Top 5 Records--Er--100 Films for the Decade

Being the painfully lazy individual I am (and not knowing Lauren intended for us to give a thorough explanation of our top ten films per year per decade), I'm just posting this now, hoping to eek in the final tallies before the clock strikes midnight, when I turn back into a pumpkin. Fortunately, I've popped the extended edition of Return of the King in the ol' DVD player, so I'll have some fine cinematic company as I bang out this final draft of my strange (but very me) top films of a decade I'm quite happy to put behind me.

Let's start, as is most appropriate, at the beginning.

2000

1. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Homer + my beloved Coen Brothers = bizarre masterpiece. Wonderful, whimsical performances coupled with stunning visuals. Right behind Raising Arizona in my estimation of their fine work.

2. Gladiator
Quite frankly, I don't care one way or another about the historical accuracy of this film. The rule remains this: does it make a good movie? The answer is a resounding yes. Are you not entertained? Crowe is great, but it's Joaquin Phoenix who dominates the screen with his creepy, slithering Commodus.

3. The Emperor's New Groove
Funniest. Disney. Movie. Ever. Unparalleled villainous voicework from the legendary Eartha Kitt, and a typically delightful snarkfest from David Spade.

4. High Fidelity
As one of those kids looking for unreleased Smiths singles, this whip-smart grown-up comedy strikes a nerve with any true music lover...and anyone who's ever had a broken heart. God love Nick Hornby. Besides the ultra charming John Cusack speaking directly to the camera, this flick also features Jack Black at his manic best.

5. Snatch
Guy Ritchie's strongest entry into his no girls allowed action-comedies. Brad Pitt is a riotous as the unintelligible Mickey. Endlessly quotable.

6. Memento
Everyone who's ever told their story backward just needs to thank Christopher Nolan right now. Total stunner.

7. Almost Famous
Cameron Crowe, having himself been a Rolling Stone contributor, lends real heart to this great semi-autobiographical film. "Tiny Dancer" on the tour bus is reason enough alone to adore this movie.

8. Billy Elliot
Jamie Bell as a ballet dancer? How improbable! Also how delightful and moving.

9. Chicken Run
I love stop-motion. I love Nick Park. I love plucky chickens!

10. Best in Show
God love you, Christopher Guest. Not Spinal Tap, mind you, but another great mockumentary from the king of all fake reality. Dog shows are comical in and of themselves, anyway. You know those people have got to be weird.

2001

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The beginning of a beautiful friendship. More to come on these films later.

2. The Royal Tenenbaums

You either love or hate Wes Andersen. I'm solidly in the first category, in spite of the UNWATCHABLE Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (seriously, Lauren??). This flick, with all the Andersen regulars at the top of their game), manages to be uproariously funny and quite moving. Nothing better than a solid dark comedy. Nothing.

3. Shrek

This movie changed the game. Funny, funny, funny, even prior to the appearance of my beloved Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots. And you're a liar if you say you haven't sung the Duloc song or quoted Eddie Murphy in his only funny turn of the last 10 years. Don't even deny it.

4. Monsters, Inc.

On the other end of the animated spectrum is this tender bedtime story. It lost out to the previous film when Oscar handed out its first Best Animated Feature statuette, but the film is still a fine entry in a long line of Pixar gems. I want Sully to be the monster in my closet.

5. AI: Artificial Intelligence

Kubrick and Spielberg make for a strange directorial pairing, but after the former's death, the latter took the reins of this bleak sci fi flick and gave it the emotional center it would surely have lacked. The Blue Fairy bit is absolutely brutal.

6. Gosford Park

Beautiful period piece from Robert Altman with a stellar cast. My first exposure to my beloved Clive Owen. Siiigh. Great script. Great movie.

7. Zoolander

There, I said it. And I'm making Blue Steel WHILE I say it! Fabulous fun for the fashionista in all of us. Everyone loves Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson together.

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

A surprising pick from me, I'll admit, but this film is absolutely charming from beginning to end. The kids are lovable, the script is tight, and Hogwarts looks like some place I'd actually like to attend school. A little nugget of joy, really.

9. A Knight's Tale

I can offer no (rational) explanation for this unabashedly absurd film, but God help me, I love it. The entire costuming department should be fired, the dancing scene is truly painful, and Shannyn Sossamon is unbelievably irritating...but the soundtrack rocks hard, and the knight, his squires, and his herald are tons of fun.

10. K-PAX

Kevin Spacey is an alien...maybe. Jeff Bridges is his psychiatrist. Those two names alone are enough to demonstrate that this is a well-acted, moving piece of cinema.

2002

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

My favorite of the chapters (book-wise and film-wise), this stellar film ups the ante (and lost best picture to CHICAGO?!?) like whoa. Helm's Deep is the best battle scene ever committed to film. Ever. And I just watched it again today, and I stand by that. Check out Legolas surfing on his shield. Badass is such a gross understatement.

2. Road to Perdition

A truly great gangster film, surprisingly from that pinhead Sam Mendes. Tom Hanks turns in a great, out-of-character performance. Instead of hailing gangsters as the epitome of cool, this film acknowledges that these folks are essentially soulless murderers. Thank God someone sees it that way.

3. Catch Me If You Can

I once thought I could never forgive Leonardo DiCaprio for Titanic. Then he teamed up with Christopher Walken and Steven Spielberg for this captivating true story of a young...thief. Fascinating and fun from beginning to end.

4. About a Boy

A second appearance of a Nick Hornby adaptation, this is Hugh Grant in his career-best. A pitch-perfect performance of a snarky, self-centered man who's never worked a day in his life whose friendship with a bizarre boy changes him...sort of. Instant classic.

5. Minority Report
Adapted from a Phillip K. Dick novel is all you have to tell me. Come on, the man gave us Blade Runner. Stunning, morality-probing sci fi as usual.

6. The Bourne Identity

The one that started it all. Jason Bourne is one of my dream men.

7. In America

The only movie that made me cry so hard that I had to turn it off, return it to the video store, and finish watching it YEARS LATER. Moving beyond measure. Beautiful, beautiful film about an immigrant family.

8. Red Dragon

Lauren may kill me, but I actually prefer this one to Silence of the Lambs. I think it's because Edward Norton doesn't have that creepy crush on Anthony Hopkins. I respect that. Great performances all around in this one. Ralph Fiennes still gives me nightmares.

