But there was indeed one major significant factor – birth of
The New Gen Cyber Cinephiles.
They aren’t as intense as movie buffs of New wave era.
But they are large in number and they are the market for the resurrected classics (the so called cult classics) which led to a need for preservation of films. The internet era has undoubtedly popularized old classics, making path for online movie discussions and access to movie related data. Thanks to great effort of the sites like imdb, rotten tomatoes etc. So I am presenting my favorite movies and notes of some relevant movies of the decade for this Cyber Cinephile Community.
Critics’ Favorites
Many movies of the last decade were lauded by critics. A complete list of critics, choices will be tedious. So I mention some of the most critically acclaimed movies of the decade.
Mulholland Dr
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
The Class
No Country for Old Men
Brock back Mountain
The Pianist
The Hurt Locker
Lives of Others
No Man’s Land
Synecdoche, New York
Besides this top ten list I would like to add something else as an
honorable mention. These are City of God, Departures, Kill Bill Volumes, Crash, The Wrestler, the Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Adaptation, Yi Yi, White Ribbon, The Departed, Children of Men.
Personal Picks
These movies were my favorites of the decade. As Roger Ebert says, these are the movies that gave me an emotional elevation or an intellectual depth. Here is my top ten…
1. Waking Life
I am a fan of Richard Linklater and love his ‘One Day’ movies.
And waking life was a movie with great depth. No movie on philosophy was so much involving as this one and dream sequences and rotoscopy used, made it an absolute gem of an art house film.
2. Me, you and everyone we know
Miranda July’s debut project about human connections was really impressive, fresh with a magical touch of romanticism.
3. City of God
Taut and fast paced, yet realistic and rich, Cidade de Deus is the absolute slum movie. It unveils the life in third world dwellings by depicting slums of Rio with a pace (still engaging as Salaam Bombay)
and without melodrama (yet entertaining as Slum Dog Millionaire)
4. Before Sunset
Linklater’s second film on the list. It is the beautiful sequel to the 90’s romantic drama ‘Before Sunrise’. Elevated with charming performances by Hawk and Delpy, the characters and movie grown with the actors and that makes this movie a great mature love story compared to its prequel, which was a great youthful love story.
5. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Remarkable performances by Carrey and Kate Winslet, elegant scripting by Kauffman and in depth analysis of human memory and relationships made this movie a complex yet emotional experience.
6. Pan’s Labyrinth
Absolutely hysterical, woven by unforgettable visuals and a heartfelt tragic story, definitely a great adult fantasy movie.
7. Lives of Others
Power, regime, human spirit, relations, freedom, redemption, all great human concepts portrayed beautifully in one movie.
8. Big Fish
Definitive fantasy movie. Tim Burton at his best.
9. A Prophet
Mesmerizing movie making by Audiard, the best gangster film of the decade, just like the Coppola-Scorsese golden age.
10. Almost Famous
Cameroon Crowe’s best film till date, a coming of age movie with some real charm of the romantic rock era, even though being ‘mercilessly honest and realistically uncool’.
Honorable Mentions: Donnie Darko,Memento, Requiem for a Dream, Run Lola Run, Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring, Little Miss Sunshine, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and some from the above critics’ list which are also not included here just to avoid repetition.
Apart from these two lists, I am also mentioning a list regarding genre bests. This list, besides one or two genres, is based on general popular reception.
Best of Genres….
Action: - Bourne Ultimatum
Teen Movie: - Juno
Crime: - The Departed
Raunchy Comedy: - The Hangover
Superhero Movie: - The Dark Knight
Fantasy: - LOTR
Thriller: - Memento
Western: - There will be Blood
Animation: - Up
War: - The Pianist
Post Modern: - Kill Bill Vol I
Romance: - Amelie
Horror: - Let the Right One
Musical: - Lagaan
Epic: - Gladiator
Blockbuster: - Avatar
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