Top 10 movies of the decade
Our favorite flicks from the last 10 years.
By Jared Curtis
As we dawn a new decade, it’s important to look back at what happened the past 10 years. Sure we could talk about the biggest news events or sports highlights, but we all seem to love pop culture. So we decided to take a look at some of the best films of the decade. In my weekly movie reviews, I try to set myself apart from other critics, and this list is no different. The films chosen may not be award winners, the most critically acclaimed or the highest-grossing films, but they are great flicks you can revisit on numerous occasions. No animated films or documentaries here (although one could argue that “Dig,” “The King of Kong” and “Dear Zachary: A Story About His Father for His Son” deserve a spot) and I wanted to keep it to single feature films (which is why I left “The Lord of The Rings” trilogy and the “Kill Bill” saga off). All of these films are currently on DVD, and I encourage you to seek them out. Here are my 10 favorites of the decade (in no distinct order) along with a few people who are trying to ruin the industry.
‘High Fidelity’
Directed by Stephen Frears
2000, Rated R, 113 minutes
Music is a key component to any film, but when you make a movie about the people who live, breath and die music, it adds a whole other element. This is what makes “High Fidelity” so great. The story of a Chicago record shop owner, Rob Gordon (one of John Cusack’s finest performances), seems so simple — he talks about how music has affected his life, he owns a business that is breathing its last breath and his long time girlfriend (Iben Hjejle) has just left him. But the numerous females of his love life — past and present (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor, Joelle Carter) — add that romantic element that is relatable to any hipster. “High Fidelity” was also the moment America began paying attention to Jack Black as swarmy music snob Barry. The banter between the three critics (Cusack, Black and Todd Louiso) and their customers is priceless. Throw in a great cameo from Tim Robbins and the rebirth of ’80s star Lisa Bonet (“The Cosby Show”) as a sexy folk singer, and you have the perfect blend of heart and humor.
‘Wonder Boys’
Directed by Curtis Hanson
2000, Rated R, 111 minutes
Hailed by some, hated by others, “Wonder Boys” is an amazing film that didn’t reach as wide of an audience as it should have. Not only is “Wonder Boys” a funny, witty and sly film, it also stuck with me because the relationship the film has with the written word. Michael Douglas shines as Prof. Grady Tripp, a former elite scholar and best-selling author who has dwindled away his talent with alcohol, marijuana and pills. Even as Tripp strolls under the influence through a muddled existence, his credibility in the writing world will never fade. Tripp spends his day in his bathrobe staring at a blank typewriter, fighting off his agent, Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.), who has been waiting years for his new book. He has a few students, notably, James Leer (Tobey Maguire), who wants to be him, and Hannah Green (Katie Holmes), who wants to sleep with him. And the two students get involved with Tripp and Crabtree in a wild weekend adventure. And if that isn’t enough, Tripp has been sleeping with the Dean (Frances McDormand), who has become pregnant but is also married. “Wonder Boys” is one of the best book-to-film-adaptations in a long time and is quite possibly Michael Douglas’ greatest performance.
‘City of God’
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund
2002, Rated R, 130 minutes
Nominated for four Oscars, “City of God” is one of the most critically celebrated films on my list. Following the lives of three young boys growing up in the slums of Rio de Janerio during the 1960s to 1980s, “City of God” is violent, funny and heart wrenching as viewers are transported to the dirty ghetto. The boys choose different paths. Our narrator, Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), becomes a photographer, capturing the slum life and providing an inside look for newspaper readers. The others, Li’l Ze (Leandro Firmino) and Benny (Douglas Silva) become drug dealers, helping continue the struggles these people face. But as the years go on, the violence continues and a feuding war brings an abrupt end to some of the characters. “City of God” has been compared to “Goodfellas,” and why shouldn’t it be? They both tell stories of young boys growing up in violent settings with criminals living the glamorous life. There are no over-the-top specials effects, just a strong story unfolding over time. Too bad more films can’t be as simple and complex as “City of God.”
‘25th Hour’
Directed by Spike Lee
2002, Rated R, 135 minutes
No other filmmaker has made New York City come to life as a character like Spike Lee has. Sure, Woody Allen may have done it first and there have been plenty of directors since, but Spike Lee has an eye for his city like no other auteur working today. His film “25th Hour” was the first to portray New York City post 9/11. The story follows Monty Brogan (Edward Norton), a drug dealer who is looking to get out of the game but is caught before he is able. In 24 hours he is heading to prison for seven years, so he spends his final hours with his girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), and his two childhood friends, Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Frank (Barry Pepper). Throughout the night, we see Monty’s thoughts (in flashbacks) as he tries to determine who ratted him out. He also spends quality time with his dad (Brian Cox), talking about the good and bad situations. Along with a great story, an angry but truthful montage forces viewers to think about their own ideas of freedom and opportunity. Spike Lee’s best film is an amazing story of the power of friendship and what our lives could be like if only we headed down different paths. A toast by Monty sums it up nicely, “Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my cham friends.”