9. Gangs of New York

Bill the Butcher. That's enough to explain this one.

10. Signs

Sappy, but effective. I like this movie against my better judgment. Before Shymalan lost his damn mind and made Lady in the (Toilet) Water and The Crappening. Also slightly before Mel Gibson lost his damn mind and made a fool of himself all over the place. Sheesh.

2003

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Gondor's badly misinterpreted. The death of Saruman's all wrong. The Scouring of the Shire's completely absent. So obviously, Peter Jackson missed...some of the most important points of Tolkien's novel. HOWEVER, the film remains a moving, absolutely beautiful conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. I saw this film 8 (count 'em, 8) times in the theater, including once at the midnight show, and sobbed every single time. I was truly sad when I realized that there would be no more LOTR flicks being released in December.

2. Big Fish

The absolute best of Tim Burton's films. Putting his artistic eye to good use, Burton imbues this tale of father and son and, indeed, storytelling, with loveliness and sincerity. The least "Burtony" of his works, and, for that very reason, far exceeding the quality of any other.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

I've always loved pirates and Errol Flynn and swashbuckling. An old-fashioned adventure flick, with two gorgeous men to boot, this made for a perfect summer movie. Besides, Captain Jack Sparrow is the most enduring character of the decade.

4. School of Rock

Jack Black as a substitute teacher who makes his fifth grade class into a rockin' band. Unlikely? Yes. Awesome? Indubitably. Endlessly funny. Even with that moron Sarah Silverman in the mix.

5. X2: X-Men United

The best of the X-Men movies. No contest. Mostly because of Nightcrawler. Great stuff.

6. Secondhand Lions

To save time, ditto what Lauren said. And...I'm going to grow up to be Robert Duvall, if I have it my way.

7. Finding Nemo

If you didn't cry at this movie...you have no soul. And if you didn't laugh at this movie, you have no soul. Ellen Degeneres as Dory was a stroke of genius.

8. Whale Rider

Girl power at its most triumphant! Spirited Keisha Castle-Hughes shows real spunk in her quest to become the tribal leader of a fiercely traditional clan. When she climbs on the back of the whale...no words. None.

9. Elf

The only Christmas classic of this decade. Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?

10. Underworld

...I'm not going to explain this one. I'll simply refer you to my review of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. You'll understand the irrational love.

2004

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

You can't help with whom you fall in love is the enduring lesson of this beautiful, trippy tragicomedy. And we fall in love with Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry and, more importantly, with steady Joel and eccentric Clementine. Wonderfully romantic and completely innovative.

2. Shaun of the Dead

Wickedly clever and raucously funny, this gem from the horror-comedy genre stands alone. Shaun, played with charming bewilderment by the glorious Simon Pegg, is the greatest hero/loser of all time. It gets better with every viewing.

3. The Incredibles

Stellar voicework and visuals right out of Jonny Quest. Atta boy, Brad Bird. You made the second-best Pixar film ever. The only question is this: how the HELL did he make that dull excuse for a movie Ratatouille as his follow-up?

4. The Bourne Supremacy
More of the same, but this time with Karl Urban, Joan Allen, and the CRAZY intense scene in the bathroom with Nicky (Julia Stiles). Still the best moment in all the movies. I honestly thought he was gonna cap her.

5. The Aviator

Oh Scorsese. You made such a lovely film about such a crazy man. More proof that Leo was coming around. Totally intrigued with this portrait of Howard Hughes. It's the way of the future.

6. The Motorcycle Diaries

Gael Garcia Bernal brings Che Guevara to vivid, sexy life in his portrayal of the young revolutionary. You know, before he was a revolutionary.

7. Finding Neverland

Johnny Depp turns in a surprisingly tender performance as JM Barrie. Another film that I sobbed through unashamedly. And I don't even like Peter Pan.

8. Sideways

Every time I watch this film, I want to become a wino. Seriously funny stuff, and some lovely performances from Virginia Madsen, Paul Giamatti, and Thomas Haden Church.

9. Spider-Man 2

This film series found its feet with the campaign against Doc Ock and that handsome astronaut fellow who was going to marry Mary Jane. Despite that annoying soundtrack, this made for a fantastic, riveting summer superhero flick. This one was more than just an upside down kiss.

10. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

The most quotable film of the decade. You know you love it.

2005

1. Syriana

Fascinating, super-complex analysis of Middle East politics. Brilliant cast, brilliant script, brilliant look...horrifically underrated film. See it. You'll be confused, but if you just get the gist, you'll get the point. Oh, and George Clooney again.

2. Brokeback Mountain

A film I didn't understand when I saw it at the age of 17. Then, I thought it was overrated. However, every haunting moment of the film has stuck with me, deeply moving me to think in the most complex, analytical ways and to feel in the most raw, human ways. Seeing it again years later, the performances are absolutely mind-blowing, and the tragic tale is truly heart-breaking. Heath Ledger at his very best, and yet only beginning to reveal his grand potential. Ang Lee's film is truly masterful in every cinematic sense. Except for the score, which still sucks.

3. Batman Begins

Fully recovered from the fiasco that was Batman and Robin. George, you're forgiven, thanks to Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan.

4. King Kong

Still not as good as the original, but truly epic.

5. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

OK, George Lucas, OK. Your writing is still gibberish, the landscapes are still garish, and evolution still doesn't seem to take hold in your universe, but...damn it, this was some kick-ass stuff that hearkened back to the old days! Exciting, which was a first for the prequels. And Ewan McGregor, thanks for actually trying to act.

6. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Soooo British. And floating bunnies are probably the funniest thing you'll ever see. Just try not to laugh. Try. You will fail.

7. Pride and Prejudice

Awwww, Mr. Darcy! Keira Knightley makes a scruffy, sassy Elizabeth Bennett in this pretty, delicate adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. And while it's hardly Sense and Sensibility, it's still a proper sigh-inducing chick flick.

8. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

A sexy, funny shoot 'em up, this made for a fantastic popcorn movie.

9. The Constant Gardener

Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, and Bill Nighy add up to a great thriller.

10. Red Eye

Unbelievably tense and fun, Red Eye will have you wishing Cillian Murphy would beat you up in a bathroom. Or maybe that's just Lauren and me. Hm...

