December 2009
52 posts
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Films of the Decade #1: The Diving Bell and the...
Poetry.
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Films of the Decade #2: United 93
The most visceral cinematic experience I’ve probably ever had.
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Films of the Decade #3: Synecdoche, NY
What is it about? Life. All of it.
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Films of the Decade #4: Eternal Sunshine of the...
Hilarious, shockingly inventive, and deeply haunting.
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Films of the Decade #5: City of God
a sprawling Brazillian crime drama similar in style and scope to Scorcese’s “Goodfellas,” but with its own unique flair.
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Films of the Decade #6: Crouching Tiger, Hidden...
The Kung Fu film as high art.
Films of the Decade #7: No Country for Old Men
Gets better every time I see it.
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Films of the Decade #8: You Can Count on Me
If you like Laura Linney, this is one of her best performances. If you are annoyed by her, well, see this anyway.
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Films of the Decade #9: Mulholland Drive
For my money, Naomi Watts gives the performance of the decade here in her beakthrough role.
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Films of the Decade #10: The Royal Tenenbaums
The Wes Anderson style has become a genre to itself, to the point that it’s easy to overlook how well this movie balanced its over-the-top quirk with genuine emotion. “It’s been a hard year, dad.” Gets me every time.
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Films of the Decade #11: The Fog of War
A gripping confessional that felt so timely when it came out, but now just feels timeless. A must watch for anyone interested in how our government approaches war.
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Films of the Decade #12: The Fast Runner
The first feature film written, produced, directed, and acted by Inuit people, capturing on film an ancient Inuit legend that until now had been passed down through oral tradition. Though it is set far in the past, it feels so real and immediate that it comes as a shock to see behind the scenes footage in the closing credits.
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Films of the Decade #13: George Washington
How exactly did David Gordon Green go from this to Pineapple Express?
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Films of the Decade #14: There Will Be Blood
I went as Daniel Plainview to a halloween party this year, and only like three people recognized me. Someone told me I should have been carrying a bloody bowling pin. Next time, I guess.
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Films of the Decade #15: Almost Famous
“this song explains why I am leaving home to become a stewardess.”
Cameron Crowe’s unapologetically sentimental magnum opus. Extra points for doing the dvd commentary with his mom.
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Films of the Decade #16: Pan’s Labyrinth
No monster in the Faun’s fantastic underworld is as scary as the real-life villains that young Ofelia must face in this allegory about fascism vs. free thought.
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Films of the Decade #17: Once
When I saw this for the first time, it was a late screening. The half dozen or so people in the theater walked out to find the exit doors locked. As we looked around for an employee, one of the ladies near us said “I don’t mind staying of they let us watch that movie all night.” I agreed.
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Films of the Decade #18: Waking Life
I was mildly obsessed with this film in 2001, believing that it would revolutionize movies and especially animation for years to come. Turns out the only thing revolutionized was Charles Shwab commercials, but the film still works for me as an exploration of dreams, how they work, and what they may (or may not) mean.
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Films of the Decade #19: Man on Wire
The documentary as heist film; I am amazed at how well this retelling of an event that we already know occurred keeps us in suspense.
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Films of the Decade #20: A History of Violence
Violence permeates our culture. Sometimes it empowers us. Often it creates more problems than it solves. It can be horrifying. It can be exhilarating. It can be addictive. It can command respect and cause fear. It can drive people apart. It can save lives. And sometimes, it is the only option.
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Films of the Decade #21: Junebug
I’ve seen this movie several times, but each time I feel like I don’t fully understand it. I guess that’s fitting; just as the main character spends the movie confused about her role (and responsibilities) in her new family, we must accept that there are no simple relationships, and no easy solutions for the divides that happen between husbands, wives, parents, brothers, and...
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Films of the Decade #22: The King of Kong
Billy Mitchell is the greatest movie villain of this decade, and no screenwriter could have created him.
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Films of the Decade #23: Stranger Than Fiction
This one could have gone completely off the rails early, but Will Ferrell held it together by playing a ridiculous concept completely straight; even tragically at times. Plus Emma Thompson does an amazing Hugh Grant impression.
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Films of the Decade #24: Lost in Translation
I’ve heard it said that this film doesn’t age well, but I disagree. Much like some of the John Hughes movie of the 80’s, this is a movie of a particular time and place. The alienation felt by Scarlett Johansen and Bill Murray’s characters may seem like navel-gazing now, but at the time it rang completely true to me.
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Films of the Decade #25: Rachel Getting Married
Yes, there was a script to this movie, but the actors work so well under Jonathan Demme’s direction that the whole thing seems like some kind of free-form jazz improv. And yes, Anne Hathaway is gripping as the train wreck lead, and Debra Winger, Bill Irwin, and Rosemary Dewitt are revelations.
