Official Top Ten Bylaws (amended February 2nd, 2009)

*in order for a movie to be eligible for a particular year's top 10 list, it must have been released in that year. this means that a movie that comes out in a certain year, but before the date our top 10s are due, it can only be eligible for the year in which it was released (like alpha dog). exceptions are as follows:

a) if a movie is released in a particular year, but we are not able to see it in seattle until january 1, then it can be included on the previous year's top 10 (eg, pan's labyrinth was released in august 2006, but we couldn't see it until january 2007). this is where the critics come in handy - if they're reviewing it in a particular year, we can include it.

b) if the film was released in the previous year, but we were not able to see it because it wasn't released in the theaters or on video in seattle until the following year, then we can include it on the following year's top 10 (eg, come early morning came out in november 2006, but not here; and it doesn't come out on video until march 2007).

c) if a movie plays for less than two weeks in seattle, and then doesn't come out on video until the following year, we can include it on the following year's top 10 (eg, a guide to recognizing your saints. i mean, come on, we have lives here. a movie that's in the theater for less than two weeks ... what the hell? put that shit on your 2007 list, nanc!).

d) if one of us in a part of the world where we can see a movie in time for that year's top 10, fine, put that sucker on there. (eg, if i were to visit NY, i probably could've seen come early morning in like may or something, thus i could've put it on my 2006 top 10. but, nanc, since you weren't in NY, it's eligible for your 2007 list.)

*top 10s are due on february 1
amendment 1: top 10s are due exactly one week before the oscars, effective february 2, 2009

*any film is eligible for the top 10

*only one tie may be used for every ten films. additional ties will result in the loss of a "numbered slot" (eg, if your list has 3 ties, you only get to number your list to 8)

*as many "honorable mentions" as we damn well please can be included on the list

*these rules are subject to change at the complete whim and mood of nancy, kt, and jessica

we, kt, nancy and jess, declare that the making of the top 10 (including, but not limited to, viewing the movies, eating the popcorn, having the oscar party and discussing the nuances) will be FUCKING FUN and to that end promise to not take ourselves or our list too damn seriously.