2006

1. Children of Men

From my BNAT entry, 2009: "Although I practically freebase sci fi and therefore am a devotee of many dystopian flicks, my favorite is Alfonso Cuaron's 2006 stunner, Children of Men. With a stellar, achingly beautiful performance from Clive Owen at its heart, this film transcends the genre, turning the probable end of the world into something real, visceral, and painful in ways that even Blade Runner fails to reflect. In a present-day world plagued with partisan politics, immigration issues, capitalistic inequalities, and political extremism, the childless future, while shocking and seemingly impossible, startles itself into contemplation of a global situation that is itself imperfect. From the stark beauty of the film's composition to its effective use of music (that cover of "Ruby Tuesday" simply haunts Michael Caine's final scene) to that UNBELIEVABLE tracking shot, Children of Men is truly a work of art, worthy of preservation in the Ark of the Arts."

2. The Queen
The side of the Diana story no one had ever bothered to tell, and by far the most compelling. Michael Sheen IS Tony Blair, and Helen Mirren wows as the stately Head of State in a sharply funny and poignant motion picture.

3. Pan's Labyrinth

One of those rare movies when I actually care about a child. Ever-imaginative Guillermo del Toro's harrowing Spanish Civil War film somehow lost Best Foreign Language film. A true crime against cinema. Gorgeous, haunting, epic.

4. Brick

Best neo-noir film of the decade. It's hip, quick dialogue straight out of a Bogey picture, with a fine performance from the indie king Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A completely engrossing film.

5. Casino Royale

I never liked Bond until this film.; thank God the Bourne films came out to reboot this franchise. Taut action with a craggy, strangely attractive lead in Daniel Craig, this flick is an thrill ride without all the hokey stuff I'd always identified with Bond. It doesn't hurt that it looks like a Bourne movie...

6. The Prestige

A grand old time at the cinema. Smart and eerie yet exciting and beautiful. Hugh Jackman's at a career high in this brilliant adaptation of the super creepy Christopher Priest novel.

7. Thank You for Smoking

Smart comedy with some great performances from Aaron Eckhart, JK Simmons, David Koechner, and the lovely Adam Brody in a great send-up of Capitol Hill. Jason Reitman made a great debut.

8. Flushed Away

More Aardman animation fun, with some of the best voice acting around. Ian McKellen is delicious as a sinister frog.

9. Night at the Museum

Lots of little things go right to make this funny kiddie movie a real treat for the entire family. Not least among them is the chemistry between Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan and a laugh-a-minute turn by Ricky Gervais as a crabby museum director.

10. Blood Diamond

Scary discussion of African politics through the lens of a desperate father and a mercenary.

2007

1.The Bourne Ultimatum

Bourne redefined the action flick. I dragged myself out to a midnight show of this one, too, and what a treat. Again, it's more of the same, but it's top notch action/car chases/storytelling. And when you see the scene with Pam from the previous installment replay, you can't help but say, "OH MY GOD THAT JUST HAPPENED." Mindblowing.

2. No Country for Old Men

My mom couldn't make it past the first ten minutes of this incredibly well-constructed tale of Anton Chirgurh's unrelenting quest to recover money. Murder and mayhem ensue in this so-Coen-Brothers-it's-ridiculous Best Picture winner, and it's truly something to behold.

3. Zodiac

David Fincher's fascinating portrait not of the Zodiac himself (who was never caught) but of the descent of respectable professionals into a tragic obsession with the case. Acting is the name of the game in this one, and Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, and Mark Ruffalo turn in solid, haunting work.

4. Michael Clayton

As is probably evident from a number of the films appearing on this list, I consider George Clooney to be the man of the decade. A corporate thriller of the highest order, with Grade-A performances from all involved. Also, first time director Tony Gilroy makes one hell of an entrance.

5. 3:10 to Yuma

Now THIS is how Westerns are meant to be: gritty, smart pictures with a good-bad dichotomy that's just as muddy as the sets. Where was the Oscar love for Ben Foster, whose scary-as-hell turn as Russell Crowe's second-in-command is the true highlight of the film?

6. Stardust

The brilliant Neil Gaiman wrote the engaging fantasy novel that Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, anyone?) brought to glittering life in 2007. Hilarious, romantic, and turning in a higher body count than a Tarantino movie, Stardust made us laugh, sigh, and laugh some more. Also: dead Septimus sword-fighting still wows.

7. There Will Be Blood

Daniel Day-Lewis truly drank everyone's milkshake in his thoroughly engrossing portrayal of ruthless business man, Daniel Plainview. The most deserved Oscar of the decade. (*Sorry, Lauren: no way did Viggo top Daniel Day-Lewis. I saw Eastern Promises, too, and there is NO WAY IN HELL.)

8. Transformers

A movie that should be wretched through and through, this Michael Bay production charms and excites. The actual transforming is tons of fun to watch, and stuff gets blowed up reeeeal good. I mean, reeeeal good. Transformers 2? Didn't happen.

9. Waitress

This little indie flick, showing off the talents of Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, is a bittersweet treat, rather like the lead's own "I hate my husband pie." Love in this film is not of the redeeming, transcendent nature but of the complicated, messy form, truer to life than more tender offerings. And just when you thought all knocked-up women movies show some kind of maturity in the lead, the titular waitress's unexpect pregnancy is handled with frustration, appropriate for her long-suffering, unhappily married lady.

10. Surf's Up

I'm going to come right out and say that Happy Feet was a big steaming heap of boredom, an unfocused yawn of a film with every voice actor turning in a half-assed performance. In short, it sucked. By contrast, the snappy, unexpectedly funny Surf's Up put its incredible voice cast to work (Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, James Woods) in this mockumentary that makes for big laughs and some truly pretty filmmaking. A nugget of joy that makes penguins look way more fun than they are in Happy Feet.

2008

1. The Dark Knight

I can't say anything about this film that hasn't already been said. Quite possibly the best superhero flick ever.

2. Iron Man

I've always enjoyed RDJ and found him to be an incredible talent, but...I fell in love with his Tony Stark. LOVE. It's that serious. Only slightly edged out by the previous listing, Iron Man was a sexy show of ballsy bravado that kicked off the summer movie season right. RDJ shines, glows, and glitters in his performance as a self-absorbed womanizing genius weapons manufacturer. Fantastic fun with a big heart and, somewhat surprisingly, a big brain.