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Films of the Decade #26: Children of Men
Great script, great performances, yada yada… but if that weren’t enough, this movie deserves mention just on the basis of one shot alone. One very, very long shot.
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Films of the Decade #27: Gosford Park
It’s a mystery, but that’s not really the point. Altman at his most effortless and graceful.
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Films of the Decade #28: Finding Nemo
Maybe the most perfect kids film of the 00’s, which is surprising considering it’s told mostly from the father’s point of view. I think this movie actually makes kids better people.
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Films of the Decade #29: High Fidelity
Top 5 reasons to love this movie:
5. The music 4. Jack Black before he became a parody of himself 3. It’s probably the last great John Cusack role of his career 2. The music 1. Cosby Sweater
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Films of the Decade #30: American Movie
God bless Mark Borchardt for being the working man’s Ed Wood of the 00’s. And God bless Mike Schank for being Mike Schank.
Update: It was pointed out to me that “American Movie” actually premiered in 1999. This is true; its world premiere was at Sundance in January 1999, and its L.A. premiere was that November. But it wasn’t released in my hometown of Oklahoma...
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Films of the Decade #31: All The Real Girls
If Before Sunset had the best final scene of the decade, David Gordon Green’s second film had the best opening scene. At times it gets a little too precious (the bowling alley scene), but its kind of fitting for a story about people who love the idea of love, but aren’t really prepared to handle the real thing.
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Films of the Decade #32: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
One of the most shockingly original films of the 00’s, and a hugely influential film on the course of my career. And the songs hold up outside of the movie as well.
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Films of the Decade #33: The Incredibles
A terrific send-up of superhero cliches, while also managing to be a killer superhero movie in its own right. I’m not big on the idea of Pixar sequels, but I hope this one gets made.
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Films of the Decade #34: Anchorman
The comedy that launched a thousand ships, and still the only Will Ferrell vehicle that seems to get better with age.
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Films of the Decade #35: DIG!
Probably the definitive rock film of the decade, and a great depiction of the music business, friendship, and the conflicting ambitions that all artists possess. Plus, it’s hilarious.
Films of the Decade #36: The New Year Parade
It’s a shame that this movie didn’t play SXSW a year earlier when the “Mumblecore” craze was born. Tom Quinn’s drama/doc hybrid is an example of what that pseudo-genre could have achieved with a little more ambition, and, you know, a point.
I kid, but Tom Quinn’s debut feature has such a level of maturity and such a great sense of place that it makes many of...
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Films of the Decade #37: Whale Rider
I can’t wait for the day that my wife gets to sit down with my daughters and watch this movie. A great family film that never really found an audience due to a nonsensical PG-13 rating.
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Films of the Decade #38: Before Sunset
Another entry in the pantheon of sequels that improved on the original. Also, best ending ever.
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Films of the Decade #39: I'm Not There
I’m not really even a big Bob Dylan fan, but just about every piece of this film worked for me. It’s ambitious, pretentious, derivitave, at times brilliant, and in the end it explains very little about the person it claims to portray. Can’t think of a more fitting way to make a Dylan movie.
Films of the Decade #40: Let The Right One In
It’s a shame that a crappy dumbing-down of the subtitles for DVD release ruined this movie for a lot of people. Because this deserved a wider audience than the art-house scene allowed.
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Films of the Decade #41: The Dark Knight
The apex of the super hero as angst-ridden icon movie. With repeat viewings, more of the logic holes surface, and that voice is just ridiculous, but this will still go down as the most sublime super hero film of all time.
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Films of the Decade #42: Marie Antoinette
A tragically underrated film from Sophia Coppola that strays from traditional biopics by presenting the mental self-image of the young queen rather than the events surrounding her.
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Films of the Decade #43: In a Dream
A gorgeous documentary about mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, filmed by his son, who delves more deeply into his father’s psyche than most sons would (or should) dare.
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Films of the Decade #44: Where the Wild Things Are
Critics harp on Spike Jonez for making this film too “adult,” but to me there was no point in doing the film otherwise. Let the kids read the book. When they grow up, they can watch this and be glad they waited.
Films of the Decade #45: The Wrestler
I know more about the wrestling business than I care to admit, and this movie rings true in every tragic scene.
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Films of the Decade # 46: Wall-E
Thanks to my daughter, one of the films I’ve seen most often this decade. What more can be said about the eloquence and charm of its first 45 minutes?
Films of the Decade #47: Spirited Away
Miyazaki at his most wonderous and mysterious. Only he could make a sequence about cleaning a sludge monster so compelling.
Best Films of the Decade #48: Hustle and Flow
Time will tell how well this one ages, but for now it works as a fresh update on the “Rocky” template.
Best Films of the Decade #49: Punch Drunk Love
A delicate flower of a movie with possibly the most inspired music cue of the decade.
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Best Films of the Decade #50: Iron Man
Thank you Robert Downey, Jr., for making it cool again to want to be a super hero.