Top 50 Movies of the Decade – part 10

(trailer)

David: Had we made this list a month ago, LotR would’ve maybe slid in at #50 on my ballot.  I’ve always kept a degree of distance–too many flaws.  But watching the (extended edition) trilogy once more during Thanksgiving break, I was completely engrossed through the three day stretch.  Something salient called out to me.  Tolkien’s bold Christian storytelling resonated with me moreso than ever.  Not even a drunk driver obliterating my car just prior to day three’s final act could interrupt the experience. But also, it was the joy of seeing my sister, who had never before watched any of the three films, swept up in such wonder and occasionally brought to tears.  Though the effects have already begun to fade even in these few short years since its release, this series… Well.  Let us just say its story doesn’t have an end.

Taos: It’s near impossible to choose just one of the grand trilogy. Sure, artistic liberty was taken with the book, but the renewed interest in the written trilogy was well worth it. I hope we get a remake in 20 years more faithful to the source. Until then, enjoy our generation’s Star Wars.

—

(trailer)

Taos: “I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!” It’s all about Daniel Day-Lewis here. Maybe the most impressive thing is that the first 25 minutes are dialogue free. It is likely most would not realize it until told.

David: The sights and sounds mark a sort of realistic unconscious imagery we all share of the subject and settings at hand; the film is a technical marvel; an experience.  Daniel Day-Lewis is too phenomenal.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Gripping modernist western wrapped around a morality tale to end all morality tales. The Coen’s were born to make this film.

David: Forgive the phrasing as I myself hate it but can’t think of another way to put it:  start to finish, No Country had me by the balls.  People call Chigurh (the film’s antagonist) a force of nature.  This movie is a force of nature.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Do you know what really happens? Repeated viewings make me constantly question my understanding of the truth. I hope I never know the magic to the trick.

David: It’s no coincidence Christopher Nolan appears three times on this list.  What sets The Prestige apart from his other already outstanding work seen here, or maybe more accurately what better endears it to me:  its unadulterated showmanship.  It embodies the essence of cinema.

—

(trailer)

David: What was I saying?  Oh, yeah.  It’s no coincidence Park Chan-wook appears three times on this list.  I count him my favorite filmmaker, and Oldboy his best film.  I could detail many reasons why it deserves its place as our top choice.  But perhaps the most telling explanation:  I’m moving 7,000 miles away to the Land of the Morning Calm next month, and Oldboy is a large part of the reason why.

Taos: I don’t know how this happened. Certainly worthy of the top ten, but not number one in my opinion. The Shakespearean-esque, highly stylized flick certainly contains the requisite parts for greatness, but seems to lack the cohesion. It opened up a world of cinema to me, so maybe it is worthy on that note.

Top 50 Movies of the Decade – part 9

(trailer)

David: My favorite comedy of all time, though it’s so much more. I think it’s the film that I best relate to (short of making my own movie, of course). My history with this film could fill a novella.

Taos: Fun and quirky with a dash of Bill Murray is the way to go. Most people won’t like it, and that is ok.

—

(trailer)

Taos: The most genuine romantic movie ever. This music is perfect and the relationship feels real, which technically it was I think.

David: A lovely film that deserves to be seen by everyone. Would’ve slipped me by for ages if not for Taos’ review prodding me to seek it out. (You win this one you right bastard!)

—

(trailer)

Taos: Rather than dispense with another superlative, I shall simply say that It was one of the few mystery/suspense movies that I actually felt I was along for the ride on. Like the protagonist, I may never know exactly what happened.

David: Takes an enthralling tale built from elements of classic film noir and frames it in a way that constantly challenges our perceptions (and on a number of levels). It’s still just as exciting today as it was 10 years ago. Nolan and Pearce desperately need to reunite, whether in the next Batman or something else entirely. And I desperately need to remember what I did with my DVD…

—

(trailer)

David: My favorite movie of all time.

Taos: Everything the character experiences, I empathize with. You feel the same hurt he feels on his tragic attempt in the name of love. Beautiful. Clint Mansell adds to the dream-like film I never wanted to wake from.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Lighthearted and full of whimsy. Put this on during a bad day and It will make everything better. I promise. One of the few optimistic films of the decade.

David: The first time seeing this, I’m guessing someone could’ve taken a snapshot of me at almost any given moment during the movie and I’d have had a big stupid grin on my face. It loses something considerable the second round, or maybe it was me who had lost something in the meantime. Regardless, I’ll always treasure that first encounter, that magic we’re all searching for when we go to the movies. ❤ Audrey Tautou.