‘Shaun of the Dead’
Directed by Edgar Wright
2004, Rated R, 99 minutes
As an immense fan of the genre, I couldn’t make a list of the 10 best films of the decade without a horror film. And even though there were a handful of scary and gory films that could grace the list (“28 Days Later” was real close), I went with a more humor-based horror film, “Shaun of the Dead.” Director Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (“Hot Fuzz”) had already been making UK viewers laugh with their awesome TV show “Spaced,” but at the time it was unavailable in the States. So “Shaun of the Dead” was American’s first taste of the trio, and boy was it delicious. Shaun (Pegg) is a slacker hoping for a better life but can seem to get out of the childish predicaments his roommate, Ed (Frost), gets him into. After a zombie outbreak, Shaun and Ed must save Shaun’s mom, stepdad, girlfriend and her two roommates from becoming lunch. Their plan — hole up in their favorite pub until help arrives. Yes, the first place I think of going when zombie’s attack is a bar. A few scary moments hit the screen, but this film is all about fun — brain eating, crappy vinyl throwing, videogame playing and cricket bat smashing fun.
‘A History of Violence’
Directed by David Cronenberg
2005, Rated R, 96 minutes
If I picked these films in order, “A History of Violence” would have been my No. 1. When it was released, I was mesmerized by the story, the performances and the direction of David Cronenberg (“Shivers,” Scanners,” “The Fly”). I argued to anyone who would listen that it was the best film of the year, but, as always, the stuffy Academy voters didn’t see it that way and it was unjustly shut out (nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for William Hurt, but neither won). “A History of Violence” tells the story of Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen), a small-town diner owner who has a loving wife, Edie (Maria Bello, in her sexiest onscreen role) and two kids. But after stopping a couple of thieves and saving lives, Tom’s picture is blasted all over the news. Soon after, Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris in his greatest performance), a strange, one-eyed man, comes to town and starts asking a lot of questions. I don’t want to give any more away, but if you pick one film from this list to see, make sure it’s “A History of Violence.”
‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’
Directed by Judd Apatow
2005, Rated R, 116 minutes
All hail the new king of comedy. Before Judd Apatow’s “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” he was a funny guy who had worked on some critically acclaimed TV shows (“The Ben Stiller Show,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Undeclared”) but had never broken through to the mainstream. Since then, Apatow has had his hands in everything (“Talladega Nights,” “Knocked Up,” “Superbad,” Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Step Brothers,” “Pineapple Express” and “Funny People”), continually kicking out new projects with ease. Is “The 40 Year Old Virgin” the funniest movie of the decade? Nope, I’d probably give that award to “Old School,” but it did bring a fresh new comedic aspect that has changed the genre for the better. Andy (Steve Carell) is a 40-year-old virgin who is comfortable with his PG lifestyle. But after a boys’ night with some co-workers (Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogan), Andy is forced into the nightlife with horrible results. Luckily, he has his eye on a local store owner (Catherine Keener), hitting on her rather than the “hood rats” his friends suggest. The entire movie is laugh-out-loud-funny, but it’s two females, Elizabeth Banks and Leslie Mann, who steal the film as a few of Andy’s drunken conquests. We should all thank Mr. Apatow for changing the game.
‘The Fountain’
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
2006, PG-13, 96 minutes
What if you could live forever? That is the question asked in director Darren Aronofsky’s (“The Wrestler,” Requiem For A Dream”) “The Fountain.” A misunderstood masterpiece, hated by almost everyone, I believe “The Fountain” proved to be one of the most beautifully stunning pictures ever made and deserves a second chance by anyone who wrote it off as a failed Sci-Fi film. Plain and simple, “The Fountain” is a love story of epic proportions spanning across thousands of years. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star as lovers in three different time periods — the early days of the Mayan civilization, present day America and inside a floating bubble of a golden space engulfed future. In all three storylines, Jackman, in one way or another, is trying to save his love Izzi (Weisz), no matter if it’s searching for the Fountain of Youth or defeating cancer. I’ve pushed this film on all my friends and have already proclaimed it a “Curtis Classic.” I hope after reading this list, you’ll search out this emotionally compelling movie.
