Oh - one disclaimer, I'm only going to include one film per series in here, i.e., only one of the Lord of the Rings, because it'd just be boring to put them all in. Let's do it.
25 V for Vendetta (2005)
How do you make a film about a super-strong, horribly burned and disfigured anti-hero terrorist in a fictional fascist Great Britain feel prescient and more relevant than half of the shit you read on nytimes.com? Great question. If I knew I'd probably have left this blogging nonsense behind a long time ago. My point, however, is that a mere 3 1/2 years after 9/11, a film where a terrorist brings down major landmarks in opposition to his government succeeds brilliantly, as a political statement, a testament to the individual, and a rousing action film. Mark this one up as one of the biggest surprises of the decade for me, and one I go back to more than just about any other. As a protagonist, you the viewer can't help but side with V even as you shake your head at his megalomania. I could rave for pages about Natalie Portman in this one, but the always lovely and always charming Miss Portman brings a much needed human, grounded face to the whole endeavor. Plus, the one-shot head shaving scene? Awesome. Hugo Weaving manages to make a Guy Fawkes mask more expressive than most actor's faces, and lets be honest, the only thing this film is missing is Tom Wilkinson. 24 The Wrestler (2008)
Can you ever really teach an old dog new tricks? Does a tiger ever change its stripes? Do I know any more animal cliches? Who knows these things... I certainly don't. Brilliant is not the proper word to describe Mickey Roarke's performance or Aronofsky's direction (super pumped for robocop, by the way), and rarely, if ever, this decade have actor and material ever come together in such a way. At once uplifting & inspiring and crushing & devastating, we witness a once proud man, once a superstar - reduced to near homelessness, as he hangs on to the one thing that gave him any meaning. He continues to make self-destructive choices in pursuit of glory - forcing us to ask the question - does he really have any choice? You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll marvel at the very real beauty of what you're seeing, but one thing I guarantee is that you'll be affected, deeply, by what you see.23 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
What's a top 25 list without one of the decade's most accomplished, controversial and divisive filmmakers? While I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years Inglorious Basterds is the 2000's Tarantino film I come back to most often, right now Kill Bill 2 is the one that stays with me. Vintage Tarantino, with snappy dialogue, great shots, memorable characters, and non-linear storytelling. The lovely Uma Thurman is adequately badass as the unstoppable killing machine otherwise known as Beatrix Kiddo, and brings a much-needed sensitivity to the required scenes. The additions of Michael Madsen, Pai Mei and David Carradine (RIP) in addition to the filling in of the backstory make this the (much) stronger half of the Kill Bill series. I am sticking with my original statement that Kill Bill would be much stronger as a single film, but if I'm picking one, it will definitely be this one. The Kung-Fu training with Pai Mei is beyond awesome, and is one of my favorite scenes in any movie. I'll be the first to admit that Tarantino can be hit (Pulp Fiction) or miss (Jackie Brown), but this one is all hit, even if installment number 1 of Kill Bill isn't.
22 Collateral (2004)
Yes a Tom Cruise movie made the list. I wonder how many people really ever saw this one. It's Michael Mann you know. Yes, Heat Michael Mann. Jamie Foxx is a taxi drive who unwittingly becomes hitman Tom Cruise's personal driver as he cuts a swath through the L.A. underworld over the course of one very long night. It's Michael Mann, so I can tell you what you're going to get... awesome shoot-outs, heavy use of rock music and sweeping panoramic shots of the cityscape. This is a Mann (pun intended) who knows his craft, his city, and what the hell he's doing. Come along for the ride, it's one hell of a wild one. Foxx and Cruise are great, Mark Ruffalo is more than solid in a supporting role, and there are some great little scenes in this one. One of the more underrated films of the decade in my book, and a true pleasure. It was tough for me to pick just one Mann film to include, but in the end, this one had to be the choice. If you're staying away just because you can't buy Tom Cruise as a "bad" guy, give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. 21 Pan's Labyrinth
A terrible (in the way old testament God is terrible) fairy tale for the 21st century, director Guillermo del Toro's beautiful and wonderful spanish-language fantasy scape is a true cinematic breath of fresh air. Set in the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, one girl's fantastic escape from the horrors of her reality gives the director of Hellboy an opportunity to create a world of fairies, trolls, fauns and other creatures unlike anything else you've ever seen. The creatures and fantasy are un-nerving but strangely gorgeous, like an old growth forest, snarled with undergrowth. I'll be the first to admit that the little girl can be obnoxious, but hey, she can't help herself, she's 8, but you'll be transfixed to the screen and the true sense of wonder del Toro brings to life. It's been too long since I've sat down to the rich and rewarding experience that is Pan's Labyrinth, I'll have to do it again. At any rate, this one is rewarded for the depth of its creativity and artistry, and the overall beauty of the experience, in any language. A true masterpiece and gem.
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