So with lists all over the Internet about this and one about music here, I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread in here about peoples' favourite movies of the decade. Let's get one going before the year ends. I made one on another forum about two years ago, but I've seen a lot of movies since then and my feelings have changed about some of my previous picks, so I think a new list is in order.
I don't think most of these are among the best movies of the past decade from an objective standpoint, but they are the ones that I personally loved the most. I'm doing this on the spot, so I might change my mind later, but for now, off the top of my head, here are my favourites of the decade:
1) "X2:X-Men United" (2003) - Of all the movies I've been excited about seeing in the months and weeks leading up to its release, this was the most satisfying. It met and exceeded my expectations more than any other movies I've been really stoked about.
2) "Adaptation." (2002) - Has the best performance I've ever seen by Nicolas Cage (and I have seen many, many movies he's been in) in the best, funniest, and most insightful movie I've seen about the alternating joy and agony of being a writer.
3) "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2004) - The second most satisfying movie I've ever been really excited to see. People called it boring compared to the first one, but I say the first one (which I liked too) was a lot more shallow and this one was deeper, more moving, and overall just more enthralling. I guess it's because excellent acting and writing (especially great dialogue) thrills me more than good action.
4) "Before Sunset" (2004) - It's hard to judge this movie objectively. The honest truth is I love so much of it mostly because of how much it reminds me of an experience I had. This gives it an added poignancy for me, but even if I didn't relate to it so much, I think I'd still appreciate it for the eloquent writing and the sweetness and intensity of the performances, especially towards the end.
5) "Traffic" (2000) - My favourite 'ensemble drama' of the decade. I loved all the characters and stories in this. Rightfully won the best screenplay Oscar, and I think it was better than "Gladiator" and should have won best picture too.
6) "City of God" (2002) - The one movie on this list I would say is not only one of my favourite of the decade, but objectively one of the most beautifully written, directed, and acted movies of the decade. I usually have trouble getting into foreign movies, but this one was a cut above most of the ones I've seen, and I really think it deserved to win best picture in 2002.
7) "Lost in Translation" (2003) - I thought it was overrated when I first saw it, but moving to Japan, living there for a year, and falling in love with the culture gave me a bias that made me appreciate it a lot more.
8) "High Fidelity" (2000) - I think this movie is just about perfect, except for one bit of casting: Lisa Bonet. I hated her character and her performance. Without her, this would have been one of my top 5 favourites. Still, I think this is the smartest, coolest, and most thoughtful 'romantic comedy' of the 2000s (it's on a much higher intellectual level than most movies with that label these days). As a huge fan of 80s John Cusack, it was wonderful to see him showing some of his old magic in this movie.
9) "Donnie Darko" (2001) - The one time I was in complete agreement with the Internet about a movie they went crazy over and gave a cult following.
10) "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) - My favourite comedy of the decade.
Movies I used to have on the list, but dropped, or ones I considered putting at 10 that just missed it: Requiem for a Dream, Memento, 21 Grams, Catch Me if You Can.
I'm not setting strict rules here, so you could either post your personal favourites like I did, what you think are truly the 10 best 'scientifically', a combination, or both! Go crazy! I just want to know which movies people found most memorable out of all the new releases they saw between 2000 and 2009 and why. I've loved reading lists like that on another sites, and I'm sure I'd enjoy reading some here too.
I don't think most of these are among the best movies of the past decade from an objective standpoint, but they are the ones that I personally loved the most. I'm doing this on the spot, so I might change my mind later, but for now, off the top of my head, here are my favourites of the decade:
1) "X2:X-Men United" (2003) - Of all the movies I've been excited about seeing in the months and weeks leading up to its release, this was the most satisfying. It met and exceeded my expectations more than any other movies I've been really stoked about.
2) "Adaptation." (2002) - Has the best performance I've ever seen by Nicolas Cage (and I have seen many, many movies he's been in) in the best, funniest, and most insightful movie I've seen about the alternating joy and agony of being a writer.
3) "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2004) - The second most satisfying movie I've ever been really excited to see. People called it boring compared to the first one, but I say the first one (which I liked too) was a lot more shallow and this one was deeper, more moving, and overall just more enthralling. I guess it's because excellent acting and writing (especially great dialogue) thrills me more than good action.
4) "Before Sunset" (2004) - It's hard to judge this movie objectively. The honest truth is I love so much of it mostly because of how much it reminds me of an experience I had. This gives it an added poignancy for me, but even if I didn't relate to it so much, I think I'd still appreciate it for the eloquent writing and the sweetness and intensity of the performances, especially towards the end.
5) "Traffic" (2000) - My favourite 'ensemble drama' of the decade. I loved all the characters and stories in this. Rightfully won the best screenplay Oscar, and I think it was better than "Gladiator" and should have won best picture too.
6) "City of God" (2002) - The one movie on this list I would say is not only one of my favourite of the decade, but objectively one of the most beautifully written, directed, and acted movies of the decade. I usually have trouble getting into foreign movies, but this one was a cut above most of the ones I've seen, and I really think it deserved to win best picture in 2002.
7) "Lost in Translation" (2003) - I thought it was overrated when I first saw it, but moving to Japan, living there for a year, and falling in love with the culture gave me a bias that made me appreciate it a lot more.
8) "High Fidelity" (2000) - I think this movie is just about perfect, except for one bit of casting: Lisa Bonet. I hated her character and her performance. Without her, this would have been one of my top 5 favourites. Still, I think this is the smartest, coolest, and most thoughtful 'romantic comedy' of the 2000s (it's on a much higher intellectual level than most movies with that label these days). As a huge fan of 80s John Cusack, it was wonderful to see him showing some of his old magic in this movie.
9) "Donnie Darko" (2001) - The one time I was in complete agreement with the Internet about a movie they went crazy over and gave a cult following.
10) "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) - My favourite comedy of the decade.
Movies I used to have on the list, but dropped, or ones I considered putting at 10 that just missed it: Requiem for a Dream, Memento, 21 Grams, Catch Me if You Can.
I'm not setting strict rules here, so you could either post your personal favourites like I did, what you think are truly the 10 best 'scientifically', a combination, or both! Go crazy! I just want to know which movies people found most memorable out of all the new releases they saw between 2000 and 2009 and why. I've loved reading lists like that on another sites, and I'm sure I'd enjoy reading some here too.
