In the interest of keeping some of these under wraps as it were, I will be revealing these backwards starting at fifty. Somethings to take into consideration: I have seen many movies and I'm kind of a snob. I do not watch as many foreign movies or documentaries as I should, but I am working on it. Most of my taste is derived from my father and stuff I've picked up along the way. That being the case, do not look down upon this list, or do. Either way, this is the list, for better or worse.
50. Kill Bill (2003, 2004) Directed by Quentin Tarantino
I don't consider this to be two separate movies as it was released. It was meant to be one, but because of marketing problems with a three hour movie (that were later realized in Tarantino's next project "Grindhouse"), the producers decided to split it into two separate ones. This is one of the more popular movies of the decade and has it's own implications about honor, revenge and love. Tarantino says that it's supposed to be a kick ass exploitation film, but in real life, it's a character piece. I think Tarantino still hasn't gotten past the fact that it's okay to have some emotion in his movies. This was the beginning of his transformation into a mature filmmaker.
49. Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) Directed by George Clooney
Who would have thought that the guy that guest starred on "The Facts of Life" would go on to such success as a director? While many actors eventually try their hands at directing, not so many of them actually are truly successful. (Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood being the obvious exceptions.) George Clooney easily sidles into the directing chair and tells the straightforward story of Edward R. Murrow, one of the few newscasters of the time that stood up for what he believed in during the McCarthy trials of the 1950s. David Strathairn does not even seem himself in the film. He so embodies everything about Murrow that you have a hard time recognizing the actor. It's really too bad that more people won't give Strathairn a chance in the lead role of a movie aside from this one. It's obvious that, when given the opportunity, he knocks it out of the park.
48. Narc (2002) Directed by Joe Carnahan
A little known movie from earlier in the decade follows the murder investigation of an undercover cop. While a lot of the movie is telegraphed earlier in the narrative, it's not the destination but the path as with "The Lord of the Rings" films. You know what's gonna happen the entire time, but it's the matter of getting there that's the exciting part. Something else to take note in this movie: Ray Liotta. Almost twenty years now, he was one of the best actors working. Taking roles that fit him and were popular for the moment. Now, he's reduced to playing the dumb, arrogant cop in "Observe and Report" (a very good movie that's marred by his overacting). Go back and look at this movie, watch his performance, especially his monologue later on in the movie. You'll realize that there's still a good actor in there somewhere, but no one knows what happened to him. Here's hoping he'll be back soon.
47. Adaptation (2002) Directed by Spike Jonze
Charlie Kaufman has become known as the type of screenwriter that messes with the structure of film to the point where it almost makes no sense, "Being John Malkovich" being the epitome of this. The thing about "Adaptation" that sets it apart from the rest is Nicolas Cage. Nicolas Cage is an actor that receives a lot of flack. He has a tendency to overact and pick bad roles. This is another movie to look back on with reverence because of his performance as twins. It is a near perfect film about writer's block with a small bit of smugness always simmering. Luckily for the movie, it never boils over, but it does come quite close.
46. Munich (2005) Directed by Steven Spielberg
It seems that when a celebrity of any kind has any measure of success that they're always measured by it for the rest of their lives. Just ask M. Night Shymalan. Spielberg is one of those directors that has been constantly (and sometimes unfairly) measured by his last movie. When "War of the Worlds" came out, it was a box office success, probably moreso than people expected. But afterwards, there was a weird backlash. People saying that the ending was forced and too happy, the Spielberg ending. When you watch "Munich", you realize there is no Spielberg ending. This is his darkest movie. There are no easy answers, heroism is distrusted and questioned and people die. The one problem with this movie is the way it plays with the facts. That is unforgivable, but this is not a history lesson. It's a movie. And as that, it's an unqualified success. Star making performance from Eric Bana who has sneakily become one of my favorite actors.
45. The Mist (2007) Directed by Frank Darabont
The 2000s were a great year for horror. Different directors took different approaches to this. Frank Darabont gets the award for the Biggest Kick to the Balls Ending. The movie is about a father and son who have to hole up in a grocery store while the town is being attacked by the thickest mist ever. In the mist, there are all sorts of creatures that tear people apart anytime they venture into it, even if you are Andre Braugher. The movie allows the characters to develop instead of forcing them to develop like many movies do nowadays. We see the hysteria happening, piece by piece as people begin to believe the religious fanatic played by Marcia Gay Harden. If you're looking for end of the world, this is the movie to watch. And that ending...still haunts me to this day. Based upon the short story by Stephen King.