3. Wall-E
Best first 30 minutes of a movie ever? Fall in love with Wall-E to the merry tune of "Put on Your Sunday Clothes."

4. Let the Right One In

An icy, righteously creepy Swedish coming-of-age story which stands among the very best motion pictures of the decade. Oh, did I mention it's a vampire movie? Taking its name from a Morrissey B-side, the same air of tragedy that characterizes Mozzer's work is evident in the story of a bullied boy and the little girl who inspires him to hit back. Hard.

5. Kung Fu Panda

It's the prettiest animated movie of the decade, and Jack Black's jubilant Po makes one of the most loveable heroes around.

6. Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle gives this love story real heart and real flair. Stylish, moving, and well-acted. And everyone loves "Jai Ho."

7. The Reader

Even if this weren't an incredibly tragic Holocaust tale, contrasting the warmth of teenage lust with the darkness of the ultimate human depravity, The Reader would still make this list because they finally gave the damn Oscar to my girl Kate Winslet. Hell. Yes.

8. Tropic Thunder

Hilaaaaaaaaaaaarious. And it's all because of RDJ's absolutely outlandish performance as Kirk Lazarus. Let's be honest: in five years, we're all going to wish we'd given best supporting actor to RDJ for this enduring role as egotistical, black-faced method actor extraordinaire. Sure, other folks are worth watching, and the stuff's (generally) well written, but watch this with the cast commentary. This is Robert's show. Period.

9. Role Models

The pairing of uptight Paul Rudd and super geeky McLovin makes for comedic gold. I laughed so hard it was truly embarrassing.

10. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Imaginative in that distinctive del Toro way. Funny and beautiful, in its own weird way. Oh, and Ron Pearlman is stellar as Hellboy. Loooove this stuff.

2009

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox

As of today, I've seen this film three times, and I can't wait to see it again. Wes Anderson was MADE for animation. Made for it. And Roald Dahl has NEVER been adapted better. The scruffy puppets, the rocking soundtrack ("The Ballad of Davy Crockett" and "Street Fighting Man" among the cuts), the cleverest script of the year, and the amazing voice cast make the barely hour and a half flick zip past. I grinned, laughed, guffawed, cheered. Wondrous!!! I can't recommend this movie any more.

2. District 9

The smartest, most complex sci fi flick of the year. It works superficially as an action flick, yet asks the audience to think. The faux documentary format gives it a great structure. And I guess he's technically unattractive, but I have a mad crush on Sharlto Copley, aka Wikus. Go figure.

3. (500) Days of Summer

The quirky romance that that God-awful Garden State wanted to be. Zooey Deschanel makes a perfect muse for the besotted Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Beautiful and at times laugh-out-loud funny, the film's got heart and pizzazz unlike any other of the year. Also: The Smiths bring them together. That's enough for me.

4. Star Trek

I've never been a trekkie, but this sexy update was the most summery, most thoroughly enjoyable live action movie of the year.

5. Up!

It's a movie that shouldn't work. An old guy and a little weird boy scout in a balloon. But damn, if those guys at Pixar didn't have us crying in the first ten minutes. The strangest tear-jerker of the year.

6. Sherlock Holmes

Fun, fun, fun. Downey's great, but Jude Law tops him as a devilish clever, sexy Watson. And look for a surprisingly good score from that suckbag Hans Zimmer. Can't wait for this sequel!

7. Zombieland

The second zombie comedy on the list, this one features the biggest badass of 2009, Woody Harrelson as the incomparable Tallahassee, a one-man wrecking ball with a true disdain for the undead. It's not as smart as Shaun of the Dead, but it's equally fun. And Bill Murray has the absolute best cameo of the year. The BEST.

8. Bright Star

A lavish period piece from Jane Campion, this film tells a passionate, PG love story. Love is defined by longing gazes, romantic letters, and playful caresses. Ben Whishaw makes a divine John Keats. I audibly sighed and wished I could inspire a man to write ME poetry. Hot damn.

9. The Informant!

Matt Damon is the best moron of the year in this kooky story of a corporate informant.

10. Taken

See the review from earlier. It's awesome, though.

Well, folks, there you have it. May I be much better at reviewing in the year to come!

Looking Back at the Decade

It's hard to believe that tomorrow we begin a new decade. As we look back on the '00s, we should take the time to consider what this decade has meant for film. True, this is the decade which gave us the horrors of Glitter and Crossroads, but it has also given us some truly great films. In honor of this decade, Katie and I decided to each post our own list of the greatest films of the decade.

Now, I need to say a few things before I begin. First, there are many, many great films of this decade that I have yet to see for various reasons (the main one has to do with the fact that I couldn't see R rated movies at the beginning of this decade). As much as I would like to include these on my list, it isn't right. So, this list is of my favorite films that I've seen. There will obviously be some great films missing. There will also be films on here that I put simply because of my own enjoyment. For the most part, I tried to limit it to films that have cultural importance and/or cinematic achievements. As much as I would love to do a count down from 100 to 1, I simply cannot make up my mind as to which was the best film of the decade. Instead I've listed them by year. The goal was to pick the ten best films of each year, however, in the course of writing this list, I realized that some years were just not good years for cinema ( I I haven't seen enough films from that year), and the list does not reach ten. Other years exceed ten, owing to the fact that these were amazing years for film. I'm ending this list with my top ten for 2009.

Happy New Year!

2000

Almost Famous

There is so much about this film that I love. So many people focused on the importance of video games and film in youth culture in the past decade. Music was overlooked. Almost Famous is a film which shows us the importance of music in the lives of youth. William Miller loves music and hero worships his favorite musicians. Even though the film is set in 1973, I cannot think of a single person who can't relate to William. The idea of getting to go on tour with your favorite band? This is every teenager's dream.

Battle Royale

This is a film I'm not sure many have seen, but it's brilliant. That's really all I can say about it. Anything else would give too much away.

Billy Elliot

This movie is the story of a young boy's discovery of ballet and his quest to pursue his love of dancing. Billy's story is set against the backdrop of economic difficulty and the impact of a coal miner's strike on his village. This isn't just a dance flick. It's a powerful film about the love of family, acceptance, and the importance of the encouragement from one mentor to an unlikely student.

