The Best Films of the Decade

After a long hiatus, the site has returned. To celebrate this new era of jbomb.net, it seems fitting to look back on the yet-unnamed decade in film. Of course, since my exposure to films from this decade is incomplete (and I am not sure about each ranking), this list is subject to change. As new films are added or moved, I will update this post accordingly.

The Yet Unseen

There Will Be Blood (2008), Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), Avatar (2009), Into the Wild (2007), and more I am sure I am missing.

Just Missed the Cut

Bourne Identity (2002), Bourne Supremacy (2004), X2: X-Men United (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Gone Baby Gone (2007)

The Best Films of the 2000s

30. Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Since the majority of this list is seriously ranked and I spent an absurd amount of time ranking, and re-ranking everything, I feel I deserve this. Of course Rush Hour 2 is not on the same level as any of these other movies or those that missed the cut in terms of cinematography or storyline. It is a simple buddy comedy that has some entertaining action as well. But Rush Hour 2 is so much more than that to me personally. It stands with the original Rush Hour, and A Night at the Roxbury as the only three movies I can quote word-for-word.

It is one of the funniest movies of all time, and definitely the one I have enjoyed the most watching with friends. Rush Hour 2‘s ranking represents not only one of my personal favorite films, but the idea that you don’t always have to be an expert critic (as I try to be for the remainder of this article).

Sometimes, you can like a movie just because you like it. And that’s okay.

29-27. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

If we can just be real with ourselves, this is all one movie. Most people either enjoyed all three or did not enjoy any. I must give credit where it is due, as this trilogy is one of the greatest accomplishments in modern cinema. It has the grandest scope of any film this decade, daring to draw from endlessly detailed source material and please both the diehards and newcomers equally. Its success is unbelievable considering the circumstances. But, it is still boring at many points, hence the ranking.

26. Taken (2008) (original review)

Taken is a straight old-school action flick. Liam Neeson stars as the guy you simply do not cross, traversing Europe with no regard for anything except his single mission—get his daughter. I loved its simplicity and its unprecedented dedication to nonstop butt-kicking.

25. Iron Man (2008) (original review)

From my review:

Another thing that makes Iron Man different from other superhero movies is the humor. I loved the fact that Iron Man the film did not take itself too seriously, and really let itself takes audiences on a fun ride. There were so many one-liners and hilarious scenes I would almost call the movie a comedy (intentionally, unlike the joke known as Spider-Man 3). It is that funny.

24. Insomnia (2002)

Having seen both the American version Insomnia listed here and the original 1997 Norwegian version, I surprise even myself to say that both are quality movies. Yes, the original version is probably better, but the direction that Christopher Nolan takes with his Insomnia is so different that they feel like two individual creations. With all the Batman hype bringing Nolan into the spotlight, many forget that he was making great movies long before he has handed the Caped Crusader.

23. Ratatouille (2007) (original review)

Reading this site for any amount of time would create a lack of surprise for the amount of Pixar films on this list. What makes Ratatouille stand out to me is its spectacular character design (learn about it here). Of course, I’m just trying to find something unique beyond the great story, characters, and animation that every single Pixar movie has.

22. Finding Nemo (2003)

It was hard to rank these two Pixar entries back to back, but I gave Finding Nemo the nod. I feel that it has become the lost treasure of Pixar’s fantastic library. The characters are more fully developed in Nemo than in most movies you saw this decade. The story encompasses the bond between father and son, overcoming our weaknesses, and rising up in the face of tragedy. And it’s still funny enough to show a three-year-old. That is not common.

21. Gladiator (2000)

I have not seen Gladiator since 2000, but the fact that I remembered to put it on this list should say something about its quality. The violence of the coliseum was entertaining, but the real reward is the story of Maximus. Ten years is not an eternity, but I think in today’s consume-and-forget society it is safe to say that Gladiator has already stood the test of time.

20. District 9 (2009) (original review)

Sci-Fi had a very strong decade, and District 9 was a fantastic entry into the category. The building pressure of the opening brought on suspense for a turn that at once floored me and kicked the movie into overdrive until the end. It will be remembered for its creativity, intensity, and the best CGI and special effects my eyes have seen.

