Hey now, I actually like anime....and add another vote for Red Violin. Well done.

One that ranked right up in 'fantastic' was The Man on the Train. Not only because I adore Jean Rochefort's wrinkly face, but because it was so complete a transformation between the two men. Wunnerful.

A foreign one that freaked me out was He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. You think Audrey Tautou, you think pixie-sweet. Not this one. There's a spot mid-film where time goes backwards and it is a 'sunofabitch' moment where you get to see another point of view. I love those kinds of surprise, when they are well done.

One I did read about and happen to rent last week was The Maldonado Miracle. Salma Hayek's directorial debut, and a fine first-film.