Best films from 2000-2009

Compiling a list of the decade's best films is somewhat like what I imagine college admissions counselors go through. There's no way to really give every applicant an honest look, and I have passionate attachments to some that cloud my judgment a bit. It feels a bit like tossing a large stack of notable candidate profiles into the air and choosing the ones that fall in front of my feet first.

In other words, don't flame me for choosing something you consider flawed or unworthy of such a mention. I can't exactly place why I chose these ten, the reasons varying from technical achievement to a generally pleasant theater experience.

Without further ado...



10. The New World
Discovery and the merging of two cultures, all shot on 65mm film stock.



9. Bright Star
The level of detail in this film is astounding, with an incandescent performance from Abbie Cornish.


8. Moulin Rouge!
The film that single-handedly resurrected the musical genre.



7. Lost in Translation
A stunning look at two misfits who find complacency and each other in a foreign country.



6. The Hours
Loneliness through three generations, and the acting. Dear God, the acting.



5. Brokeback Mountain
One of the greatest love stories ever told.



4. Children of Men
A futuristic tale amid technical brilliance.



3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Quite simply the best example of how to pull your audience into the character's perspective.



2. There Will Be Blood
The best character study I've seen, well, ever.



1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
It's unoriginal for me to place this at the top spot, but nothing else comes close. Peter Jackson risked his life, his money, and his career on this project, and we're left with a true masterpiece of cinema.