BEST FILMS OF THE AUGHTS (00′s)

Here’s a list of my favorite films from 2000-2009

A FILM FAN’S GUIDE TO THE BEST FILMS OF THE AUGHTS, 2000-2009. BY PAUL DeCIRCE Okay, so we’re three years into the ‘teens’ decade of the 2000′s. Is it me or has time sped up? Well it’s taken me three years to complete my list of the best films released from 2000 to 2009, and here it is. Please understand that I am not a big list person, so many titles are spread around randomly. Also understand I’m not a serious ‘movie hound’ and my list will represent my relatively straight exposure (a lot of Hollywood stuff). I however do seek out unique and indie film, so I list this here too. There’s undoubtedly fistfuls of films that I missed during the Dubya decade. I’m sure there are plenty more I would list as notable, simply due to the fact that the decade was very good for film. A lot of unique developments in ten years, not most important being these examples: *The way we watch film. In 2000 we still were using VHS, at least partially. By 2004 or 2005 we’d moved into DVD, by 2008 or 2009 we were into internet streaming and mail order DVDs, in 2009 we got hungry for Blu-Ray. *CGI. duh. It was getting good by ’00, and now it’s flawless (at least to our generation’s eyes. KING KONG (1933, Universal) was cutting edge, now it looks like THE MUPPETS (1970, Columbia) (great films, both by the way). *The way we watch film, Part 2. We don’t go to the theater as much now, simly because the DVD industry has breathed life into the indie market, much like the way VHS did in the 80′s (another wicked decade for film, by the way. Good luck finding my essay on that decade). Now we can get a disc and enjoy in the privacy of our own home system. This has expanded the general film public’s exposure to foreign film, unrated film, and classic oldies restored (such as Criterion Collection). *Our Rising Resistance to Sex and Violence. The realism of film was most improved in the aughts. Realistic violence, drama, action, fighting, effects, etc. It’s got to look real, it’s got to be real, it’s got to hit us in the guts, or we ain’t buying. *Documentary. Always a fun genre of film, ’cause it’s real, the aughts have attached respectability and vibrancy to its class. Great filmmakers are working in the genre, and in our ever-expanding kooky world, there’s a lot more to document. Those are some main changes we’ve seen. I’ll have to categorize the movies listed below, and will start with BIG BUSINESS DRAMAS Hollywood is king of drama, in my opinion, and I like mine spicy. Give me period pieces, or weird and a little edgy, violent, unique and twisting. So don’t expect me to trot our too much crap here, only the best. A perfect example of what I refer to would be Tim Burton’s BIG FISH (Warner Bros., 2004). To me the film stands aside his canon as the usual Theremin and Universal Dracula vibe is not to be found. Instead the ever-sensitive Ewan MacGregor takes us on a journey of father and son, but with a Todd Browning nod to the human nature in the freakish. However, being a buy and having usual problems with dad, it was really moving to realize that Ewan’s dad was the big fish, and in the end he was carrying him to sea. This film stands as emotionally moving, something we’ve seen little of from Burton. But drama doesn’t have to be weird to appeal. It just has to be good, real, and moving. A conversely ‘straight’ choice of example would be, say, Clint Eastwood’s MILLION DOLLAR BABY (TriStar, 2008). Like another sports-related drama of equal power, THE WRESTLER (2009), the film shows the consequences of being in competition for a lifetime, or for a short time. Both of these films strive to show the humanity behind the show, the heart behind the stage. A common theme in film, and in these cases, using the sport as the metaphor, it’s poignant. Another film that could defy cateogory, but okay it’s drama, is BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. It may be Ang Lee’s masterpiece, and we know the plot and the controversy it caused. Yes indeed gay cowboys, but in a decade where people have accepted homosexuality, at least in part, then okay here’s a movie about it. They are both men but regardless it is a fiercely beautiful film about love, the American frontier gone modern, and what the mountain means to them. It’s a richly filmed, beautifully paced piece, and if you have an open heart it will move you. I always enjoy watching people’s reaction to the film. Most have not seen it and it remains a litmus test for a person’s boundaries. In truth there is very little sex in the film and most adults should be able to handle it without coughing up a lung. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and JUNO both represent a great woman’s perspective genre opening up. Unique writing and emotionally moving, both of these films, in very different stories, are about family and what family is becoming in the 21st century. THE PIANIST, MUNICH WALK THE LINE GREAT DIRECTORS A Few directors have two or more films in my list. I will categorize them here, with their respective makers. The Cohen Brothers. OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THERE WILL BE BLOOD Martin Scorsese . Marty is a favorite of mine and that’s why he’s tied for first. With THE DEPARTED, THE AVIATOR and GANGS OF NEW YORK, I’d say it was a good decade. But the real proof of this is not only these three great films, but rather Scorsese’s tireless work in the field of cinema. Preservation, documentary, development — these are just a few examples. While we admire these three films, there are probably a dozen or so more projects from these years that Martin created. His versatility and artform are so bold, that even he does stumble, it’s better than most. David Lynch, for INLAND EMPIRE and MULHOLLAND DRIVE. French Guy, for BE KIND REWIND and ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND Clint Eastwood, MYSTIC RIVER, MILLION DOLLAR BABY Sam Raimi, SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN 2 COMEDY This is a genre I may be slightly lacking in. There is probably not many chick flick types that could be mentioned. I know a lot of people like Reese Witherspoon and the like, but for me, my comedy has to be crude, smart, fun or exploitation. This list below mentions the finest funny stuff of the aughts. PLANET TERROR ELF THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN ANCHORMAN ZOMBIELAND HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE SHAUN OF THE DEAD BORAT THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS BUBBA HO-TEP SUPERBAD KUNG-FU HUSTLE BLACK DYNAMITE UNDERCOVER BROTHER BAD SANTA ADULT MAY DONNIE DARKO ASIA ARGENTO MEMENTO A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE GHOST DOG MONSTER ACTION CRANK HELLBOY RAMBO TRAINING DAY GLADIATOR SNATCH THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE FIGHT CLUB ThE LAST KING OD SCOTLAND CINDERLLA MAN SIN CITY OLDBOY HORROR / SCI FI / FANTASY LAND OF THE DEAD 28 DAYS LATER THE LORD OF THE RINGS (a. the fellowship of the rings, b. the two towers, c. the return of the king) Special Mention to Peter Jackson, as these are essentially three films. MINORITY REPORT A SCANNER, DARKLY (Special mention to Philip Dick, posthumous author of these great sci-fi stories — he wrote Blade Runner as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep>) VANILLA SKY DAGON CHILDREN OF MEN DARK WATER REST STOP SUNSHINE ANTI-CHRIST FEED IRREVERSIBLE THE GRUDGE PAN’S LABYRINTH HIGH TENSION