Top 10 Films of the Decade

As we ring in the New Year with resolutions, it seems only natural we would reflect on the past decade as well: politics, pop culture, and the post worthy films of the past decade. I've conjured a list of the top ten and a runner up list of the ten who couldn't quite make the cut, but still deserve another viewing.

(1.) In the Mood for Love (2000) - Wong Kar-Wai's luscious, melancholy meditation on forbidden love is swathed in brilliant reds. It is a symphony of color and restrained emotion.

(2.) Requiem for a Dream (2000) - This harrowing horror story of four people destroyed by heroin and pills is an intoxicating mix of quick cuts (that mimic the characters' highs) and the Kronos Quartet's disquieting soundtrack.

(3.) Ghost World (2001) - This black comedy is about graduating high school when you still have no idea what you want to do with your life. It is Steve Buscemi's finest performance as the green cardigan wearing, record collecting recluse Seymour. The vintage clothes and sets are extraordinary; the acting even better.

(4.) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and The Squid and the Whale (2005) - The first is a yarn told in Alec Baldwin's smoky, New England accent, but both are about a family of underachieving genius which are both poignant and sprinkled in enough taxidermy and corduroy blazers to make Norman Bates proud. Anderson's soundtrack includes Nico, Nick Drake, and the Ramones among others. Gene Hackman and Jeff Daniels have never been so irresistible...or infuriating.

(5.) Monsoon Wedding (2001) - Mira Nair's family drama set on the eve of an arranged marriage has just been re-released by the Criterion Collection - and it is a well deserved accolade. The preparations and the ceremony are both intriguing and gorgeous, with shot after shot dripping in marigolds and music.

(6.) Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006) - Naomi Watts' spunky debut is pure delight and Laura Dern's geometrical face is a blue print of fear. The first is a dreamy meditation on making it big in Hollywood, while the second is a terrifying look at an actress who already has.

(7.) Secretary (2003) and Happy Endings (2005) - These two films tie for their stunning performances from the indie queen Maggie Gyllenhaal. Whether playing a submissive in an S&M relationship (which convincingly transforms into a sweet, if off-beat, love story) or a feisty singer, Gyllenhaal is charismatic, wide-eyed, and delightful.

(8.) Lost in Translation (2003) - Sofia Coppola's academy award winning film subtly captures the love that blossoms between two strangers during their stay in Japan. The long lens' emphasize the two main characters isolation and the sparse, but sharp dialogue sings.

(9.) The Lives of Others (2006) - A beautiful story on the redemptive power of art, this film follows a police agent as he spies on a playwright and his actress girlfriend; the agent slowly becomes absorbed in their relationship to one another and their work.

(10.) There Will Be Blood (2007) - A chilling story of power and greed, this film contains some of the best performances of the decade from Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. The sets are almost operatic in their grandeur and beauty.


Runners Up

(1.) Traffic (2000)
(2.) Storytelling (2001)
(3.) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
(4.) The New World (2005)
(5.) No Country for Old Men (2007)
(6.) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) and Summer Hours (2008)
(7.) Grind House (2007) and Inglorious Bastards (2009)
(8.) Let the Right One In (2008) and Thirst (2009)
(9.) Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
(10.) Man on Wire (2008)