Best Films of the Decade 40-36

40. Collateral

A perfect film until Mark Ruffalo exits & pretzel logic is used to keep Tom Cruise in Jamie Foxx's cab. Foxx is better here than Ray and nobody does the crime film (modern or period) like Michael Mann. A great eclectic compilation of songs blends well with the evolving digital camera. Favorite brief scene: Camera following Ruffalo as Tom Rothrock's "Rollin' Crumblin'" plays on the soundtrack.

39. Amelie
A visual feast of colors highlights the unique look of the film, but it's the story of do-gooder Amelie (Audrey Tautou) helping everyone around her that gets your insides warm and cozy. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's fluid camera captures the naivete and innocence of Tautou beautifully.

38. Public Enemies
While Collateral stumbles toward the end, Public Enemies stumbles out of the block but hits full stride and doesn't look back when Texas Ranger Winstead (played with subtle tenacity by Stephen Lang) comes to the Midwest to help Melvis Purvis (Christian Bale) take down John Dillinger (Johnny Depp). Mann acknowledging that toughness and aggressiveness is sometimes needed in the field is jarring in the age of Obama. What seems appropriate behind the desks of college professors doesn't work in the real world.

37. About a Boy
It's contrived from the very beginning with an obvious message and a predictable plot, but somehow, some way, future hacks Paul and Chris Weitz create memorable characters that you identify with and root for. It probably has something to do with the witty script and the just-as-witty performance by Hugh Grant, whose misanthropy is very similar to mine. It's easily Grant's best performance, partly because it seems to be closest to his real life. Badly Drawn Boy's songs written for the film give it an added dimension and personality.

36. Inglourious Basterds

The use of propaganda (with film or otherwise) is surprisingly and amazingly explored by Quentin Tarantino. He's always had the talent, but didn't seem to have the discipline. Here, he delivers his most intellectually challenging and complex work. Christoph Waltz will be long remembered as Hans Landa. Too bad his character's actions in the final scenes were so uncharacteristically stupid. He would never let Aldo get the upper hand. But Tarantino bounces back with a brilliant, knowing last line. The dead character's image on the smoke is still a stunner - I'm shocked it hasn't been done before.

41. Munich
42. Black Hawk Down & The Constant Gardner
43. Mystic River
44. The Aviator
45. Cast Away
46. The Wrestler
47. Gosford Park
48. Kill Bill
49. You Can Count On Me
50. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
51. 21 Grams
52. Ratatouille & WALL-E
53. Road to Perdition
54. Billy Elliot
55. The Royal Tenenbaums
56. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
57. Downfall
58. Hot Fuzz
59. The New World
60. Knocked Up
61. Inland Empire
62. United 93
63. Babel
64. Pan's Labyrinth
65. In the Bedroom
66. Monsters, Inc.
67. The Pianist
68. Batman Begins
69. 3:10 to Yuma
70. King Kong
71. In Bruges
72. No Direction Home
73. Intolerable Cruelty
74. Little Children
75. Gangs of New York