I follow music, video games and movies with almost equal fervor. So, like most would-be arbiters of good taste, I make best-of lists at the end of every year.

I frame mine as lists of personal favorites rather than the out-and-out best of each medium. Not only have I not heard, played or seen everything released in a year, but I believe the notions of 'favorite' and 'best' are so intertwined that the more subjective-sounding term better shields me from reactionary readers.

Best, favorite or whatever, every year I encounter the same problems making these three lists. Most promising albums and games are released steadily over the year and I have little trouble obtaining and digesting them. By the second or third week of December, those lists are done. But at that same time, my favorite films list is hopelessly malnourished.

Oscar favorites like "The Wrestler" and "Frost/Nixon" are currently out of reach unless I fancy a trip to New York City. Other hopefuls like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Milk" require more modest drives to Syracuse. The deluge of quality films in December and their delayed wide releases until January and sometimes February means that this Auburn cinephile gives no critics awards until well into 2009.

Last year I wavered on writing up a favorites list until I saw "There Will Be Blood" - which ultimately was my favorite film of 2007 - in early February. And I couldn't lay eyes on other standouts like "Persepolis" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" until their DVD releases in the summer.