Top Twenty-Five Films of the Decade

Top Twenty-Five Films of the Decade

It's hard to believe that it has been ten years since the new millennium. A lot of great films have been released over the past decade. These are my top twenty-five films from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2009.

25) Inside Man
Inside Man is in a bit of a different direction from most of Spike Lee's other films in that it does not focus solely on race relations in America. Of course, Inside Man still has aspects of a "Spike Lee joint" such as giving the viewer a detailed look at city life or using a variety of shots to represent each of the character's moods. The fact that this film is not tied down by an attempt to make a political statement works to its advantage. It is able to give a smart, interesting message while also being enjoyable to watch. The film takes place primarily during the time period of one day, in which a bank robbery takes place in downtown New York. Detective Frazier played by Denzel Washington is the negotiator in charge of figuring out how to solve the situation. However, throughout the film many twist and turns are presented, and it is these complications that make Inside Man the best heist film of the decade.

24) Collateral
Perhaps it is because I am such a big fan of Michael Mann that I thought Collateral was one of the best thrillers of the decade. Mann is a modern day auteur, meaning that you can immediately recognize Mann's style of film making when viewing one of his movies. Instead of using the camera as a means to make the audience feel as an outsider watching the action, Mann shoots his films in such a way as to give the audience a feeling that they are right beside the characters. Unlike most directors, Mann focuses on representing the reality of cinematic situations. In Collateral, a cab driver played by Jaime Foxx is held hostage by a hitman named Vincent (Tom Cruise). During the time period of one long night, Vincent has five stops and five kills he must make. Some people don't like the way Mann shoots his movies, which I can understand because his films are certainly not meant to capture the allure of the events and actions within his films. Instead, Mann strives to obtain the grittiness of the environments he presents. In most cases (such as in Heat, Collateral, Thief, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Insider) he succeeds like no other.

23) Thank You For Smoking
I love films that make you think while simultaneously making you laugh. Sadly this is rare among Hollywood films, but Jason Reitman's Thank You For Smoking was one of the few films that succeeded over the past decade. Despite the title, this film is not anti-smoking or pro-cigarette. Indeed, the film goes beyond the simplistic question of whether smoking should remain legalized. Instead the film promotes the freedom for Americans to make their own decisions. What's fascinating about this film is throughout the entire movie the main character promotes independent thinking, and by the end the viewer is left to interpret the film in a similar fashion. People are guaranteed to think about this film in disparate ways, which is exactly what it is meant to do. In this sense it will promote conversations not simply about smoking but about freedom, independent thought, and how our government works. This is an perfect example of a superior Hollywood comedy.

22) 500 Days of Summer
There was no film over the past decade that I could relate to more than 500 Days of Summer. The emotions felt and expressed by the main character in this film are exactly what most people go through after a hard break-up. Yet, the great thing about this film is it demonstrates the humor in those situations and despite how miserable you may be at the time, everyone goes through the same thing and eventually learns from it. There is something unique and superior about a film that strives to be honest. In this aspect, 500 Days of Summer is one of the best romantic comedies of the decade.

21) Wall-E
The last ten years have been a decade dominated by Pixar. People may argue that animated films are presented primarily to younger audiences, but I have yet to meet a person who was not entertained by Pixar’s Wall-E. This film follows a clumsy little robot who chases after the love of his life and by doing so ends up benefiting the entire human race. The 3D animation in this film is gorgeous to look at, but the main reason to see Wall-E is the little robot himself. Sure it may be childish at times, but it is like looking at a puppy learning to walk or newborn cat playing with yarn, you can act like you aren’t touched by the sight but in your head you are thinking about how adorable it really is. I don’t care who you are, if you don’t smile at least half a dozen times throughout watching Wall-E, chances are you don’t have a heart.

