Okay, here’s the best of the best. The ones that hit hardest and left their mark the deepest. Because let’s face it–the Aughts were a pretty great time to be a filmgoer. Digital effects. Indie movie blockbusters. World cinema influences. Top flight animated fare. Rock-star screenwriters (Jonathan Nolan, Charlie Kaufman). Amazing new directorial voices (Paul Thomas Anderson, Sofia Coppola). And, of course…super hero movies. So, here are my picks for all-time world-beaters.
(Oh shit, I just realized I didn’t get Slumdog Millionaire on here. Ehhhh…let’s give them a silver medal. Anyway. Carry on.)
Gold Medals
Lord of the Rings Trilogy – As the credits rolled on Return of the King, I turned to Andrea and said, “Well, they can stop making movies now, because no one’s topping THAT.”
Momento – The Nolans set the bar impossibly high for aspiring young screenwriters who want to blow people away, so I stopped trying. This is the movie that crushed my dreams with its awesomeness.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – This is my gold standard for a perfect movie; there isn’t a bad angle on the piece. It just KILLS ME every time I see it. I love it so.
The Incredibles – Want to know why the 2005 live-action Fantastic Four film was so dreadful? I imagine it’s because the producers said, “Why bother? The perfect FF movie has already been made by Brad Bird.”
The Fantastic Mr. Fox – Once this is out on video, I’m going to wear this disk through from repeat viewing. My kids (should I have any) are going to get so sick of this one.
Requiem for a Dream – If Darren Aronofsky had stopped here, it still would’ve been a career worth celebrating. The Fountain had a great story, The Wrestler had a great performance, but THIS is great filmmaking. Brutal, unflinching, perfect.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – This was in the ‘00s? Then why isn’t this at the top of everyone’s end-of-decade lists? Shaaaame on you, Internet people.
The Dark Knight – Heath Ledger’s last noteworthy role. More Nolan Brothers goodness. And Batman. I can’t say anything here that hasn’t already been said. To invoke a dead-horsed cliché, “Best. Comic Book Movie. Ever.”
Kill Bill – Would you believe Kill Bill was my first Tarantino movie? Since then, I pounded them down like shots of tequila. Kill Bill was gloriously visceral. Basterds was masterfully cerebral. Death Proof was…well, it had a neat car chase. But goddammit, no one entertains like QT.
There Will Be Blood – A performance so intense, you keep waiting for one of the fire exit doors at the front of the theater to open and for Daniel Day Lewis to walk in and kick your ass.
Tomorrow: Cleaning Up Afterward