Keep in mind that I’m writing this article before screening any of the films that arrive right at the end of the year for Oscar consideration, so I may have a different opinion of my “best film of the year” by then. I have selected my top 10 films of 2005 though, based upon what I saw, either in the theater or on DVD.

1. “King Kong.” A masterpiece directed by Peter Jackson and featuring out-of-this-world performances from Naomi Watts and the monstrous gorilla himself. The movie gets better and better the more I think about it because it is chock-full of amazing moments and true beauty.

2. “Crash.” A fascinating examination of issues of race in modern-day Los Angeles. Set over the course of a day or two around Christmas in L.A., an amazing cast that features Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Ludacris and Terrance Howard, among numerous others, illustrate how far we have come in race relations and how far we have left to go. Written and directed by Paul Haggis (“Million Dollar Baby”), “Crash” is at times heart-breaking and often inspirational. This should be a Best Picture nominee.

3. “Sin City.” Director Robert Rodriguez teams up with Frank Miller to bring several of his stories from his hit graphic novel to the screen. The duo succeeded in bringing the ultra-violent, ultra-noir stories to life, giving the audience a thrill ride unlike any other in cinema this year. Great performances from Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen and Bruce Willis made this film a must-see. I can’t wait for the sequel.

4. “A History of Violence.” Director David Cronenberg made this straightforward film about a man in a small town who may or not be who he says he is. Filled with plenty of subtext and nuance, as well outstanding performances from Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello, this film was sure to leave audiences talking once the credits began to roll.

5. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” The hands-down, funniest film I have seen in years. Steve Carrell gave a winning performance as Andy and the supporting cast, which features awesome turns from Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen, was out of this world. I laughed for almost the duration of this film, which is undeniably raunchy, and will definitely add this to my DVD collection.

6. “Batman Begins.” I said it then and I stand by it now — this was the best entry in the Batman series. Christian Bale is the best Batman yet and director Christopher Nolan did a terrific job breathing new life into this series. Some complained about the beginning of the film which took Bruce Wayne to the Far East, but I felt it made complete sense and was a terrific take on the origin of a hero.

7. “Serenity.” The box office may disagree but this, sci-fi/western was better than “Revenge of the Sith.” It had better performances, a much better script and a bigger heart. The “outlaws” of the firefly ship, Serenity, are the most fun crew in space since “Galaxy Quest” and this film was a good balance of introduction for the newbies and continuation for the fans. Let’s give this a good audience on DVD and watch re-runs on SciFi Channel.

8. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” A pitch-perfect adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novel about a country enchanted by an evil witch and the four children and a majestic lion who save them. Good special effects, solid acting and a lot of fun, make this film a must-see and possibly a must-own on DVD.

9. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” Another extraordinary adaptation of a hit book. Director Mike Newell takes the reins of the popular franchise and helps it grow up a bit. Still filled with plenty of magic, the movie is also crammed with teen angst. Brendan Gleeson’s Mad-Eye Moody was a joy to behold.

10. “Bigger Than the Sky.” Discovered by my father on DVD, this film about a lonely man who discovers himself in community theater touched my heart. It features wonderful performances from an ensemble cast and the script captures the ups and downs of a community theater performance perfectly. It should be screened by every one who loves the theater or movies in general.

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