20) Almost Famous
Even if you don't love 70's music, Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous still has a lot to offer. I for one love the music of that time period (The Who, The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton), as well as the style of the people living in the early 70s. Almost Famous is just as much about the kind of music played during the 70s as it is about depicting the effects that music had on 70s culture. More so than today, people actually depended on music as a means of personal expression. Most people have had a point in their lives were a certain song has helped them through a hard time but in the early 70s, music was a necessity for a large portion of society. Not only was the United States in the middle of a controversial war, but the people learned of the Watergate scandal. No longer could we trust the politicians that we had elected to protect us and make decisions on our behalf. Through such hardships the lyrics expressed through music gave people hope of a better future. The plot of Almost Famous follows a journalist assigned to write an article for Rolling Stone on an up and coming band named Stillwater. Through months of following the band on the road, the young journalist personally sees how the band and their fans are affected by music. Almost Famous magnificently demonstrates that in the 70s, music was not simply a form of entertainment but a way of life.

19) Cinderella Man
My favorite sports film of the last decade is Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man, which unlike Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby (also a great film) is a feel-good movie. Everyone loves an underdog story, especially one with so much heart. Although the boxing sequences in this film are top-notch, the film is not simply about an old boxer coming out of retirement to defeat the national champion. Indeed, the film is more about family and doing what is necessary to support and protect those who you care about the most. The film takes place during the depression, in which a lot of people were desperate for work, very few could afford to eat or pay for electricity, and many families were broken apart out of desperation. Under such circumstances everyone needs someone to look up to and in Cinderella Man it comes in the form of an old washed up boxer who is given a second chance for the national title. Cinderella Man does exactly what a great sports movie is supposed to do, it demonstrates that physicality is not always the most important aspect in competition, but heart and spirit are often the deciding factor.

18) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Even if you didn't enjoy the movies or the books it would be difficult not to respect the grand scale and spectacle of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. What Peter Jackson created was revolutionary to say the least. Jackson successfully brought life to J.R.R Tolken's beloved storybook characters and created a believable middle earth. All three movies had the unique quality of being almost or over three hours long, yet I never once looked at my watch or felt bored.

17) No Country For Old Men
There are certain sequences in No Country For Old Men that compare with some of the best scenes in the history of cinema. What I love about the Coen brothers is they do not make their films for anybody else but themselves. They come up with their own personal vision and just go with it. This allows each of their films to be like nothing the audience has ever seen before. No Country For Old Men contains sequences of suspense and shock relatable to classic Hitchcock films. This is partially caused by the presence of the creepiest villain in modern cinema, who is so unpredictable that you don’t know what heinous actions he may perform. The suspense is also caused by the Coen brothers’ use of silence, which hides the viewer’s expectations of what may occur. Similar to most of the other Coen brother’s films, No Country For Old Me, is intelligent, shocking, and suspenseful. You never know what to expect from a Coen brothers film, but you are guaranteed to be entertained.

16) Requiem for a Dream
Although Traffic is more successful at demonstrating the entirety and overwhelming influence of the drug empire in the United States, Requiem for a Dream is more successful at showing the negative personal effects of drugs on an individual. If I ever have a friend who was considering trying heroine or any other hardcore drug, I would show them Requiem for a Dream in an attempt to change their mind. I really believe it could be that influential. The film follows four people who all appear to believe that they are invincible against the harmful effects of heroine (as with anyone who takes hard drugs), yet throughout the film their addiction worsens to the point in which all their lives are negatively affected. This film is very personal in that it allows the viewer to get inside the head of the characters. The director, Darren Aronofsky, often places a hand held camera right in front of the characters so that the audience is personally able to see the fear and horror that the characters are experiencing. At times it is frightening, but it is also unforgettable. Requiem for a Dream is a film that I would have a hard time watching again, but it is a movie that will always remain in the back of my head.

15) Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2
When it comes to taking a previous genre and adding his own unique style, Tarantino is the master. In both Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 Tarantino adds modern dialogue to his own personal take of the kung fu/spaghetti western films of the 1960s and 70s. As a director Tarantino is excellent, as a writer he is one of the best. I cannot think of any filmmaker who writes such interesting dialogue. Every conversation in each of his films serves a purpose and properly builds the viewer to become interested in his characters. There were many times throughout Kill Bill that I asked myself: How did he come up with this? I answered because Tarantino is a lunatic, but he is also a genius. In reality the two volumes were shot as one film, so I've combined them to form my number fifteen film of the decade.

