The 'oughts were a pretty great decade for cinema--in both the art houses and the popcorn multiplex fluff. We had the debut of some new franchises (The Bourne films, the Lord of the Rings flicks, and comic books like Spider-Man, X-Men and Iron Man) and the reboot of some old (like Daniel Craig's blond, gritty Bond). When I sat down to try to make sense of it all and put my top fifty list together, it was far more difficult than I thought. A lot of the critically-acclaimed Oscar bait slid off of it in favor of lesser-known or dismissed films that I found myself returning to again and again. If I've watched something three or four times, doesn't that, in a sense, make it better than a film I saw once, thought was pretty good, but never felt like screening again? Some of the movies here ARE challenging, but continue to rattle around in my head. Others are goofy or "slight," but I can't stop introducing friends to them or watching in their entirety when they show up on cable. So there's bound to be some "WTF?" moments when you read this--but consider the fact that even though they all don't have a run time of 180 minutes and/or deal with "serious" issues, they all excel at the genres they appear in.
Also, keep in mind I do see A LOT of movies, but not all of them--acclaimed pictures like Zodiac, Letters from Iwo Jima, and 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days have yet to be viewed (but I'm planning on it!) so I can't rank 'em.
So let's get to it....oh, and these are in order!
1. CHILDREN OF MEN (2006)
Breathtaking, engrossing, exhilarating and depressing, this is director Alfonso Cuaron's masterpiece. It's the year 2027, and the human race has lost the ability to procreate and faces extinction. Clive Owen makes the perfect anti-hero as Theo Faron, a bitter, former-activist who reluctantly agrees to transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a far-off sanctuary. What follows is a harrowing, intense journey of survival, with a handful of bravura setpieces, including the most nail-biting SLOW car chase ever and a nearly twenty minute single tracking shot through a hellish battleground. This is one of those movies that got mixed reviews upon its release, but time will show it's true brilliance (and I'm sure I'm not the only one who picked it as one of the top films of the last ten years). The cast excells (Owen, Julianne Moore, Danny Huston, Michael Caine), but it's Cuaron's storytelling and command of the narrative that make this one unforgettable.
2. KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005)
Shane "Lethal Weapon" Black scripted and director this superb send-up of the buddy cop/detective genre, with career performances from Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. Downey plays Harry Lockhart, the unreliable narrator of the tale, who stumbles into an audition after a botched robbery attempt and lands a role. He meets ace detective Gay Perry (Kilmer), who Harry tags along with to research his part. Soon they find themselves in the middle of a Chandler-esque murder mystery, packed full of laughs and twists. The dialogue crackles ("Uh, I'm retired. I invented dice when I was a kid") and the chemistry between Kilmer and Downey is top-notch. This is one of those movies that I walked out of completed jazzed, and have watched at least a half a dozen times since.
3. IN BRUGES (2008)
Playwright Martin McDonagh (The Pillow Man) wrote and directed this darkly comic, violent action/comedy that features the best work that Colin Farrell has ever done on screen. He plays Ray, a cocky young hit man who, after a botched first job with a tragic ending, is ordered to wait until things calm down in the picturesque Belgium storybook town, Bruges. Ray finds it boring (except for a film crew "...filming midgets!"); his partner, the experienced, calm Ken (Brendan Gleeson, amazing as always) finds it relaxing. When their boss, the ultra-tanned, sadistic Harry (Ralph Fiennes, wonderfully menacing) wants Ray dead, Ken wrestles with the awful job and the consequences should he not carry out his order. An incredibly satisfying film, it gets richer with repeat viewings, and has several unforgettable moments ("Bottle!"). Not for everyone, but if you can get into the dark tone of the piece you'll be blown away.
4. ONCE (2006)
The fact that this film even exists is a victory to me--I've long since been a fan of the band The Frames, and frontman Glen Hansard is the star of this charming little indie-that-could. The simple, almost documentary approach of director and former Frames bassist John Carney is perfect for this chronicle of two musicians who fall in love through their music, though nothing is tied up in a pretty bow. The sequence in which Hansard and Marketa Irglova play "Falling Slowly" in a music store is magical, as is the moment when their band of buskers record their first song in the studio and make a believer out of their engineer.
