1. Black Swan
There are plenty of things that could’ve earned this movie a No. 1 ranking —Natalie Portman’s excellent portrayal of a mentally-unstable ballerina; the shots that followed each dancer’s movement flawlessly, bouncing around as if the audience themselves were doing a pirouette.
But the real reason “Black Swan” has taken top place is because Darren Aronofsky has transformed a well-known ballet into a modern masterpiece, a gothic horror that captures mental insanity both grotesquely and gracefully. And that’s no small feat. — Linnie Greene
2. Inception
As visually enthralling as it is intellectually stimulating, “Inception” is one of the rare films of the year that can both please the palate of the masses and triumph the critics’ wrath. With this film, Christopher Nolan solidifies himself amongst the likes of Spielberg and Cameron as one of the top dollar directors in the industry. — Lam Chau
3. The Social Network
It has half-a-million “likes” on Facebook, and there are even more reasons to love it. Leaping back and forth through time to depict the creation of the Internet goliath, this ambitious film taps into the raw emotional underbelly of this generation’s social climate. With a pitch-perfect script, the film seduces viewers into a profound true story that brilliantly speaks to the modern socialite. — Rocco Giamatteo
4. Toy Story 3
I’m starting to think that the folks at Pixar just love to toy with our emotions. While this may not have been Pixar’s peak, it really hit home. And good lord, that one scene toward the end. You know the one. You teared up a bit too, admit it. — Allison Hussey
5. Winter’s Bone
