Top Ten of the Noughties (in no particular order and with eleven honourable mentions)

So not a top ten at all.

By rights this list should also include:

In the Valley of Elah (Paul Haggis, 2007)
I’m Not Scared (Gabriele Salvatores, 2003)
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (Niels Meuller, 2004)
Thirteen Conversations about One Thing (Jill Sprecher, 2001)

and would be topped off by:

Gone, Baby, Gone (Ben Affleck, 2007)

and, best of all…

Lonesome Jim (Steve Buscemi, 2005)