The blockbuster of the decade. Christopher Nolan perfectly blended intelligence and entertainment. Powerhouse performance from Heath Ledger.9. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The most quoted film of the decade. Beautifully shot by Roger Deakins (a film where every shot involved a visual effect), and full of the Coen’s usual quirky characters. George Clooney found a wonderful home at the helm of the Coen Brothers' tales.8. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
What a grand-sweeping trilogy. No other epic is quite as complete as Peter Jackson’s trifecta-feature.7. The Royal Tenenbaums
Wes Anderson created some of the best character-driven pieces of the decade, and none better than this tale of a man trying to reconcile with his family.6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Another imaginative screenplay from Charlie Kaufman; inventively brought to life by the direction of Michel Gondry.5. There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance was the second best of the decade; right behind Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York. Beautifully shot and featuring the best score of the decade. Paul Thomas Anderson paced this gem perfectly, and made it entirely worthwhile to stick around for the monumental ending.4. City of God
The best foreign film of the decade. Fast-paced and relentlessly intriguing.
3. Children of Men
The most brilliantly choreographed film ever made. Realism at its absolute best.
2. No Country for Old Men
The Coens achieved perfection in this ideal blend of suspense and humor.
Fantastic performances from Oscar winner Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and all the secondary parts and extras, as well as my favorite performance of the movie: Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Tom. This wonderfully thematic film had a tenuous hold on its audience from Deakin’s opening shots that were blended with Jones’ biting narration. 
The result was one of the greatest films of all time about America, violence, and man’s relationship with the two.1. Memento
Quite simply the most original, taunt, and splendid screenplay of the decade.Christopher Nolan didn’t use his jumbled narrative style as a worn device, but instead as a way to drop his audience into the mind of his main character. The most original film idea of the decade, establishing Nolan as a directing force in Hollywood and the most prolific director of the decade. 
Honorable Mentions:
Sideways, The Departed, Mystic River, Talk to Her, Minority Report, Little Miss Sunshine, Snatch, Where the Wild Things Are, Michael Clayton, The Incredibles, Chicago, Munich, Gladiator, Traffic, The Darjeeling Limited.
Facts about the List:
Only two of the films won Oscars for best picture. In fact, only three were nominated.
Two Chris Nolan films appear on the list, as well as two Coen Brothers’ films.
Roger Deakins (the best cinematographer around) shot two films on the list.
1 comment:
Jacob, I agree with most of the list you've compiled here, except #3. This movie was so incredibly difficult to watch for one reason: Julianne Moore. This movie is her second worst performance (the worst performance award goes to The Forgotten).
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