This past August, I passed the ten-year mark as a film critic. My, how times have changed. When I started, it actually seemed like a more pragmatic career move than acting. And I made a good living at it. The paper ran as many as six full-length reviews a week.
I didn’t especially have much desire to do a Best of the Decade list, but every LAFCA member is being asked to do one. And it isn’t quite my full tenure — my very first ten-best list was for 1999, an indisputably great year.
I don’t really know how it’s gonna go, but I know this much – it makes sense to cull my 10 Best of the Decade from the top-ten lists I’ve done every year from 2000-now. But it’s not as simple as just picking all the number ones.
Usually, on my end-of-year list, I put my very clear favorites in the top couple of slots, then try to pick a diverse bunch from the rest of movies I’ve liked, giving preference to projects that have shown me something different, or advanced the artform in some way. So while #1 usually represents my favorite filmgoing experience, it isn’t always a landmark film that can stand for the ages.
And what of something like THE ROOM? Consistently one of my favorite things to watch, yet putting it on the best of ANYTHING list seems truly wrong.
Let’s take a look at my lists, and maybe we can discuss and help refine the process a bit:
Best of 2000:
1. Tomorrow Night
2. Unbreakable
3. A Moment of Innocence
4. Charlie’s Angels
5. The Specials
6. Dinosaur
7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
8. Dark Days
9. You Can Count On Me
10. Ratcatcher
Wow, now that is a diverse fucking list. Maybe the most diverse one I’ve ever had. those were the days when my review assignments were all over the map — I doubt I’d ever have even seen A Moment of Innocence unless I’d been forced to. Of all my lists, this is the one I would easily bet $1000 that none of you reading has seen every one of. My #1, Tomorrow Night, is still great in many ways…but it may yet be released by IFC in 2010, which would make it a movie of next decade. With that said, it did play L.A. for one weekend in 2000, and is the sort of movie that a critic ought to get behind, especially since time has vindicated many of the then-unknown cast, among them Wanda Sykes, JB Smoove, Steve Carell, and Robert Smigel. Unbreakable is still my favorite M. Night Shyamalan movie, and has Sam Jackson actually giving a moving performance rather than just yelling. The Specials is funny as fuck, but that’s it. I’ve taken much heat over the years for Charlie’s Angels…and I think now that the use of Blink 182’s “All the Small Things” might just be unforgivable in the long run. Ratcatcher and Dark Days would likely make my best of year list again if they were to be rereleased.
As for Crouching Tiger, I feel like there may be better movies of its type. Ditto You Can Count on Me.
Best of 2001:
1. (tie) Ghost World/Amelie
2. Spy Kids
3. Memento
4. Session 9
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
6. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
7. A.I.: Artifical Intelligence
8. Chopper
9. The Royal Tenenbaums
10. Black Hawk Down
Wow. WOW. I forgot I loved Spy Kids that much…it really got tainted by the fact that Rodriguez’s family follow-ups were never remotely as good. I remember loving both Ghost World and Amelie…in hindsight, though, I’d have to say Amelie was a better piece of filmmaking, and definitely needs to be on the Decade list; Ghost World just happened to resonate with things in my life. Final Fantasy and Chopper broke new ground at the time, but have maybe been eclipsed now. Harry Potter brings up the dilemma of the franchise — how do you grade the franchise movies you love? Can you put a Harry Potter movie by itself on a Decade list…or a Lord of the Rings movie that depends on the other two? In this case, Harry Potter 1 does work by itself, but most will agree that part 3 was the best. yet it couldn’t have existed as such without the knowledge you bring to it from part one.
Royal Tenenbaums and Memento speak for themselves. Session 9 is still underrated.
Best of 2002:
2002
1. Spirited Away
2. About Schmidt
3. Lovely & Amazing
4. Jackass the movie
5. One Hour Photo
6. Spider-Man
7. Scarlet Diva
8. Das Experiment
9. The 25th Hour
10. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Spirited Away is a good contender for best-of-decade, for sure; my favorite film by an acknowledged master. About Schmidt is one I actually bought on DVD and never rewatched, but I do think it’s better than the subsequent Sideways. Lovely and Amazing was a nice change of pace from everything, but I’m not sure it’s timeless in any way. Jackass just made me laugh a lot. One Hour Photo maybe should have been higher on the list, in retrospect. Spider-Man got one-upped by its own sequel. Das Experiment I think I just threw in for variety. Scarlet Diva still fun but very experimental; 25th Hour has endured better than many others on this list (”Champagne for my real friends; real pain for my sham friends” is still one of my favorite lines of the decade). And AOTC got easily bested by ROTS.
