Favorite Films of the Decade 2000-2009

I'm a little surprised more indies didn't make my list, but when you think about it  -- most of my picks are independent in style and spirit.  And while digital filmmaking brought down budgets and sped up schedules this decade, I'm still drawn to visual, cinematic storytelling that is carefully planned out and well executed.  I don't think it's a coincidence that most of these were shot in 35mm. And if they shot digitally (28 Days Later, Dancer in the Dark) none used their preferred format as a license to follow actors around and improvise dialogue.

After Gus Van Sant made the predictable Finding Forester, he was driven back to his indie roots.  First came the Palme d'Or winner Elephant followed by Gerry, Last Days and Paranoid Park.  All four were filmed this decade and each belong to a similar aesthetic.  Van Sant shows what a master can do when budget challenged.  These "small" movies remain cinematic and powerful even while unabashedly playing with time and structure.  And with the exception of Gerry, all were made without movie stars.

And as far as movie stars go, they are a little overrated when evaluating why a film might stand the test of time.  Who would call Adapation a Nicholas Cage movie?  (even though he's brilliant here) And don't tell me Eternal Sunshine is a Jim Carey movie.  I'm not star bashing -- actors become movie stars because they are insanely talented/beautiful/unique/lucky.  But as far as these films go, the movie star "image" isn't expected to carry them.  The films, in fact, can carry themselves just fine.

While being a famous director or having a respectable budget makes the filmmaking process easier, I guarantee these filmmakers (famous or not) fought every step of the way to preserve their visions and make their work as good as possible.   Think about what Peter Jackson went through on Lord of the Rings?!  His journey is arguably the decade's biggest example of "independent spirit".

The inclusion of HBO shows was hard to resist.  Many of the best filmmakers are moving to cable television for the stability and the chance to tell sprawling, uncensored stories with instant distribution. The Office BBC and Deadwood both struck me as the most exceptional and stood out as two of my favorite TV shows since the cruel dismantling of Twin Peaks in 1991.

I would've liked to include more Pixar films.  In particular, Monsters Inc. and Up.  But The Incredibles is the one I love most so here it represents everything I love about Pixar.  Year after year they continue making hugely popular, four quadrant movies that don't feel produced by committee.  Somehow each film contains a voice, unique (bizarre/cool!) creative choices and lasting emotional power.  The very things that are routinely developed out of stories by other studios.

Sure, many of these filmmakers have clout, but they still had to quarrel and collaborate with producers, financiers, movie stars, agents, studios, distributors, and even audiences.  Somehow these films overcame the hundreds (thousands?) of obstacle to get from script to set to screen.  Then, out of the 25,000 or so films distributed this decade, they ended up near the top.

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. Mulholland Drive
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. Adaptation
5. Sideways
6. The New World
7. Punch Drunk Love
8. No Country For Old Men
9. Sexy Beast
10. There Will Be Blood
11. High Fidelity
12. A History of Violence
13. Dancer in the Dark
14. Requiem for a Dream
15. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
16. 28 Days Later
17. Deadwood / The Office BBC
18. The Incredibles
19. Lord of the Rings (trilogy)
20. Elephant / Gerry / Last Days / Paranoid Park