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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 John Larkin

10. AVATAR (2009) Yes, I just saw it, but from the beginning to the very finish I felt I was in the midst of a super spectacle. Combining all the traditional elements of telling a story, heady religious philosophy and groundbreaking effects, this is something you’ll never forget. Especially in IMAX 3-D.

9. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) Like AVATAR, watching this film made going to the movies seem special again. Besides a stunning final performance by Heath Ledger, the film is an instant crime classic that uses our modern day history of a Post 9/11 world and the threat of terrorism as it’s subtle spine.

8. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005) This is actually my favorite Heath Ledger performance, even though DARK KNIGHT brought him an Oscar. It seemed that most audiences didn’t connect emotionally to the characters. I definitely did and it’s what makes the movie.

7. ADAPTATION (2002) A brilliant script by Charlie Kaufman. A perfect reminder that Nicolas Cage is a truly fine actor. One of my favorite ideas in film is that the film can be about ‘itself’, and this film did it better than even THE PLAYER did.

6. MINORITY REPORT (2002) A film that already seems forgotten. Cruise and Spielberg’s first match-up turned into some of their best work ever. I also think It’s up there with CHINATOWN as one of the best screenplays ever written.

5. THE ROOM (2003) The granddaddy of the ‘so bad it’s good’ genre. I urge you to read the review I’ve written for FIR. THE ROOM is a movie miracle. A movie so unique it has since spawned it’s own culture.

3. GLADIATOR (2000) Watching it again, everything really is perfect. The performances by Crowe and especially Joaquin Phoenix, combined with an achingly beautiful score and cinematography, turns it into one of the most visceral and satisfying movie experiences. It’s Ridley Scott’s best film.

4. MEMENTO (2000) I probably watched this film five times before I fully understood everything. (Hey, I was ten years younger). This film can still confuse and exhilarate the hell out of you like no other I’ve seen in that genre. Kudos to Christopher Nolan, who has two films on my list!

2. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) Paul Thomas Anderson goes digging for Oil and finds a gusher in Daniel Day-Lewis, who may have given the performance of the decade in this dark powerful, unforgettable epic of the American Dream.

1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001-2003) It’s hard to pick one of the three. RETURN OF THE KING became the one that garnered 11 Oscars, but my favorite is still FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Each one kind of outdoes the other, and they do work as one long film. Peter Jackson’s perfect adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s books have now become a holiday viewing tradition and will stand the test of time as three of the greatest achievements in film-making history.

Continue to Mark Gross’ Choices…

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