Movies this year, for the most part, have been awful. It's not that I'm surprised; there's been a growing trend in modern Hollywood that has seen an overarching drop in quality for a majority of films released in recent years. Each year, there are more films that I strongly dislike than I actually enjoy, and it makes me yearn for the days of old, like the 1970s. While the overall quality of cinema may appear to be dropping as the years pass, there are consistently many diamonds in the rough that shine through. And I think it is important that we celebrate these films. To give these films the recognition they deserve, I have decided to rank my top 40 films since 2000. For this week, here are films #40-20. Look out next week for the top 20.
40. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Patient and calculated, just like this film’s main character, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is one of the best spy films in recent memory, with the ability to be re-watched multiple times.
39. The Great Beauty – A modern day “La Dolce Vita,” “The Great Beauty” reminds us that Italian cinema, while past its golden age of neorealism, is still a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
38. Finding Nemo – Bracing with the most colorful collection of characters ever assembled in any film, let alone an animated film, “Finding Nemo” is just another amazing creation that can be added to the Pixar filmography.
37. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Delightfully original and unique in its narrative structure, "Eternal Sunshine" is one of the hidden gems of the early 2000’s that doesn’t get enough praise.
36. Whiplash – Masterful editing, a career making performance from J.K. Simmons, and a breakout hit for director Damien Chazelle, “Whiplash” is another Sundance Film Festival hit that managed to hold its own against the heavyweights of American cinema in 2014.
35. Django Unchained – Despite a ridiculously unnecessary ending, Tarantino still manages to create another masterpiece by taking on the spaghetti western in his consistent neo-violent style, capped off with another stellar performance from Christolph Waltz.
34. Let the Right One In – Horror suspense at its best, this film, and its American counterpart, manage to take the tried and true vampire genre and add an emotional depth that is rarely seen in movies of this type.
33. Fruitvale Station -- One of the most under appreciated films in my opinion, this short film (84 minutes) manages to accomplish so much in that short space of time. It allows us to grow so attached to a character that when it’s finished, it leaves you breathless. Celebrating the joys of life and second chances while condemning unnecessary violence, Fruitvale Station has perfect subtext themes for our time period.
32. Up – The most ambitious adventure that Pixar has ever embarked upon, “Up” is a prime example of what strong story writing can bring to screen, especially when coupled with an animation studio that seemingly does no wrong.
31. Gravity – The lack of character development is made up for by the industry defining visuals and technical accomplishments of this film. Everything about “Gravity” is a treat for the eyes all thanks to special effects that will go on to define a generation.
30. Moonrise Kingdom – The first of two films to make this list from Wes Anderson, in “Moonrise Kingdom” we see the director imploring his quirky and imaginative directing style to a coming of age story that can’t be compared to anything else in that same genre.
29. Zero Dark Thirty – Emotionally dense and epic in the story that it portrays, few films summarize the determination of a nation towards a common goal like this film does.
28. Inglorious Bastards – Few things are more fun than watching some Nazis get slaughtered at the hands of proactive Americans, but with Tarantino at the helm, he manages to combine that gleeful violence with scintillating dialogue and suspense in an almost unparalleled manner.
27. The Hurt Locker – The best film about the Iraq war, this film is adrenaline pumping from start to finish, but amidst all the tense bomb disposal scenes, it manages to paint an image of a struggling war soldier who many on the battlefield regard as a hero.
26. Fellowship of the Ring – The first film in arguably the best trilogy ever made, “Fellowship of the Ring” translates the classic story to cinema in tremendous fashion by bringing the realm of Middle Earth to our eyes in a way that few people expected.
25. Beasts of the Southern Wild – With a stellar performance from the six-year-old lead actress, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” manages to express so much human emotion and wonderfully articulates the struggles of familial relationships for a community that doesn’t have much outside of its will to survive.
24. Inception - One of the most truly original live action films we’ve seen in a while, this sci-fi action thriller is as a perfect example of what happens when you combine a perfect cast, a brilliant director, a wonder composer in Hans Zimmer, original storytelling and great editing/effects. No wonder this film was one of the great box office hits of 2010; it restored my faith in the concept of having a box office hit an intelligent, unique story.
23. Casino Royale - The film that gave the Bond franchise a full makeover and recovery from the average Pierce Brosnan saga, "Casino Royale" is complex and intelligent while containing classic Bond film action sequences, charm, and smooth dialogue.
22. El Secreto De Sus Ojos – This Argentinian film is one of the most layered thrillers of this century and turns its phenomenal story into a gripping and elegant piece of cinema.
21. Grand Budapest Hotel – Quirky, colorful, wonderfully cast, and expertly directed, “Grand Budapest Hotel” is the best film to come from Wes Anderson.
How many of #40-21 have you seen?
