the year also touched me on a personal and emotional level but in a completely different way. Exposed the level of corruption going on in the Bush administration.

Here was another controversial film but on a smaller scale. Director Bernardo Bertolucci's love poem to cinema harks back to his early days when influenced by Godard. One of the best looking films.

Martin Scorsese's ambitious and broad bio of Howard Hughes could have been a major disappointment but everything seems to jell together. I hate to admit it but DiCaprio is quite good.

(TIE) Here is a movie about all the "secrets & lies" that come along with love. Four convincing performances make this Mike Nichols film work.

Lars von Trier masterpiece is another film that failed to find an audience. Many unfairly called the film "anti-American". A film that stirs strong emotions. Kidman shines in tour-de-force performance