14) The Prestige
Most people know Christopher Nolan as the director of the Batman movies, but my favorite Nollan film of the past decade is 2006's The Prestige. It is true that this movie can get very confusing at times, but there was no film over the past decade that I had more fun trying to figure out. I saw this film twice in the theaters and bought it the week it came out on DVD, yet I still pick up on new details every time I watch it. Through magnificent cinematography, this film captures both the allure and grittiness of the time period. Also, the idea of a competition between magicians is fascinating. I had a great time watching the two magicians try to outsmart each other and come up with bigger and better tricks. The idea of a competition forcing someone to take things as far as Hugh Jackman's character did was truly intriguing.

13) Zodiac
I have a lot of respect for movies that attempt to be as realistic as possible. I had never heard anything about the Zodiac murders before this movie, but after watching the film I felt like I was almost an expert on the subject. This is because David Fincher pays attention to every aspect of the Zodiac killings such as the newspapers articles surrounding the murders, the locations, and the people directly and indirectly involved. He doesn't just demonstrate how the killings affected victims or the people assigned to solve the case, but he shows how it became a city wide phenomenon. The film perfectly links scenes from the actually murders with scenes of reporters, cops, and one obsessed cartoonist named Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) attempting to figure out who the Zodiac really is. However, the film is not simply about the killings themselves but it is about how an obsession with solving a case can deeply affect someone's life. In the film Robert Graysmith is a simple cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle with a loving family, yet he eventually gives it all up in order to try and solve a murder case that he is not directly linked to. It is the combination of all aspects surrounding the murders that makes Zodiac one of the intelligent thrillers I've ever seen in the past ten years.

12) United 93
Some people feel sick after watching this movie because Paul Greengrass uses a shaky camera to make audience members feel as if they were actually a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93. Yet, I believe this adds to the realism and intensity of the film. By feeling like an actual member of the flight I felt like I was able to personally see the sacrifices and courage made by the people on board. I went into viewing this film with hesitations because I thought it would be really depressing, yet despite being a realistic account of one of America's most recent tragedies, it actually gives the viewer hope. Even while staring almost certain death in the face, the passengers aboard Flight 93 made the decision to try and save themselves and as well as the U.S. capital. United 93 was one of the best biographical films of the past ten years.

11) Wonder Boys
My favorite comedy of the past ten years is Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys. Sure there were films over the decade that I might have laughed harder at, but there was no comedy that I enjoyed more. Part of why I liked this film so much is because I love the college environment. Wonder Boys demonstrates how even a professor with serious mental problems can positively affect his students and vice versa. The film follows Professor Grady Tripp, a drug addicted writer/professor at a small liberal arts University, who goes through one of the worst, yet most humorous days in cinema history. The writing is brilliant, the music is fantastic, and the characters are interesting. I hope that in time this will become a college cult classic.

10) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Many critics have compared The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Forrest Gump saying that both films follow the journey of a unique character, who despite certain setbacks are able to overcome the obstacles of life. However, regardless of this similarity between the two films, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has its own unique strengths. Although Benjamin Button himself is not as interesting or likeable as Forest, his condition of going through the physical stages of life backwards is more complex and visually stimulating than the mental challenges of Forest Gump. I loved the look of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Not simply the environment but the transformations of the two main characters played by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Button’s condition was intriguing to watch in that it was fascinating to see a character go through the complete stages of life. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a step away from David Fincher’s other works. Before viewing this film I wondered whether Fincher would be able to pull off The Curious Case of Benjamin Button because it is so much lighter than his other films. Over the past two decades Fincher has become the primary filmmaker of dark toned dramas such as Se7en, Fight Club, The Game, Panic Room, and Zodiac. However, Fincher perfectly combines the delicate source material of Benjamin Button with the gloominess of the time periods.