Bring It On

Mock me if you want for putting this film on this list, but let's be real. Who hasn't quoted this movie incessantly over since it came out? "Spirit Fingers!" More than just a cultural impact, this movie was smarter than it had any right to be.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

This movie is important not only for what it meant to martial arts in film, but because it lead to a rise in American interest in Asian cinema. This film changed so much. And while Ang Lee had garnered recognition for his earlier films, this film, to me, was what put him on the map.

The Emperor's New Groove

By far one of my all time favorite animated movies, The Emperor's New Groove was far better than it deserved to be. This is one of my favorite Disney movies, and one of their best in a decade which I remember as the decline of Disney and the rise of Pixar.

Memento

Christopher Nolan, in my mind, has yet to surpass this masterpiece. I know so many people who violently hate this film and I cannot understand why. This film is one of the best of the decade. The script, the storytelling, is perfection. I remember watching this with my mother, who had this confused look one her face the whole movie. At the end, the look of revelation crossed her face. It was that "I get it!" moment. But as soon as the credits rolled, she went back to puzzling over the film. That, to me, is a sign of a great movie. You should walk away from the film still thinking on it, still deciphering what it was saying. You should go back and watch it again and again, each time unraveling a new part of it. Memento does all of this flawlessly.

Snatch

Guy Ritchie's follow up to Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels was met with mixed reactions, but I love it. This is nothing more than a fun, smart film, but you have to love it for it. If nothing else, it will go down in memory for Brad Pitt's absurd role, which is nothing but genius.

2001

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

All of The Lord of the Rings films changed everything, but this was the first. There was severe doubt that this film would be a success. Historically, fantasy films had not done well at the box office. But this film changed all of that. It paved the way for the huge flush of fantasy films that flooded box offices in the following years. Forget about Harry Potter. Gandalf is the wizard who changed it all. And truly, this film is well acted to the T, with stunning visuals, costuming, and fight choreography which lead fans to tears. So it didn't have Tom Bombadil. Honestly, I'm not sure I care anymore.

Moulin Rouge!

The 90s were not a good time for musicals. Remember 1996's Evita with Madonna? Yeah, I went there. There hadn't been a decent musical in a while. While the vocal work in Moulin Rouge! rarely rises above mediocre, it's the film's dazzling visuals and joyous fun that allow it to stand out.

Shrek

Before Shrek, DreamWorks hadn't had much luck with animated movies. Disney was the powerhouse. Antz, The Prince of Egypt, and Chicken Run had done alright. The Road to El Dorado had been a complete flop, not even managing to make enough money in the box office to pay for itself. After The Road to El Dorado, DreamWorks learned. Chicken Run was made at less than half the coast of El Dorado. After Chicken Run's success, DreamWorks bet it's money on an animated movie called Shrek. And boy, did they win big. Aside from being a huge commercial success, this movie charmed hearts across the world. It didn't follow the usual Disney formula of "handsome prince/peasant meets beautiful princess/peasant and they fall in love and live happily ever after after slaying a dragon/jerk-who-wants-to-marry-princess/evil-stepmother/evil-sorcerer." Instead the nasty, mean ogre unwillingly saves the wannabe feminist princess and they fall in love and live happily ever after. Not that we blamed Princess Fiona. We'd rather be an ogre and live in a swamp than marry Lord Farquaad.

Spirited Away

This is one of, if not the, best of Miyazaki's work. I know people who go on and on about Princess Mononoke, but Spirited Away owns it.

Training Day

One of Denzel Washington's finest performances. The acting alone merits it a spot on this list.

Zoolander

It's hard to believe that this film is as old as it is. This film, like Bring It On, earns it's spot for being both a giant cultural impact and a laughing good time. EVERYONE quotes Zoolander, even after all these years.

(2001, I hate to say, was one of those "not good years" mentioned earlier. Do I need to say more than Glitter?)

2002

28 Days Later

I love this film. It changed zombie movies. It was one of many dystopian films of the decade, but this is one of the ones that stands out. While I am sure that Danny Boyle will be remembered best for his later work Slumdog Millionaire, this to me is one of his finest. The cinematography, the acting, the storytelling...all of it is brilliant. The score was EPIC. It still pops up all the time in bad trailers for even worse Hollywood movies, making me die a little inside to hear how it's dishonored.

The Bourne Identity

I want you to think back to 2002. This was the year of Die Another Day. After that, Bond was dead to most of us. It had been coming. Goldeneye had raised our hopes, promising us a new, amazing Bond. Tomorrow Never Dies was passable. The only good thing to come out of The World is Not Enough was an amazing, if not the best, Bond theme. Then came the stinking turd known as Die Another Day. On paper it must have looked fine. The Bond girl was Halle Berry. Halle Berry who had just won an Oscar, for crying out loud. Halle Berry at the height of her hotness (before she went all Catwoman and scarred everyone who watched that movie for life). The truth? It was more horrible than can be explained. We were done with Bond. We wanted a new hero. And we got him. Jason Bourne. True, The Bourne Identity came out in theaters long before Die Another Day, but Jason Bourne had us saying, "Who cares?" to old 007. Here was a hero that owned James. Jason Bourne was a one man killing machine, the likes of which hadn't been seen since Rambo. Jason Bourne killed people with his bare hands. He was dirty, dangerous, and about as far from sauve and sophisticated as you could get. Jason Bourne didn't sip on martinis shaken not stirred while seducing the hot girl of the month. Jason Bourne was too busy beating the crap out of everyone. We were rooting for this guy to kick the American government's butt, which is pretty remarkable considering this was following 9/11 and everyone supported America, even Hollywood. We loved it when this one man made the CIA look like idiots standing there scratching their butts as they tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

Gangs of New York

I think this film doesn't get the credit it deserves. Unlike other historical dramas, it doesn't paint an idyllic picture of the lives of our ancestors. It shows us the ugly, dirty, despicable thing we were and dares us to ask ourselves if we've really changed into a land of tolerance. With superb acting, costuming, and historical accuracy, it is one of the finest film depictions of America during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

I'll argue until I die that this movie, especially the extended edition contains the greatest battle scene of all time. The Battle for Helms Deep was so excellent that the battle for Minas Tirith in Return of the King seems boring in comparison. Seriously, I remember watching it and thinking, "Helms Deep owns this." In addition, Two Towers is where the CGI affects really get their first chance to shine. Fellowship of the Ring was just a taste of what Weta could do when you think of the Ents and Gollum. True, the Balrog was mind blowing, but the scenes of the Ents at Isengard kill it. Think of it like this: Fellowship was the salt, Two Towers the Tequilla, and Return of the King the lime.

