After viewing well over a hundred films this year, It's my absolute pleasure to recommend a few to you. Here are the ten 2001 films I've enjoyed the most:

1. MONSTERS, INC.
   Speaking purely from an adult perspective, aside from a short lull in story (but not action) early on, "Monsters" never stops being clever. From the brilliantly detailed animation (every fur hair on Sulley's back flows) to the non-stop throwaway comedy of Billy Crystal's one-eyed lime-green guy to the sharply written script, this is real entertainment.
   
   
2. MADE
   A good strong boxing buddy film, complete with light drama, it's own style of fumbling-thug comedy, and a sleeping right-hook of heart. Crisp scripting especially in dialogue. Excellent direction: Each scene is a minuet, a microcosm of the film itself, carefully directed with it's own delicate tension that compels us, endears us to the good-hearted Favreau.
   
   
3. KATE AND LEOPOLD
   A 19th century Duke (Jackman) passes through a time portal to modern day New York where he meets and, of course, falls for Meg Ryan. Fanciful, imaginative, creative.
   
   
4. BROTHERS
   These "Brothers" are full to the brim with heart, soul, and a solid sense of humor.
   
   
5. CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN
   A dramatic film, I'd wager, Roberto Benigni would enjoy.
   
   
6. RAT RACE
   Something smelled mousy about this film, maybe it's the word "Rat" in the title, maybe it's the delayed release, or maybe it's the cheesy genre of crazy race film - you know, "It's a Madx4 World," "Cannonball Run." Whatever the reason, I sat down in the theater expecting a bomb, a rat trap if you will. Fortunately, this bomb exploded in my face with non-stop humor (albeit corny sight gags, and contrived contusions).
   
   
7. AMELIE
   Unique and original, this film is simply charming. Though she won't react well to it - you'll fall in love with "Amelie." (French)
   
   
8. A KNIGHT'S TALE
   Fade from black to wooden poles breaking against armor; cut to wide shot, an eager medieval audience on their feet pound out the rhythm to Queen's "We Will Rock You." Thump, thump, clap, thump, thump, clap. Peasants and noblemen put their hands to hewn logs giving these lance-wielding horsemen a rock and roll backbone.
   
   
9. MOULIN ROUGE
   Ewan McGregor's voice cuts through this clamor like hot honey through ice. My worries melt, the foolish actors pause, jaws lowered too, then they reprise their fumbling, only to be stopped again by Ewan's enchanting melodies. To add to the luscious oddity, Ewan's poetry is 20th century: From Elton John, to the Beatles, to "The Sound of Music" selections. This eclectic mix of time and tunes pulls its sparkles together like the shiny elements in a kaleidoscope.
   
   
10. SHREK
    "Shrek" squirts onto the screen like the first chew of a Starburst candy purchased at the theater confectionery. The colors, the visual jokes (an ogre's pond fart brings dead fish to the surface), the sweet animation and infectious charm of Myers and Murphy! And of course, what separates "Shrek" from the rest of the animated fairy tales is an acute poke-funnery of them.
    
    

    I'm extending my top ten to fifteen because I feel like it.

11. MEMENTO
    
12. TRAINING DAY
    
13. THE SHIPPING NEWS
    
14. LEGALLY BLONDE
    
15. K-PAX
    

And now in alphabetic order, some other recommendable 2001 flicks:

The Animal
Bandits
Black Knight
Corky Romano
The Dish
Evolution
I Am Sam
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back!
Jurassic Park III
The Musketeer
Ocean's Eleven
One Night at McCool's
Saving Silverman
Someone Like You
Spy Game
Spy Kids
Startup.com
Vanilla Sky

So run that tape cleaner through your VCR and stop by your local video rental store.