19. Juno (2007) (original review)

Though Juno is fantastic, I have a hard time forgiving it for the legion of Michael Cera scripts it created (to be played by Cera himself, or understudy Jesse Eisenberg). Its wholly original sense of style and sharp dialog made it as unique as its title character. Yeah, Jason Bateman is really creepy, but this is also the only time Jennifer Garner actually gets to act. Trade-offs.

18. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

It seems very early to put 500 Days of Summer on my best of the decade list, but I was so immediately impressed by the film I watched on New Year’s Eve that I could not leave it out. 500 is a romantic comedy with deeply engaging characters, a touching yet truthful story, and a whimsical sense of humor, but the presentation is what sets it apart. The staggered storytelling, fantastic editing, and excellent chemistry between Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are the pieces of the film that propelled it this high up in my ranking.

17. Big Fish (2003)

Big Fish is an amazing film, but for one reason or another got lost in the shuffle of the decade lists. Tim Burton’s penchant for the surreal and his ability to capture human emotion culminated in Big Fish. The majestic landscape paints a dreamlike atmosphere to explore the relationship between a father and son.

16. Batman Begins (2005)

Without this rebirth of the franchise, The Dark Knight could not have been made. Christopher Nolan’s reinvention of Batman was phenomenal when I first saw it in theaters. It has since tarnished since because of the superiority of The Dark Knight, and its lackluster villain. And the fact that the major device of destruction makes no sense (note: humans are composed primarily of water). And there’s that part about directly violating one of the most important parts of Batman lore (he does not kill). The point is, even with all those mistakes, it is still a great movie. That should be an achievement in itself.

15. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

It is quite possible that the greatness of Shaun of the Dead is what led me to feel completely underwhelmed by Zombieland this year (that and Fake Michael Cera). This zombie comedy delivers the laughs with gags, but the subtle humor and attention to detail are what make it rise above the competition.

14. Good Night and Good Luck (2005)

This historical nod to another era of television is both educational, informative, and engrossing. Good Night and Good Luck has been called boring by many of the friends I excitedly recommended it to. Perhaps they were not drawn into the world of news and McCarthyism during that era. The fantastic acting performances and the precisely recreated sets of the 1950s (the film uses real McCarthy footage and was shot in black and white for added effect) were enough to make this one of my favorites of the decade.

13. House of Flying Daggers (2004)

House of Flying Daggers is in contention for the most beautiful film listed here. The colorful backdrops of China are jaw-dropping. House fuses kung-fu action around a powerful love story that feeds off the spectacular visuals. The action is so intense and wonderfully choreographed that even the fighting contributes to the allure of House of Flying Daggers. This is one of the films I would present to illustrate film as an art form.

12. Serenity (2005)

I have to qualify this by saying that you should only watch Serenity after viewing the entire Firefly television series. Serenity acts as the conclusion to Joss Whedon’s fantastic show. It has hilarious dialogue, tons of action, and thoroughly rewards longtime viewers on every front. It is the perfect film finale to one of the best shows to ever air on TV.

11. Up (2009) (original review)

Pixar’s Up is their most emotional and serious film. Laughter, tears, and fantastic characters. The impossibly high standard is once again set with a beautiful display of colors and wondrous backdrops. I do not know what else to say. They are on another level.

10. Primer (2004)

At its core, Primer is a nerd’s dream film. Written, directed, and even acted by a former engineer, the level of technicality in the script and presentation is insane. It is a perfectly crafted, suspenseful film about power and corruption that is wrapped within a shell of science fiction. I am still not sure I have fully gotten my head around it, but its complex plot helped Primer to become one of the ten best movies of the decade.

9. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (original review)

I thought about putting the entire trilogy right here. As I have said before, the Bourne trilogy is the best one that I have ever seen in terms of each installment maintaining such a high level of quality. It is the perfect espionage thriller series, capped off by the tremendous Ultimatum, which ends up being the best of the three.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a creative triumph with a breathtakingly original story and an amazing visual style. It is the spiritual predecessor to movies such as the aforementioned (500) Days of Summer. The movie delves deep into the human mind, weaving a maze of love and love lost. Jim Carrey is fantastic as he leads a touching movie, unlike the characters of the film, the audience will never forget.