5. CITY OF GOD (Cidade de Deus) (2002)
Fernando Meirelles' chronicle of life in a Rio De Janeiro slum is filmmaking at its best--it follows two best friends and their radically different development on the hard streets--one becomes a photojournalist, the other a drug dealer. The violence is realistic and brutal--a sequence in which a young boy shoots another to initiate himself into a gang is jaw-dropping, but the film has a vibrant urgency to it that grabs you and never lets you go. It spends time fleshing out the characters and their struggle for power and survival, and you really feel immersed in the culture. Meirelles shoots it with an incredible eye, and, despite its lengthy run-time, sucks you in and appears to fly by.
6. HOT FUZZ (2007)
Most would probably rank Shaun of the Dead ahead of this, but my general disdain for the zombie genre and appreciation for the action films that it lovingly dismantles make this the one that I prefer. Simon Pegg stars as Nicholas Angel, a hot-shot by-the-books London policeman who is transferred to sleepy hamlet Sanford since he is making the others in his precinct look bad. Things are done super casually in Sanford--the chief of police (Jim Broadbent) even lets his drunken cop son Danny (Nick Frost) sleep off benders in a jail cell. When a series of murders start occuring, its up to Angel and Danny to bring the killer to justice before he adds them to his list of victims. The direction by Edgar Wright is right on--he amps up the camera tricks, slick editing and firepower to beautifully mimic the bloated actioners that it casually references throughout (like Michael Bay's Bad Boys II and Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break). The film is tremendously entertaining, and perfectly constructed.
7. DONNIE DARKO (2001)
The first, and probably only good, movie by writer/director Richard Kelly is this oddball, moody masterpiece that has garnered a huge cult following in the years since it's release. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the title character, who is convinced he is going to die after seeing visions of a large bunny rabbit, who urges him to do bad things. The plot matters little--it's the haunting, unsettling scenes that stay with you as Donnie delves into his darker side. All the details are perfectly nuanced, and the music is used to great effect, particularly Gary Jules' slow cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World" and Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon."
8. HIGH FIDELITY (2000)
This movie would be glad that I am making lists, though it would prefer it if it was just top 5. Stephen Frears directed this great look at a guy (here played by John Cusack) reassessing his past relationships after his current one (with newcomer Iben Hjejle) falls apart. It also examines how music shapes our lives--the movie is like one great big mixtape. Jack Black broke through to the mainstream with his amped record store employee Barry, and Tim Robbins is hilarious as a slick, new-agey new beau ("Get your patchouli stink out of my store!"). And, like the early records of The Velvet Underground or the Beta Band EPs, it holds up beautifully.
9. MEMENTO (2000)
The film that put Christopher Nolan on the map, it's the ingenious narrative structure (starting with the ending and working backwards) that made this thriller unforgettable, coupled with great performances from Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano. Pearce plays Leonard, an amnesiac who tattoos clues all over his body to help him try and find the man he thinks killed his wife. Fantastic stuff.
10. THE STATION AGENT (2003)
The light, whimsical touch of director Thomas McCarthy (who went on to director the fantastic The Visitor) is super evident in this enchanting little movie. Finn (Peter Dinklage, one of the best actors working today) inherits a train station in rural New Jersey, and goes there to find some solitude...only to find himself befriended by a struggling artist (Patricia Clarkson) and a charismatic hot dog vender (Bobby Canavale). Through these unlikely friendships, Finn learns to open up and let others in, and begins a romance with Emily (Michelle Williams). The tone is so earnest and perfect, and the performances from the four leads are pitch perfect.
11. TELL NO ONE (Ne le Dis a Personne) (2006)
Based on a book by Harlan Coben, this french thriller is magnificent. Francois Cluzet stars at Alexandre Beck, a pediatrician whose wife, Margot, was murdered eight years prior. A suspect himself, Beck desperately misses his lost love, until one day he receives a mysterious email--showing Margot alive and well. What follows his part Hitchcock, part The Fugitive, as Beck goes on the run from the police and tries to reconnect with Margot. Smart, scary and nail-bitting, Cluzet is phenomenal, particularly in a sequence recalling a special concert they once enjoyed together. A remake is already in the works, so seek this one out before that one hits multiplexes.
