I had a harder time deciding on my top 10 films of the year than I expected. I enjoyed a lot of the movies I saw over the year, and looking back over my reviews I realized I had forgotten how much I enjoyed some of them.

I haven’t seen every new film to come out, and I haven’t written a review for every film listed on my top 10, but here they are from 10 to one:

10. “The Last Kiss” - Dark and brooding, Zach Braff’s film about a 20-something year old facing a quarter-life crisis left me speechless initially (a pretty tough task if you ask my friends). While this film isn’t for everyone, the realistic approach it takes to looking at life and relationships is refreshing in a world of happily-ever-after movies that constantly reinforce my hopeless romantic side. While I’m always going to love the romantic comedies, I enjoy a film that reflects real life now and then. And like I said in my review, buy the soundtrack, you won’t be disappointed.

9. “Step Up” - Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan are the stars of this year’s best dance film. With beats that just might make your body start moving and choreography that makes you want to take classes, “Step Up” tells the story of a bad boy who starts seeking a better life after meeting a straight-laced girl. It’s a fun flick with a great soundtrack. I would also recommend “Take the Lead” for all you dance aficionados. Dewan stars in that as well and has a killer Tango scene in it.

8. “For Your Consideration” - Although I didn’t review this one, “For Your Consideration” was one of the funniest films I saw this year. Christopher Guest is one of my favorite directors and he delivers once again with this “behind-the-scenes” mockumentary about a terrible film that suddenly becomes the talk of Hollywood with rumors of Oscar buzz. I laughed out loud throughout and was thrilled to see some of my favorite Guest regulars return in new combinations.

7. “The Pursuit of Happyness” - Will Smith and his son Jaden make this movie. The inspirational tale of a man whose life has hit rock bottom and his journey to becoming a multimillionaire stock broker will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Plus, it’s not too often that a film comes out that entire families will enjoy seeing together.

6. “She’s the Man” - OK, so this was one that I gave a decent review of after first viewing, but time has proven it to be one of my favorite films of the year. Amanda Bynes shines as a young comedic powerhouse in this modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” This was also the first film I had the pleasure of seeing Channing Tatum in (“Step Up”). I’ve now seen this movie about ten times and I love it more with each viewing.

5. “Mission: Impossible III” - J.J. Abrams is awesome. And that, my friends, is primarily why the latest installment of the “Mission: Impossible” movies works. He knows how to make an action film tell a story worth watching. It’s smart and thrilling and was the first summer movie worth seeing this year. Forget that Tom Cruise is a wacko, this is one of the must see movies of the year.

4. “Stranger Than Fiction” - As I said in my review several weeks ago, I was thrilled to see that this movie lived up to the lofty expectations I had set for it. Will Ferrell makes perhaps his first stretch in his acting career as a boring and predictable IRS agent whose life suddenly becomes the focal point for Emma Thompson’s author character. It’s a unique idea for a film and the cast (which also features the talented Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dustin Hoffman) gives this one heart. It’s dark and, as the title suggests, strange in parts, but completely lovable.

3. “Dreamgirls” - What can I say, I love musicals. I can’t go to the Big Apple without seeing at least one show and some of my favorite movies are adaptations of Broadway shows. That trend continues with my most recent addition to my top 10 list, “Dreamgirls.” Jennifer Hudson (who came to fame on “American Idol”) and Eddie Murphy absolutely make this movie what it is. Forget the fact that Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover also star as part of the ensemble cast, this movie is mainly about Effie, the diva who gets booted from the 60s girl group on their way to fame. Whatever you do, don’t miss Hudson’s performance of “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” toward the middle of the film...I got chills watching her belt it out.

2. “The Departed” - What’s not to like about what is possibly Martin Scorcese’s best film ever. The cast is almost too good to be true with Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen making up the ultimate boys club. If “The Departed” doesn’t score a handful or more of Oscars I will be stunned, and they deserve every one they get. Scorcese’s offering is action packed and driven by a compelling story that will have audiences riding the edge of their seats every minute of the way.

1. “Little Miss Sunshine” - Just barely above “The Departed” in my book is my favorite movie of the year, “Little Miss Sunshine.” This little indie film that could has driven its clunky yellow bus into my heart. The dysfunctional Hoover family is comprised of some of my favorite characters of any movie I’ve ever seen and there isn’t anything about this movie I don’t love. Steve Carrell, Toni Colette, Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin and Paul Dano nail their respective characters and I am thrilled to see that this low budget masterpiece is beginning to get its rightful recognition. Funny, quirky in the most literal sense of the word and full of heart, “Little Miss Sunshine” is at the top of my wish list for Christmas this year.

As I said before, I had a tough time narrowing down my top 10, so I thought I’d throw in a list of runners up:

• “Glory Road” - Josh Lucas, an underdog basketball team and a dream: all the makings for a warm fuzzy. If you loved “Remember the Titans” as much as me, you’ll like this feel good flick.

• “The Break-Up” - Before Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn split up, they made a movie about breaking up. It’s funny and tinged with sadness, but one I recommend. Too bad the real life break up happened, I was hoping for a sequel called “The Make-Up.”

• “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” - Considering this had a cast that was less than thrilling for me (Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris), it turned out to be remarkably funny and one that I recommended to all my friends. The plot which has Thurman as a super hero whose Clark Kent persona is that of a quiet art gallery manager, lends itself to moments of hilarity after she becomes a woman scorned by Wilson’s nice guy character. It also doesn’t hurt that Rainn Wilson (Dwight from “The Office”) plays Wilson’s dorky best friend who gives terrible advice on how to deal with women; he is awesome as always.

And finally:

• “The Holiday” - If you are in the mood for a nice Christmasy romantic comedy this is the one for you. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star in this film about two women who decide to change up their lives for the holidays by switching homes through a home exchange program. Winslet’s character owns a country cottage in England and Diaz’s character is a movie advertising power-player in Los Angeles. They both want to get away from the men in their lives, but of course meet their perfect matches while abroad. Diaz is funny while Winslet is perfection. Jack Black and Jude Law play their love interests, and Black proves that he can in fact play the leading man.

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