The 411 Movies Top 5 1.15.10: Week 200 - Top 5 Movies of the Decade (2000-2009)

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 01.15.2010

For the 200th edition of the Top 5, the 411 crew takes a look back at the best films of the decade.



Wow…200 weeks of the Movies Top 5. There have been plenty of times where I have wondered if I would make it that far (almost all due to wondering when I will finally run out of topics), so please indulge just a moment here to bask in the feeling of accomplishment. That being said, just because I am the weekly host of this column, doesn't necessarily mean that it is MY column. This column belongs just as much to all my fellow 411 writers who have contributed lists over the years. Going back and re-reading older Top 5's is like going through a who's who of former 411 writers (for instance, I think Kristopowitz is the only writer who appeared in Week One that is still a regular contributor), and I thank every single of one of them for making this such a fun column to compile each week. Extra special thanks go to George H. Sirois, who took over hosting the column for a brief interim when I was busy with Zombie-Thon, and of course Tim O'Sullivan, who originated the first version of the column, and then later graciously let me take it over and start it anew.

And, being the suck-up I am, I also want to thank all the 411 readers who check out the column each week and share their feedback, whether it be through e-mails (the old days) or the comment board (now). You obviously don't always agree with us – heck, sometimes you seem like you want to see us thrown off the Internet for our opinions. But knowing that you're having a good time reading these is the only reason to keep doing it, so thanks.

So, this being the 200th installment and all, I wanted to make sure this week's topic was something special, and thankfully I lucked out in having it fall not too long after the start of a brand new decade. That allows my fellow 411 writers and I to take an introspective look back at the decade that was, and offer our own personal takes on:

THE TOP 5 MOVIES OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)

TREVOR SNYDER

5. A History of Violence (2005)

David Cronenberg spent the ‘70s and ‘80s making some of the most intelligent (and grossest) horror movies the genre has ever seen. In the ‘90s, he left horror behind but somehow managed to deliver films even more twisted, like Naked Lunch, Crashand eXistenZ. In 2005, his first collaboration with star Viggo Mortenson produced what I consider to be Cronenberg's masterpiece (so far). Loosely based on a DC graphic novel, A History of Violence is a haunting look at what happens when a man tries to escape a life of violence – even to the point of almost convincing himself he is a different person – only to have his former sins come rushing back. Cronenberg's mastery shines through here in his powerful use of both violence (brief but truly shocking) and sex (erotic and uncomfortable), and the total result is one of the most memorable thrillers of all time. Triva bonus: this is the final major Hollywood movie to be released on VHS.

4. Wall-E (2008)

To me, it would seem almost silly to compile a list of the best films of the decade without giving some sort of shout-out to Pixar. Although I wasn't that into Cars, there's no denying that Pixar was the most consistent creative force of the decade, as they somehow seem absolutely incapable of making a terrible film. And while The Incredibles is my personal favorite (comic nerd I am), I feel that Wall-E is Pixar at the top of their game – thus its placement here. That Pixar was able to make such an emotionally stirring film about two robots with limited vocabulary is amazing enough, but the opening act showing Wall-E's day to day routine, which features no dialogue whatsoever, is undoubtedly one of the strongest sequences in sci-fi history.

3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

I take no small amount of pleasure in being able to place a kung-fu movie in my top films of the decade list. And thanks to Ang Lee's brilliant filmmaking, I don't even have to feel guilty about it. Because this is a film that manages to both transcend the martial arts genre, and yet at the same time stay completely faithful to it. That's no easy feat, but with excellent performers breathing life into complex and incredibly well-written characters, and astounding fight choreography, Crouching Tiger pulls it off. This film brought respectability back to a genre that had long since become something of an afterthought, and proved that even exciting action films can be driven by deep emotions and meaningful storytelling. Simply put, a beautiful film, in every possible way.

2. There Will Be Blood (2007)

I remember when I first started reading early reviews for Paul Thomas Anderson's cinematic take on Upton Sinclair's "Oil," more than a few of which were comparing the film to Citizen Kane. "Yeah, right," I thought to myself. And then I saw it. Now, not only am I sold on the comparison, but I might even go so far as to suggest that – dare I say it – There Will Be Blood is even better than Citizen Kane. Daniel Day Lewis gives the performance of a lifetime (something he's actually done more than once, truthfully) as Daniel Plainview, perfectly capturing the character's driven sense of greed and, eventually, madness. Johnny Greenwood's awesome score and the breathtaking cinematography of Robert Elswirt complete the package. I don't let it bother me that this film lost the Best Picture Oscar to No Country for Old Men (as that was an excellent film as well; and would certainly make my "Top 10" Films of the Decade list), but make no mistake about it – of the two, There Will Be Blood will be the movie that serious students of film will be studying for years to come, and rightfully so.

1. The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

I've been thinking about this list for awhile now, and every time I did I had There Will Be Blood in the top spot, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy at #2. But when it came time to finally write it down, I just couldn't do it. I couldn't put anything above Peter Jackson's epic masterpiece. I don't even care that it's three films – call me a cheater all you want. The fact is, taken together as a whole, there was simply no greater achievement in filmmaking during the decade than Jackson's work here. It took a huge leap of faith for New Line to even sign off on a project so huge, from a largely unproven director mostly known for cheesy horror gore-fests. But oh, how the gamble paid off – with the creation of the best fantasy epic in film history (yes, it is better than Star Wars). For a long time, Tolkien's trilogy was considered near-unfilmable. Peter Jackson and company took the challenge, and showed that no project is un-filmmable when it is worked on with such passion and desire. I have high hopes for Guillermo Del Toro's Hobbit films, but I just don't think we're ever gonna get anything like Lord of the Rings ever again.

