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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
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Top Films of the Year

Foreign films rule among the year's best

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(Newser) – With most year-end movie lists bask in the glow of award-season contenders, Dana Stevens grudgingly runs through her unranked, alphabetized top 10 on Slate, despite being "allergic to hierarchies, lists, and ranking."

  • A Christmas Tale: A French film about a crazed family that's "a glorious feast of a movie, with the bitter served right next to the sweet."

  • The Class: A "whip-smart vérité film about a Parisian teacher" that is only for people who " happen to be interested in love, loyalty, race, class, language, or life."
  • The Edge of Heaven: It's "everything Crash and Babel should have been."
  • Encounters at the End of the World: Werner Herzog's take on the South Pole's McMurdo research station is "an invaluable tour of one of the weirdest spots on earth"
  • Man on Wire: The 1974 tightrope walk between the two World Trade Centers, "was simple and yet breathtaking—just like this documentary."
For more of 2008's best, click the link below.

Director Fatih Akin shows off his trophy during the 20th European Film Award ceremony at the Arena in Berlin on Dec. 1, 2007. Akin won the European screenwriter 2007 award for
Director Fatih Akin shows off his trophy during the 20th European Film Award ceremony at the Arena in Berlin on Dec. 1, 2007. Akin won the European screenwriter 2007 award for "The Edge of Heaven".   (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
In this Aug. 7, 1974 file photo, Philippe Petit, a French high wire artist, walks across a tightrope suspended between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York.
In this Aug. 7, 1974 file photo, Philippe Petit, a French high wire artist, walks across a tightrope suspended between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York.   (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
In this image released by Focus Features, Sean Penn portrays gay rights activist Harvey Milk in a scene from in a scene from,
In this image released by Focus Features, Sean Penn portrays gay rights activist Harvey Milk in a scene from in a scene from, "Milk."   (AP Photo)
Actors Sean Penn, left, and Emile Hirsch attend a special screening of
Actors Sean Penn, left, and Emile Hirsch attend a special screening of "Milk" hosted by Focus Features with the Cinema Society in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dave Allocca, Starpix)
Director Laurent Cantent, top left, and cast attend the screening of the French film
Director Laurent Cantent, top left, and cast attend the screening of the French film "The Class" during The New York Film Festival in New York on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Trailer for "A Christmas Tale"   (goodfilmtrailers)
Trailer for Werner Herzog's "Encounters At The End of The World."   (sebi2cool4you)
Trailer for James Marsh's 2008 documentary, "Man on Wire."   (Senoculum)

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