The Life Aquatic
My favorite comedy of all time, though it’s so much more.  I

think it’s the film that I best relate to (short of making my own

movie, of course).  My history with this film could fill a

novella.

Once
A lovely film that deserves to be seen by everyone. Would’ve

slipped me by for ages if not for Taos’ review prodding me to

seek it out.  (You win this one you right bastard!)

Memento
Takes an enthralling tale built from elements of classic film noir and frames it in a way that constantly challenges our perceptions (and on a number of levels).  It’s still just as exciting today as it was 10 years ago.  Nolan and Pearce desperately need to reunite, whether in the next Batman or something else entirely.  And I desperately need to remember what I did with my DVD…

The Fountain
My favorite movie of all time.

Amelie
The first time seeing this, I’m guessing someone could’ve taken

a snapshot of me at almost any given moment during the

movie and I’d have had a big stupid grin on my face.  It loses

something considerable the second round, or maybe it was me

who had lost something in the meantime.  Regardless, I’ll

always treasure that first encounter, that magic we’re all

searching for when we go to the movies.  ❤ Audrey Tautou.The Life Aquatic My favorite comedy of all time, though it’s so much more. I think it’s the film that I best relate to (short of making my own movie, of course). My history with this film could fill a novella. Once A lovely film that deserves to be seen by everyone. Would’ve slipped me by for ages if not for Taos’ review prodding me to seek it out. (You win this one you right bastard!) Memento Takes an enthralling tale built from elements of classic film noir and frames it in a way that constantly challenges our perceptions (and on a number of levels). It’s still just as exciting today as it was 10 years ago. Nolan and Pearce desperately need to reunite, whether in the next Batman or something else entirely. And I desperately need to remember what I did with my DVD… The Fountain My favorite movie of all time. Amelie The first time seeing this, I’m guessing someone could’ve taken a snapshot of me at almost any given moment during the movie and I’d have had a big stupid grin on my face. It loses something considerable the second round, or maybe it was me who had lost something in the meantime. Regardless, I’ll always treasure that first encounter, that magic we’re all searching for when we go to the movies. ❤ Audrey Tautou.

Top 50 Movies of the Decade – part 3

Part 1 (#46-50)

Part 2 (#41-45)

And…

As promised, here’s our next 5 selections.  Visit tomorrow to see picks 31-35.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Oh man, I love everything Mamet does. Not even Tim Allen could bring this movie down.

David: A quiet David Mamet. There’s a lot in Redbelt that could be criticized. But the protagonist’s arc–by movie’s end–just the stuff of greatness. Solidified Chiwetel Ejiofor as one of my favorite actors.

—

(trailer)

David: [note: the flip of a coin, and 2046 may as well be here instead] The ever-wistful In the Mood for Love is the first of a more refined Wong Kar Wai. I prefer his early-mid summer period (maybe that’s because I myself am still young), but I still adore his late summer now autumn flags. A great piece of cinema in its own right, once seen in the context of its loose trilogy (Days of Being Wild, Mood, 2046), another dimension of allure–something mysterious–amplifies in the mind.  Aaaaand… another Chris Doyle photographed pic makes the list.

Taos: Cinematography looks amazing, but I haven’t seen it yet.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Finally a sci-fi film that doesn’t forget the science. Duncan Jones might be the next big thing. Especially if he gets to make the movies he wants. Not much can be said without ruining it. In the case of this movie: more is less. (Duncan Jones is David Bowie’s freakin son!)

David: Supposed to be better than it looks. I’ll find out come its dvd release next month.  A score by Clint Mansell can’t hurt its chances.

—

(trailer)

David: One of the most visceral movie experiences I’ve had.  Apart from the spotty prehistoric stampede, I was there for the ride the full three hours topside.  A supreme beauty of an epic.

Taos: Hard to like at first, but grows with reflection. If I were to pick a movie I hated at first but grew to love, I probably would have went with War of the Worlds instead.

—

(trailer)

David: Letting Matt Damon kick ass for six hours was one of the best decisions of the decade. Simply enough, what really pushes this one past its bookends (and by a sturdy margin) is its emotional primacy, succeeding, too, at what Quantum of Solace later failed to make happen for 007.

Taos: The Bourne films run together in my mind. I know the action was great and the story was outstanding, but I cannot tell you the individual storylines. Influenced half a decade of action films: nuff said.

—

Until tomorrow!