Best movies of the 00's

With the CGI effects coming into full bloom in the decade from 00 to 09, Hollywood churned out some incredible effects-driven movies. I believe this lead to a renaissance, of sorts, of comic book movies. I happen to love comic book movies, and it was a great decade for them. It seems like Hollywood finally realized that people across a wide spectrum of demographics love seeing the hero win. (aka - will fork out lots of cash and buy lots of tickets!)

Aside from comic book movies, there were an array of interesting movies that had their own kind of indie vibe. the 00's were mostly defined, in my opinion, by the likes of Wes Anderson and films like Lost In Translation. It was also the decade that we saw the likes of Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, and Will Ferrell become huge stars. I also really loved seeing Bill Murray enter a new phase of stardom with pretty much an entire decade of wonderful indie films, filled with fantastic Murray performances.

25. Elf (2003)
This was the decade where we witnessed the rising star of Will Ferrell. I was a big fan of his ever since his beginnings on SNL. I love all the comedies he made this decade. Yet, Elf is becoming one of those Christmas classics that you must watch every year. It's silly, family-friendly, and full of Will Ferrell funny.

24. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
I mean, seriously, have you seen this movie??? I don't understand why this wasn't a bigger blockbuster. Rusell Crowe is amazing as Captain Jack Aubrey, commanding a ship in 1805. It is full of good writing, emotion, and tense action sequences. This is one of those movies that one of my friends persuaded me to watch on DVD. At long last, I gave in and saw it. Everyone I have recommended this movie to has also thoroughly appreciated and loved it. It is one of those gems that simply got missed by a big audience. See it.

23. Mystic River (2003)
I would be dishonest not to include this movie. It is weird, but amazing. Contains a forceful and memorable performance from Sean Penn and an other-worldly performance from Tim Robbins that's utterly spooky. Kevin Bacon and Lawrence Fishburne are amazing, too. Clint Eastwood's directorial genius continues.

22. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Director Wes Anderson seems to hit a creative peak, of sorts, with his writing partner Owen Wilson in this offbeat comedy/drama. We get to see the early glimpses of Bill Murray's emerging genius for playing understated characters in indie films. It is a gigantic cast of wonderful A-listers and B-listers. It has a unique flavor all its own. Has Gene Hackman ever been better?

21. There Will Be Blood (2007)
This dark drama is both repulsive and fascinating. Daniel Day Lewis plays oil prospector Daniel Plainview. And a young actor named Paul Dano plays a bizarre duel role as two different characters. Daniel Plainview is a ruthless and hardcore money man, who will stop at nothing to get more oil. I read an interview of director Peter Weir where he said that Daniel Plainview is basically his take on the character Dracula. Very interesting. I know it's easy to overuse the word "brooding", but this movie is truly in the dictionary next to the word "brooding."

20. Gladiator (2000)
This controversial Best Picture Oscar winner is fantastic, in my opinion. The 00s were certainly a wonderful decade for Russell Crowe, and this is one of his benchmark performances as an ancient Roman gladiator. It has some wonderfully melodramatic moments and shockingly visceral violence. What was it with the 2000's and violence? It has a somewhat epic feel to it, too. It's great stuff.

19. The Departed (2006)
I have been a fan of legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese for several years. He made some great gangster classics in the 90's (and earlier I know, but I only remember the 90's ones) that are very engrossing and good. In '06, however, I sat in the theatre and was blown away by the ferociousness, energy, and personality of this movie. Scorsese lights the fuse, and the gasoline of testosterone fuels this bad boy forward. It is gritty, violent, and extremely masculine. It is fairly ridiculous and over-the-top, but the cast is great and the story is good.


18. Frost / Nixon (2008)
I know this may not seem like a very exciting pick for one of the greatest movies of an entire decade. However, I can't quit watching it. It's just fantastic. Being interested in Presidents, I get sucked into the epic drama of the showdown between David Frost and former President Richard Nixon every time. Also, the fact that it is based on a true story gives it an added dimension of character. The 00's were certainly a wonderful decade for director Ron Howard, and here's props to one of his more obscure movies. Love it.

17. Something's Gotta Give (2003)
Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton drive this romantic comedy to success. It has an almost believable story, and it takes us on a Hollywood cinema journey of finding new love. But, it is the performances of veteran actors Keaton and Nicholson that bring to mind wonderful vintage Hollywood romance movies.

16. Secret Window (2004)
Yes, critics and fans are split on this movie. It didn't exactly get the most rave reviews. But, I loved the Stephen King short story before it was converted to the big screen. And, Johnny Depp is awesome in it. I've watched it multiple times over the last few years, and I appreciate it just as much every time. It's kind of like an episode of the X-Files, without Skully or Mulder.

15. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A wonderfully made and passionate story of John Nash, a math genius who endures some tough times working for the government. It is the first movie that adequately demonstrates Ron Howard's skill and ability as a director, in my opinion.

14. The Aviator (2004)
Director Martin Scorsese makes another directorial appearance on the best of the 00s. He just has a gift for telling these epic period tales, in no small part thanks to the prodding of Leonardo DiCaprio. The two team up frequently in the 00's, with Gangs of New York, then this, the Departed, and Shutter Island. They're a great team, I guess. The Aviator tells the rather gigantic story of Howard Hughes, the notoriously reclusive billionaire who shook up the aviation world. The cinematography brings a depth to it, and the costumes and set pieces are beautiful. I love stories about "old Hollywood", too, because it was such a fascinating time in American history. Only Scorsese can aptly capture the slow decline and destruction of such an iconic man in this epic bio-pic.

