Give PS another chance. The performances are great. I think we forgot Roger Dodger in 2002 as well. Should rectify this when i get a chance.

And I was wondering why Anchorman made the top 10 without a mention of Mean Girls — it's one of the wittiest, smartest studio comedies of the decade (admittedly not saying much). It's also the film that launched Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, and Lindsey Lohan (before she imploded), and the film that gave Tina Fey a post-SNL career. I think it's already a teen classic in the same league as Clueless and Heathers.

PS, though? Outside of some good performances, thought it was really weak.

'Before Sunset' is a gutsy pick for the list, like it.

And recognizing Will Ferrell's performance in Anchorman earns it a top 15 at least. Didn't see it coming. I guess maybe we overlooked him paving the way for RDJ to get nominated for an outrageous comedy like Tropic Thunder, because Ferrell would have been nominated at the 2009 oscars if Anchorman came out in 2008.

Also, I would throw out everything on the numbered list except for 7, 2, 4 and add in Moolaadé, The Return and I'm Not Scared to the mix.

@Bonzob. Niiiice guesses. You are in store for some surprises however. A certain WKW film — god I adore him — is just not all that.

@ChrissyCampbell. It's nice to know that certain individuals know our intentions better than our own.

Here's how 2004 went down for us. We really struggled to make our last 2 pics (and we decided early on to put docs and animated films in another category simply because it was just easier to manage.

We did a lot of frustrating back and forth for what to continue — as you might imagine, sometimes you forget about films.

Someone then said, "Wait, what about Anchorman?"

The response: "Genius! Yes!" Who seriously doesn't love that movie? I think it's genuinely hysterical and it was one thing we could all agree and get behind.

So you obviously are pretty sure why we made that pick, but that's the motivation there. And obviously we had some fun with that write up, it's pretty obvious (aside from humor-challenged Nick). So no joke, that movie does indeed rule.

Elitistly yours,
RP

Question one: Did Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier, or Gus Van Sant release anything?

Answer: Haneke's Cache is his most well-regarded film of the decade. Probably a number one pick. Von Trier's Manderlay is a minor work, so I'm going to guess it'll be an honorable mention.

Question two: Did any Asian autuers release anything this year, preferably something non-genre and virtually plotless?

Yes, 2046 and The World were both released. I could see both making the top ten. Bong-Joon Ho's Memories Of Murder will also probably make it, as it's not as genre-y as The Host and you were all over Mother.

Oldboy is too close to a genre film and/or a cult film, two things you guys dislike, so I'm guessing just an honorable mention.

Question three: Anything political yet artsy this year?

Good Night Or Good Luck probably comes closest. Plus, Soderbergh's involved. But he didn't direct so it'll be towards the bottom of the top ten or an honorable mention.

Question four: Did any of the indie directors of the '90s have anything out this year?

The Squid And The Whale's gotta be a top ten lock, it's Baumbach's most personal and best-loved film.

Question five: And the rest?

Capote will probably get an honorable mention. Brokeback and History Of Violence should be just complex enough to sneak onto the top ten. Grizzly Man was a doc, and it seems you guys are trying to keep to narrative, but it's Herzog and well-regarded, so it has a chance.

The remaining spot (or spots, if no Grizzly Man) will go to either Head-On, The New World, or Mysterious Skin (My Summer Of Love could sneak on as well).

Pride And Prejudice will be intentionally left off the list. Wallace and Gromit might get an honorable mention, but animation won't make the top ten. There will also be some obligatory "Crash sucks" snark in the intro.

How'd I do?

Still, joke or not: that movie rules.

Really this whole decade has been quite stunning.

They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.

@Jonathan Glazer, LOL. Seriously though, "Birth" rules. Alexandre Desplat is basically a world-renowned composer now because of that film's amazing score.