2003
The Matrix Reloaded
Spun
Buffalo Soldiers
May
Finding Nemo
Northfork
Lost in Translation
The Backyard
Peter Pan
Big Fish
A real theme of alienation to 2003, I see. Peter Pan and Big Fish are surprises in retrospect; loved watching both, never felt the need to revisit either. Matrix Reloaded is still a great sequel in my mind, though tarnished by part 3, and dependent on part 1, so we hit the “franchise problem” again. MAY brings about the question of how to rank friends’ films — do I love it so because I love all involved? I think not, as in most cases I hadn’t seen the principals involved in a while, and didn’t get to know Angela until afterwards. The Backyard — also a friend’s film, and as fun as it is, I think The Wrestler topped it. Buffalo Soldiers, Northfork, and Spun are still highly underrated; Lost in Translation will certainly be overrated on others’ decade-lists.
2004
Napoleon Dynamite
Hellboy
Hero
Million Dollar Baby
Tae Guk Gi: the Brotherhood of War
Donnie Darko: The Director’s Cut
Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space
The Polar Express: A 3-D IMAX Experience
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
OK, the choice of Napoleon Dynamite for #1 probably seems lame in retrospect, but it is impossible to overstate how much I fucking loved that movie when it came out. And I still do, despite Jared Hess’ awful attempts to keep ripping himself off. Tamala 2010, as far as I know, is still unavailable on region 1 DVD, and it’s strange as fuck, but probably not quite enough for true immortality. Polar Express in Imax 3D was a game-changer, and I feel like including it just for that; I have yet to see an indisputably superior 3D Imax flick, but Avatar may be the one. Donnie Darko is what it is, and I am one of the rare folks who prefers the director’s cut. Hero bests Crouching Tiger, and Hellboy bests Spider-Man. Though Hellboy 2 bests Hellboy 1, so there ya go.
2005
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The Devil’s Rejects
Oldboy
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Mirrormask
Shopgirl
Sin City
The New World
The Jacket
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
This, of course, is the list that made a couple of stick-up-their-ass New York film bloggers declare that I was totally wrong for the Village Voice. I still say it’s a damn cool list, though in hindsight I think I’d put Oldboy at #1…it’s definite best of the decade material. Stylish, sick, and kindled my appetite for live sushi. Revenge of the Sith still remains a favorite to just watch — if it’s on TV, or in a store, I’m still compelled. I also think it says something generally about the ’00s, with a dark emperor manipulating an easily duped heir into continuing a fraudulent war and consolidating power…and the promised change of A New Hope at the conclusion. Whine about Hayden’s whinings if you must, but I can’t stop watching. And consider the recent leader we had who also acted like a petulant brat. Could it exist in a vacuum (the franchise question)? Arguably not, but this isn’t a vacuum…everybody knows the first Star Wars. Special case. And The Devil’s Rejects proves it: Empire Strikes Back remade as redneck rampage.
2006
United 93
Superman Returns
Children of Men
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
Saw III
Crank
jackass number two
Paprika
Lady Vengeance
The Fountain
I’d reorder this anew, but United 93 was a thing of power then and is going to remain something shown in history classes ever after. Paprika, which also appears on my 2007 list due to differences in editorial opinion as to which year it really came out in, represents Satoshi Kon, one of my favorite filmmakers. Is it his best, worthy of decade-inclusion? Maybe. Tokyo Godfathers was also impressive. Tristram Shandy was a very creative way to adapt the unadaptable, funny and unique; a good contender for the decade also. Saw 3, possibly my favorite horror movie other than May in the past ten years. Crank had a unique style, and I’ve loved everything since from Neveldine/Taylor. Superman – what can I say, I’m sentimental sometimes. More as I get older.