13. Cast Away (2000)
A bold and ambitious movie starring Tom Hanks as a dude who gets stranded on an island. But, it kind of seems like a realistic account of what could possibly happen to a person if they really were stranded. The movie is innovative for modern Hollywood in that it features Tom Hanks alone for almost the entire thing. It's a great movie that gets me caught up every time I watch it. Who could forget that plane crash, too? The characters always tug at my heartstrings, too. I love Wilson.

12. Spider-Man (2002) A charming and high-budget modern comic book blockbuster directed by horror pro Sam Raimi. I liked this first installment, and it really holds up.

11. Walk the Line (2005) Few movies actually make me cry, and this one did. Since I'm from East Tennessee, it had extra special meaning for me to see the life of Johnny Cash brought to the big screen. There are also many details about his upbringing and early career that I didn't know, so it was great to see that. Joaquin Phoenix does a great job, although I don't know if it's as stellar as everyone seems to think. It is good, though. Reese Witherspoon is great as June Carter Cash. It's a wonderful story that shows the tragedies of drug addiction and fame in the life of Johnny Cash.

10. Spiderman 2 (2004)
Spiderman 2 takes every element that was good about the first movie, and makes it better. This one has a "bigger" feel to it than the first one. It seems longer, more emotional, and the stakes seem higher. The special effects are also seamless. It's a wonderful comic book movie.

9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Ladies and gentlemen, Harry finally makes an appearance on the list. Say what you will, but it's hard to deny Potter's influence on pop culture. All of the Potter books and movies are held to a high standard. The Chamber of Secrets is among the best of the Potter movies because it represents their early childhood. It retains a sense of exciting and adventurous magic. It seems to be propelled by the momentum of the first successful movie. It is that quality and inspiration that make the Chamber of Secrets a cut above.

8. Juno (2007)

Ellen Page and Michael Cera bring these teenage characters to life on the big screen in spectacular fashion. The dialogue, the comedy, the situations...it rings true. Juno is a somewhat wayward teenager who accidentally gets knocked up. She must deal with her family, friends, school, and most of all...what will she do with the baby? After all, she's only 16! I love good writing, and Juno has some of the best writing from Diablo Cody (who I understand is writing the new Evil Dead remake!).


7. The Incredibles (2004)
This may be my single favorite Pixar movie. Most Pixar / Disney movies are wonderful, but this one is appealing to children and adults in a way that is special. Again, the writing is spectacular. It seems like they could have gotten lazy with the writing, but instead, they push things forward in innovative fashion. Rather than hashing out the standard "superhero" mediocrity that would have been so easy, they chose to give the story life and edge. The voice acting is perfect, and the action scenes are really exciting. And not just for an animated movie, but by any movie standard! It also has humor and charm. It's one of my favorite movies of all time!

6. The Dark Knight (2008)
I am a long-time fan of Batman, and comic books in general. This Batman installment avoided many of the pitfalls of past Batman movies, and got many things right. It's not a perfect Batman movie, but it exploded like a bomb onto the pop culture scene. Heath Ledger certainly made his mark on pop culture. It is brooding, well-written, and full of Batman-type angst. Though a bit too dark at times, it gets the overall tone right. Finally, we get a Batman movie that respects the audience and respects the material. It's about time.

5. The entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)
Let's face it: these three movies are just one long movie. So, I feel justified in lumping them all together. Not since the original Star Wars trilogy have nerds gotten something so epic, consistent, and ambitious as the Lord of the Rings story. With the benefit of modern special effects, a ginormous budget, and Peter Jackson leading the way, LOTR is unrelenting and uncompromising. As an audience member, I feel submerged in the world the filmmakers create. And that is the point of movies. We learn about the characters, we empathize with them, we are in their lives, struggle, and world. These three installments are so successful at capturing the epic scale of the story, it's nothing short of a miracle they were made. And, the actual Lord of the Rings books are, of course, literary classics. Watching these three installments is quite an undertaking because they are so long. It is extremely rewarding, though. We are not likely to see another trilogy or epic story of this proportion again for a long, long time.

4. Iron Man (2008)
This movie is awesome.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
This particular HP flick is the one that got me hooked on all of them. I suppose that's why it retains a special place in my heart. We see the crew getting a bit older, and the story hits overdrive. Now, I know HP book purists will see flaws and holes in the movies, but I don't care. This one stands on its own, and it is fantastic. It seems to be the first HP movie that really "knows" itself, and is aware of where it is going. Overall, the Prisoner of Azkaban is one of the strongest movies out of the entire series.

2. Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The "new" Star Wars trilogy was basically a disaster. The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones are both enough to make any nerd lose hope in the powers of George Lucas. Just look at Ewan McGregor's performance in Attack of the Clones. I mean, seriously? It's one of the worst film performances I've ever seen. Ever. So, hopes were low for the final installment. However, what we got was a surprisingly riveting, well-made, exciting and dark conclusion to the "new" trilogy. Ewan McGregor is no longer playing a geriatric old man with a horribly fake beard. He seems to suddenly embody the young Obi-Wan in a way he hadn't done (or been given the opportunity to do) in the first two movies. Also, the special effects are simply epic. Many of the elements that were appealing in the original Star Wars movies are present here. The 00s were a decade of darker films, and none embodies the souring and cynical mood of the pop culture scene more than Revenge of the Sith.

1. Lost In Translation (2003)
This movie is magical and romantic. It seems to capture an indie, comedy, hipster soul while transporting the audience to some imaginary time and place. Bill Murray plays the character of his career, and it is hilarious, touching, and intriguing. We also meet Scarlett Johannson for the first time in a leading role. This movie is a wonderful work of art, and it is my favorite movie of the entire decade.

I feel I should mention some deserving "honorable mentions", or else I'll go crazy. The Passion of the Christ was a huge pop culture phenomenon, and a very powerful movie. It shouldn't be ignored. Also, Ray, the story of legendary musician Ray Charles, deserves to be noted.