The Aughts are NOT Great
In light of the recent debate, I thought I'd venture into the fanboy infested waters with my "predicted" Best Movies for the aughts.
I view the legacy as the film's ability to be thought of with the greatest of all-time. Whether we look to the AFI, IMDB or some other list, they are a gauged to the historical context of other films.
One of the key criteria that I'll add is that only one film in a series will represent that group. There is really only one main contender that I'll discuss, but I doubt modern lists will have multiples films listed.
NO-BRAINERS
Gladiator
Memento
Slumdog Millionaire
There Will Be Blood
No Country for Old Men
Dark Knight
Million Dollar Baby
The Departed
Brokeback Mountain
I don't care for a few of these films, but the critics drive these lists and their awards speak for themselves. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are going to be on the AFI Top 100 list.
I'm going to add "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" because it won the Oscar and was the most widely received. As I mentioned, I don't think the legacy will separate these films as part one, two or three, but rather the Rings Trilogy. "Batman Begins" will also be removed from the list as "Dark Knight" surpassed the original is both critical recognition, box office success and most influential, carries the stigma of Heath Ledger's death.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Donnie Darko - This odd, quirky film should be on the list. Probably that latter quarter of the list, but it's obscurity is lessening with word of mouth and readily available copies of the DVD.
Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe's best work is very, very popular, but all-time, probably not.
Gran Torino - I liked this better than "Slumdog" but it's not the kind of film that we'll be talking about in 30 years.
Mystic River - see "Gran Torino"
Movies like "The Wrestler", "Hotel Rwanda", "Oldboy", "The Prestige", "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Pianist" should also be in this category. I personally would include "Gangs of New York" in this category and add to the "Best of", but I don't think I'm in the majority.
PASSION DEBATE
I'll confess that I'm biased as a Christian and would put "Passion of the Christ" on the list. In addition to the smaller budget and amazing box office turnout, "Passion" delivered a moving (although disturbing) Biblical interpretation. I'm surprised there's not more demand for a Easter theatrical presentation of the film.
With that said, I can understand how some, like Nolan, who do not share my convictions, dismiss it as a snuff film. Phenomenon or not, "Passion" may come up in debates, but doesn't belong on the lists.
THE PIXAR FACTOR
Like it not, Pixar matured during this decade giving us two amazing films that will and should be considered: "Finding Nemo" and "Up." They achieved both great critical reviews and box office success. Some fanboys would add "The Incredibles" to this conversation, but I think that the comic book geek inside of us talking. The 3-D revolution, let's include "Shrek" as well, changed kid's films forever and Pixar was the pioneer.
DISAPPOINTED FANBOY PICKS
Sin City
300
Star Trek
Kill Bill vol 1 or 2
Snatch V for Vendetta
Spider-Man 1 or 2
X2
Ghost World
Road to Perdition
Big Fish
And for the teens: The Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Good. Some would say great. Maybe great genre films and they make the decade taste less nauseating, but they are not in the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Alien" class.
I'll look back at this decade grateful to see superheroes transformed to the big screen. "Harry Potter" is an amazing series, but there is no "Empire Strikes Back" in their mythology. Kids in their influential nexus years will revere this aspect of film much the way we reflect on Christopher Reeves in "Superman 2"
FINAL GRADE
Lots of good films, but I think the word "GREAT" gets used too loosely in every aspect of our lives. In my opinion, there is NOT ONE of these films that belongs in the Top 25 with "Godfather", "Citizen Kane", or Hitchcock films. Frankly I wouldn't half of the "No brainers" again even though I can acknowledge their reputation as a great film.
There's that word again.
Sequels, recycled material, a writer's strike -- it all spelled disaster for Hollywood in one of the more insignificant decades of film.
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