With apologies to Cole Porter -- and, as a way of honoring the best movies of 2004 -- I’d like to offer my own lyrics to “You’re the Top,” one of his most popular songs. Here goes:

 They’re the top

They’re the ten I liked best

They’re the top

They’ve surpassed my film test

They’re a motley group of movies that made me smile

They’re cinematic

A viewer’s tonic

They won by a mile.

(Well, maybe not by a mile, but it had to rhyme.)

Seriously, folks, because there were so many excellent movies released during 2004, I had some extensive soul searching to do before coming up with this Top Ten list. I asked myself two questions about each film before making my final selections. Did the movie hold my interest from beginning to end? Would I enjoy seeing it on multiple viewings?

And the winners are -- a drumroll please -- in rank order:

1. Hero.  Zhang Yimou’s gorgeous movie features the most eye-popping use of color I’ve ever seen on film. And its dilemma about heroism is just as timely today as it was thousands of years ago in China.  

2. Dogville.  Haunting and disturbing it may be, but this Lars Von Trier film about the treatment of a stranger (played by the luminous Nicole Kidman) in a small town held me spellbound for its entire three-hour running time.

3. Collateral.  Michael Mann’s inventive crime thriller that follows a shy cabbie (Jamie Foxx) as he tries to outwit a stone-cold hit man (Tom Cruise) fascinated me with its creative cinematography, outstanding performances and clever dialogue.

4. Shall We Dance? This totally delightful romantic comedy overflows with a passion for life, love -- and ballroom dancing. I had a great time watching Jennifer Lopez as a sexy dance instructor, Richard Gere as her secret pupil, and Susan Sarandon as Gere’s surprised wife.      

5. Being Julia.  Annette Bening delivers her most scintillating performance to date in this wonderfully entertaining film adaptation of a Somerset Maugham novel. Bening’s bravura portrayal of a diva who uses her acting talent like a weapon wins my nod as the best work by a leading actress during 2004.     

6.  Beyond the Sea. Kevin Spacey’s tribute to the life and music of Bobby Darin made me want to sing and dance right along with the people on screen. I’m not a big fan of biopics, but this one won me over with its terrific musical numbers and Spacey’s energetic performance.   

7.  Napoleon Dynamite. Despite its unsophisticated production elements, this quirky comedy about an endearing high school nerd and his dysfunctional family and unusual friends had me laughing from beginning to end.      

8. Hotel Rwanda.  Here’s a movie that proves films can be inspirational and enlightening as well as entertaining. Don Cheadle gives the most inspiring performance of the year as a hotel manager who saved the lives of over 1,000 refugees during the 1994 genocide crisis in Rwanda.

9. Two Brothers. I still find it hard to believe it was possible to make an incredible film like this. It’s a story told primarily through the eyes of tiger siblings – and real tigers are the co-stars. No animation or special effects interfere with the natural beauty of these marvelous beasts. Amazing! 

10.  Shrek 2. Antonio Banderas as the voice of Puss in Boots? That in itself earns a place for this hilarious sequel on my Top Ten list. But the whole film is also lots of fun, especially for everyone who enjoyed the first Shrek adventure. Shrek 2 earns my vote as the best 2004 sequel.  

Honorable Mention:  A Love Song for Bobby Long, Cellular, Hellboy, The Polar Express, The Sea Inside, Secret Window, Spider-Man 2, Starsky & Hutch, The Story of the Weeping Camel, Valentin, Vera Drake, A Very Long Engagement, The Village.

That’s the good news. However, as we all know, where there’s a top there must be a bottom.  Here are my picks for the worst movies of 2004 (in very rank order):

1. Team America: World Police.  I really can’t be objective about this one. Wooden actors almost always leave me cold.

2. Seed of Chucky. As a “Chucky” fan, it pains me to put one of his movies on a list like this, but that’s where his raunchy fifth outing belongs.

3. Along Came Polly.  An unfunny comedy apparently made for the sole purpose of embarrassing Ben Stiller.

4. Godsend. This muddled sci-fi mess surely was not sent to moviegoers from Above. It’s greatest sin? Turning a promising story concept about the dangers of cloning into unabashed horror hokum. 

5. Van Helsing. Don’t get me started. I feel a migraine headache coming on just thinking about it.

6. Dodgeball. See # 3 above.

7. Jersey Girl. An unfunny comedy apparently made for the sole purpose of embarrassing Ben Affleck.

8. We Don’t Live Here Anymore. The title should've been We Don’t Like Them Anymore. Never have I seen so much blank staring in a movie as in this dismal depiction of the marital infidelities of two extremely unlikable couples.   

9. Little Black Book. I think a romantic comedy without much romance and even less comedy deserves a place on a Bottom Ten list, don't you?    

10.  Catwoman. Poor Halle Berry! The minute she dons her dominatrix leather outfit, she looks more like a Halloween hooker than a Catwoman in this 2004 cinematic catastrophe.  

Dishonorable Mention: Alexander, The Big Bounce, Chasing Liberty, Chistmas with the Kranks, Home on the Range, The Ladykillers, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Meet the Fockers, The Prince & Me, Shark Tale, Suspect Zero, The Whole Ten Yards.