Wednesday, August 24, 2016

LIST - Best of the Century(?) Thus Far

...so, the internet did that thing it does at least once a year again the other day, when The BBC published a critics' list of the Top 100 films of the 00s. They say "The 21st Century", I say "the 00s", because they include films from the year 2000 in the list, which is objectively incorrect (the century technically began in 2001), but who am I to argue?

Anyway, it's an interesting list, made more interesting when you look at the individual lists and notice that everyone was only allowed to choose 10 films. 10? Really? That's IT? Which of course begs such questions as, "People really think Movie X is one of the 10 BEST films SINCE 2000?!?"

But of course, these things always even out in the end, and the Top Ten at any rate is pretty unimpeachable (actually, I would only question one), even though you may quibble with the order. And in case you haven't heard, that order is:

1. Mulholland Drive (Lynch, 2001)
2. In The Mood for Love (Wong, 2000)
3. There Will Be Blood (Anderson, 2007)
4. Spirited Away (Hayao, 2001)
5. Boyhood (Linklater, 2014)
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Gondry, 2004)
7. The Tree of Life (Malick, 2011)
8. Yi Yi (Yang, 2000)
9. A Separation (Farhadi, 2011)
10. No Country for Old Men (Coens, 2007)

And of course, I looked at that list, said "Well, there's that. Everything seems to be in order here," and moved on with my day.

Except people wouldn't shut up about it, and I found myself in the position of feeling the need to come up with my own "corrective" Top Ten of the 00s just because everyone else was (jeez, peer pressure is really something, isn't it?). The shocking thing was, it came out rather easily. Almost too easily, actually. So I figured, why not post it on the blog and elaborate a bit? So strap yourselves in, folks! Here are my...

TOP TEN FILMS OF THE '00S

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2. In the Mood for Love

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

4. Amélie

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

6. Moulin Rouge!

7. Before Sunset

8. Memento

9. Pan's Labyrinth

10. Toy Story 3

The first nine came really easily, and only in the tenth spot did I start to second-guess myself. But the next ten came just as easily:

 11. A Separation

12. Beasts of the Southern Wild

13. Birdman

14. Gravity

15. Weekend

16. Amour

17. The Royal Tenenbaums

18. Carol

19. Under the Skin

20. The Tree of Life

4 comments:

  1. I did see the BBC list. I'd hardly call it "unimpeachable." Of their top 10, I've seen 8 and have an undying hatred of three of them. Then again, that's just me being me. I like your list better. I've seen 14 of your 20 and only hate one (#20) and kinda sorta not that fond of another (#4). Good stuff.

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    Replies
    1. The BBC list as a whole? DEFINITELY not unimpeachable. The Top Ten, though, pretty much is (the only one I can't sign off on as a great film is Boyhood). And I don't mean "unimpeachable" as in "I totally agree with this list!" (as you can see from my Top 20), so much as I do "Yes, these are all Great Films that deserve to be in the conversation of Best of the '00s."

      I'm of course pleased that you prefer my list, though LOL.

      I know that Tree of Life is divisive to say the least, but... you're not that fond of Amelie?!? [Dan turns into waterfall, splashes all over floor]

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  2. I get what you meant, since I hate 3 of the 10, I can't go that far.

    I don't hate Amelie. It's just not one of my faves. That said, it is probably time for a rewatch. I only saw it once and that was back when it first hit DVD.

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  3. I like your list much better than theirs. I hate Boyhood and think it is really over-rated. I have tried to watch Tree of Life but just couldn't get into it. I would place all 3 Ring movies on mine. I love Pan's Labyrinth but also hate Gravity and think it is quite silly. In the end it just shows how personal our view points are.

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