12. THE INCREDIBLES (2004)
Most would list Finding Nemo or Wall-E before this one, but of all of Pixar's amazing achievements over the decade, this is the one that entertains me the most. A hilarious super-hero sendup that works as both a family comedy and thrilling action spectacle, Brad Bird got all of the details right, from the chiseled Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), to the gadget/costumer Edna Mole (voiced by Bird).
13. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004)
Before this one became oversaturated (it seemed everyone had a Napoleon impression, to add to their annoying arsenal of Austin Powers and Borat quips), it was one of the funniest, oddest, most endearing character studies of the decade. I saw it as part of the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, and immediately fell in love with it, seeing it again at a sneak screening and again over it's opening weekend. Although writer/director Jared Hess hasn't been able to capture the tone in his other films (Nacho Libre and Gentlemen Broncos), his debut remains one of the most entertaining films of the last ten years.
14. DISTRICT 9 (2009)
Neil Blomkamp's terrific sci-fi actioner is one of the most original movies in years--from it's semi-documentary feel, to the improvised dialogue (largely by Sharlto Copley, who stars as Wickus, the government agent in charge of relocating the "prawns" to the militarized ghetto of the title) and the exceptional CGI used to create the aliens, it seemed to come out of nowhere to score with both critics and audiences. Watching this, it's a shame that the studios who originally had Blomkamp attached to direct a film version of Halo screwed it up so bad, as he would have made an incredible film of it.
15. ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)
Cameron Crowe's largely autobiographical account of a young aspiring journalist's experience with the ficticious rock back Stillwater is a poignant, funny, coming-of-age and rock n' roll picture. Patrick Fugit aces the roll, and the supporting cast (Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Zooey Deschanel) all hit the right notes. It all feels authentic, thanks to Crowe's brilliant writing and use of music.
16. RABBIT-PROOF FENCE (2002)
Phillip Noyce directed this stirring, jaw-dropping chronicle of three young aboriginal girls who escape from a gulag they were sent to by the Australian government (who took half-caste children from their mothers and sent them into a life of indentured servitude) and make a daring 1500 mile journey across the Outback. A true story, it's a testament to the human spirit that these three battled great odds and persevered. The great score by Peter Gabriel enhances their amazing journey.
17. YOUNG @ HEART (2007)
One of the most inspiring, touching and sweet-natured documentaries of all time, it follows Massachusetts' Young at Heart choir, unique in that the choir of seniors cover music from the likes of Sonic Youth, Coldplay and James Brown. We meet some extraordinary people (and lose a few along the way), whose love of music and life bring a smile (and some tears) to the faces of all they come in contact with. The scene in which the choir performs in a maximum-security prison and reach out to some truly hardened men is unforgettable.
18. BEST IN SHOW (2000)
On the heels of Christopher Guest's outstanding mockumentary Waiting For Guffman came this crowd-pleasing look at the Westminster Dog Show and the quirky characters that own the pups. Guest's ensemble couldn't be any better (Michael McKean, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Don Lake, Ed Begley, Jr. and Larry Miller), with true breakout performances from Jane Lynch and Jennifer Coolidge.
19. DIRTY PRETTY THINGS (2002)
Stephen Frears directed this haunting drama, which served to introduce audiences to the terrific Chiwetel Ejiofor, who stars as Okwe, an illegal Nigerian immigrant who works in a London Hotel, and, along with Turkish immigrant Sophie (Audrey Tautou), discovers that all sorts of illegal activities are going on within it's walls. It's a brilliant chronicling of the struggle these two face in wanting to do the right thing, but not risk deportation. Plus, Sergi Lopez is as scary a portrait of evil as you are likely to see in a film.
20. GHOST WORLD (2001)
Terry Zwigoff's adaptation of Daniel Clowes' graphic novels is quirky, brilliant fun, with unforgettable characters, like Enid and Rebecca (Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson) and sad-sack Seymour (Steve Buscemi), who is the heart of the film. It's a witty and fascinating character study.
21. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004)
All of the Bourne films are superb spy films, exhilarating in their action sequences that skew more realistic and visceral than those in, say, the Bond series. Where Doug Liman directed with a bit more camera trickery, Paul Greengrass (Blood Sunday) took to hand-held photography, adding a combustible immediacy to the proceedings. Bourne works so well because he doesn't seem super human--just a well-trained operative struggling to stay alive.
