Meanwhile, as 2009 nears its close, we have the opportunity to simultaneously look back at the ups and downs of the past decade (the 00’s, the Naughties, the Zeroes or whatever else you wish to call them). Ever looking to make my self-meditation more efficient, I decided to combine these two musings into one exercise; and so here, for your amusement and debate, I offer my Top 10 films of the past 10 years, the movies that have earned my eternal gratitude by upholding the highest standards of quality filmmaking.
“Memento” (2000)
The breakthrough feature by “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan took the concept of fractured narrative, made popular in the 90’s by “Pulp Fiction,” and expanded it to new heights. Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, a man with a rare condition that prevents him from creating new memories. The story of Shelby’s search to find his wife’s murderer is told in reverse chronological order; the mind-bending climax forces the viewer to re-think everything they have just seen. It’s a brilliant piece of screenwriting that absolutely demands multiple viewings.
“Almost Famous” (2000)
Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical tale of a 15-year-old boy who cons his way into a job writing for Rolling Stone succeeds as both a hysterical look back at early 70’s rock-and-roll and a touching story of adolescence. It’s exceedingly quotable, astonishingly well-acted and an all-together highly underrated gem.
“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (2001-2003)
The biggest no-brainer on the list. A trilogy in name only (it’s essentially one cinematic work; trying to separate the films in terms of quality is a difficult and ultimately pointless task), Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved series set the bar for the epic fantasy genre and inspired numerous inferior copycat films (“The Chronicles of Narnia,” “The Golden Compass”).
“Lost in Translation” (2003)
This very quiet, subtle film plays with viewer expectations by stubbornly remaining a non-romance. Bill Murray plays an aging movie star filming commercials in Japan; Scarlett Johansson is the bored young wife of a photographer. The two both feel lonely and alienated in the surreal world of Tokyo. They meet, instantly find a connection with each other, spend some time exploring the city; and well, that’s really about it. That’s all either of them needed at that moment, why should the audience demand more?
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
After a tough breakup, Joel decides to literally have his brain wiped of any memory of his girlfriend Clementine. The film is touchingly romantic and strangely familiar (despite its surreal touches), a revealing examination of life and love from the warped mind of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.
“Children of Men” (2006)
In a world where human civilization is quickly collapsing into violence, despair and paranoia, what gives people hope? Alfonso Cuaron’s bleak vision of a futuristic dystopia is chillingly atmospheric and a timely warning. The film’s revolutionary cinematography should have walked away with an Academy Award, if the next entry on this list hadn’t complicated things.
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)
The only film that matched (if not exceeded) Cuaron’s for quality in 2006 was, oddly enough, directed by one of his close friends, fellow Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. This gorgeously filmed, harsh depiction of the Spanish Civil War through the imagination of a young girl is magic realism at its finest. Del Toro clearly has an affinity for magical creatures and fantastic imagery, which bodes well for his upcoming film adaptation of “The Hobbit.”
“There Will Be Blood” (2007)
Daniel Day-Lewis delivered the defining performance of the decade as Daniel Plainview, the ruthless oil tycoon with a hatred for humanity and a love of money. P.T. Anderson proved once and for all that he has just as much talent as his mentor Robert Altman with this tale of greed and determination in the last days of the American frontier. The original score by Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood is one of the most extraordinary compositions ever written for a film.
“Waltz with Bashir” (2008)
The first-ever feature length film of its kind, “Waltz with Bashir” managed to revolutionize both the genres of animation and documentary filmmaking. Director Ari Folman investigates the Sabra and Shatila massacre from the 1982 Israeli-Lebanese war through his own memories and those of other soldiers. A haunting, surreal vision of war and its effect on the human mind, this film provided some of the most startling, memorable images in recent years.
“The Hurt Locker” (2009)
Okay, so I seem to have a thing for depressing war films. But there is no denying that Kathryn Bigelow’s intense, complex depiction of the trials of a bomb defusing squad in the early days of the Iraq War is an incredibly powerful film, and easily the most effective movie yet about the experience of American soldiers in Baghdad. There are so many more films that merit discussion for a spot here, and perhaps it’s too early to tell, but I for one am sold that “The Hurt Locker” deserves to be on this list.
Apologies to: “High Fidelity,” “Mulholland Drive,” “Adaptation,” “Spirited Away,” “Before Sunset,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Volver,” “The Lives of Others,” “No Country for Old Men” and “Milk.”