9) District 9
So far this has been the best film I saw in 2009 (with 500 Days of Summer, Avatar, and Inglorious Basterds at close range). Through the documentary set-up at the beginning of the film, the alien seclusion appears somewhat realistic. For the first fifteen minutes the film is comprised primarily of interviews, in which scientist describe how the ship appeared above a South African city and how the government have isolated the aliens. The film then becomes an action movie, yet it also explores how human beings treat those who are different. In most alien movies, the foreign invaders are viewed as the enemy. However, at about the halfway point of this film I realized that I wasn’t cheering for the survival of the humans, but I cared more about the extraterrestrial beings. This film demonstrates how people naturally treat anybody or anything dissimilar as less superior. The aliens in this film are not necessarily evil, but because they look different and have their own way of life they are treated as savages. When the main character begins transforming into an alien himself, the scientist do not attempt to help him but want to use his body as a means to acquire power. Despite being a film about aliens, this film feels realistic because it explores pragmatic human instincts and emotions. It is easily the most original and best sci-fi film of the decade.

8) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
There have been many films about the negative influence of greed on the human mind and the despicable actions it can cause someone to perform. The greediness and desperation displayed by the characters in Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead shocked me more than any other film of the past decade. After viewing this film for the first time I stared at the screen for about five minutes with my mouth open wide attempting to analyze what I had just seen. Throughout his film I was stunned to learn what the characters were doing; yet somehow I understood the desperation of their situation. Despite performing some of the most hideous acts of betrayal, violence, and dishonesty I can imagine, I didn’t view the characters with contempt but instead actually felt sorry for them. This is something that only a great director can pull off. Every scene is necessary and also placed in the right order to pull off the effect of becoming emotionally tied to the actors on screen. In the film two brothers (played amazingly by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) are so desperate for money that they decide to rob a mom and pop jewelry store. They believe the plan is full proof because the jewelry store belongs to their parents so they already know how to breach security. However, when things go wrong it causes a chain of events in which everyone learns the truth about one another and causes serious consequences for the entire family. I cannot say enough about this film. It is a must see for those who can handle it.

7) The Departed
Most of the time remakes of films are not as successful as the original. However, in most cases Martin Scorsese does not create the remakes. Scorsese’s brilliant style of filmmaking is what made The Departed far superior to the film that it was based upon, Infernal Affairs. Longer and more complex, The Departed has a similar story to Infernal Affairs but Scorsese spends time exploring the Boston Underworld and Police Department. While watching this film I actually got a sense of the corruption within the Boston Police. Anyone could be an informant no matter their appearance because in most cases they had been trained from an early age on how to lie, cheat, and act like a completely different person. As with most of Scorsese’s films the violence is often graphic and shocking, which adds to the story in The Departed because it demonstrates the brutality of the mafia and the pressures of the “rat” to keep their true identities a secret. The Departed is my favorite film by Martin Scorsese, which is saying something because he is a superb filmmaker in every aspect.

6) The Lives of Others
There have been a lot of films concerning government rights to spy on its citizens, but none as good as The Lives of Others. The film is about the East German Secret Police and their ability to place taps in the apartments/houses of every person in East Berlin. Most of the time they did this to see who was planning on defecting to the west. However, in one instance a government official used the system for his own personal desires. The Lives of Others not only gives viewers a look into a time period and place in which people did not share the same independence as Americans have now, but it demonstrates one individuals willingness to do the right thing despite pressure from the government he supported his whole life. This film is a masterpiece in every aspect

5) Ripley's Game
This film is a jewel that very few people have ever seen or even heard of, yet after recently re-watching it I discovered that this film’s craft and character development are superior to almost any film of the past decade. The film follows the life of a former ingenious assassin named Tom Ripley (played by John Malkovich), who is brought out of retirement when an acquaintance is in need of assistance in the murder of several high-business competitors in Berlin. However, instead of killing these men himself, Ripley uses the opportunity to hire one of his neighbors who is in desperate need of money to kill the men for his own amusement. This film is poetic in its use of lighting and space in that it presents a dark tone throughout the film in a similar fashion to Tom Ripley’s own personality. What makes the film truly fascinating is that it explores a character without a conscious. Ripley looks at the death of other people as simply “one less car on the road.” He may like you in many ways or even care about you, but that doesn’t mean he will not kill you for his own benefit.

