My Favorite Films 2000-2009
Traffic (2000) A brutal look at the illegal drug trade from multiple perspectives, including politicians, law enforcement, soldiers, users and dealers. Steven Soderbergh brilliantly weaves multiple story lines into the stark reality of the drug trade/culture. No one is as he seems, or as we think they should be. Lies and corruption rule. This movie stays with you long after you see it. Even though this film is almost ten years old it is as relevant as today’s news.
Moulin Rouge (2001) Baz Luhrmann’s exuberant look at turn of the century Montmartre and its Bohemian inhabitants. The first time I saw it I wanted to see it again-right away. Now, some have criticized this film for the fast paced editing and use of classic rock songs, not me. The sometimes manic editing gave this film a unique energy, and the music gave it a great operatic scope, a little Hollywood, a little Bollywood. This film popped. It was luscious to look at and just plain fun to experience. If not for this movie, I doubt we would have seen Chicago, Sweeny Todd or Nine on the big screen. Moulin Rouge revived the Hollywood Musical genre.
The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003) I know I’m lumping three movies together; however, unlike other sequel films, you could actually remove the credits and have a seamless 9 hour movie. This is the classic hero’s story, painted on an epic canvass. Filmed in New Zealand, which bears a striking resemblance to Tolkein’s Middle Earth, these films do, indeed, take us to another time and place. Peter Jackson’s world crafting is phenomenal. He captured the different cultural styles and details that most directors would not have considered. His love for the books comes through in every scene. The changes he made and the things he left out only improved a story that no one thought could be improved.
Chicago (2002) Not a lot of Fosse choreography here, and honestly, I don’t think the principals could have pulled it off. Still, the best movie released that year. It had all the greed and avarice that was the heart of the stage production. Who would have thought Richard Gere could tap dance?
Sideways (2004) A funny, quirky movie that single handedly made Pinot Noir the hottest wine of the decade. I loved how Paul Giamatti’s character was so like the wine he loved. Pinot has been called the manic depressive of the wine world because of its difficulty to produce. Along with his bi-polar issues, Giamatti is the epitome of the wine snob we all love to make fun of, while Thomas Haden Church is just his goofy self. I thought of Sideways as a middle-age coming of maturity movie.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) A gem of a film that truly proves you don’t need a huge budget or a massive production to make a great movie. What it boils down to here is the story and the actors. This movie had heart and a vitality that was beautifully brought forth by the cast. It succeeded in that very fine balancing act of making you laugh while breaking your heart.
The Bourne Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007) Yes, there is nothing artsy about these films. No deep meaning and no message. Not even an Oscar nod. They are on my list for their entertainment value. They were great action movies that let the viewer escape, and isn’t that what movies are supposed to do? Suspend your logic, sit back and just enjoy.
Up (2009) Pixar just keeps getting better and better. This film capped a decade of some really good movies like Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Wall-E. Like most of the films I just mentioned, Up is a family film that appeals to adults. It’s very funny while still having a lot of heart and even more truth. We are all getting older every day, we are all going to lose someone we deeply love and we all have regrets. Up manages to couch these realities in a beautiful way. They even managed to portray an Asian kid as just a kid, not a stereotype. The animation is fantastic and having Ed Asner as the voice of Mr. Fredricksen was genius. Dug the dog manages to practically steal the movie. I think the essence of this film is to appreciate the people in our lives while we still have them. The best movie of the year.
I started out calling this piece the best twenty movies of the decade. I couldn’t come up with twenty. Is it me or Hollywood?
