10. “Reign Over Me”
Something in the trailer for Mike Binder’s latest had me from the start. What will perhaps prove to be the most lingering 9/11-inspired cinematic effort yet, “Reign Over Me” looks to exist in the introspective, sentimental but realistic vein of Anthony Minghella’s “Breaking and Entering.” Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler look aces as former college buddies brought together after Sandler’s wife and kid die in one of the plane crashes, and really the whole experience looks to be both meditative and inspiring. Binder is one of the subtlest filmmakers working today.

9. “My Blueberry Nights”
I’m not a huge fan of Wong Kar Wai cinema, but there is something about “My Blueberry Nights” that is calling my name. Tapping musician Norah Jones for the lead role in this sprawling tale of self-discovery, the revered director is finally turning his vision toward the American cinema. Jude Law, David Strathairn, Tim Roth and Natalie Portman will join Jones in an ensemble that should be one of the more interesting group performances of the year.

8. “There Will Be Blood”
God bless Paul Thomas Anderson for taking his sweet time in between projects. He likes to be sure. The combination of “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “Punch-Drunk Love” made for the promise of a brilliant new filmmaking talent. I wasn’t much for “Hard Eight,” but even that debut was more gripping and full of vibrant ideas than most. “There Will Be Blood” marks P.T.A.’s first adaptation, also refreshing considering it proves he isn’t stuck in autopilot – his ideas, his way or the highway. Based on Upton Sinclair’s “Oil!,” it looks to be a great ensemble opportunity (of course) and to draw striking parallels to the money-hungry leaders of today’s world.

7. “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End”
After the thrilling climax of last summer’s “Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest,” how can you not be stoked to see how they wrap this thing up? On top of which, Jerry Bruckheimer is preparing a fourth installment? Really?? Is it his goal to melt movie screens with popcorn resilience or something? Well he’s on the right track, and I’m so happy there is something this visually extraordinary finding its way into the film market place. I love a good run for box office records, too, no matter what the film. So here’s hoping $500 million isn’t too high a ceiling for the latest adventures of Will Turner and Captain Jack Sparrow!

6. “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
A year ago this film was much higher on this list. The appeal has worn off slightly, but being a western fan through and through (see #1 on this list), I still can’t wait to see what Andrew Dominik has done with Ron Hanssen’s Shakespearean take on this relationship. When I spoke to director Kevin Macdonald back in September, he had just come from a rough cut screening of the film and thought it quite an accomplishment. That was the first time I’d heard someone describe it as “a Terrence Malick western,” and as we get closer and closer to a final cut (who knows if Warner Bros. will let it go out into the marketplace approaching 180s minute), I can feel the hair standing on the back of my neck. This will also be one of three opportunities for cinematographer Roger Deakins to finally score an Oscar for his always accomplished efforts. I think this is his year, but how often have we said that before?

5. “Spider-Man 3”
How can this film not be apparent on any cineaste’s list of anticipations for 2007? Premiere magazine did a cover story on the film last month that got me even more jazzed, as I read about director Sam Raimi’s vision of putting the viewer in the air with Spidey through further visual effects ingenuity. Not to mention the popcorn-chomping excitement in store with action sequences involving Sandman (portrayed by Thomas Haden Church) and the new Goblin (the ever resilient James Franco). Add to that Venom showing up on the scene, Bryce Dallas Howard in full-blown-blonde-hottie mode as Gwen Stacy…geeks everywhere will be swaying back and forth in the seat with excitement. This one included.

4. “Beowulf”
Not many directors have a passion for pushing the filmmaking medium like Robert Zemeckis. The director’s entire career has been built upon putting hings on screen we never thought we’d see. Tackling one of the most epic storues ever told, Zemeckis has cast Ray Winstone in the title role in “Beowulf,” what promises to be a dazzling film experience to say the least. Beyond the awe-inspiring wonder Zemeckis surely has in store in the realm of visual effects, I’m most looking forward to Crispin Glover’s depiction of Grendel, what could be a stroke of casting brilliance or a train wreck waiting to happen.

3. “Sweeney Todd”
Tim Burton and Paramount Pictures put the film adaptation of Steven Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” on the fast track after the director’s “Believe It or Not” fell apart earlier in 2006. Six months later, things are moving along nicely as the film is set to be the studio’s big awards hopeful for this year. Sticking with muses Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (also Mrs. Burton) in the story’s meatiest roles, the director has yet another opportunity to give audiences a visual feast. A who’s who of technical crew talent is at his disposal, and beyond costume designer Colleen Atwood, they aren’t the usual Burton suspects, which should make for a unique project all around. Sacha Baron Cohen and Alan Rickman will also take roles.

2. “The Bourne Ultimatum”
Paul Greengrass, God bless him, is all set to wrap up the Jason Bourne trilogy with this final installment in the series. Coming off of the best years of his early career in “United 93,” I think it’s great he is willing to stay in sequel territory when he could likely write his own creative check at this point. One only wishes he could have been on board from the start. Greengrass is one of the most promising directors of his generation, and Matt Damon has turned into a capable actor no matter what the material. If “Ultimatum” comes in even within an inch of “The Bourne Supremacy”’s shadow, we’re all in for one hell of a treat, and a likely pulse-thumping actioner.

1. “No Country for Old Men”
No film has piqued my interest this year like the Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of Cormic McCarthy’s “No Country for Old Men.” “The Proposition” promised the cinematic exposure to the McCarthy western mindset, but to my mind it was too stylized to become anything of a real character analysis. This year we’ll get a true dissection of McCarthy’s violent cowboy narrative (and we’ll see how much of the violence the brothers Coen allow into their depiction). Tommy Lee Jones will has a hell of a year ahead, and while his performance in “No Country for Old Men” might come to simply buttress his work in Paul Haggis’s awards hopeful “In the Valley of Elah,” I hope it finds room to breathe on its own. Josh Brolin and Woody Harrelson will join Jones in an ensemble that might end up blown off the screen by a potentially vicious and terrifying turn from Javier Bardem.

Other anticipations of note:

Classic Filmmakers Doing Their Thing
“American Gangster” (Ridley Scott)
“Rescue Dawn” (Werner Herzog)
“Youth Without Youth” (Francis Ford Coppola)
“Zodiac” (David Fincher)

Comedies Looking Up
“The Bucket List” (Rob Reiner)
“The Darjeeling Limited” (Wes Anderson)
“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” (Zach Helm)

Films Showcasing (Hopefully) Strong Central Performances
“The Golden Age” (Shekhar Kapur)
“Michael Clayton” (Tony Gilroy)
“Sicko” (Michael Moore – okay, stretching a bit to include this one but Moore “performs” with the best of them)
“The Walker” (Paul Schrader)

Eye Candy and Popcorn Goodies
“300” (Zack Snyder)
“Transformers” (Michael Bay)
“Sin City 2” (Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez)
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Kevin Munroe)