By Mitch Ringenberg
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1) Memento (2000)
“Memento” is a mystery film unlike any other. Its tone is a throwback to the crime noir films of the ‘40s, but contains a highly unusual twist.  “Hitchcockian,” although a clichéd adjective used ad nauseam, is a perfectly apt and worthy descriptor for once.

2) City of God (2002)
Easily one of the best foreign films I’ve ever seen, “City of God” is also one of the best crime films ever made. Taking place in a small, ghetto city outside of Rio de Janeiro, the movie tells the intersecting stories (a la “Pulp Fiction” or “Crash”) of its various inhabitants. The film’s fast-paced tone and excellent cinematography has actually had a large influence on cinema since its release.

3) Requiem for a Dream (2000)
“Requiem for a Dream” is unrelentingly disturbing, but an unbelievably talented director like Darren Aronofsky managed to create a beautifully crafted film out of a miserable subject. Detailing the lives of four people dealing with various forms of addiction, Aronofsky uses amazing camera work and editing to let the audience experience the film’s bleak events through the characters’ warped mind set.

4) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is the kind of movie that only comes around once every ten years or so. Not often does anyone create a film of almost complete originality. Despite being seven years old, “Eternal Sunshine” still feels fresh and new today. Writer Charlie Kaufman (“Being John Malkovich”) created a film unlike any other. With ground-breaking cinematography and an incredible storyline, “Eternal Sunshine” stays with you.

5) The Departed (2006)
“The Departed” contains what is most likely the best cast ensemble in any of Martin Scorsese’s films. Jack Nicholson gave his best performance in years playing a brutal, foul-mouthed, murdering crime boss with absolutely no moral compass. Not since “Goodfellas” has a mob thriller of this magnitude been crafted so well.

6) Mulholland Drive (2001)
7) There Will Be Blood (2007)
8) Lost In Translation (2003)
9) The Dark Knight (2008)
10) Knocked Up (2007)