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The end of August is not a happy time to be a film reviewer. That's when Hollywood dumps all of its duds onto theaters, hoping that no one will notice. And they're right. Most people are thinking more about back-to-school than movies, and attendance plunges for several weeks. Before I became a critic, I often wondered why reviewers for weekly papers took to writing book reviews during these dog days. Now I know--there's not a single new movie worth writing about.

Ah, did you notice my use of the word 'new'? Though the theater pickings are slim, the dvd/video rentals are starting to heat up. Most of the big Oscar movies are finally making their way onto shelves, as are many of the smaller independent and foreign films from earlier this year. So, I thought, rather than cover something inane like Freddy vs. Jason or Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, why not offer a list of suggested flicks to get
you through this dry period. Indeed, why not write a mid-year Top 10. Fortunately, my editor thought it was a swell idea.

What follows are my ten favorite movies from the last twelve months. Unlike my regular year-end top 10 where I include older movies, this list is just of movies released in the past year. Almost all of them are out or will
soon be out on dvd/video, though I couldn't resist throwing in a couple favorites that are harder to find. The status of each movie is listed at the end of its blurb. Happy viewing!

1. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Though the last several months have brought many contenders, nothing has surpassed this as my favorite movie of the mid-year. Clearly the best Hollywood movie in recent memory, The Two Towers is an old-fashioned epic with new-fangled tricks. The special effects, particularly in the creation of Gollum and Treebeard, are awe-inspiring; the production design and cinematography are gorgeous; and Peter Jackson condenses Tolkien's story into a gripping, three-hour roller coaster of action and romance. My friend Garth was slightly disappointed, but then he was expecting perfection and we haven't had that since Krzysztof Kieslowski died. This is the next best thing, a thrilling gift for everyone over the age of 10. When was the last
time a #1 movie was one that almost anyone could enjoy?  to be released on dvd/video on Aug. 26

2. Stevie
I caught this documentary on its last night of an unfortunately brief run at the Landmark. Otherwise, I would've urged you to drop everything and go see it. Directed by Chicagoan Steve James (Hoop Dreams), it's the story of a man named Stevie. In the late '90s, James returned to southern Illinois where he had gone to college. He wanted to look up the boy to whom he had been a big brother. That boy, Stevie, was now a man in his mid-20s with a host of problems. The documentary is an extraordinarily compelling look at Stevie's life and the world around him. I can't recall a movie that has this much compassion for its characters. Though I haven't cried this hard at a movie in a long time, the film isn't exactly a downer. Rather, it's a portrayal of a broken life and a reminder of the grace we all need. Absolutely a must-see. to be released on dvd/video on Sept. 9

3. 25th Hour
A bravura piece of filmmaking from director Spike Lee, this portrait of a man on his last day before heading to prison is great storytelling. Ed Norton gives a fantastic performance as a drug dealer facing hard time, and
his final hours are spent revisiting old stomping grounds, hanging out with friends and family, and pondering his life. The supporting cast, especially Brian Cox and Rosario Dawson, is marvelous, the cinematography is
fantastic, and Lee's use of a post-9/11 New York is visionary. As I wrote last winter, "Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York is an attempt to portray the people who "built" this country. Spike Lee has a smaller yet more ambitious goal--to portray a few of the people who make up this country and thereby remind us of what kind of country we are. That he succeeds is truly remarkable." available on dvd/video

4. Ten
Abbas Kiarostami's latest work was panned by many critics for its simplicity and even banality. Those people profoundly misread one of the best films of the year. Filmed with just two digital video cameras inside a car, Kiarostami's film paints an amazing portrait of women in Iran, struggling with injustice and everyday life. The movie is slow but rewards the patient with moments of undeniable power and clarity, and Kiarostami's mastery of editing is unrivaled.  available on dvd from Europe, for those with region-free dvd players

5. Finding Nemo
You haven't seen it yet? Well, what are you waiting for?! This one's still in theaters, and it'd be a shame not to see its gorgeous animation on the big screen. The tale will delight young and old alike, the humor is sophisticated enough for adults and basic enough for children, and did I mention it's simply beautiful. Not just a great kids movie, it's a great movie period.  still in theaters

6. Bowling for Columbine
Michael Moore's discursive documentary on what led to the Columbine shootings (as well as a whole host of other issues) is preachy at times, rambling at others, and not without its glaring mistakes. But it's also
brilliant, incisive, provocative, thought-provoking, touching, funny, and powerful. Its use of montage is revelatory, and its documentary sequences are fantastic. Moore's persona has mellowed, which makes for a more compassionate film, but lost none of his left-wing fervor. But before you consign Bowling to a liberal closet, remember that Moore is a lifetime member of the NRA. With the corporate control of media growing,
documentaries might be the last bastion of independent voices. This is a compelling example.  available on dvd/video

7. Spider
Ralph Fiennes turns in a fantastic performance as a schizophrenic confronting the mysteries of his childhood. David Cronenberg's direction is pitch-perfect, and the transition from objective reality to subjectivity is
handled so smoothly and subtly that we don't realize it's happened. Though not exactly a feel-good picture, it is a fantastic drama that grips you in its interlocking drama and doesn't let go.  available on dvd/video

8. Decay of Fiction
This one doesn't have a hope of coming to a video store near you, but I wanted to highlight it in case it shows around here again. Experimental director Pat O'Neill filmed his latest meditation on memory and decay in
the decaying Ambassador Hotel in L.A., and his use of montage and time is nothing short of extraordinary. Using old film clips, new footage, and a staggering sound design, O'Neill creates a world that is strangely familiar and simply strange. If you like your cinema with an edge, this is great stuff.

9. Spirited Away
I'm running out of ways to say I like something. But don't let that stop you from seeing this amazing achievement from director Hayao Miyazaki. Another animated "children's" film that works on numerous levels.
available on dvd/video

10. Russian Ark
One of the great technical feats in all of movies, this single take through the Hermitage Museum is a history lesson, a costume drama, and a grand display of opulence all in one. Since it was shot on digital video, you
won't be missing much seeing it on tv. I recommend it highly.  to be released on dvd/video on Sept. 9

Full reviews of many of these movies can be found at www.tollbooth.org/movies.html.