The 25th Hour

I love this film. I love the acting, I love the story, I love the cinematography. The portrait it paints of New York City and New Yorkers post 9/11 is perfection. I could go on, but I can't really do this film justice.

(This was another of those "bad years." Trust me. To get it to ten I was going to have to put movies like Equilibrium on here)

2003

Big Fish

This was a Tim Burton film that didn't, at first glance, feel like a Tim Burton film. And yet, when you watch and think about it, Burton was the perfect director for it. This is a whimsical, lovely piece of cinema. This film is a wonderful example of story telling at its best.

Elf

Christmas movies are pretty hit and miss. For every A Christmas Story there is a Christmas with the Kranks. But Elf was a joyful, heartwarming movie which made us all believe in Santa Claus once again.

Finding Nemo

This movie is one of the greatest animated films in a decade of great animated films. Everyone loved this movie, whether a child or an adult. What The Lion King was to the early 90s, so was Finding Nemo to the early 00s.

Kill Bill vol. 1

This movie is nothing but a fantastic action movie. It's violent fight scene after violent fight scene. It's the style of story telling which sets it apart.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

While the final installment of this trilogy garnered all the Oscars, I'm still not sure this was the best of the three. Regardless, it is a masterpiece.

Matchstick Men

Nicholas Cage wasn't always Ghost Rider. In Matchstick Men, he shines in his portrayal of an ocd con man. I think this film had been forgotten with time, which is a shame.

Mystic River

This film, to me, showcases some of the finest acting every filmed. Not just Sean Penn, but the whole cast shine in this riveting tale.

Oldboy

Oldboy is one of the greatest films made this decade. There's no doubt about it. I don't think it was ever a huge commercial success in the USA, since Americans seem, for the most part, to have an aversion to a foreign film which requires subtitles. This is a shame, because this was one of the finest pieces of Asian cinema of the decade.

Secondhand Lions

I love, love, love this movie. It was simply perfect. The relationship between Walt and his uncles, the power of imagination, the coming of age story...it's all pure magic. This film is also probably my favorite roles for Michael Caine and Robert Duval.

2004

Collateral

Tom Cruise may be crazy, but he's got nothing on the character he plays in this movie. I love this film. I love Tom Cruise. I love Jaime Foxx. I love the suspense and terror the film invokes. This was a fine story with superb acting.

Hotel Rwanda

I remember seeing with film with my best friend. We knew it was going to be depressing, but we had no idea what we were going into. I still remember the moment when I took the bag of mostly uneaten popcorn (unheard of Lauren movie theater viewings; I infamously solely devoured an entire super size tub at a screening of A Little Princess as a child) and put the bag on the floor. The popcorn was not eaten. I cried like a baby at least three times. This film was powerful. The acting was spectacular. The film itself was unmerciful in it's portrayal of the Rwanda genocide. I walked out of the theater angry, upset, and questioning the ethics of humanity.

The House of the Flying Daggers

This is one of my favorite examples of Asian cinema. The colors, the costuming, and the choreography are all breath taking. This was one of the finest love stories of the decade.

Howl's Moving Castle

My personal favorite of Miyazaki's work, this is a charming tale of witches, wizards, love, and heroism. The animation is perfect. Christian Bale's infamous Batman voice also makes it's first appearance in this film, in case you need an excuse to watch it.

The Incredibles

This is my hands down favorite animated film of the decade. I simply love it. I love that it dares to ask what happens to heroes when they are no longer heroes. It dares to say, "When everyone is special, no one is." It's a fantastic exploration of the super hero mythology which no other film previously explored. I have been waiting for years for a sequel to be announced, and so far there has been none. But maybe this is for the best. Perhaps there is precious little in this film that needs further telling.

Kill Bill vol. 2

This second installment is hands down better than the first, but it's so different from the first part that it fails to matter. The first part was all blood and violence. The Bride was out for vengeance with little thought of anything but death. We didn't care either. Bill shot the Bride, end of story. The second part told us, no, that's not the whole story. The situation is much more complicated. The second part subtly probes the depths of human emotion and explores the ethics of the choices the characters have made, all amidst the violence of the Bride's mission and past.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

I know a lot of people who prefer The Royal Tenebaums, but this is my favorite Wes Anderson. I love the dynamics between husband and wife, father and possible son, man and arch rival. Steve Zissou's quest is absurd, but delightful. I also find everything down to the interns hilarious.

Vera Drake

Abortion has been an important social issue for years, but few films have attempted to address it the way that Vera Drake does. Imelda Staunton does the finest work of her career in this film. This is one that should not be forgotten.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I know people who love this film and people who hate it. Personally, I love it. If this list were numbered, this film would easily be in the top ten, maybe even the top five. I love the questions the film raises about love and memory. One also has to keep in mind that the Clementine we see in Joel's head, and the exchanges we have, are all as he imagines her. Clementine herself is elusive. We cannot know her, because we see so little of the real Clementine. We see her as Joel sees her: the vibrant, fiery creature he thinks will save his life. The film stands to remind us all that no matter how much we wish we could forget the bad things in life, sometimes the bad are directly tied to the memories we prize the most. This film is heartbreaking and earnest, a true masterpiece of cinema.

Shaun of the Dead

This is the second zombie movie on my list, and for good reason. Where 28 Days Later put a twist on an old favorite, Shaun of the Dead mocks it with joy and fun. It shows us two perfectly normal, and in most cases boring, men who through extraoridnary circumstances become heroes. It's the dream of ever geek. After years of being mocked, finally their useless knowledge gained through video games comes in handy. This movie is a comedy for the ages.

