Tyler Hanley's top flicks

10. Sin City -- It's a sin this unique and wildly inventive adaptation wasn't appreciated more. Maverick auteur Robert Rodriguez ("El Mariachi") brilliantly translates Frank Miller's gritty graphic novels, bringing a vibrant -- albeit violent -- world and some of the year's most memorable characters to life.

9. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit -- Say cheese! After five years of toil and trouble on "Were-Rabbit," British animator Nick Park ("Chicken Run") finally provided his clay creations, Wallace and Gromit, with a feature-length outlet. The result was this funny, heartfelt gem that's all but a shoo-in for the Best-Animated Oscar.

8. March of the Penguins -- Life seems tough (bills, break-ups, etc.) until you see this humbling documentary about the majestic Emperor penguin. The power of parenthood is depicted with soulful simplicity, and Morgan Freeman's smooth-as-ice narration illustrates the too-often-overlooked bond between man and "beast."

7. Brokeback Mountain -- Two actors risked career and ridicule to play a pair of lovelorn cowboys in what became the year's most provocative picture. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and director Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") all proved up to the task in visualizing Pulitzer-Prize-winning writer Annie Proulx's tale about a bond that defied religious and social standards.

6. Cinderella Man -- Another knockout performance from Russell Crowe punctuates this uplifting Cinderella story. James J. Braddock fought through doubt, injury and the Great Depression to provide for his family, a struggle strikingly realized by director Ron Howard ("A Beautiful Mind").

5. Kung Fu -- Hustle Director/star Stephen Chow ("Shaolin Soccer") does his idol -- the immortal Bruce Lee -- proud with a playful and imaginative martial-arts feast. Thanks to a quick-footed combination of comedy and action, "Kung Fu Hustle" knocks our socks off.

4. A History of Violence -- "Violence" was all about chemistry. Whether between fiery leads Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello or between director David Cronenberg ("Spider") and his talented crew, the explosive dynamics were unparalleled.

3. Capote -- Biopics are all the rage. Heck, last year's "Ray" winner, Jamie Foxx, is now a pop sensation. Fortunately, Philip Seymour Hoffman's Oscar-worthy portrayal of author Truman Capote captures a slice of narrative history without the MTV hysterics.

2. Good Night, and Good Luck -- Who says George Clooney is just a pretty face? Here the aspiring storyteller directs an apropos clip of American culture. David Strathairn is tremendous as reporter Edward R. Murrow and the memory of the 1950s Red Scare hits theatre-goers in Manhattan, Moscow and Menlo Park.

1. Crash -- The best movie ever made about race relations in the modern world.

 

Tyler Hanley's pans

5. Herbie: Fully Loaded -- Some cars should stay in the garage.

4. Stealth -- This pale imitation of "2001: A Space Odyssey" never got off the ground.

3. Wolf Creek -- Only the most sadistic viewers could appreciate this barrage of brutality.

2. Son of the Mask -- A shining example of the benefits of cinematic contraception.

1. Guess Who -- Oh yeah, racism is hilarious.