22. GEORGE WASHINGTON (2000)
Exceptional debut from David Gordon Green (The Pineapple Express, Snow Angels) is a subtle, sublime portrait of southern small-town life, following for young friends who have to cover-up a tragic accident and are never the same. There is much more going on than the simplistic approach and story line would have you believe, and you'll find yourself thinking about this one long after the viewing is complete.
23. CORALINE (2009)
2009 was an exceptional year for animation, giving us Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, 9, and this gem, based on Neil Gaiman's novel. Creepy and fascinating, it's an imaginative head-trip that works for both children and adults alike. The stop-motion animation from Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) is beautiful. You won't be able to take your eyes off of it.
24. GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK (2005)
George Clooney made his directorial debut with this phenomenal study of Edward R. Murrow and his battle with Joseph McCarthy. David Strathairn gives the performance of a lifetime as Murrow, and he's surrounded by brilliant character actors, including Jeff Daniels, Ray Wise, Reed Diamond, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey, Jr. and Clooney himself. Shot wisely in black and white, it perfectly captures the era.
25. FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)
Wes Anderson and stop-motion animation are a match made in heaven. Anderson's twee aesthetic is perfect for the medium, his attention to quirky detail on full display in this lovely piece of animation. Destined to be a children's classic, the voice work is terrific (which includes George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe and Owen Wilson). The moment Gambon condemns Petey's improvisational songwriting is a favorite.
26. NINE QUEENS (Neuve Reinas) (2000)
Far superior to it's remake (2004's Criminal), this Italian caper picture is oh-so satisfying, twisty-turny entertainment. Two con men--one, a young cocky drifter, the other, a seasoned pro--team up to sell some counterfeit stamps (the nine queens) to some foreign investors. Only who is conning who? Betrayal abounds in this gritty fun thriller.
27. ROLE MODELS (2008)
The State's David Wain directed this absolutely hysterical comedy, following two fuck-ups (played by Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott) who get forced into a big brother program for community service after a botched high-school energy drink assembly. At first, they're annoyed at their charges--disillusioned LARPer Augie (Superbad's Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and foul-mouthed Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson), but end up learning a lot from them as they unlikely foursome do crafts, go camping, and engage in a medieval battle dressed like Kiss. It's a comedy with a lot of heart, and so many great comedic performances--including scene-stealing Jane Lynch as camp director Gayle.
28. A KNIGHT'S TALE (2001)
A joust set to Queen's "We Will Rock You" sets the tone for this wacky hybrid film, written and directed by Brian Helgeland (who penned L.A. Confidential). Heath Ledger plays William, a peasant with big dreams and aspirations, who poses as a Knight after his master dies. With the help of Wat (Alan Tudyk), Roland (Mark Addy), and a young Chaucer (Paul Bettany), he carries on the charade, courting a beautiful princess (Shannyn Sossamon) and clashing with a moody rival (Rufus Sewell). The contemporary rock score turned off many, but I dug the MTV vibe (for my money, you can't go wrong with an elegant dance to David Bowie's "Golden Years") and the cast is super appealing.
29. SHAOLIN SOCCER (Siu Lam Juk Kau) (2001)
Stephen Chow is a GIGANTIC movie star in Hong Kong, and this import is enough to show you why. Super silly, with a live-action Looney Tunes kind of feel, it follows a rag-tag team of soccer players who utilize different styles of Kung Fu to best a team of super-charged athletes. Ridiculous special effects and an over-the-top style make this one of the most entertaining pictures of that year.
30. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
The Coen Brothers nailed this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's dark novel, creating a modern western/thriller hybrid and one of the most iconic characters of the decade in Anton Chigurh, a psychopathic killer with a Prince Valiant cut and a warped moralistic drive. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones are equally good as war vet who finds a sack of money from a drug deal gone bad and as an aging lawman, respectively. The cat and mouse game is truly thrilling, and the controversial yet realistic ending left many cold but I found ingenious.
31. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (2001)
Wes Anderson's live-action modern storybook is full of great performances and memorable moments (who can forget Danny Glover falling in a hole?) Plus, it's got Gene Hackman, Owen and Luke Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray and a hawk!
