The Year in Rewind

They're lists. They're fun. They're obligatory. They're enlightening and sometimes baffling moments of truth – both for us and for you. A time for you to get to know our reviewers better. And for us to know ourselves better. A time of reckoning. And a time of good cheer.

Good cheer because spread across these four Chronicle reviewers' lists (which are combined above into an overall Chronicle Top 10 film list and then presented individually on the following pages) are a wealth of good suggestions of movies to see. As reviewers, we rarely agree, although on our No. 1 selections, clearly a couple of us do. Some are titles of films that haven't opened yet in Austin, so automatically, that gives us some bright spots to look forward to in 2009 (presuming that's when these films finally make their presence known in Austin).

One curious outcome is the unanimity of placement of The Dark Knight in the Overrated Films category by three of our four reviewers (all of whom are presently members of the Austin Film Critics Association). This is in diametrical opposition to the results announced a couple of weeks ago by the AFCA, which named the superhero movie as the group's choice for best film of the year. Make of that what you will. If nothing else, this should demonstrate the vast array of voices in the organization as well as highlight the Chronicle's tradition of singularity, something which continues to bind us with our readers.

This is why the discussion won't stop in these pages. We're taking it to the Web so that everyone has a chance to participate. I know our writers felt constrained by the 25-word maximums they were given to annotate their top choices and other categories and are bubbling over with pent-up commentary. Chronicle readers, too, have never been shy with feedback. Once you look over these lists, surely they will stimulate more reactions and thoughts of your own. Or maybe your own list for others to peruse? Bring on the discussion. After you turn the page and look over our lists, go to austinchronicle.com/pip for more. And even if you have no time or inclination to chime in, go out and watch movies. It's our favorite holiday tradition.

'Austin Chronicle' Top 10

1) Synecdoche, New York

2) A Christmas Tale (tie)

2) Gomorrah (tie)

4) Elegy (tie)

4) Let the Right One In (tie)

6) Tell No One

7) My Winnipeg

8) Slumdog Millionaire

9) The Wrestler

10) Man on Wire