For my 'best films of the year lists' I figure why limit the best to ten? The only qualification is that a film must play for at least one week somewhere in the United States for it to be considered - which means I don't include films that have only played at festivals. I figure in time any great movie will get a release in Los Angeles or New York. There are exceptions though: If a movie played at a festival and is too good to ignore I put it on a list with an asterick*. This exception too is waved for the best films of the decade because some films, such as The Puppetmaster, were never released and it is easily one of the best of the decade.
La Belle Noiseuse - Rivette (France)
From the Journals of Jean Seberg (Mark Rappaport)
GoodFellas - Scorsese (USA)
Gulewaar - Sembene (Senegal)
Homicide - Mamet (USA)
J'ai pas Sommeil - Denis (France)
Moment of Innocence - Malkmalbaf (Iran)
The Puppetmaster - Hsiou-hsien (Taiwan)
Raise the Red Lantern- Yimou (China)
Trois Colour (Trilogy) - Kieslowski (France/Poland)
Underground - Kusturica (Yugoslavia)
The Unforgetable Summer - Pintile (Romania)
Wild Reeds - Techine (France)
English Language
Being John Malkovich
Besieged
Election
Eyes Wide Shut
The Insider
The Iron Giant
Foreign Language
After Life
All About My Mother
The Apple
Autumn Tale
Dreamlife of Angels
Run Lola Run
Rosetta
English Language
Affliction
Elizabeth
Rushmore
There's Something About Mary
The Thin Red Line
The Truman Show
Foreign Language
The Celebration
Central Station
The Eel
The Inheritors
Hana-Bi
The Saltmen of Tibet
English Language
Breaking the Waves
Dead Man
The English Patient
Flirting with Disaster
Lone Star
Foreign Language
Chungking Express
La Ceremonie
Ridicule
The Thieves
Vive L'Amour
English Language
Boogie Nights
Gattaca
In the Company of Men
Kundun
Foreign Language
Gabbeh
Irma Vep
La Promesse
Maborosi
Mother and Son
My Vie Sexual...
Temptress Moon
Underground
English Language
Beyond Rangoon
Crumb
Exotica
From Journals of Seberg
Georgia
Once Were Warriors
Smoke
Foreign Language
The Convent
Cyclo
J'ai pas Sommeil
Through the Olive Trees
Wild Reeds
English Language
Bitter Moon
Hoop Dreams
The Secret of Roan Inish
Sure Fire
Vanya on 42nd Street
Foreign Language
Calender
JLG/JLG
Satantango*
The Unforgettable Summer
English Language
All the Vermeers New York
American Dream
Bad Lieutenant
The Crying Game
Distant Voices Still Lives
One False Move
Proof
Simple Men
Unforgiven
Foreign Language
Hard Boiled
Highway Patrolman
Leolo
Lessons of Darkness*
Raise the Red Lantern
English Language
Groundhog Day
The Long Day Closes
Menace II Society
Naked
Schindler's List
Foreign Language
Un Coeur en Hiver
Guelwaar
Il ladro de bambini
Three Colors: Blue
English Language
Dances with Wolves
GoodFellas
Miami Blues
To Sleep with Anger
Foreign Language
Cyrano de Bergerac
Damnation*
Landscapes in the Mist
The Nasty Girl
Tilai
English Language
Black Robe
The Comfort of Strangers
Paris is Burning
The Silence of the Lambs
Thelma & Louise
A Woman's Tale
Foreign Language
Europa Europa
La Belle Noiseuese
The Double Life of Veronique
Best Films 2001