Many bloggers and critics (my husband included) have been posting their lists of the best films of the 00s. This is not one of those lists. The following is one in a series of posts dedicated to the overlooked/underrated/hidden gem films of the Aughts. I have handily included Netflix links with each film in case you want to add it to your queue. And you should. All of them. For further inspiration, see the lists of romances and comedies.
The Upside of Anger – This is probably one of my favorite movie finds of the Aughts. Joan Allen stars as a woman whose husband has up and left her without a trace. She befriends her friendly neighborhood ex-baseball player who lives down the street (played by Kevin Coster, who should at this point ONLY play ex-baseball players).
Cinderella Man – I saw this movie in a pre-screening a few weeks before it came out. Everyone in my group loved this Rocky-esque tale starring Russell Crowe. It went on to make -$14.
In Good Company – Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace star in this story about growing old in the business world.
The Prestige – Christopher Nolan became known this decade mostly for Memento and the Batman movies (all brilliant), but this film about dueling magicians staring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman is fun and surprising.
Hustle & Flow – Years later, I still love that this movie won the Academy Award for Best Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp). The movie itself is the story of a pimp who makes good, played with aplomb by Terrence Howard.
You Can Count on Me – This movie was all the rage back in 2001 when it debuted. If you missed it then, rent it now and see the lovely little film that made stars out of Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo.
State of Play – This movie is like the film version of Season 5 of The Wire starring Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams. That should be enough for you.
25th Hour – Spike Lee and Edward Norton were at their absolute best when they made this film about how one man spends his final free day before serving a seven-year stint in prison.
Match Point – I am not a big Woody Allen fan, and this is pretty much not a Woody Allen movie. Suspenseful, sexy, and British – I love it.
The Visitor – This brilliant little film (featuring an Oscar-nominated performance from Richard Jenkins AKA the dad from Six Feet Under) about a man who strikes up an unlikely friendship with his apartment’s squatters is not to be missed.
Honorable Mention: Collateral, Almost Famous, Insomnia, Friday Night Lights, Shattered Glass, Changing Lanes, Far From Heaven, Frost/Nixon, 8 Mile, Big Fish, The Queen
Which dramas did you love over the past 10 years?
Mags
Hammervision Said:
on December 30, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Solid picks all around Mags. I think my favorite out of all of these is 25th Hour. It is such a powerful, haunting movie – really makes you take stock of what you have and appreciate it. I love movies where time is running out on the main character’s life, and they have to make amends before they go. Meet Joe Black falls into this same category.
Also-Ran Movies of the Aughts – Difficult Dramas « Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Said:
on January 2, 2010 at 3:57 pm
[...] { January 2, 2010 @ 3:57 pm } · { Uncategorized } { Tags: Bliss, Listicles, Movies } Many bloggers and critics (my husband included) have been posting their lists of the best films of the 00s. This is not one of those lists. The following is one in a series of posts dedicated to the overlooked/underrated/hidden gem films of the Aughts. I have handily included Netflix links with each film in case you want to add it to your queue. And you should. All of them. For further inspiration, see the lists of romances, comedies, and dramas. [...]
Also-Ran Movies of the Aughts: Horror « Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Said:
on January 4, 2010 at 8:30 am
[...] And you should. All of them. For further inspiration, see the lists of romances, comedies, dramas, and difficult [...]