Top 100 Films of the 2000s: 40-1

Alright, we’re doing the rest of this speed dating style, as I want to actually… get this posted before the end of this decade.

40. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007, Andrew Dominik)
Gorgeous, tense, methodical western.

39. Hero (Ying xiong) (2002, Yimou Zhang)
Another visual treat here, as Zhang channels Rashomon through wuxia.

38. Finding Nemo (2003, Andrew Stanton)
One of Pixar’s best, a great road comedy with heart, that just happens to be set in the ocean.

37. 25th Hour (2002, Spike Lee)
Great performances, particularly Ed Norton and Brian Cox, make this look at crime and punishment set in post 9-11 NY a standout.

36. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005, Tommy Lee Jones)
This incredible directorial debut by Jones has West Texas in every inch of every frame. I used to live in the towns this was set in, and I knew these people.

35. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007, Tim Burton)
This is the film that Burton was born to make. His visual style, while it might be a drag on some films, was absolutely perfect here, and his usual cast of actors worked great.

34. Talk To Her (Hable con ella) (2002, Pedro Almodóvar)
Probably my least favorite Almodovar of the decade, so you can be sure you’ll see the rest of his work still to come. My issues with the main character’s motivations didn’t deter from the beautiful film making.

33. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007, Sidney Lumet)
Masterful work by Lumet, more than 50 years after his debut. Great casting helps, when you have PSH, Marisa Tomei, Brian Cox, and Michael Shannon, it has to make your job easier.

32. The Visitor (2007, Thomas McCarthy)
McCarthy seems to have a knack for these personal slice of life films, making them feel authentic and joyous rather than tedious and forced. Incredible performance by Richard Jenkins.

31. Shotgun Stories (2007, Jeff Nichols)
A sparse low budget modern western that completely blew me away when I basically stumbled upon it. One of the best treats and biggest surprises of 2008.

30. Volver (2006, Pedro Almodóvar)
Almodovar works his magic here in this mystery about mysteries, families. He pulls off these gorgeous melodramas better than anybody.

29. The Fountain (2006, Darren Aronofsky)
Visually amazing, this misunderstood gem often is overlooked, but it’s three poetic stories told simultaneously are just brilliant, and incredibly open to interpretation.

28. There Will Be Blood (2007, Paul Thomas Anderson)
Although I can’t say I’m a Paul Thomas Anderson fan, this was definitely an incredible film primarily in part because of one of the most captivating lead performances of all time with Daniel Day Lewis as Daniel Plainview.

27. Paprika (2006, Satoshi Kon)
If David Lynch decided the films he makes are too boring and linear, this is what he might churn out after a night of hallucinogenic drugs. You never have any idea exactly what’s going on, and it’s an amazing experience because of that.

26. Oldboy (2003, Chan-wook Park)
A great, dark revenge story that you only enjoy more as you peel the surrounding layers. Weak stomachs need not apply.

25. Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain) (2001, Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
If you are not charmed by Amelie, I would question your heart. Pulling off effortlessly what so much of the indie film movement has labored for, this is quirky and charming.

24. Inglourious Basterds (2009, Quentin Tarantino)
Tarantino’s best work in a decade, his alternative take on World War 2 history was some of the most rewarding work of his career.

23. Into the Wild (2007, Sean Penn)
Penn’s laid back style really works here, and Emile Hersch is amazing in the lead role.

22. Infernal Affairs (Mou gaan dou) (2002, Andrew Lau, Alan Mak)
On some days, I think it’s better than the remake, but they’re both amazing films.

21. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, Steven Spielberg)
Spielberg’s best, and it’s not particularly close, since Schindler’s List.

20. Before Sunset (2004, Richard Linklater)
The better “Before…” film, this shows Jesse and Celine grown up, and I enjoyed my time with them here more than as idealistic youngsters.

19. The Departed (2006, Martin Scorsese)
A beefed up version of the Hong Kong film with some changes really working well. As previously mentioned, picking a favorite is basically which way the wind blows.

18. Mulholland Drive (2001, David Lynch)
Incredible sense of mood, even if, like most Lynch, any attempts to follow the plot as linear are futile.

17. Almost Famous (2000, Cameron Crowe)
Easily Crowe’s apex as a filmmaker. He needs to return to personal work like this.

16. Synecdoche, NY (2008, Charlie Kaufman)
A meditation on life, death, and art. The kind of film that could only come from Charlie Kaufman’s mind.

15. Wall*E (2008, Andrew Stanton)
I know the popular comment is to regret The Dark Knight’s lack of an Oscar nomination, but this was 2008’s blockbuster film snub.

14. Once (2006, John Carney)
A simple story (the characters don’t even have names) with gorgeous music, great chemistry, and something that when it ends, you want to spend more time with.

13. Slumdog Millionaire (2008, Danny Boyle)
The Academy gets it right for once (or about as right as you can hope for).

12. Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos) (2009, Pedro Almodóvar)
Early reviews had this as minor Almodovar, but that’s ridiculous. This Hitchcockian mystery is Pedro at his best… and the twists and turns of the film made me love it even more.

11. Bad Education (La mala educación) (2004, Pedro Almodóvar)
I cannot say this is Almodovar’s best film… but this is his best film that I have seen. Gael Garcia Bernal is absolutely incredible in the lead role.

10. The Science of Sleep (La science des rêves) (2006, Michel Gondry)
Not Gondry’s highest placing film, this still has so much more imagination and heart than 99.9% of things you’ll see out of Hollywood. And it’s back to back GGB on the list, too.

9. The Wrestler (2008, Darren Aronofsky)
Mickey Rourke as Randy the Ram is my favorite performance of all time. But the film as a whole is so much more. Deceptively simple yet captivating.

8. Moon (2009, Duncan Jones)
2009’s best film, Sam Rockwell not getting any award consideration is a joke. He is the film. The model work is top notch and it’s great to see how much you can still do without CGI, and with all do respect to Requiem for a Dream or anything else he’s done, this might be Clint Mansell’s master work as a composer.

7. The Station Agent (2003, Thomas McCarthy)
This film is like having friends over for an evening. You relish the time together and miss them when they leave. Such a warm, inviting, charming, funny film.

6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, Michel Gondry)
An incredible premise (Kaufman’s best) and the coming of age as Gondry as a director. Carrey and Winslet are perfect in this film.

5. United 93 (2006, Paul Greengrass)
When I walked out of the theatre, I was unable to speak. The pure definition of a thriller. Visceral filmmaking where you know how the story ends, but it doesn’t matter.

4. Closer (2004, Mike Nichols)
Although I don’t like Julia Roberts (in general and in this film), the rest of the cast more than makes up for it, and Mike Nichols shows that he’s still a master director, 40 years after the Graduate.

3. Requiem for a Dream (2000, Darren Aronofsky)
A film more haunting than any horror film, incredible score, great performances… not something most people will want to see twice, but that first viewing is incredibly intense.

2. Brokeback Mountain (2005, Ang Lee)
One of the most beautiful doomed love stories ever put on film.

1. Pan’s Labyrinth (El labertino del fauno) (2006, Guillermo Del Toro)
A gorgeous modern dark fairytale that ranks among some of the best fimmaking I’ve ever seen.