Top 10 Films of the 2000's

Here is, in my most humble opinion, the ten best films released between the years 2000 and 2009. Some criteria: in order to be considered, they had to be full-length (at least an hour long) and have a narrative format (no documentaries). I hope you enjoy!

(Because I've seen an unhealthy amount of movies, here are 5 "honorable mentions" that almost made this list [in alphabetical order]: A Serious Man [2009], Frost/Nixon [2008], Lost in Translation [2003], Spider-Man 2 [2004], and Training Day [2001]) 

10.) Up in the Air (2009): A richly funny meditation on the intricacies (and eccentricities) of life at the end of the decade. Clooney is thoroughly convincing as "Ryan Bingham," our snarky protagonist, whose job is to traverse the country and fire complete strangers. The performances are natural, the writing is crisp, and the direction is flawless. It's a perfect marriage of technical simplicity and artistic sophistication - I can't think of a better movie to start this list.

9.) Children of Men (2006): While the last decade gave us several terrific science fiction films (Minority Report, WALL-E, and Star Trek, to name a few), none quite have the thematic density, or the intellectual opulence, of Children of Men. Set against the backdrop of 2027, in a dystopian world where all women have suddenly and inexplicably become infertile, we watch one man's frantic quest for the future and for himself. Technically notable for gorgeous sets and masterful cinematography, this emotional and cerebral film is tremendously satisfying.

8.) There Will Be Blood (2007): This stark period piece, in which we see a powerfully complex man seek out oil in early 20th century America, is an uncompromising drama - an intimate story related on a grand scale. Director Paul Thomas Anderson is brilliant, his discordant pairing of picturesque landscapes with a droning, eerie score, is fantastically unsettling. However, the film's most palpable triumph is the impeccable work of actor Daniel Day-Lewis, whose meticulous characterization results in arguably the most compelling lead performance of the decade.

7.) Michael Clayton (2007): In a time when most thrillers are marred by overwhelming action scenes, 2-dimensional characters, and laughable storylines, writer/director Tony Gilroy had the guts to make Michael Clayton in the tradition of classic film noir, where engaging characters and a spellbinding plot take precedent over car chases and shouting matches. Every element in this movie succeeds in abundance, from the concise writing ("Do I look like I'm negotiating?" is one of my all-time favorite movie lines) to the powerhouse performances (Wilkinson's bipolar lawyer and Swinton's edgy executive are must-see) and all else in between. This is a remarkable film that has been swiftly forgotten - I urge you to check it out.

6.) The Dark Knight (2008): A pulse-pounding action movie, an intelligent thriller, a riveting character drama, and arguably the best comic book adaptation put to film, this sequel to 2005's Batman Begins is an utterly engrossing blend of pop entertainment and cinematic artistry. Populated by an absorbing cast of characters (notably the cackling, anarchistic "Joker" and the duplicitous, once-altruistic "Harvey Dent") and spectacular action sequences (the armored-car chase scene will leave you breathless), this is truly a marvelous film. Never has Gotham City been more dangerous, more exciting, or more real.

5.) Up (2009): Although a multitude of animated movies were released in the 2000's, many of them excellent (believe me, The Incredibles barely missed this list), Up is the best executed film of them all. It may be a sumptuous feast for the eyes, full of transcendent imagery splashed with buckets of vivid color, but it's also much more than that. This is a movie with endless imagination and a stout heart - each moment imbued with wonder, humor, and excitement. Pay particular attention to the musical score, which is quirky and beautiful. Equipped with a flying house, talking dogs, and a profound sense of adventure, Up soars.

4.) Inglourious Basterds (2009): Ambitious, lively, saturated with style, brimming with realism, and slathered with bleak humor, this WWII epic is an ironic revision of history, one concocted in the idiosyncratic mind of writer/director Quentin Tarantino. The multifaceted plot is (mostly) threefold: 1.) a group of undercover American soldiers slaughter Nazis behind enemy lines, their leader a hysterically heroic Brad Pitt, 2.) a Nazi colonel, portrayed with playful malevolence by Christoph Waltz, tries to hunt them down, and 3.) a Jewish refugee living in Paris plans to exact her revenge on the German responsible for her family's death. With all this going on, it might be easy to get lost in the shuffle, but Tarantino progresses the plot with deftness and ease, so becoming immersed therein is a real joy. Better than The Hurt Locker, better than Atonement, this is the best war film of the 2000's.
 

3.) The Departed (2006): When you strip away all the gunfire, all the lurking danger, all the wit and romance and murder, Scorsese's The Departed is a compelling game of chess, an intelligent morality play between good and evil. It's a vibrant cat-and-mouse (or, should I say "cat-and-rat") story that centers on two informants: one, a criminal mole working in the Massachusetts State Police Department - another, an undercover cop operating in the mob of South Boston. With a stunning cast (DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, and Martin Sheen, just to name a few), a tight script, a great utilization of pop music, and too many subtle homages to classic film to count, this is a new classic in every sense of the word.

2.) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): The spectacular conclusion to an already marvelous film trilogy (starting with The Fellowship of the Ring and continuing with The Two Towers), this fantasy epic is an accomplishment of the highest order. The special effects are meticulously constructed, the characters are forced into their most daunting challenges yet, and the pace is a downhill sprint into an authoritative climax. (A particularly poignant moment comes when one of our beloved protagonists sings "The Edge of Night," a simple folk song, amidst a harsh backdrop of chaos and cacophony. The juxtaposition is striking.) Uncomplicated yet versatile, peaceful yet soaked in blood, deeply artistic and incredibly entertaining, this is the "threequel" to end all threequels. You will be blown away.

 

1.) No Country for Old Men (2007): With a tagline that boasts "There are no clean getaways," one might be inclined to believe No Country for Old Men is a simple thriller, one with a car chase, a few murders, and a climax ripe with explosions.

...except...except the car chase only has one vehicle, creeping and menacing, while the prey is totally unaware - except many of the murders take place off screen, heavy with threatening potential - except the climax is a tired old man sitting, discussing his dreams.

This is an incredible film, one just as bold as it is ironic. The three main characters, an average-Joe turned thief (played by Josh Brolin), a murderous madman hot on his trail (Javier Bardem), and an aging sheriff trying to make sense of it all (Tommy Lee Jones), are beautifully written and masterfully performed. The plot, which twists and turns with astonishing cunning, is wonderfully engaging. The pace is swift, the themes are profound, and the overall production is breathtaking. To experience this film's brazen heart, its lamentable soul, its palpable terror, is to recognize the best movie of the last decade, and perhaps one of the best ever made.