By Sean Kelly
10. Moulin Rouge (Baz Luhrmann, 2001)
I can argue that this film began the “Jukebox Musical” trend long before Mamma Mia or We Will Rock You hit the stage (I still get glee when a group of aristocrats begin singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit”). Arguably Luhrmann’s best, and a perfect example of the style of his films, which start off very comedic and turn more dramatic as the film progresses.
9. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007)
Notable for adding the phrase “I drank your milkshake” to the pop-culture landscape, but it’s much more than that. One of film’s most intriguing character studies about the corruption caused by greed.
8. The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008)
I’m a fan of professional wrestling, so it was natural that I would like this film. But it’s also a great, tragic story of a past-his-prime wrestler’s inability to adapt to life outside of the ring.
7. Mystic River (Clint Eastwood, 2003)
I believe this was the best film Eastwood directed during the decade and it’s a shame it didn’t win more Oscars (darn Lord of the Rings). Tim Robbins’ performance is definitely the standout and he well deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
6. Garden State (Zach Braff, 2004)
A nice little coming-of-age story with one hell of a good soundtrack (one of the few I’ve bought). Also the film that helped me associate Natalie Portman with more than just the Star Wars prequels (probably a good thing in the long run).
5. Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
Other than the fact that I share a name with the protagonist (albeit spelled differently), this film properly introduced North Americans to the comedic stylings of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. It’s also one of the few horror-comedies to have a good mix of both genres (and I still crack up at the “Don’t Stop Me Now” pool cue fight).
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
Arguably the best film of both director Michel Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (for which he won an Oscar). The film is simultaneously a touching romance and a surreal fantasy. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are wonderful in their roles.
3. Brick (Rian Johnson, 2005)
This was definitely one of the most original films of the decade in its merging of a film noir detective story with a high-school setting. I also credit this film with reigniting Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s career after his stint on the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun ended.
2. Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000)
Last year when fans were calling for The Dark Knight to be nominated for Best Picture, it was eerily similar to the response given to Nolan’s breakthrough film. Memento’s unique reverse-chronological format meant that the viewers knew the end of the story from the start and the real mystery involved the events that lead to it. Definitely one of the most cerebral films of the decade.
1. Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001)
How do you define a cult classic? Donnie Darko received a very limited theatrical release (a couple dozen theatres). I discovered the film, like everyone else, after it was released to video.
When I first saw the film, it was very different than what I’d expected and even though I was initially confused by the film’s plot, I also became very intrigued and hit the Internet to try to find explanations . For the first time ever, I was interested in a movie more than just as passive entertainment and it paved the way for me to eventually pursue film studies. That is why I consider Donnie Darko not only my top film of the decade, but also my all-time favourite.
Honourable Mention: Once (John Carney, 2006)
I originally compiled this list for my blog back in late December. As is usually the case for these types of lists, there will always be the one film you forgot to include. Sadly for me it was this wonderful Irish film, which I consider to be a “diegetic musical” (in that there’s an in-plot reason for the characters to be singing, as opposed to randomly breaking into song). The film features a romantic story that is both touching and sad, and the soundtrack is arguably the best of the decade (with a well-deserved Best Song Oscar).