2007
No Country For Old Men
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Paprika
Hot Rod
Grindhouse
Wristcutters: A Love Story
Zodiac
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Shoot Em Up
300
I think 300 may have to go much higher — in many ways it defined the decade cinematically, like it or not. Hot Rod is unheralded comedic genius, but not necessarily cinematically amazing. Grindhouse was a unique thing, and I still wish we were talking about it as one movie, rather than pretending anyone needed a longer cut of Death Proof. No Country was great, but for some reason I’m not feeling decade-great on it. And Paprika, on two lists…I think I may have to.
2008
The Dark Knight
The Tracey Fragments
Waltz with Bashir
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Let the Right One In
The Signal
$9.99
Synecdoche, New York
Hunger
Zombie Strippers
Both The Tracey Fragments and Waltz With Bashir went waaaaay out there, and expanded what cinema can be. The Dark Knight is only the best live-action adaptation of an iconic character ever (actually, TWO iconic characters – Joker is just as well-known). Actually, wow, 2008 was really fucking great overall. Maybe the best year since 1999.
2009 contenders so far
In the Loop
Crank 2
Inglourious Basterds
Up
Paranormal Activity
Where the wild things are
Zombieland
District 9
Thirst
Star Trek
Transformers 2
Watchmen
The Hurt Locker
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Avatar (if it’s good)
So, decade list so far looks like possibly including Tomorrow Night, Amelie, Spirited Away, May, Hero, Donnie Darko, Oldboy, Revenge of the Sith, United 93, Saw 3, 300, Paprika, The Dark Knight, the Tracey Fragments, Waltz With Bashir, Fantastic Mr. Fox, maybe Avatar…already we’re over ten. Dammit, I hate top tens.
Maybe I’ll even throw in The Room for the hell of it. I still fell like there needs to be at least one laugh-out-loud funny movie in there, and Tomorrow Night isn’t quite that.
What say you?
“Pirate Radio” should be on this year’s 10 at least! It blew mw away!
I gotta add Irreversible, too.
i really like this introspection piece, luke! i tried to post a comment here days ago but my computer at home (and its security settings) has an issue with the comment functions here re: third party cookies. it’s gotten more complicated in your re-design. so, I didn’t post for a minute.
a helluva decade here. deep in the dickishness. you stay true, you stay an original.
i don’t do too many lists but you got me thinking here. an off the top of my head list of favorites from this decade that i still think about and would watch again (the mark for me of the best movies, thus a leaning towards character stuff, literary comedy)….
Inland Empire
Old Joy
A Life Aquatic
Royal Tenenbaums
Anvil!
Foot Fist Way
Assassination of Jesse James
Diggers (one of the most underrated comic drama gems of all time)
Synechdoche New York
Deadwood (this has to count as cinema, as far as i’m concerned)
No Direction Home
Wendy & Lucy
All the Real Girls
George Washington
Justin – if you register as a commenter, that ought to take care of all issues. Only Matt and I see your personal info, and we certainly won’t be selling your email to anyone else.
Aside from Tenenbaums, your list seems to me to lean heavily on the latter part of the decade…the danger of all such lists, and a macrocosm of the reason awards-bait films are all released a month or so before the deadline for awards. I certainly can’t argue with the merits of any of those films.
May I assume Observe & Report is one of this year’s faves?
will register soon.
it’s hard to even recall a decade’s worth of likes! my music and literature tastes are the same way. i study things/movements pointedly for a few weeks, move along. at different times in my own thematic obsessions or periods of study, certain works (or styles of work) way far heavier. a month (or even day) later it will be different. like i always say, i know what i like, but it’s hard to say why i like it. in a particular moment. and that’s it! i could never write reviews. my tastes are admittedly mostly about sentimentality, nostalgia, and self reflection — subconscious recognitions.
observe & report i certainly liked, but i can’t say yet it’s a massive favorite. and i’m not sure why yet. maybe with more viewings. and it will receive additional viewings.
looking at my list year-wise, it seems to be a lot of 2006, and this…
George Washington — 2000
All The Real Girls — 2003
Deadwood — 2004
No Direction Home — 2005
another major caveat of non-definitiveness
— i know there are what must be COUNTLESS great movies, from around the world, that I don’t see, year after year. the ol’ “only so many hours in a day” argument…. i spend as much non-bill-paying and non-writing time reading books and studying music as i do watching movies anymore. adding to the demise of supposed entertainment industry ambitions!