Favorite Films of the 2000′s
I know – you love lists too. Pile this one on the myriad others that are appearing as we approach the end of the first ten years of the 2000′s. Yes, ten years (1: 2000, 2: 2001, 3: 2002, 4: 2003, 5: 2004, 6: 2005, 7: 2006, 8: 2007, 9: 2008, 10: 2009). I only point this out because I’ve seen arguments about the math on Twitter. Seriously.
Over the holidays, I tried to determine my favorite films from the last decade, and finally narrowed the list down to 30. These are NOT necessarily the most critically acclaimed or award-winning movies; they are merely films that have touched and/or spoken to me and continue to do so after multiple viewings.
Alphabetically, of course:
- Adaptation (2002)
- Best in Show (2000)
- Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- Closer (2004)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- The Departed (2006)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- Far From Heaven (2002)
- Garden State (2004)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- High Fidelity (2000)
- The Hours (2002)
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Juno (2007)
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- Memento (2000)
- Milk (2008)
- Minority Report (2002)
- Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- Moulin Rouge (2001)
- Mystic River (2003)
- Sideways (2004)
- Star Trek (2009)
- Thank You For Smoking (2005)
- There Will Be Blood (2007)
- Traffic (2000)
- V For Vendetta (2005)
- Wall*E (2008)
- Wonder Boys (2000)
There are four films that barely missed the cut and are honorable mentions to the list: Casino Royale (2006), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Stranger Than Fiction (2006).
After I compiled this list, I took a more analytical glance. It is fascinating that more than half of my favorite films debuted in the first half of the decade. Clear favorites emerge, from directors (Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantin & Jason Reitman) to actors (Heath Ledger, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Sean Penn, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep). And as for genres, I certainly love sci-fi/fantasy just as much as the independent spirits.
But enough from me. I really want to see which films YOU loved from the last ten years. Feel free to list them out in a comment below!
And stay tuned for my list of Favorite Television Shows of 2009, which will be posted later this week.