I was 9 years old when this decade began. Ten years later and, while my passion and taste for film has indubitably increased, I still consider myself a fledgling. Therefore, composing a list of the top 10 films of the decade was a task I approached with both hesitation and fear.
I haven't always had the opportunities to view films as I do today, so judging a decade's worth of cinema was nearly an impossible assignment, considering the hundreds upon hundreds of films my eyes have never had the chance to behold.
I had to go with what I've personally seen, what I've personally felt, and how I've individually interpreted the various films I've seen within the new millennium. Even then, ranking these films is another impossibility in itself. Who's to say that one brilliant film is better than another brilliant film? Certainly not me, so without further delay I give you, in alphabetical order, my personal top 10 films of the decade.
"4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days)" (2007) — The epitome of gut-wrenching. This Romanian drama is a devastating journey over the course of a single night, as a faithful friend (a remarkable Anamaria Marinca) goes to unbelievably unbearable lengths in arranging an illegal abortion for her roommate in 1987 in Romania. Scenes are lasting, haunting, and strike you unexpectedly with overwhelming emotion. The feeling can only be described as your body transfixed, while your stomach is on a never-ending churn cycle and your heart sinks lower and lower into your chest, delivered by a masterpiece of lingering permanence.
"Almost Famous" (2000) — Perhaps the reason for my magnetic attraction to Cameron Crowe's magnificent film is my own relation to the main character. Patrick Fugit plays an awkward high-school student who digs music and journalism, and ends up scoring the opportunity of writing an article for Rolling Stone magazine about a rising rock group as he follows them on tour. The music rocks, the story rules, and Kate Hudson is unforgettable as the groupie (ahem ... Band-Aide) named Penny Lane.
"Brokeback Mountain" (2005) - Quite possibly the greatest love story I've ever witnessed. In regards to its controversy and backlash, I feel the great Roger Ebert said it best in his review when he stated, "'Brokeback Mountain' has been described as 'a gay cowboy movie,' which is a cruel simplification. It is the story of a time and place where two men are forced to deny the only great passion either one will ever feel. Their tragedy is universal. It could be about two women, or lovers from different religious or ethnic groups — any 'forbidden' love." I couldn't have said it any better, and I won't, aside from saying that Ang Lee's moving drama was robbed at the 2006 Academy Awards. Regardless of how good of a movie "Crash" was, it will eventually become forgotten. "Brokeback Mountain" is timeless.
"Cidade de Deus (City of God)" (2002) - A film that truly etches itself into the mind. Following the paths of two youths as they grow up in the violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, as one becomes a photographer and the other, a gang leader and drug dealer. Intricately detailed and told through a Tarantino-esque narrative, "City of God" is inspired, unsettling, and beautiful all at once. The cinematography drives the film, and the result is simply a marvel.
"Kill Bill, Volumes 1 and 2" (2003, 2004) - To separate Quentin Tarantino's epic saga of revenge into two is criminal, as I'm sure the only reason for the theatrical split is to satisfy our country's saddening pandemic of short attention spans (we all saw how "Grindhouse" turned out). Watched back-to-back, the two volumes of Tarantino's masterpiece are sheer visual splendor, genius storytelling, and generous shares of both comedy and action. Uma Thurman is viciously wondrous as The Bride, seeking vengeance on all those who participated in the failed murder attempt of her and her unborn child. The leader, Bill, is played with infectious charisma by kung-fu legend David Carradine, an actor who unfortunately passed away this year. Luckily, Quentin Tarantino's tour de force will forever maintain his legacy.
"Once" (2006) - A spirited combination of film and music, "Once" follows two musicians as they connect and write, rehearse, and record songs that unveil their love. The love story is natural, and occurs more between notes, chords, and melodies than with the two main characters, simply named Guy and Girl. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, two of the most passionate musicians I have ever heard, shine in this simple independent film that launched them into the mainstream, winning them an Oscar for Best Song, the gorgeously evocative "Falling Slowly."
"El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)" (2006) - In between his two "Hellboy" films, writer/director Guillermo del Toro used his inspiration and flair for bringing unique creatures to life in a magical world with his masterful achievement "Pan's Labyrinth." The young Ivana Baquero is flawless as the film's protagonist, the insightful stepdaughter of a brutal army officer who escapes into a dangerous world of intrigue and fantasy. Set against the backdrop of 1944 fascist Spain, the film is filled with various nuances and astute allegories that can only be caught with repeat viewings, the telltale sign of a true work of art.
"Requiem for a Dream" (2000) - The most disturbing, hypnotizing, unusual work of the decade; an evocative insight into the world of addiction and the lives it shatters. Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, and Jennifer Connolly lead the versatile ensemble as heroin addicts, yet Ellen Burstyn's performance as a woman slowly deteriorating from her delusional reliance on prescription pills still remains an indelible memory in my mind. Driven by the haunting score, mainly "Lux Aeterna" by Clint Mansell, the film is a nightmare that slowly becomes your own, never releasing its grip — even long after the credits conclude.
"Spirited Away" (2001) - While an animated film was bound to end up on my list, it was a tough choice between the two leading forces in the art, Hayao Miyazaki and Pixar animation. The former ended up nabbing the spot, seeing as nearly every Pixar film released to date is so unique in its own way, that picking just one proved far too difficult. While Miyazaki's "My Neighbor Totoro" remains his unarguable prime achievement, his created world of "Spirited Away" brought about a sense of imagination the likes of which had never been experienced. The overall effect is mesmerizing, yet first reactions are likely to cause more head-scratching than eye-widening. It's stunning to look at, and each return to the magical land of "Spirited Away" brings about something new each time around, inching closer and closer to fully understanding Miyazaki's genius.
"There Will Be Blood" (2007) - Every viewing of Paul Thomas Anderson's story of greed and corruption by a turn-of-the-century oil prospector raises not only new ideas, but new feelings as well. Daniel Day Lewis is as vile as they come with his faultless performance as Daniel Plainview, the film's villain with blood as dark as the oil for which he thirsts. Quite possibly the performance of the decade, reaching its zenith of intensity during a heated climax in which Day Lewis delivers one of the most quotable lines of the decade, "I drink your milkshake. I DRINK IT UP!"
So there you have it, my personal top 10 for the decade — for now at least. There's no doubt in my mind that as I view more films released the past 10 years, this list will encounter numerous alterations. Check back with me next decade; then maybe I'll feel a little more comfortable calling this list concrete.
