Jonathan's Top 50 Favorite Films of the Last Decade (2000-2009) Part I

I found that most people were creating their own lists of the last decade at the end of 2009 and I, myself, am a fan of the old "Top ???" lists, so I'm going to create one myself. I really have no criteria for the first 30 or so. I tried to think about how many times I viewed them and base the list on that, but that's really just asking for trouble. To be honest, a couple may be on here for "trendy" purposes. Make no mistake, though: I enjoyed, immensely, every single film on this list. No doubt about it! I'm going to briefly explain the first 30, delve a little deeper in the next 10, then do my usual rambling for the final 10. I hope you enjoy!

50. Bedazzled (2000) dir. Harold Ramis-- If there ever was a guilty pleasure on this list, it's this one. Brendan Frazer performs the comedy equivalent of a ballet in this film and it's not talked about enough. I find it enjoyable and I always have. Plus, Elizabeth Hurley ain't too bad on the eyes. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!


49. Junebug (2005) dir. Phil Morrison-- Very few films are successful in their attempt at portraying the South in its true light. I've never viewed as perfect a film in its geographical depiction as this. While many saw this as character-based, this film was utterly based in setting. Beautiful movie.

48. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) dir. Sidney Lumet-- A brilliant look at family dysfunction by a director who refuses to quit. It's as hard-edged a melodrama as you'll see, and Sidney Lumet was 83 when he made it. Wonderful performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, and Albert Finney.

47. You Can Count On Me (2000) dir. Kenneth Lonergan-- Great character study starring Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo, who play a troubled, but close brother and sister pairing. I feel that these are career performances for both actors up to this point. Linney should've won the Oscar and Ruffalo should've been nominated. Produced by Martin Scorsese.

46. Atonement (2007) dir. Joe Wright-- Wright may be the director of the next decade. He has a flair for visual cinema that is rivaled only by a select view. This is a story that might've been rather boring to me in another director's hands, but in Wright's, he made it soar. The shot that dramatizes the aftermath at Dunkirk may be worth the price of admission alone.

45. United 93 (2006) dir. Paul Greengrass-- As objective and straightforward a look at the tragedy of September 11th as you'll see in cinema. Greengrass took the simple approach: hand-held camera, no-name actors, and plenty of suspense to give the audience as close of a "front row seat in history" as it could. Unforgettable film.





44. Rachel Getting Married (2008) dir. Jonathan Demme-- People talking. People discussing their lives. Mulling over their fears and trepidations for what's coming down the pike. Robert Altman would not have been prouder of a film this decade. Married was truly a return to form for Demme who sat back and observed the utter dysfunction with his camera. This contains Anne Hathaway's "bridge" performance to the next stage in her career.

43. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) dir. Clint Eastwood-- The man can't stop making good films. It's impossible. For the past seven years Clint Eastwood has been on a roll and nothing he's directed before quite prepared me for this sympathetic and very subtle companion piece to his previous film, Flags of Our Fathers. A wonderful Japanese film by a wonderful American filmmaker.

42. State and Main (2000) dir. David Mamet-- When David Mamet decides to take a day off, this is the film you get. That, of course, is a compliment. I found this lighthearted fare about the struggles of making a film on location, to be absolutely delightful. Like in most Mamet-written/directed films, a terrific ensemble cast spews the brilliant words that Mamet creates.
41. Inglourious Basterds (2009) dir. Quentin Tarantino-- Like every film he does, Tarantino pays tribute. Here, he pays tribute to the Spaghetti Western, the POW film, and classic action. He never falters and he, once again, reminds us that the actors we don't remember (Christoph Waltz) are usually the best. Also, I love a good rewriting of history.

40. Sideways (2004) dir. Alexander Payne-- Payne and his cohort in writing, Jim Taylor, have a knack for dissecting the human condition and making their audience feel slimy about it. Paul Giamatti and a wonderful Thomas Haden Church are the purveyors of this. I think I spent half the movie with my head in my hands, feeling sorry for this incredibly stupid pair of misfits touring the wine country of California before the latter's impending nuptials. Hysterical fun.

39. City of God (2003) dir. Fernando Meirelles-- I've always been a sucker for the inner-city crime drama and this one is Boyz 'N Tha' Hood set in Rio de Janeiro. There is nothing more tragic in the movies, than the promise of youth being snuffed out by its own choices. A beautifully-shot, well-executed film.



38. Battle Royale (2000) dir. Kinji Fukasaku-- This might be the first true foreign film I've ever seen and I'm proud of that distinction. My God, is this movie tense. I never, once, felt a moment's rest from its onslaught of brutality and I know that's the way the director liked it. Lord of the Flies-inspired, but MUCH better.

37. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) dir. Danny Boyle-- This multiple Oscar-winner just might've set the standard for the "little movie that could". It went from almost-straight-to-DVD to million-dollar iconic story of love and redemption. The "kiss" scene at the end breaks my heart every time.

36. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) dir. James Mangold-- I've yet to see the original, but this version of the good cop/good outlaw story sets my own personal standard for the genre. Not being a huge fan of westerns, I walked out of the movie theater in awe of the character study disguised as a western that I just witnessed.

35. Man On Wire (2008) dir. James Marsh-- What a fun way to attack a documentary. It very much reminded me of the best Errol Morris films, where the real people are more fun to watch than the fictional kind. An exciting film from beginning to end, culminating in the exciting wire walk.

34. Munich (2005) dir. Steven Spielberg-- When Spielberg decides to leave it all on screen with a take-no-prisoners attitude, he's the best damn filmmaker out there. He goes for the throat with this behind-the-lines portrait of the men given the task of assassinating each individual responsible for the deaths of the hostages at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Brilliantly done.

33. A Prairie Home Companion (2006) dir. Robert Altman-- I can't say enough about my love for ensemble acting and the great Robert Altman left us with this lovely ensemble piece about the goings-on of the popular radio show on its very last night. Hysterical performances from everyone involved.
32. Waking Life (2001) dir. Richard Linklater-- Another love of mine in cinema is when characters just talk. They have conversations that don't necessarily have a great deal of importance, but you certainly listen. Linklater achieved that in Dazed and Confused and he achieved it, here, with a film that was innovative upon its release. It's the "dreamiest" film I've ever seen.


31. Crash (2005) dir. Paul Haggis-- Say what you will about Haggis and his obvious attempts at an overall message, but he was incredibly effective with this parable about racism in Los Angeles. A bevy of characters "crash" into one another during a thirty-six hour period and the drama does not stop.

30. Road to Perdition (2002) dir. Sam Mendes-- Mendes' second film was as visually stunning, if not more so than his first. Like Joe Wright, he has a flair for the dramatic and in this morose gangster film, he uses the late cinematographer Conrad Hall to paint the landscape. Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, and Tyler Hoechlin give great performances on their way to the tragic, yet hopeful ending.

29. Training Day (2001) dir. Antwan Fuqua-- My tolerance threshold for dirty cop movies is pretty low, but this one escapes under the radar simply based on performance. Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke go balls out in this gloss-free look at a day in the life of a narc trainee in L.A. There are parts of that city that you don't usually see in films and Fuqua did a good job of just forcing it on you. Great entertainment.

28. Capote (2005) dir. Bennett Miller-- A stark and uncompromising look at Truman Capote's descent into alcoholism and depression while attempting to finish his book, "In Cold Blood." Miller directs a film very reminiscent of early Malick and Philip Seymour Hoffman gives an uncanny portrayal of the legendary writer. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it.

27. There Will Be Blood (2007) dir. Paul Thomas Anderson-- If you want my personal opinion, P.T. Anderson is the best American filmmaker of the last ten years. His films exist on their own and this particular one separates itself from even the rest of his work. It's dry, it's desolate, and it never apologizes. You want madness from the very beginning to the very end? Here's your film.

26. Catch Me If You Can (2002) dir. Steven Spielberg-- Oh, Spielberg can have a little fun, too. I always describe this film as "one of the most watchable movies I've ever seen." It's absolutely true. It's fun and light-hearted and Leo Dicaprio gives, in my opinion, his best performance, here. Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken are terrific, as well, in supporting roles.

25. Adaptation (2002) dir. Spike Jonze-- Charlie Kaufman has to be one of the most rare of artists in Hollywood where the writer is more of an auteur than the director. Obviously, I take nothing from Spike Jonze, who's equally as proficient, but Kaufman knows how to mess with his audience's mind more than any other writer working. This is a terrific screw-loose dramedy. Nicolas Cage gives his most understated and touching performance.

24. Ray (2004) dir. Taylor Hackford-- I give as much credit to Hackford as I do to Foxx's unreal portrayal of the late Ray Charles. His knowledge of popular music from the 50s and 60s which he honed on his Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll, was put to full use in this unflinching biopic of the late soul legend. The ending feels a bit forced, but by that point I ceased to care. I was enthralled by the execution, then, and I still am today.

23. Minority Report (2002) dir. Steven Spielberg-- This is the best film Spielberg directed this decade and one of the best he's ever done. While never a huge fan of the dystopian genre, this adaptation of the short story by Philip K. Dick was very entertaining and very suspenseful. I can't begin to imagine the headaches involved in getting it made, but he along with a great cast make this one worth every penny.

22. The Aviator (2004) dir. Martin Scorsese-- Anybody who says that the great one can't be a genre director needs to take a look at this film. It's so well-crafted that I can hardly find the flaws. Scorsese, like any great leader, surrounds himself with smart, talented people. His longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, and cinematographer, Robert Richardson bring every tiny technical intricacy that makes them great at what they do and this is what comes out. It's a visual cornucopia. Dicaprio and Blanchett ain't too bad, either.
21. The Dark Knight (2008) dir. Christopher Nolan-- The finest comic book film adaptation ever. Accept no substitutes. All comic book film adaptations should simply cease production after this masterpiece. Thank you very much.