2005

Batman Begins

The 90s had been hard on Batman. Unspeakable things happened to Batman. Some individuals still have not redeemed themselves. Then came Batman Begins. The nightmare of the nipples was forgotten. While previous Batman's had been campy, Nolan took a cue from Jason Bourne and made his Batman darker, grittier, and all around better. Nolan started from the beginning of the Batman mythology. He gave us a modern Gotham, with the occasional costuming nod to the Batman of the 1940s. He gave us a Batman who was darker, a man who stood on the line between good and evil. Liam Neeson is also excellent, but Cillian Murphy shines as the Scarecrow. Murphy's Scarecrow isn't some 90s Saturday morning cartoon character. Dr. Crane is a quiet, controlled man who hides his moral void from the public, playing the role of the talented young psychiatrist. In a lot of ways, he's similar to Anthony Hopkin's Hannibal Lector. But while Dr. Lector will just kill you and eat you, Dr. Crane will lock you up in his asylum and give you fear inducing drugs and then torture you to insanity by being the scariest Scarecrow imaginable. Yeah, I would pick Lector too.

King Kong

I have a lot of love for this remake. The CGI work on Kong remain excellent. I dare to say it's even better now that we have high definition. The visuals are breath taking and the acting is flawless. Jack Black was the best surprise of this movie, and his Carl Denhem doesn't get enough credit. I still cry every time Kong dies.

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut)

Ok, before you call me crazy, listen to me explain this choice. I have seen the terrible version released in theaters and found on dvd. It's awful. But there exists, unknown to most, a directors cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and it is brilliant. I cannot for the life of me understand why they chopped it up and made it into something terrible. The director's cut is a fantastic film worthy of memory. It's a shame so few have seen it.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Oh, how I love this movie. This movie is hilarious and brilliant. It's a good old fashion detective story only better. Robert Downey Jr. does a great job as the con turned actor turned private eye Harry. And Gay Perry, oh how I love you.

Madegascar

This was another great success for DreamWorks. And really, what's not to love. Between the militaristic penguins, party loving lemurs, and hypochondriac giraffe this movie is one laugh after the next.

Munich

Brilliant, brilliant film. Do I really need to say more?

The New World

I know for a fact that this is not one of Katie's favorites, but I really love this film. Its a story of people and the choices they made. This isn't the Disney version of this story. This film is honest about its characters. It shows what really happened in Jamestown during that first year with brutal honesty, down to the search for gold (which they never found) and the near starvation of the population due to the ineptitude of the leaders. It shows the destruction of a way of life for the natives, and their attempts to stop it. The film doesn't attempt to be loud and brash about it's material. It handles it in a lovely, often times quiet way.

Good Night and Good Luck

I was surprised at how much I liked this film. It's a truly wonderful depiction of a true American story.

2006

(This was a great year for film. I couldn't limit it to ten if I tried)

Casino Royale

Bond came back with a bang. While this truly was an excellent film, one can't help but note that this new Bond has taken a note out of Jason Bourne's book. This is a younger Bond who is less suave and more gritty, not that any of us minded. Eva Green's role as Bond's one true love (according to Bond creator Ian Flemming) Vesper Lynd was captivating.

Children of Men

I said earlier that the dystopian genre was popular in the 00s. None of these many films comes close to being as good as Children of Men. Everything about this film is brilliant. The One sequence action shot is legendary. The acting is wonderful. The story itself is gut wrenching and tear inducing. Clive Owen's Theo is an unlikely hero. Appropriately disillusioned, he finds himself suddenly finding a cause he is willing to fight for. We watch him transform from a boring, lifeless office drone into a hero before our eyes. He's not necessarily a good guy, but he recognizes the right thing to do and does it, risking everything he has for this one miracle. He's not trying to change his world the way others want to. He understands that the world is rotten, but his goal isn't to change it. All he wants is what he knows is best for this one woman and her child.

The Departed

With one of the strongest casts of the year, The Departed excels at showing us a group of men with compromised morality. There is no good guy in this film. Everyone is guilty of something. But in this incredible story none of that matters.

The Fountain

Brilliant film. I know a lot of people don't like it. I understand that. But it is, nonetheless, a masterpiece with one of the greatest movie scores of the decade. If there was still any doubt in Hollywood about Clint Mansell's music talents, this film put them to shame. It pains me to hear his beautiful music recycled in movie trailers.

Hard Candy

This movie was highly under appreciated. This movie is brilliantly shot, brilliantly acted, brilliant written, and downright terrifying. Most people think of Juno when they think of Ellen Page, but they shouldn't. It was with Hard Candy that she first made her mark as one of the finest young actresses in Hollywood. Her performance in Hard Candy blows Juno out of the water. Most of all, this film takes every parent's nightmare of online child predators and turns it into the predators nightmare.

Inside Man

Some films don't seem to aspire to be anything other than smart and perfectly done in a quiet way. Inside Man excels at this. In a decade where action blockbusters where raking in huge amounts of money, Inside Man didn't pretend to be anything other than what it was: a highly intelligent, well acted, suspenseful action movie, but without the over the top explosives and car chases. True, it's about a robbery, but you won't find Jason Statham speeding off in the getaway car. This is a movie which wants you to think and puzzle out its mystery as you watch it.

Lucky Number Slevin

In a lot of ways, Lucky Number Slevin is a lot like Inside Man. It too is smart, well paced, well acted, and comes with a killer twist. It too has a star studded cast. It too deserved for more attention and credit than it got. But where Inside Man concerned a robbery, Lucky Number Slevin is all about murder.

Pan's Labyrinth

When I think of the most visually stunning films of the decade, it's probably a straight up tie between The Fall and Pan's Labyrinth. This is a truly magnificent film. It breaks your heart, it really does.

Perfume: A Story of a Murderer

I actually don't know that many people who saw this film. I'm quite fond of it. I think that the story telling is masterful. The film faced a difficult challenge: how does one describe scent in a film? I think it's pulled off quite nicely. The score of the film is hauntingly lovely.

The Prestige

I guess 2006 was a good year for intelligent films, because here is yet another. With yet another star studded cast, this film toyed with our imaginations and perceptions. We found ourselves caught up in the feud between to masterful magicians, unsure of who to root for. This, for me, was one of Hugh Jackman's best acting of the decade.

The Queen

Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen. Do I really need to saying anything else about this film other than that their performances were brilliant?

