ReelFellas Films of the Decade (So Far)
Review by Fritz Esker
Hey everyone. James and I are going to try and incorporate more lists into the website and this will be our first attempt - a list at the best films released from 2000-on. A word on methodology - I did not include any films from 2006, as I feel not quite enough time has passed to truly asses their long-term merits (every 2005 film I mention I have seen at least twice). Anyway, of 2006's films so far, United 93 is the only one that would even enter the discussion. I could not quite whittle my faves down to a top 10 list, so what I have come up with is a top 12 list with honorable mentions. Enjoy and feel free to chime in with your own faves. James' List will follow next weekend.
The Films of the Decade (so far)....
Honorable Mentions
The documentary has gone through a renaissance in the past ten years. I have one documentary in my top 12, but I should take a moment to give praise to the following outstanding documentaries: Murderball (2005), Touching the Void (2004), The Fog of War (2003), Bowling for Columbine (2002) & Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002), and Super Size Me (2004). All of these films have done their part in making the documentary arguably the most vital, exciting genre in cinema today.
Two comedians have come to the cinematic spotlight in the 21st century: Will Ferrell and Steve Carell. If you want to catch Ferrell at his finest, rent Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), which also features a hilarious supporting turn by Carell. For Carell's best, rent The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005), in which Carell takes a role that, in the wrong hands, could have turned into a one-note joke and made it into a genuine character.
Looking at the 21st century's other great comedic performances, you can find one from an unexpected source: Pierce Brosnan in The Matador (2005), a wonderful movie that was last year's most shamefully overlooked film. Hugh Grant has been a star in many successful comedies, but he reached his apex with About a Boy (2002), where he, like Brosnan in the Matador, takes a character who is in many ways unlikable and makes the audience care about him, as well as make his final transformation seem genuine and touching.
In recent years, fans of action films and comic books have been treated to a number of sterling efforts from talented directors. Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005), Sam Raimi's Spider Man (2002) and Spider Man 2 (2004), as well as Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000) and X-Men United (2002) are all exemplary pieces of genre filmmaking.
Finally, a shout out to films that narrowly missed the final list and could not be lumped into one of the above paragraphs: Steven Spielberg's Minority Report (2002), Richard Linklater's Before Sunset (2004), Terry George's Hotel Rwanda (2004), and Patty Jenkins' Monster (2003).
And now, a drumroll please... The 12 Best Films of the 21st Century (in alphabetical order)
About Schmidt (2002) - Jack Nicholson received a deserved Oscar nomination for his work in this, arguably the best of his distinguished career. He plays Warren Schmidt, a recently-retired actuary who finds himself assessing the choices he made in his life as he tries to prevent his daughter (Hope Davis) from marrying a schmuck (Dermot Mulroney). Director Alexander Payne's film slowly, gradually builds to a climax that manages to simultaneously be heartbreaking and uplifting.
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs talking to one of his
many fans in Almost Famous
Almost Famous (2000) - An all-time great coming of age movie. Cameron Crowe is as empathetic a writer/director as any, and his talents are well-suited to this semi-autobiographical work in which a 15-year-old dork manages to get a job for Rolling Stone allowing him to tour with an up-and-coming rock band. All at once, the film manages to be funny, touching, and deep. More amazingly, Crowe makes it all seem completely effortless. For my longer discussion of this, check out my review in the June 2005 archive of our old site (themovieguys.blogspot.com).
Best in Show (2000) - Christopher Guest has either directed or starred in some great mockumentaries: This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Waiting for Guffman (1998), and A Mighty Wind (2003). For my money, this is his best effort (although cases can certainly be made for the others). A sublime satire on the dog show circuit, Guest and his ensemble turn in career-best work. While the film is hilarious throughout, it is catapulted into an even higher level in its finale, when Fred Willard appears as a sports announcer who finds himself doing color commentary on the dog show, even though he has no idea what he is talking about. Never has a sharper satire of the windbag announcers been committed to film. A classic comedic performance, yet it seems like many don't talk about it anymore. For those who own the DVD, check out the deleted scenes. While most deleted scenes are obviously deleted for a reason, many of those on the Best In Show DVD are hysterical.
Capturing the Friedmans
Capturing the Friedmans (2003) - In the least seen film on this list, Director Andrew Jarecki's documentary tells the story of a family torn apart when the father, a respected teacher and tutor in the community, is accused of raping numerous children. Soon, the youngest son is indicted as an accomplice. Jarecki expertly splices interviews with home-video footage taken by the oldest son (amazingly, he took home movies of his family imploding). The film makes powerful statements both on how we can never truly know people, even our loved ones, and how the truth can be a hard thing to determine. While the father undoubtedly possessed child pornography, it definitely seems that people in the community got caught up in the hysteria and made false allegations as well. In the end, it is impossible for viewers to figure out what the truth is, but it all makes for riveting, unsettling viewing. Sadly, this did not even get a theatrical release in New Orleans (although it did play at the New Orleans Film Festival). Rent it immediately.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Before this film, I thought famed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman was overrated. Yes, Being John Malkovich and Adaptation are original and feature some inspired moments. However, despite the endless praise heaped upon these films, both COMPLETELY collapse in their final acts. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kaufman's script builds, gradually becoming more and more compelling, until its final act, which pushes it into greatness. A story about a break-up that has caused Clementine (Kate Winslet) to erase Joel (Jim Carrey) from her memory, it explores the nature of memory and the nature of love itself and how those we love the most are often those who exasperate us the most as well. Perhaps more than any other film on this list (save for Memento), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind benefits from repeat viewings.