44. The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005) by Judd Apatow
Back when I saw this movie in the summer that it came out, I didn't really think that it would be on any top lists of the decade. As it turns out, the movie has aged very well. The jokes are still funny and the performances are the glue that holds everything together. Steve Carrel earns his successful career in this performance. It's a performance of great restraint and subtlety even when he's yelling curse words. He's the type of actor that people don't give credit to because what he's doing is so natural. The fact that he was not nominated for an Oscar for this movie is a travesty. The Academy should have considered considering comedic performances into their nominations before they considered adding five other Best Picture nominations. Something else...Judd Apatow has not made a movie like this since this. "Knocked Up" had a short shelf life and "Funny People" was terrible. I think too many people want to think of him as something he's not. If he goes back to the drawing board and doesn't allow as much improvisation (or at least get people that are better at doing it than Seth Rogen, or at least restrain his actors), then he'll have another movie like this. If he wants to do a drama, do a drama. Dramedy is not your strong suit. Oh yeah and Catherine Keener is one of the hottest middle agers in film history. Her performance, as chronicled by my friend Mike on another blog, is one of the best of the decade. She is a perfect compliment to Steve Carrel.
43. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) Directed by Guillermo Del Toro
This is what happens when you cross a horror director with a fairy tale. We all knew that Guillermo Del Toro had talent, even during "Blade II". But this movie came out of left field in the best way possible. It's a story that children would like, but the way it's told is a bit dark and violent. One of the ways to recognize the impact this film has had on me is the fact that I haven't seen it since I saw it at Great Northern Mall on a blustery winter night. The movie acts like a dream, or a nightmare in some cases. It is as beautiful and poetic with it's images as it is with it's story. Great performances all around.
42. The Devil's Rejects (2005) Directed by Rob Zombie
I know what you're thinking: "You're going through the best movies of the decade and you're including this piece of trash?" While I agree that it is a piece of trash, it is an extremely skillful piece of trash. What Tarantino set out to do with "Grindhouse", Rob Zombie did without all the pomp and circumstance that the previous film had. There were no expectations for this movie whatsoever. With Zombie's first feature film "House of 1,000 Corpses" he showed that he had no talent except for one sequence that still unnerves me. Take that one sequence and make it feature length and you have something that resembles "The Devil's Rejects". For a movie that's so depraved and disgusting, you are compelled to watch the three main characters go through all the motions. Watch them kill these innocent people. And for some reason, you still identify with them in some respects. Now, I'm not saying that I intend on growing a beard and my hair out and teaming up with Sid Haig and Sherri Moon Zombie...well, maybe Sherri Moon Zombie...and killing a bunch of folks. But, the three leads are so good that you understand what's going on at each moment of the terror. They're not stereotypes, they're real people. Now, while I respect the remake of "Halloween" and really respect the sequel to the remake, the main qualm I have with them is that Zombie has a tendency to write this overly vulgar and hillbilly-ish dialogue that takes people out of the moment. In "The Devil's Rejects", it made sense because that's who they were. But giving Michael Myers the background that he came from a stripper mother and a broken home take a lot of the punch out of his character. You begin to believe that if you spit on the wrong hillbilly that he'll become the epitome of evil instead of Carpenter's version where he's just an unstoppable force. Not white trash with an attitude and a mask.
41. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) Directed by Tim Burton
Tim Burton has been one of my favorite directors since the original "Batman" with Nicholson as the Joker. Burton rarely takes a step in the wrong direction. Sometimes, he has a tendency to go over the top with the visuals and this movie ran the risk of him finally running out of steam with his visual style. Even the look of Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd screams Tim Burton. Needless to say, going into the movie I was extremely hesitant. Oh yeah, and the fact that it was a musical. That worried me. Let me say, seeing the movie proved to be one of the most enjoyable experiences that I've had this decade. It was a classical story, perfect for Tim Burton's directorial style. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman all turn in fantastic performances and do all their own singing. The movie is truly a diamond in the rough. If you like horror movies, musicals or just plain period dramas, this movie will fill that void for you.
bro where's part 2
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