32. SPIDER-MAN (2002)
Sam Raimi was the perfect director to bring Peter Parker to the screen--he got the mix of action, comedy, discovery and comic-book tone perfect. Tobey Maguire was the perfect choice to play Parker. Most point out Spider-Man 2 as a superior picture; but this one laid down the groundwork for all that was to come, in an entertaining way that most origin stories do not.
33. THE TV SET (2006)
Never has the desperation and studio ineptitude of television pilot season been captured so sadly dead-on than in this film written and directed by Jake Kasdan (son of Lawrence). David Duchovny nails the role of Mike, who gives in to concession after concession when his pilot goes into production. Sigourney Weaver, a great unsung comedian, is perfectly frustrating as studio head Lenny, and Dollhouse's Fran Kranz is hilariously irritating as the show's clueless leading man. For anyone who has ever been a part of the industry, this will hit far too close to home.
34. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
I do enjoy Tim Burton's take on the Batman series, but Christopher Nolan's super-dark Gotham is the way it's really supposed to be. Christian Bale growls and grunts efficiently as the caped crusader, but the picture belongs to Heath Ledger's Joker--Ledger's exciting portrayal brought both uneasy humor and unpredictable malice to the role, electrifying the screen every second he was on it.
35. HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001)
John Cameron Mitchell's off-broadway smash made an impressive indie musical in 2001--Mitchell's Hedwig is a force to be reckoned with. But it's the music by Stephen Trask that is the real star here--it's Broadway meets glam-rock with a debt owed to T-Rex, David Bowie and Roxy Music.
36. THE KING OF KONG (2007)
Hypnotic documentary follows everyman Steve Wiebe, who broke the single score Donkey Kong record that had stood for 25 years. That record was originally set by Billy Mitchell, a showboating, super-mulleted egomaniac who promptly broke the record again. Wiebe journeys to a tournament in Florida to face Mitchell and try to set the record for the Guinness Book. A fascinating study of what drives these men, and the lengths they will go to to try and be the best at something.
37. WALL-E (2008)
What's so brilliant about Wall-E is how much is conveyed without dialogue--and yet the nearly wordless first half is one of the greatest screen romances of the year, set to a video loop of Hello, Dolly! Computer animation has come a long, long way, and this stands are Pixar's greatest technological achievement to date.
38. LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
A sweet, May-December pal-mance, with great performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. It's two lost souls finding momentary solace in one another--what is it about people that they can tell strangers anything, but keep things bottled up from the people they know? It's the little moments in the film that work best--and I'll forever enjoy seeing Murray karaoke the hell out of Elvis Costello.
39. MINORITY REPORT (2002)
Steven Spielberg's hyperkinetic adaptation of Philip K. Dick's futuristic novel is an amazing sci-fi action headtrip. Cruise stars as John Anderton, a law enforcer who using the technology of "precogs" who can predict murders before they happen to nab would-be offenders. When Anderton himself comes up as a potential aggresor, he finds himself on the run from the same officers he's worked with, trying to clear his name and get to the bottom of what he thinks is a conspiracy. It gets sadly soft in it's last 20 minutes, but up until then it's an inventive, fun future fable with some amazing sequences.
40. NARC (2002)
Super-gritty, ultra-violent, but totally mesmerizing undercover cop character study from Joe Carnahan--it's first ten minutes along set the tone for this visceral treat. Jason Patric and Ray Liotta seeth delightfully at each other, leading to a bloody, satisying climax. The cool blue lensing ads to the coldness of the picture in an astounding way.
41. THE PROPOSITION (2005)
John Hillcoat (The Road) directed this Australian revenge western, penned and scored by rocker Nick Cave. The great Ray Winstone stars as lawman Captain Stanley, who captures part of a gang that raped and murdered a pregnant woman. He gives one of the gang, Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce), nine days to ride out and capture his older, psychotic brother Arthur (Danny Huston, chilling) who was the driving force behind the crime. Charlie's younger brother Mike is to remain in prison, and unless he can capture Arthur, Mike will be hung when the time expires. The outback is the least brutal character in the picture--it's a film of desperate men and one man's last chance for redemption.
