It's that time again. Out of around 80 non-2008 films I saw for the first time this past year, here are my 10 favorites. As usual, just because they're my favorites doesn't mean they're recommendations. When in doubt, always research a bit more or read a review from a trusted source before determining if a film is a good match for you & your time. Otherwise, enjoy!

10. The Outlaw (Howard Hughes, 1943)  — Yes, that Howard Hughes. This Western took me by surprise, which means I really enjoyed it. Tight, sassy dialogue and a plot that's actually interesting. Double entendres keep this one comic all the way through, but also may make it a poor choice for family viewing. This retelling of the tale of Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday is chock-full of action, excitement and a curious commentary on the thin line between the law and the lawless.

9. George Washington (David Gordon Green, 2000) — This beautiful, meditative piece follows a group of young children in an unnamed Southern town. It also stars unprofessional actors, and the realism that seeps through is unmistakable. As I described it in my review, it's one part Stand by Me and two parts Terrence Malick. This lyrical peek into the innocent, yet still broken world of childhood is probably one of the best films about children.

8. Paris, je t'aime (various directors, 2007) — What do you get when you commission 20 great directors from around the world, send them to Paris, and ask them to make a short film? Well, 20 different visions, that's for sure. Some are downright bizarre, others lovely, tragic or whimsical. Helmed by the likes of the Coen Brothers, Alfonso Cuarón and Tom Tykwer, the films also feature actors like Natalie Portman, Gerard Depardieu, Steve Buscemi, Catalina Sandina Moreno. My favorite short was the unexpectedly moving tale of an American woman's visit to Paris, directed by Alexander Payne.

7. Code Unknown (Michael Haneke, 2000) — Not all films entertain. Some question, provoke or give you an unparalleled experience. This film is the art equivalent of Crash: a multi-actor tale whose characters become intertwined. Except here, there are no neat bows, and few aha moments. Instead we get starkly human moments, insights, sympathy, and tinges of brokenness. Juliette Binoche leads an otherwise unknown cast in a film that, if you let it, will give you a valuable experience. And you may not be able to describe just why it was valuable.

6. Buena Vista Social Club (Wim Wenders, 1999) — Back in the mid-90s, musician Ry Cooder traveled to Cuba to discover the music known as son. The group he put together represented some of the best musicians the country had known, all over the age 0f 50. German director Wenders (Wings of Desire) seamlessly followed Cooder and his friends as they recorded, reminisced and eventually, traveled to the US for a Carnegie Hall performance. If you love music, travel, or any kind of discovery, you need to see this film.

5. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1966) — Leone is one cool cat. He made the greatest western ever with Once Upon a Time in the West, and one of the greatest gangster tales ever with Once Upon A Time in America. Here, he casts tough guy Clint Eastwood at the early peak of his fame, and sets him gliding through a tale of the Civil War. It's over-long, and has its flaws, but almost no one equals Leone's sense of mastery, storytelling or flair. If you like Westerns, Eastwood or want a memorable three hours, check this one out.

4. The Band's Visit (Eran Kolirin, 2007) — I had seen a trailer for this film and remember chuckling. An official Egyptian band gets stuck in the middle of Israel. But when I got a chance to see it with a friend, I was far more impressed than I expected. With all the comic dryness of Aki Kaurismaki or Wes Anderson, the film serves up a delightful, absorbing tale. The band members become timeless everymen, and I found myself cheering for them and wanting their story to keep going once the film had found its end.

3. Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960) — Many, many years ago, when I was a young film initiate, I watched the first half of this film and didn't get it. When I returned to it in 08, I was ready. This smooth-as-jazz tale follows a young Parisian man as he robs, runs from the police and charms a series of girlfriends. Godard was part of the French New Wave, and this film broke most of the rules at the time, without being weird (as some of his later films were). The film's Bogart-obsessed hero is going to meet an un-Hollywood end...but that's part of the charm of this masterpiece of the mid-20th century.

2. Dead Man (Jim Jarmusch, 1995) — This is a film that is meant to be experienced. And what an experience it is. Johnny Depp stars gloriously as William Blake (not the poet; that's part of the dry joke) who makes his winding way through a lush black-and-white spiritual journey. Set (purportedly) in the late 1800s West, the film isn't trying to make sense. But expect moments of hilarity, and others of profound introspection, beauty and longing. Filled out with a cast including Gabriel Byrne, John Hurt and Robert Mitchum (in his final role), the film has already created a fond imprint in my memory.

1. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Cristian Mungiu, 2007) — It's heart-rending, one of the most masterful, gripping tales I've seen. It's not for everyone, but it also may be different than what you're expecting. This Palme d'Or-winning story of two friends in communist Romania deals with the issue of abortion unflinchingly. But it's not a film about abortion; it has a far larger horizon than that, almost as large as humanity itself. The drama that develops between these two young women over the course of a couple days was, for me, one of the finest uses of celluloid I've seen in a long while.