‘Once’
Directed by John Carney
2006, Rated R, 85 minutes
A small but lovely independent film, “Once” originally caught my attention due to the music. After hearing “When Your Mind’s Made Up” and “Falling Slowly,” I had to search out this movie because if it was as half as emotional as the songs, I knew I was in for a treat. Even before Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won numerous fans over during their Oscar performance, I was leading the bandwagon. A simple story of guy meets girl is propelled with the heartbreaking and beautiful music the two make together. A couple of scenes really stand out, including when the two discover their chemistry at a piano store and when they pool their money together for some studio time. The film, which takes place over a few days, is filled with that new relationship magic as the duo makes music together. “Once” is a rare film where everything works. Music is a strong component in making an amazing film, and in that sense, there isn’t a film where the music is more personal than “Once.”
‘Children of Men’
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
2006, Rated R, 109 minutes
The most action-packed film on my list, “Children of Men” punched me in the gut while I sat in the theater, and that feeling has never gone away. I love dystopian/post apocalyptic films as much as the next guy, but I was not ready for the bleak and dreary world director Alfonso Cuarón (“Y tu mamá también”) engulfed us in. The film takes place in 2027 in a chaotic world where humans can no longer procreate and people mourn the death of “Baby Diego,” an 18-year-old who is the youngest person on the planet. Theo (Clive Owen) is a former radical who has given up on humanity and is working a droll job. But soon his former lover, Julian (Julianne Moore), kidnaps him so he can help her cause — a woman is pregnant, and they must get her out of the country before the government finds her. Along the way, Theo calls on his old hippie friend, Jasper (Michael Caine), for help, but another radical group has plans for the pregnant woman as well. The most amazing part of the film is a four-minute tracking shot (one shot, no cuts) involving a car chase. It’s an extremely technical display of talent that shows the inside and outside of the chaos in real time. “Children of Men” is a harrowing trip into a bleak future, but it’s a fun ride.
Honorable mentions: “The Road,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Old Boy,” “The Dark Knight,” “Almost Famous,” “Lost in Translation,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Donnie Darko,” “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” “The Prestige,” “Punch, Drunk, Love,” “Zodiac,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Adventureland,” “Irreversible,” “Old School,” “The Wrestler,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Memento,” “The Mist,” “Frailty,” “You Can Count On Me,” “Audition,” “The Devil’s Rejects” and “Made.” CV
Sidebar:
The five worst film offenders of the decade
“My Baby’s Daddy” — Three cool guys have kids all at the same time and hijinks will ensue. That is what I assumed the producers of this film were thinking, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. A terrible movie with not a moment of laughter, “My Baby’s Daddy” is a waste of film. I’m ashamed I watched this film, but not as ashamed as Michael Imperioli should be. He used his time off from “The Sopranos” to make this turd? Maybe that’s the real reason Tony killed Christopher.
“Australia” — Here are 165 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. I’ve never been a fan of director Baz Luhrmann (“Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge!”), as his films are overly dramatic. So when I watched “Australia” for my weekly DVD review, I already knew it wouldn’t be pretty. The movie goes on and on and on, the performances are stiff and it almost bored me to sleep. Hopefully there isn’t a hell, because “Australia” will be on continual repeat.
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer — We have these two morons to thank for dumbing down the American film-going public. In the span of four years, these geniuses wrote, directed and produced the low-grade spoof movies that feature jokes that were funny the first time, normally a year before the film was released. “Date Movie,” “Epic Movie,” “Meet The Spartans” and “Disaster Movie” are complete pieces of crap and should be shown at Guantanamo Bay as forms of torture.
Larry The Cable Guy — Well, he might pack fans in for his hillbilly comedy shows, but Larry The Cable Guy did not “git’r done” at the box office. How anybody could waste hard-earned money on his two craptastic films, “Delta Farce,” and “Witless Protection,” is beyond me. Please, Larry, stick to TV; at least we can change the channel when you clog up the screen.
Uwe Boll — Possibly the most hated director today, Uwe Boll has made a name for himself by picking fights with critics and directing a number of awful video game adaptations including “House of the Dead,” “Alone in the Dark,”
“BloodRayne,” “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale” and “BloodRayne II: Deliverance.” His films make no sense, have numerous plot holes and just plain suck. Plus, anyone who casts Tara Reid as a scientist (“Alone in the Dark”) should have their Directors Guild membership revoked.
