62. THE WRESTLER
 
United States
dir. Darren Aronofsky
world premiere 2008
U.S. release 2008
 

 
Because no amount of laying things on a bit thick at the end can override a performance and a movie with so much heart it practically has veins and ventricles instead of shots and scenes. The whole cast gets the vibe, and the soundtrack and photography excel themselves. Even if, like me, you think Aronofsky was coming off his best previous film, he hit a new peak here.