4) Munich
The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict is an international crisis that is a representation of human nature. It began as a fight over territory and differences in religion, yet now after years of fighting it appears to have become more about revenge and hatred. Munich is about a team of Israeli assassins hired to murder the Palestinians responsible for the massacre of ten Jewish athletes at the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, Germany. However, through both the group’s successes and failures the team leader finally realizes that the conflict is not going to end through continuing acts of violence. Certainly fighting for the honor and pride of a nation you believe in is something to be proud of but is it worth it if you are going to be forced to worry about the safety of yourself and your family for the rest of your life? In Munich Spielberg effectively demonstrates the complications of war and the effects that violence has on the human mind.

3) Traffic
Can America’s war against illegal drugs be won or has it become such an established industry that the best option is to attempt to control the flow of drugs into the United States? This questioned is analyzed in Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, which is as influential as it is powerful. The film follows several different perspectives of the narcotics industry from the drug lords, to the undercover cops, to the government officials, and finally the users themselves. However, what is unique about this film is it does not simply show the part that every person in the industry plays, but it demonstrates how he or she are all connected. For example, the government official in charge of eliminating the trafficking of drugs is willing to do anything to stop it, but all along he has a daughter who has become addicted to the very drugs he spends so much time battling against. Eventually he is forced to make a choice, focus all his time and effort on stopping the incoming narcotics into the United States or search for his missing daughter who has succumbed to her addictions in the heart of downtown Baltimore. The narcotics business has become so big in the United States that every aspect of our society has become affected by it. I believe this is not simply an anti-drug film. Instead, I view this film as a wake up call to everyone in our society on how enormous the narcotics business has become.

2) Pan's Labyrinth
What makes this film a “fairy tale for adults” is not simply the graphic violence but it is the intertwining of a realistic situation with that of a magical world. In an environment of war the main character, named Ofelia, is able to find comfort in the Labyrinth of Pan. It is here that she learns of her destiny, to return as princess of the underworld. However, in order to do so she must perform certain task, which prove difficult because of her villainous stepfather. Over the decade no film has contained better cinematography than Pan’s Labyrinth. It is two hours of eye candy that should be experienced by everyone.

1) City of God
A film like City of God can really make a person appreciate their current living situation. I think as Americans we sometimes forget how lucky we are to live in a place where we can commonly feel safe in our own homes and parents can feel comfortable sending their children to school without having to worry whether they will be shot and killed or whether a drug lord will attempt to recruit their twelve year old kids as drug dealers. This sounds like a nightmare but in Rio de Janeiro, this is reality. Within the city, conditions have become so impoverished that a life in crime is at times the best and often only option for young adolescents. We may think that a city such as Memphis has a high crime rate because over a hundred murders take place per year, but in Rio de Janeiro this statistic is in the thousands. City of God follows the life of a young photographer named Rocket, who through his difficult upbringing has access to the criminal underworld of Rio de Janeiro. As a child, Rocket was the youngest brother of a member who belonged to one of the most feared gangs in the city and through this connection he was able to personally see the rise and fall of the drug king in Rio de Janeiro named Little Z. This film does an amazing job of giving the viewer a look into the grittiness of the inner city. The cinematography is fast-paced and often frantic, yet somehow at the same time the important details are properly highlighted. The filmmaker is never afraid to pause the action in order to share a story of a significant building or person. In some movies this doesn’t work, but in City of God it gives the viewer a more complete view of the criminal life of Rio de Janeiro. Overall, I believe this is an important film for people to watch because it allows audiences to see a world, in which people are much less fortunate. City of God may be hard to watch at times, but the fact remains that places such as Rio de Janeiro do actually exist and the more people around the world that learn about the injustices taking place, the sooner something can be done.