Finishing in fifth is Jon Favreau, who, like our winner Nolan, was able to do some spectacular work in the superhero genre. In any other year than 2008, Iron Man would likely have been considered the finest comic book movie, and even with the massive box office for The Dark Knight, there are still some pretty passionate debates about which film is actually the best. The fact of the matter is that we win either way, as both movies are going to go down as classics in the genre. Iron Man is tight, has an excellent flow to it, and all of the performances are pitch perfect. Unlike The Dark Knight, most of Iron Man's action takes place in the light, which makes its visual effects a bit more complex. Favreau was more than up to the challenge of delivering on the promise he has shown in previous work like Zathura and even Elf.

Sixth and seventh place go to an old reliable and a new hotness. Ron Howard, a previous Academy Award winner and current nominee, places for his work on the surprisingly tense Frost/Nixon. It would have been easy for this movie to be a dry, political piece, but instead it is almost a thriller in its setup. On the other end of the spectrum is Martin McDonagh, whose In Bruges is a masterpiece of dark comedy and crime. Well-acted and gorgeously shot, this is a film that deserves more attention and will surely get McDonagh some higher-profile gigs.

Gus Van Sant and Thomas McCarthy finish in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Van Sant, who has been churning out some fascinating projects with some regularity, goes slightly more mainstream with Milk - though clearly this is a film that is only mainstream when compared to stuff like Elephant, Last Days, Paranoid Park and Gerry. Van Sant manages a supremely talented cast and turns Milk into a story that leaves the viewer craving more. Ninth goes to Thomas McCarthy, who continues to dazzle us with movies like The Station Agent and now The Visitor. These are quiet portraits of fascinating characters that leave lasting impressions.

Finally, we have a tie for tenth place, as Jonathan Demme and the Coen Brothers both find a spot on our list. Demme's Rachel Getting Married is a true slice of life, inserting the viewer straight into the days leading to and including the wedding of the titular character. Much is revealed in very subtle ways, and the pacing is deliberate but effective. The Coens continue to be among the top directors working in the business, as they follow up the masterpiece No Country for Old Men with Burn After Reading, a comedy that is bound to be remembered more fondly in hindsight, much like their earlier Big Lebowski. (Kim Hollis/BOP)

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Album
Best Cast
Best Director
Best DVD
Best Overlooked Film
Best Picture
Best Scene
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best TV Show
Best Use of Music
Best Videogame

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