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In Our Opinion

BEST OF THE DECADE LISTS

By • Jan 6th, 2010 • Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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BEST OF THE DECADE By Bryan Layne

MEMENTO (2000)

The most original mystery film from the decade.

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000)

The entire cast, director Darren Aronofsky and the special score by Kronos Quartet all stand out, but it’s Ellen Burstyn’s Oscar nominated performance that will haunt you the most.

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (2001)

Eccentric characters, an all-star cast and filmmaker Wes Anderson doing what he does best.

BUBBA HO-TEP (2002)

Don Coscarelli’s wacky horror/comedy about Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell) and John F. Kennedy (Ossie Davis) battling a mummy in a retirement home was similar to no other film over the decade.

BAD SANTA (2003)

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE for most moviegoers around the holidays, but for the rest of us there is this masterfully done vulgar comedy from director Terry Zwigoff.

AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2003)

An entertaining film that was assisted by Paul Giamatti’s break-out performance.

SIDEWAYS (2004)

Alexander Payne’s buddy pic/road trip comedy was another film that was dominated by a brilliant performance by actor Paul Giamatti, who stars as a failed writer who uses his hobby of wine-tasting to fuel his addiction to alcohol.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (2006)

You’re welcome… and thanks for this great satire.

THEM/ILS (2006)

THE STRANGERS was the more popular of the two films released about a married couple who are tormented by unknown, faceless attackers, but this film from France worked more for me on every level because of lead actors Olivia Bonamy and Michaël Cohen, the creepy score by René-Marc Bini, and the tight direction of filmmakers David Moreau and Xavier Palud.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)

The closest thing The Coen Brothers have done to a full-fledge Hollywood action film with one of the most memorable villains (Oscar winner Javier Bardem) in cinematic history that you’ll actually find yourself rooting for because of his inhumane actions.

INSIDE/À l’intérieur (2007)

Another great horror film from France and this one belongs entirely to actress Béatrice Dalle as a villainess doing brutal things I had previously thought only men were capable of undertaking. At 83 minutes, directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury keep the film’s extremely violent content moving at a no-nonsense rate.

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (2007)

The decade brought back a lot of my favorite characters from the past, among them: ROCKY BALBOA, JOHN RAMBO and INDIANA JONES, but I’ve always been a softie for Bruce Willis’ John McClane from the DIE HARD films and this one delivered. I hope they make twelve more of these, as long as Willis is attached.

GRAN TORINO (2008)

What’s not to like, here? Clint Eastwood plays a misanthropic old-fart who verbally assaults or physically threatens just about everyone in his path. A rewarding film from the entire cast and crew, alike.

DISTRICT 9 (2009)

I never saw this one coming. Great characters (two of them computer generated!), moving story, gratuitous violence, and the most fun I had at a film in 2009.

Continue to Max Pemberton’s Choice…

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