I am a not-so-secret movie nerd, so listed below are my favorite movies by year from the 2000's, which proved to be incredibly difficult (except for 2006 & 2008). Upon reading you will see there is no Harry Potter nor Lord of the Rings and I'm not sorry about it. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but they weren't the best in those particular years. Had 2011 been on here you for sure would see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, but that's another decade and another article.
2000. Almost Famous
Written and directed by Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire) and starring Kate Hudson (Bride Wars) as Penny Lane, the young hipster, rock groupie in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, Almost Famous tells the story of a 15-year-old boy, well beyond his years, who gets the opportunity to write an article for Rolling Stone magazine and join an up-and-coming rock band on the road for their upcoming tour. Simply put, if you love music and movies, you will love this comedic-drama that packs a punch, while also making you giggle.
2001. A Beautiful Mind
Ron Howard first came to prominence in the 1970's sitcom Happy Days and since has gone on to do amazing work as a film director. Some of his more famous films include The Da Vinci Code, Apollo 13 and the best film of 2001, A Beautiful Mind, which is based on the true story of famous mathematician John Nash. After gaining wide acclaim for his findings in the field of mathematics, Nash gets asked by the Pentagon to crack encrypted codes from foreign enemies, which leads to a life of stress and paranoia.
2002. The Hours
This film tells the story of how the famous literary work Mrs. Dalloway, written by Virginia Woolf, has affected three generations of women who in one way or another have experienced suicide in their lives. This movie stars Oscar winners Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman, who won the Oscar for her turn as Woolf. It was directed by Stephen Daldry and has one of the greatest supporting casts ever put together on film. It's a drama in every sense of the word, but it's a good one; one that would typically be skipped over but definitely shouldn't be.
2003. Monster
Charlize Theron stars as real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkins' 2003 biographical film Monster. Theron's turn as Wuornos landed her the Oscar for Best Actress in 2003 and you will understand why after watching the opening ten minutes. Independently made, this film makes the viewer feel as though they are experiencing the horrors of this killing, godless prostitute first-hand. Theron's performance is so dynamic, that in some parts of the film you see the monster as a victim, asking the age old question of, "are people inherently bad, or are they what society makes them out to be?"
2004. The Incredibles
After The Lion King, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Toy Story I would say The Incredibles is the best animated movie ever made. This film tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Parr, better known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, who have put their days as superheroes behind them in an attempt to lead a somewhat normal, suburban life. They do so, alongside their three children, who also have super powers but are told to keep them under wraps; until their father gets an itch for his old hobby and finds himself in a bind, forcing the entire family to come out of hiding.
2005. Walk the Line
I
love me some Johnny Cash and this movie tells the story of "the man in
black" perfectly. Joaquin Phoenix deliverers a chilling, Oscar-nominated
performance in a film that showcases the many hardships the icon had to endure,
including his introduction to the music industry and of course his troubles with drugs, alcohol and love. Reese Witherspoon takes a stab at June Carter
Cash, and does so very effectively, showing the Legally Blonde star's major acting chops.
2006. The Departed
One of my favorite movies and for obvious reasons. The Departed is directed by Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street) and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson in this cat-and-mouse crime drama about an undercover cop (DiCaprio) trying to find a mole (Damon) in the Massachusetts State Police working for Boston's biggest mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson). I don’t want to say anything more, because if I do it might ruin one of the greatest movies ever made. Don’t watch this with your mom.
2007. Juno
One of the funniest, quirkiest, most sarcastic movies ever made, Juno tells the powerful tale of a knocked up high school girl who is faced with the struggles of being a pregnant teen; which entail's throwing up blue slushy in her step-mom's urn, finding the perfect adoptive parents, in addition to the million other trials and tribulations teens go through. This movie is laugh out loud funny, while also maintaining a sentimental edge that reiterates the fact that despite being a comedy there is still a story to be told.
2008. The Dark Knight
Another one of my all time favorites, and again for obvious reasons. The Dark Knight is the second film from Christopher Nolan's Batman series and without a doubt his best. In this film Batman goes head-to-head with his most notorious enemy, the Joker, played perfectly (and I mean perfectly) by Heath Ledger, in an attempt to keep the city of Gotham safe. In addition to the havoc being brought about by the Joker, Batman begins his feud with Gotham's most respected attorney Harvey Dent, who after having acid spilled on his face turns to a life of crime and begins his new identity, "Two Face". Technically, there isn't anything wrong with this film and is must-have in any movie lovers collection.
2009. The Hangover
Many film buffs and lovers of film are rolling there eyes right now, and in their mind I have lost all credibility as a self-identified movie buff. Those people can go watch their four hour foreign language films and never talk to me again. The reality of the situation is the Hangover is absurd, yes, but it is a quality movie. It revolves around four men who embark on Las Vegas to have one last hurrah for their friend who is getting married, and soon to be off the market. Actors often say that comedy is harder than drama, and if that is the case Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and of course the movie's MVP, Zach Galifianakis deserve an Oscar. Okay, probably not, but if you like dumb, you will love the Hangover.
Runners-up
2000: Memento (Christopher Nolan)
2001: Mulholland Drive (David Lynch)
2002: Adaptation (Spike Jonze)
2003: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Peter Jackson)
2004: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Alfonso Cuaron)
2005: Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee)
2006: Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris)
2007: No Country for Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen)
2008: Doubt (John Patrick Shanley)
2009: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lee Daniels)
