1.  Traffic  --  Steven Soderbergh presents a raw look at the drug culture in America today.  It is a brilliant mix of all the best elements of the best documentaries with a slew of great actors in great roles.  Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones and so many more were incredible pieces of a truly incredible film.  This may be too raw for some people, but it is a great movie.

2.  Almost Famous -- Cameron Crowe has given us great films before, but this is one of his best.  The touching story that is part his life and part the life of the character William Miller is full of marvelous moments and great story lines.  Kate Hudson is wonderful as Penny Lane, the obsessed groupie and Billy Crudup steals scenes as the rocker Russell Hammond.  But it is Crowe who brings this one together and it barely misses out on the best film of 2000.

3.  High Fidelity -- John Cusack is brilliant as Rob Gordon, a guy...with a list or two.  You see Rob owns a record store and the story of Rob's latest breakup is the starting point for a great examination of men and women.  Great supporting roles in this comedy for Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones and so many others.  I loved this film, but truthfully it's more of a guy film than anything else.  Lots of fun 80s music, lots of laughs, and lots of Jack Black.

4.  Erin Brockovich -- The second Steven Soderbergh film to make my top 5 for 2000.  This features the electrifying Julia Roberts in one of her best roles as an actress as the "not so proper" Erin Brockovich.  Just an incredible supporting role for Albert Finney as the take a chance on the little guy Ed Masry.  Soderbergh does an incredible job bringing together a long and interesting story and gives life to the character that is Erin Brockovich.

5.  Meet The Parents -- I loved this film.  Loved it so much that I laughed over and over during the course of the movie.  As you watch this film, if you've ever been in love and went to meet the parents on your own, you will be able to relate to Ben Stiller's nervousness.  DeNiro is back in yet another comedy role that is just outstanding.  This is definitely one of the best comedies of the year 2000.

6. Remember the Titans -- Denzel Washington is back, and he is back in my top 10 for yet another year.  Remember the Titans takes a special look at the race relations that existed as schools attempted to desegregate.  This story shows us how individuals grow up, and learn to trust and rely on one another irregardless of skin color.  You can't help but enjoy this film.

7.  Unbreakable -- This one caught me off guard, in a good way of course.  M. Night Shyamalan gets yet another visit to a yearly top 10 for me in his tale of a man who was "unbreakable" (Bruce Willis).  Now I may be one of the few that really bought this film, but I truly enjoyed it, and Shyamalan was able to still keep a naive me in the dark on how the film would end.  Kudos on another job well done.

8.  Gladiator -- My opinion on this film has only gotten better with time.  In fact when the radio version of the top 10 released I had placed this film slightly lower on my countdown.  But with time and another viewing, I have found a way to climb it up a few notches on the totem pole.  This is an epic film despite a number of holes.  When a film is this sweeping in nature though, we are willing to let a couple of plot holes go to make for a great viewing experience.

9. Frequency --Can I tell you why I liked this film so much?  No.  Can I tell you that you will enjoy it as much as I did?  No.  But I will say this.  If you will let yourself get swallowed into the story that is present here, you can't help but enjoy Frequency.  It touches you in ways that you never imagined such a mainstream film could.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the magic of this film.

10. Shanghai Noon -- Ok, so this film is probably not meant to be in the top 10 on any lists this year, I'll give you that.  I have always tried to find a film that I just downright enjoyed that was not really recognized by anyone, and this is one of them.  Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson work extremely well together and I just couldn't help but truly enjoy this Western Comedy.

So What missed out from this year's list?  Well as of the publication of the list I had yet to see Chocolat and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.  Since then I have seen both of the films and Chocolat would sneak its way onto the list, however Crouching Tiger just didn't do it for me.  Chocolat is not a type of movie I usually like, but Juliette Binoche is just intoxicating.  Crouching Tiger has a great story line, but just doesn't do it for me when it comes to the total package.  There are a number of films that just missed making this list as well.  Despite the fact that many judged this to be a down year for movies, I had fun.  Now on to 2001.
 

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