Birch and Johannsen in Ghost World
Ghost World (2001) - Terry Zwigoff's comedy tells the story of Enid (Thora Birch), who decides to play a cruel prank on Seymour (Steve Buscemi). Unexpectedly, a friendship develops between the two (although Buscemi is unaware of who pulled the prank on him). Enid and Seymour's relationship is as compelling as any this decade and the film does a splendid job of conveying the pain that comes from being different from what society deems "normal".
Lost in Translation (2003) - Sophia Coppola's bittersweet sophomore effort is a quiet, low-key piece about a washed-up actor (a never better Bill Murray) in Tokyo to shoot a commercial. He meets a young woman (Scarlett Johansson), who is recently out of college and unsure what to do with her life. There is little that goes on in the way of plot, but both actors do wonderful work and the film captures the joy in genuinely connecting with another human being and the sadness in realizing that these connections are often all too fleeting.
Guy Pearce as the irrepressible Leonard Shelby in Memento
Memento (2001) - Writer/director Christopher Nolan crafts a film that is both a mind-blowing, relentlessly fun thriller and a deeply intelligent look at memory and the lies people tell themselves to survive every day. Leonard (Guy Pearce) is a man out to avenge the murder of his wife. His task is complicated by the fact that he cannot make new memories and must constantly write down clues that his mind must reinterpret later. The story is told backwards chronologically. Rather than being a mere gimmick, this device both gives viewers a sense of Leonard's illness and provides the strongest dramatic punch possible. Watch it more than once. For a longer discussion, check out the June 2005 archives on themovieguys.blogspot.com.
Munich (2005) - Even though Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors in film history, he has a tendency to sugarcoat difficult issues in his films. Not so in this brutal, passionate, intelligent, and heartfelt film. After Israeli athletes are held hostage and slaughtered at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Israel decides to send a secret force (headed by Eric Bana) to eliminate those responsible. The film tackles questions about revenge, preemptive violence, politics, and religion without presenting any easy answers. It also does a terrific job of portraying the way continued exposure to violence causes a slow rot of the soul. Eric Bana contributes a subtle, understated performance in the lead. Of course, it was completely overlooked at Oscar time. For a more detailed discussion, check out the December 2005 archives at themovieguys.blogspot.com.
Christensen and Sarsgaard in Shattered Glass
Shattered Glass (2003) - Next to Capturing the Friedmans, director Billy Ray's debut is the most overlooked film on this list. Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker to Star Wars fans) plays notorious disgraced journalist Stephen Glass, who was fired from The New Republic when it became clear that he completely fabricated numerous articles. Christensen is terrific, but the real revelation here is Peter Sarsgaard as Chuck Lane, the editor who discovers the extent of Stephen's lies. Making honest, straight-arrow characters seem interesting can be a difficult task, but Sarsgaard pulls it off. Ray's script is an excellent examination of the workings of the journalistic world and office politics. On the latter issue, it effectively shows how an office of hard-working people can be tricked into disliking an honest, decent guy (Sarsgaard) and throwing their support behind a slimeball like Stephen Glass.
Sideways (2004) - Give a round of applause to director/co-screenwriter Alexander Payne, as he is the only director who has two films on this list (the other being About Schmidt). Amazingly enough, people don't seem to talk about him much when discussing talented new directors, instead choosing to focus on people like P.T. Anderson, Wes Anderson, and David Fincher. No disrespect to the other directors, but Payne deserves a lot more attention than he gets. While people sometimes complain that Payne's work features "annoying" characters, I think they feature characters who are a lot more like us than we care to admit. He is brutally honest in the way he presents his characters, but he never fails to be fair and sympathetic in the way he presents people like Miles (Paul Giamatti), a failed writer, and his wild man friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church), who is out to sow his oats before getting married in a few days. The film also does viewers the service of showing them what gifted actors Church and Virginia Madsen (as Miles' love interest) are. Giamatti gives the performance of 2004, but, it was of course ignored by the academy.
Ed Norton in The 25th Hour
The 25th Hour (2002) - Spike Lee's film covers the last day of freedom in the life of Montgomery Brogan (Edward Norton), a drug dealer about to serve a seven-year prison sentence. Lee channels his passion and visual exuberance, which can sometimes be overwhelming, into a moving examination of regret. For a more detailed discussion, check out my classic films piece on The 25th Hour on this website.