1. Knowing
For me there was no doubt that Alex Proyas' Knowing was a belter of a sci-fi thriller from day one. I make no bones about it that I'm a huge Proyas fan and with veritable classics like Dark City and The Crow under his belt I feel I'm fully justified in my sentiments (let's forget about I Robot). More to the point, as I've said before, when in doubt trust Ebert who was also a big fan of Knowing garnering it with his prestigious four stars. Knowing has a cracking set up: Nic Cage's little boy digs up a time capsule with a sheet of numbers that predict every major global catastrophe, but what happens when the numbers run out? This sets the stage for some of the greatest, bravest sequences of mass destruction committed to film. It's the ending that is Knowing's most contentious point (along with one of the most Nic Cagey Nic Cage performances ever) and it's clear to see why it's so divisive. Without spoiling anything, Proyas wants you to come with him on a bafflingly illogical and metaphysical journey that, though totally at odds with the rest of the film, is so bold, bonkers and wildly creative it's worth the price of admission alone.