Thank You For Smoking

This may be one of the funniest films of the decade. By all rights we should hate Nick Naylor. We should want to beat him into a pulp and set him on fire and watch as he burns. Think about it. He's really the biggest scumbag alive. And yet somehow Aaron Eckheart charms us. He seduces us to the point were not only are we madly in love with Nick Naylor, but we want to watch him beat the pulp out of good doer enemies. We would willingly help him if he wanted us to. This film's stellar supporting cast also shines, making this one of the most re-watchable films of the decade.

2007

Atonement

While this film might not be one for the ages, it was one of the best of the year. The novel, which I had thought unadaptable to film, is represented beautifully on screen. The brilliant and inventive score and the wonderful costumes are the real reason this movie shines.

The Bourne Ultimatum

I know I've already said my bit about Bourne before, but this film deserves it's own credit. The script is brilliant. At the risk of spoiling for others, I love the way it ties in with The Bourne Supremacy. I also happen to think that this film has some good comments on the power of governments and questions the choices governments make.

Eastern Promises

This film is probably known to most people as the film where Viggo Mortensen has the naked fight scene, but if you look past that you will find a brilliantly acted film with one of the best stories of the decade. While Viggo Mortensen was nominated for an Oscar, he really should have one, because his performance in this film was the best of the year.

Gone Baby Gone

There are movies which make us question what truly is right and wrong, and this is one of those films. Wonderfully directed and acted, this film was a standout of the year and proved that Ben Afleck really did have what it took to be a director.

Mongol

If you were to ask me what the best film of the year was, I would say Mongol. I would even go as far to say it was the best war film of the decade and one of the best of all time. This film was brilliant. If you thought that the battle sequences in Lord of the Rings were good you must watch this movie. It puts Lord of the Rings to shame. I cannot wait for the next installment of this trilogy. Mongol was breathtakingly fantastic and easily one of the best films of the decade.

No Country For Old Men

A great adaptation of a good novel. Javier Bardem will forever be remembered as the scariest hitman of all time.

Once

Sometimes there is beauty in simplicity. This movie was proof that independent films are every bit as good as big budget pictures.

Ratatouille

Another shinning star for Pixar. The took a movie about a rat and food and captivated us in ways we never thought possible, all the while reminding us that sometimes things are not merely what the seem.

Stardust

This was one of my favorite fantasy films of the decade after The Lord of the Rings. Stardust was far better than we deserved, a truly charming a delightful adventure with some fine acting and beautiful visuals. And oh, Robert DeNiro.

The Zodiac

This film was almost understated in its brilliance. A finely acted and finely written character study that didn't get nearly enough credit.

2008

The Dark Knight

As good as Batman Begins was, Nolan proved to us all that it wasn't a fluke and gave us the even better The Dark Knight. This film is masterful. The story is perfect. The visuals are stunning. But most of all, this film will go down in history for Heath Ledger's brilliant performance as The Joker. I still remember hearing that he'd been cast to play the role and thinking, "This is going to be terrible." I was very, very wrong. Ledger was unrecognizable as the caped crusader's arch villain.

In Bruges

This movie was a bit of an odd ball. But its wonderful due to Colin Farrell's brilliant performance. An excellent supporting cast and the beautiful backdrop of Bruges raise this film to remarkable heights.

Iron Man

This was the year of action movies. Everyone knew that not all of them would be good. Most people had faith that The Dark Knight would be good, but Iron Man? I never saw it coming. this film was truly wonderful. The Dark Knight may be better, but if so it's barely better. Iron Man was truly fantastic.

Let the Right One In

If you are one of those people who hates subtitles, you should put away your hatred long enough to watch Let the Right One In. This was the best film of the year. Downright terrifying and utterly perfect, Let the Right One In is a real vampire movie. Forget about Twilight. This is a vampire love story the way it should be.

Slumbog Millionaire

Everyone, Hollywood included, loves an underdog. This year it was Slumbog Millionaire. The film's praise was well deserved. It was well acted. The story telling was masterful. The cinematography was lovely. You spend the whole movie rooting for the hero, just as you should.

Tropic Thunder

This comedy was much smarter than it appears. It takes guts for a movie to mock actors the way Tropic Thunder did. The retard speech? Pretty daring. Having a white man black a white man playing a black man (or "a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude")? Really daring and brilliant. It's a shame that Robert Downey Jr. didn't win best supporting actor. He really deserved it.

2009

(500) Days of Summer

We've come to expect happy endings in Hollywood movies. Boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy and girl live happily ever after. This isn't the case with (500) Days of Summer. The film tells the story of a relationship between a boy and a girl, but makes it clear there is no happy ending. But somehow, the lack of happily ever doesn't matter with this film. It's non-linear story telling and superb acting charm us into loving it.

The Brothers Bloom

This film was one of the finest I saw this year. A truly marvelous film that tells the story of two con artist brothers, their explosives expert, and their eccentric mark. This film is downright charming. The story is original and expertly told. The characters are well written and well acted. I'm honestly surprised it didn't receive more attention. This was one of my favorites, if not my favorite, of the year.

Bronson

This film is a masterful portrayal of Britian's most violent prisoner. Tom Hardy does an Oscar worthy performance as Charlie Bronson. While it may be hard to stomach at times, it's worth watching.

Moon

For some films, acting is everything. Sam Rockwell's performance in Moon is unbelievable. This film is excellent. The story telling is masterful. The score was my favorite of the year.

The Hurt Locker

If Jeremy Renner doesn't get a best actor nomination it's a crime. The Hurt Locker is more than just an action flick or a war movie. It's a masterpiece.

The Young Victoria

Sometimes, you just don't want a movie to end. This was a charming, delightful film.

Up

I loved this film. I cried. I laughed. I cheered. This is a film for the ages, a true delight.

Star Trek

Proof the the Trekies may be on to something. This reboot of the classic tv show had everyone cheering on Spock and Kirk.

Inglorious Basterds

This film was marketed as a war comedy, but instead we found ourselves watching a serious war drama that was more about one woman's revenge than Brad Pitt. Surprisingly good and very well done.

District 9

No one had heard of the direct or the actors, and South Africa wasn't famous for making movies, but District 9 surprised us all and turned out to be one of the years best. While the human versus aliens conflict was a not so subtle social commentary, it was nonetheless brilliant. We shouldn't want to cheer on the hero, but we do. The effects and the story telling set this one apart. We're all waiting for a District 10.

~Lauren