42. STARDUST (2007)
Neil Gaiman's book is turned into a charming, delightful fantasy romp a la The Princess Bride in this film by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, the upcoming Kick-Ass). Superlative imagination rules the film, as does the great star turns by Claire Danes and Charlie Cox as the fallen star and the questing hero, and the scene-chewing turn by Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare, the flamboyant air pirate.
43. THE DEPARTED (2006)
Scorsese's Irish Mob pic, a remake of the Japanese film Infernal Affairs, garnered a lot of Oscars and reestablished Leonardo DiCaprio as a Box-Office king. It's full of explosive performances--including Jack Nicholson's legendary mob boss, Matt Damon's twitchy undercover mob mole, Mark Whalberg's virtuous cop, and Alec Baldwin's blustery officer.
44. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008)
America got Jai-Ho fever when it got ahold of Danny Boyle's superb biopic, following a Mumbai teen from the slums who becomes a contenstant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He's out of his element, but gets question after question correct, each one reminding him about a part of his checkered past. The leads are all appealing, and the love story with his long sought after Latika comes to a sweet perfect end. It's engrossing, inventive filmmaking.
45: GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI (2000)
Art house king Jim Jarmusch (Down By Law, Night on Earth) hit a high with this poetic detail of an urban hitman(Forest Whitaker), who follows the samurai code and is targeted by a frustrated mafia. Featuring a score by Rza, it's a slow-burn character study with lots of atmosphere and many moments of unexpected humor.
46. CACHE (2005)
Michael Haneke, the auteur responsible for The White Ribbon and Funny Games, helmed this disturbing psychological thriller that plays on our voyeuristic tendencies. A couple (Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche) find a bunch of videotapes on their front porch, filled with images of them being watched on a daily basis. Could it be the result of a terrible incident that happened years previous? It features a truly shocking twist midway through, which sends the film into a chaotic spiral as Auteuil's character tries to put his life back together. The ending leaves a lot of questions up in the air, and will have you talking and theorizing for days.
47. THE MATADOR (2005)
Richard Shepherd (The Hunting Party) wrote and directed this comic hitman picture, getting a career performance from Pierce Brosnan, who stars as Julian, a boozy, womanizing gun for hire who is in full-on burnout. He meets Danny (Greg Kinnear), a lonely traveling salesman who is in dire need of a kick in the pants. An uneasy friendship is formed as they drink, take in a bullfight, and pal around Mexico City. Kinnear's transformation from timid worrywort to mustached confidence is brilliant to watch, as is Brosnan's spectacular breakdown.
48. APPALOOSA (2008)
Ed Harris directs and stars in this kick-ass, character-fueled western. Virgil (Harris) and long-time friend Everett (Viggo Mortensen) come to a small town terrorized by vicious rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), who takes whatever he wants. The two men decide to establish law and bring Bragg to justice, a task easier said than done, especially with the addition of scheming love interest Allison (Renee Zellweger). It has a great sense of place and time, and the shootout is memorable for his brevity.
49. THE BANK JOB (2008)
Jason Statham is allowed to do more than just drive a car and be shirtless in this picture chronicling the true story of a robbery of London's Baker Street Bank in the 70s, set up by the government to regain some controversial pictures of royalty. What follows is a great, taut caper film, with fine performances and direction by Roger Donaldson (Thirteen Days, No Way Out).
Another entry in the revenge western department, it's man against man as Carver (Liam Neeson) hunts down Gideon (Pierce Brosnan), a Union general responsible for the accidental deaths of Carver's family. He chases him halfway across the country until the inevitable desert showdown. It's a little heavy on some of the symbolism (particularly Anjelica Huston's bizarre cameo), but the actors are in top form and the movie is high on drama and thrills.
Honorable Mention:
3:10 To Yuma
(500) Days of Summer
Avatar
Brick
Casino Royale
Finding Nemo
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Gone Baby Gone
Gran Torino
Holes
Invictus
Iron Man
Little Miss Sunshine
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Michael Clayton
Millions
The Motorcycle Diaries
Munich
Murderball
Mystic River
Ratatouille
Right At Your Door
Shaun of the Dead
Sideways
Starter For 10
There Will Be Blood
The Visitor
The World's Fastest Indian
Let me know some of yours! Leave a comment!
**And yes, it's been waaaaay longer than three days, so here is your required Scott Baio photograph, in tattoo form!**
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