orginially published Dec. 29, 2009
The moment you all have been waiting for . . . THE Top 10 Films of the Naughts, Aught's, doubles zeroes; whatever you'd like to call this decade. After hours of discussion, consultation, and debate . . . drum roll please . . .
10. Wet Hot American Summer - This first movie actually the one I will not recommend unless you ever spent at least one summer as a resident summer camper or counselor. Actually, even camp staff may not find all the humor particularly funny since the comedy is an offshoot from the old MTV show, the State. Although it takes place of the last day of camp in 1981, this easily could have been from last summer or 1962.
9. The Dark Knight - Very few sequels live up to their original. Terminator 2, Army of Darkness, and possibly Gremlins 2 are few notable exceptions. Dark Knights blows them away. From the opening bank robbery to the Catch 22 hostage takeover, the storyline matches the action than other directors only wish existed in their films.
8. Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe's quasi-autobiography as a teenage Rolling Stone reporter. Just as good as another story he wrote as 20 something pretending to be a student at Ridgemont High. Great soundtrack with Kate Hudson in her least annoying film.
7. Gone Baby Gone - Ben Affleck's directorial debut. Two Boston area detectives investigate a little girl's kidnapping, which ultimately turns into a crisis both professionally and personally. The storyline doesn't seem to wow anyone, but the writing and character depth (plus an ending I do not want to spoil the reader) makes it a must see.
6. Amelie - Actually Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain. For some reason, I have a fondness for French films and this one tops the cake. An innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love. The brilliant filmmaking is a mix of Baz Lurhmann and Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola Run).
5. Memento - An incredibly meticulous but understated tale of mystery with suspense and wonderful performances from Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne-Moss and Joe Pantoliano. The film intricately weaves the main character’s desperate search for his own memory, struggling to uncover the truth about his wife’s murder, all while interpreting this in a fascinating and seemingly simple but effective visual style. wow
4. Gladiator - Like Gladiator movies? Ridley Scott's true story of Russell Crowe. Okay, not exactly. An epic tale of one man’s mission to bring down the emperor that cost him everything. For Roman History in college, I presented the truths and myths presented in the film but can't remember them now.
3. Old School - I was going back and forth over which comedy of the decade is a notch above them all. Wedding Crashers, The Hangover, Superbad, and most Judd Apatow films are up there, but the concept and ensemble rises above the rest. Plus, I want to start a fraternity.
2. Napoleon Dynamite - Okay, I know what you are thinking. "Really? You have to be serious?" However, whether you were in the middle school or worked with middle schoolers when this movie came out, you cannot help but laugh out loud no less than 50 times while watching. And please throw the first stone if you have never repeated a line from this movie. By the way, you're mom goes to college.
1. The Departed - Except for "Goodfellas," this beat's Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities. Mark Wahlberg steals the film from DiCaprio, Nicholson, and Matt Damon. Deserving of Best Picture and Best Director - unlike some other winners of the decade. N.B. Worth catching on Netflix the Korean original, "Infernal Affairs."
Honorable mentions: Gran Torino, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Borat, City of God, The Hangover, Catch Me if You Can, Moulin Rouge, Children of Men, Oldboy, Donnie Darko, Up, and No Country for Old Men
note: some plot synopsis form imdb.com
The moment you all have been waiting for . . . THE Top 10 Films of the Naughts, Aught's, doubles zeroes; whatever you'd like to call this decade. After hours of discussion, consultation, and debate . . . drum roll please . . .
10. Wet Hot American Summer - This first movie actually the one I will not recommend unless you ever spent at least one summer as a resident summer camper or counselor. Actually, even camp staff may not find all the humor particularly funny since the comedy is an offshoot from the old MTV show, the State. Although it takes place of the last day of camp in 1981, this easily could have been from last summer or 1962.
9. The Dark Knight - Very few sequels live up to their original. Terminator 2, Army of Darkness, and possibly Gremlins 2 are few notable exceptions. Dark Knights blows them away. From the opening bank robbery to the Catch 22 hostage takeover, the storyline matches the action than other directors only wish existed in their films.
8. Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe's quasi-autobiography as a teenage Rolling Stone reporter. Just as good as another story he wrote as 20 something pretending to be a student at Ridgemont High. Great soundtrack with Kate Hudson in her least annoying film.
7. Gone Baby Gone - Ben Affleck's directorial debut. Two Boston area detectives investigate a little girl's kidnapping, which ultimately turns into a crisis both professionally and personally. The storyline doesn't seem to wow anyone, but the writing and character depth (plus an ending I do not want to spoil the reader) makes it a must see.
6. Amelie - Actually Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain. For some reason, I have a fondness for French films and this one tops the cake. An innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love. The brilliant filmmaking is a mix of Baz Lurhmann and Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola Run).
5. Memento - An incredibly meticulous but understated tale of mystery with suspense and wonderful performances from Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne-Moss and Joe Pantoliano. The film intricately weaves the main character’s desperate search for his own memory, struggling to uncover the truth about his wife’s murder, all while interpreting this in a fascinating and seemingly simple but effective visual style. wow
4. Gladiator - Like Gladiator movies? Ridley Scott's true story of Russell Crowe. Okay, not exactly. An epic tale of one man’s mission to bring down the emperor that cost him everything. For Roman History in college, I presented the truths and myths presented in the film but can't remember them now.
3. Old School - I was going back and forth over which comedy of the decade is a notch above them all. Wedding Crashers, The Hangover, Superbad, and most Judd Apatow films are up there, but the concept and ensemble rises above the rest. Plus, I want to start a fraternity.
2. Napoleon Dynamite - Okay, I know what you are thinking. "Really? You have to be serious?" However, whether you were in the middle school or worked with middle schoolers when this movie came out, you cannot help but laugh out loud no less than 50 times while watching. And please throw the first stone if you have never repeated a line from this movie. By the way, you're mom goes to college.
1. The Departed - Except for "Goodfellas," this beat's Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities. Mark Wahlberg steals the film from DiCaprio, Nicholson, and Matt Damon. Deserving of Best Picture and Best Director - unlike some other winners of the decade. N.B. Worth catching on Netflix the Korean original, "Infernal Affairs."
Honorable mentions: Gran Torino, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Borat, City of God, The Hangover, Catch Me if You Can, Moulin Rouge, Children of Men, Oldboy, Donnie Darko, Up, and No Country for Old Men
note: some plot synopsis form imdb.com
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