So far, there have been 276 movies to open at U.S. box offices this year. Between today and next week there will be an additional 12 films to open.

Some movies opened nationwide (“Fever Pitch”); some maintained a limited release (“Murderball”); some were documentaries (“Mad Hot Ballroom”) while most were not (“Monster-In-Law”); there were remakes (“House of Wax”) and adaptations from books (“In Her Shoes”), Broadway shows (“Rent”) and cartoons (“Aeon Flux”); some were sweet and smart romances (“The Wedding Date”) and others were action-packed flicks (“Sin City”); most were box office disappointments (“Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous”) while a few mesmerized those of us who truly love a good movie.

Which is what brings me to my list of top 10 movies in 2005. There were a lot of movies that I haven’t seen yet that can’t qualify for my list (like “King Kong” or “Memoirs of a Geisha”). This is just the list from those I have seen. I’ll start with number 10 and work my way to number one.

10. “The Upside of Anger.” I really hadn’t heard that much about this film when I rented it, but was touched by the story of a woman and her daughters dealing with the sudden disappearance of her husband, their dad. Kevin Costner plays a washed-up former baseball player who befriends the family in spite of their less-than-eager attitude towards him. Excellent cast, funny and bittersweet, overall a well-done film.

9. “Hitch.” I was surprised at just how funny this film was. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I laughed until the last credits rolled. Will Smith and Kevin James team up to create the funniest comedy duo I’ve seen in a while. This is a movie I will definitely be adding to my DVD collection.

8. “Jarhead.” This film about Marines in the Gulf War, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard, approached the struggles faced by soldiers in war time from a new angle. The film has an R rating, but receives this from crude humor and brief nudity rather than violence. The film is based on Anthony Swofford's book about his own experiences in Operation Desert Storm.

7. “The Family Stone.” All families have their own dysfunction and the Stone family is no different. This holiday film will make you laugh and it may even make you cry. With a stellar cast, including my favorite new girl on the scene, Rachel McAdams, as well as my favorite standby, Claire Danes, this film is one that has secured itself a place in my favorite holiday classics.

6. “Good Night, and Good Luck.” George Clooney’s latest foray into directing also stars the charismatic actor. Filmed in black and white and using real news clips throughout, Clooney’s movie opens a window into newscaster Edward R. Murrow’s efforts to put a stop to Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s broad accusations of Communistic activity on U.S. soil in the early 1950s. Allowing McCarthy to play himself through clips was genius on Clooney’s part, and David Strathairn’s Murrow was flawless. Anyone with an interest in history, or who just likes a good story for that matter, won’t be disappointed with this film.

5. “Walk the Line.” Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon don’t simply act the parts of Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash in this biopic about the life of the “Man in Black,” they embody the late singers. Had Jamie Foxx not won the Best Actor Oscar for “Ray” this year, Phoenix would likely have been a shoo-in for the award this February. Phoenix and Witherspoon lend their voices to the film and further solidify their individual positions at the top of the talent pool in Hollywood.

4. “Elizabethtown.” For the audience who loves Cameron Crowe's prior films, "Elizabethtown" doesn't reach the epic heights of "Almost Famous," but is certainly not a disappointment. This movie has Crowe's name stamped all over it, and I mean that in a good way. I laughed and I cried, but I mostly laughed, and in the end it made me want to take a road trip with just the right music (perhaps this film’s soundtrack) on an open road. This one will be added to my DVD collection come Christmas.

3. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” This excellent recreation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved story follow the four Pevensie children through the back of a wardrobe into a land that is always winter and never Christmas under the White Witch’s rule. Special effects allowed me fall under the spell of Narnia without looking back. A great film for young and old alike whether you are familiar with the books or not.

2. “Crash.” Set in L.A., writer/director Paul Haggis’ film interweaves a series of vignettes to create a captivating commentary on race relations in America. With an all-star cast including Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, and Ryan Phillippe, to name a few, this film is a powerful example what films can be. Sandra Bullock also stars in this film, clearly enlisting her best efforts after a mediocre at best “Miss Congeniality 2.”

1. “Pride & Prejudice.” I was delighted by this latest recreation of Jane Austen’s classic novel starring the ever-lovable Keira Knightly opposite a handsome Matthew MacFadyen. As an adaptation, this film could easily have been a big disappointment, thankfully it wasn’t. Instead, it soared to the top of my list for 2005, and reminded me why I fell in love with the book in the first place. A must-see and a must-own for anyone with an ounce of romance in them.

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