GOMORRAH. Fascinating view of modern, unglamorized, Italian organized crime. Directing, photography and acting are phenomenal and extremely realistic, you will forget you're watching a movie. Comparable to City Of God. Highly recommended, you will thank me.

Recommended this year (haven't seen yet): Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler, The Hammer, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Doubt, MILK. Perhaps JCVD as well.

just a few Must-see all-time greats:

Porco Rosso - absolutely unique anime story of a flying, warfighting pig
Chopper - early Eric Bana, unrecognizable as a complex and crazy outlaw
HEAT - of course
Harsh Times - Christian Bale + LA = win
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints - growing up street style, an actor's director movie, awesome emotional tone
Gus Van Sant - Paranoid Park, My Own Private Idaho
Band of Brothers - duh
High Art - Lesbian love tale, pitch perfect, as is Laurel Canyon, these are two untouchable movies if you like acting and people.

Foreign must-see

Anything by Werner Herzog, especially anything with Klaus Kinski. Try starting with My Best Fiend about their relationship. Crazy fockers. All phenomenal and unique, including his documentaries. Little Dieter Needs to Fly is the story that Red Dawn was based on, about a downed pilot's survival.

The 400 Blows - Truffaut, famous French New Wave director's story of his difficult coming of age.
The Tin Drum - Bizarre, heartwarming, fascinating ww2 story based on classic novel
RAN - epic samurai 'Braveheart'
The Seven Samurai - village battle classic influencing modern US greats
Turkish Delight - early Rutger Hauer
RUN LOLA RUN - Of course. If you like kickass women
La Femme Nikita - or simply 'Nikita'. French version original only, fck the rest.

Fellini's movies, don't ignore them just cause they're in black and white: 8 & 1/2, La Dolce Vita, La Strada - all timeless and eternal and rewatchable.

I think I'll stop there for now.

just saw some movies
1. the day the earth stood still(2008) Crap. The smith kid cant act but nether could Keanu. The org. alien wanted to learn this one only wanted to tell us to all buy a Prius and use verison ( what ever phone comany commercial was)
2. The Spirit the Director trying do make it noir just f'd it up.
3. The Hammer staring Adam Carolla Very funny but im a big fan