60. Knocked Up
The 40-Year Old Virgin could have easily assumed the obligatory Judd Apatow slot. But since I'm still under 40 and have 3 kids, I relate more to a perpetual adolescent growing up because of an unexpected pregnancy rather than unexpected love. The supporting cast is stronger here than 40YOV even if Katherine Heigl can't match the great Catherine Keener.
59. The New World
Terrence Malick's only film this decade was another nature-loving excursion that was more interested in tone and mood than plot. Malick is an acquired taste, but I find all of his films hypnotic and get transported every time.
58. Hot Fuzz
Turns the action-cop-buddy flick on its head by embracing and exploiting every single cliche. The jokes are of all varieties: running, throwaway, sight gag, vulgar, pun, etc. & most are character driven. The direction is just as fast and sharp as the script. The gore goes over the top a bit for my taste and not really appropriate for a standard action film. The gore was better suited for Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's almost-as-good predecessor, the zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead.
57. Downfall
Bruno Ganz is the best on-screen Hitler ever, completely compelling in every scene. The film itself is terrifically claustrophobic as we spend the last few days with Hitler in his underground bunker.
56. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Sidney Lumet's return to form had a terrific quartet of performers (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney) putting in some of their career-best work. The jumbled narrative approach has been overused elsewhere but Lumet balances everything perfectly. This may be Hoffman's best performance - and that really is saying something.
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
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Best Films of the Decade 60-56
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2 comments:
Mine:
60. Let The Right One In - I am sure you'll have this one on your list - a powerful and emotional film.
59. Bourne Ultimatum - The first of 4 Paul Greengrass films on my list is fun and interesting at the same time.
58. Oceans 11 - I am a sucker for the charisma and jocularity of this film and its stars.
57. Milk - A truly great performance from Penn, with solid supporting work from Hirsch and Brolin. Van Sant makes it too political, but it holds up on repeat viewings.
56. Slumdog Millionaire - Much maligned on this site, the film is kinetic and vibrant. I appreciate the inner story of the brothers and the struggle with poverty. I don't like the love story or the ending.
Yours:
I love Malick as well, but 2 viewings of TNW still hasn't made me like it, but I won't stop trying.
Hot Fuzz represents a truly historic break for Doc and Lawyer on a film - I can't stand this one - it is too clever by half and waaaay too long.
Downfall is a great one - agree with your comments.
BTDKYD is coming up (way up) in my list.
Mine so far:
70. Bad Santa
69. Batman Begins
68. Little Children
67. 3:10 to Yuma
66. Knocked Up
65. Meet The Parents
64. Nine Lives
63. Wall E
62. Public Enemies
61. In Bruges
60. Let the Right One In
59. Bourne Ultimatum
58. Oceans 11
57. Milk
56. Slumdog Millionaire
For the record, I am watching that stupid conversation in the woods between the kid and the teddy bear from AI right now. Now its brendan gleason tracking them in his Terrence Malick outfit. I really hate that bear.
We've got a ways to go before LTROI. Only one Greengrass from me and it's already in the rearview mirror. Ocean's 11 is about as great as mainstream entertainment got this decade.
Every character (especially Brolin) in Milk is one-dimensional. Harvey Milk is treated as if he were the second coming of Jesus. I could have used a more complicated, conflicted character (guilt about Diego Luna's death, some earlier backstory with his parents or siblings, earlier failures). Something.
There's no set-piece action scenes in New World (like Thin Red Line) to hang the narrative on so it suffers in comparison. Colin Farrell and Christian Bale look out of place but Q'orianka Kilcher fits in just fine.
I've seen Hot Fuzz 4 times now and appreciate the effort put into the dialogue and visuals in every single frame. I know it looks like they're trying too hard sometimes, but the cleverness of the dialogue just works for me. I think the running time is justified by the inventiveness of the murders and action scenes. I'll admit it's pretty cold emotionally - all brain, some guts, no heart.
AI, Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, and War of the Worlds didn't make the list. CMIYC was closest.
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