7. Children of Men (2006) (original review)

Women can no longer have babies and the world is set to end in about 50 years when the last humans will die off. It might not sound like an uplifting movie, but the story is incredibly moving. It is action-packed, moves at a frenetic pace, and its camerawork is unbelievable. A powerful sci-fi adventure that will stand for a long time as one the best from the 2000s.

6. The Dark Knight (2008) (original review)

The Dark Knight is amazing in many different ways. I could talk about the acting (minus Bale’s Batman voice). There is the twisting, turning story and all the great action scenes. There is the world of Gotham that, even with its masked heroes and villains, is made real and believable. But above all of that, there is one thing that stands out to me as setting Dark Knight as one of the best—the hype. After more hype than I have ever experienced for a movie by every single person who even remotely anticipated it, The Dark Knight delivered. I still cannot believe it not only met its unimaginable expectations, but exceeded them.

5. The Fountain (2006)

It has taken me years to fully comprehend The Fountain. Every part of the film is so deep that it takes time to appreciate how much work went into crafting it. Even the lighting and camerawork are used to symbolize transformation across the film. Its story is so emotionally passionate that it ignites the screen just as much as the stunning visuals. The Fountain is a captivating, touching work of art. It just might take a while for that to sink in.

4. Sunshine (2007) (original review)

If only one word could be used to describe Sunshine, it would be intense. It is a thoughtful exploration of human character, but so chillingly paced that I almost had an anxiety attack. The characters are so well-developed in such a short time it is astounding, and they are the main contributors to Sunshine‘s brilliance. It is, like many near the top of my list, an absolutely beautiful film. Additionally, I thought that the controversial third act of the film actually fit well, and provided the path to the perfect ending.

3. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) (original review)

Every time I watch 3:10 to Yuma I get chills from how good it is (this can be confirmed by those who have seen it with me). Bale, Crowe, and Ben Foster all deliver incredible performances. The story is entertaining both for its surface of the journey to Contention and its underlying themes of courage and perseverance. I have never been able to capture precisely what makes 3:10 so fantastic in words, so all I can say is if you have not seen it, I give it my highest recommendation.

2. WALL-E (2008) (original review)

Certainly the most controversial review in the history of this site (if that means anything to you), my love of WALL-E is widely known. The genius of the first 45 minutes of dialogue-free story is unrivaled. It is Pixar’s most artistic film, and their most simple as well. WALL-E rids itself of the extraneous in creating a film that is purely what it needs to be, and nothing more. Every piece of the film, from the animation to the sound to the wonderful characters, is exquisite. It is a landmark achievement not just in animation, but in all of film (and it should have been nominated for Best Picture in 2008). WALL-E is one of the best movies I have ever seen.

1. Memento (2001) The hardest part of making this list was establishing the top spot. I was able to gather my top 5 fairly easily. Deciding amongst them was extremely challenging though, and as mentioned above, this list is subject to change.

That said, Memento is certainly deserving of the position. Not only is it the fourth film directed by Christopher Nolan on this list (Wow), Memento is the best film of the 2000s. A movie has to make a considerable impact to be considered the best, and it is clear that Memento has changed the industry from both a filmmaker’s and viewer’s perspective. For better or worse, it gets mentioned every single time a new film has a creative or innovative way of storytelling. Its open-ended conclusion can inspire long discussions dissecting the finale piece by piece. It had a big hand in bringing thoughtful cinema to a general audience (at least among my generation) and opening the way for directors to create more of those films. And even amidst all of its confusion, Memento always seems plausible. Much like in The Dark Knight, Nolan creates realistic characters that transcend their unrealistic situations.

Some say that Memento is never the same after it is seen for the first time, and that may be true. But to unravel Memento from its layers of brilliant presentation is to appreciate it for the masterpiece of cinema that it is.