1. House of Sand and Fog - Ben Kingsley, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for this role, and Jennifer Connelly are extraordinary as rivals for a piece of seaside real estate, a situation symbolizing tragic elements of the American Dream.
2. In America - The best tearjerker of 2003, a story of Irish immigrants coping with grief in a strange land in the 1980s. Sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger are the real deal among child actors, unlike automatons such as Dakota Fanning. Nominated for two Golden Globes.
3. 21 Grams - Three depressed souls (Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts) collide after an auto accident in an impressive plot shuffle by director Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu (Amores Perros).
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The concluding chapter of Peter Jackson's epic trilogy is nominated for four Golden Globes including best dramatic film. Finally, the story and emotions match the spectacular special effects.
5. Calendar Girls - Golden Globe nominee Helen Mirren convinces a women's garden club to pose nude for a calendar for charity. Naughty but nice comedy based on a true story.