LEN ARCHIBALD

***CAVEAT***Everyone knows I do not "rank" films – but I basically scribbled down the first films that came to my mind. The ranking is pretty much random and are more considered "my favorites" instead of "the best". This list could be re-arranged, or even re-created with a list of completely different films – except for my #1 pick, which is a personal choice based on where I was in my life when I first saw it.

Honorable Mentions: Adaptation (2002), City of God (2003), Irreversible (2005), Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

5. Avatar (2009)

CONTROVERSY! Or not. I said it in my rant last week: Avatar is a game-changer. I don't care what anyone says in regards to James Cameron's magnum-opus, this will change how movies are made and seen for the next quarter-century. Those who hate (and I'm sure they notice they are in the extreme minority, since the film has made $1.3 BILLION) can sulk all they want - Cameron has made a historic, breathtaking audio/visual feast that will be hard to top for years…and they have not. I have been called an "arrogant asshole" for my stance on the film. I guess throwing out facts about the technical acumen of filmmaking – one that very few people even have the slightest idea about – is considered arrogant. Therefore: 1) I'm the most arrogant asshole on the planet; 2) Avatar still is and continues to be a juggernaut despite the hopeless campaign for backlash 3) they're still here, sulking and crying and butchering the English language by using "overrated" in its incorrect context while James Cameron is having meetings with Spielberg, Jackson and Lucas about "borrowing" his technology for when they make their next movies. Sorry. You may now make your comments like the "oh so cool to hate everything that isn't your exact vision even though you've never sat in on a production meeting in your life" Haterade drinkers you are.[/end rant]

4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

It is a miracle that a film like Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon exists in my lifetime. This is a king-fu flick revenge saga, a romantic drama, a soaring EPIC and a deep character study all rolled under the guise of a simple story that unfolds and unmasks to reveal deeper layers and revelations about the world that exists around the story's characters. The opening rooftop chase and the "fight in the trees" are movie moments that filmmakers make deals with Satan to create, the score with Yo-Yo Ma's cello solo sounds like it was composed by God Himself and the acting from all involved is outstanding. This was Taiwan's answer to Gone With the Wind and Ang Lee hit it out of the park.

3. Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Roger Ebert declared this film the best of the decade, and I would be hard pressed to disagree with him. Some may say that Clint Eastwood, The Coen Brothers, Werner Herzog, Christopher Nolan or Paul Thomas Anderson had the biggest decade – and those are all arguable facts – but in my opinion, no one singular individual involved in making movies had as much of a creative impact than Charlie Kauffman. I can actually see the split in the types of accepted mainstream stories that were produced before and after Being John Malkovich (1999). Adaptation (2002) is probably the best movie about writing, period. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2005) is a masterful take on how love affects the mind. Notice that I haven't talked about Synecdoche? This is a film one discovers, then discusses with others AFTER it has been seen. See it – right now.

2. The Hurt Locker (2009)

There have been many great war films released this decade, but my favorite, and what I feel is the best is the one just recently released: Katheryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker. This is a movie that does everything right: it is a tense, thrilling and entertaining drama. It is a complete and unflinching character study. It does not take sides for or against a conflict or focuses on the conflict itself, but instead directs its attention to the soldiers involved. If Jeff Bridges didn't exist, Jeremy Renner's portrayal of a bomb expert would cakewalk to a Best Actor Oscar. Unless the Avatar hype is too great, I still see this sweeping up Best Picture in 2010. This is the best war film since Saving Private Ryan.

1. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

If one read my Great Films of the 2000's series of columns, you would have seen this coming from a mile away. This is the only film released this decade that shook me to my core and is the only film since watching E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial when I was four years old that made me re-analyze my life, career and family. Darren Aronofsky has not made a better picture, the cast has never been better and any film that pulls a compelling dramatic performance out of Marlon Wayans might as well walk on water. Requiem changed my life – made me look at myself in the mirror and put me back on the fast track towards movie-making, from which I was slipping away.

SHAWN S. LEALOS

Honorable Mentions: Hot Fuzz, Inglourious Basterds, Brick

5. Moulin Rouge!

I don't really care for musicals. There isn't much about them that I can relate to but there is something about Moulin Rouge! that I absolutely love. A lot of people at the time hated the popular songs mixed in new, fresh ways for the movies but that is one of the things I love the most. It is strange that this is one of the soundtracks I can listen to in my car and enjoy. The entire love song mash-up between Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman is one I can recite right along with them. Add to that the amazing cinematography and beautiful color palette Baz Luhrmann uses and this is easily one of my favorite movies of the last ten years.

4. The Dark Knight

This movie redefined what superhero movies could be. The movie is much less a "men in tights" movie and more of a heist flick. There has been a lot of backlash towards this movie but, really, who cares? The movie is a masterpiece. Chris Nolan has been honing his skills throughout the years to reach this point and this is a moment that puts him ahead of just about everyone else in Hollywood. Heath Ledger is amazing as The Joker and Aaron Eckhart owns the movie as Harvey Dent. This movie is just about perfect.

3. Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro is a visual genius. He has proven how great he is in everything from the very fun Hellboy movies to the best Blade movie of them all. However, his best work has been with his Spanish language films, starting with The Devil's Backbone, an excellent ghost story and then onto his masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth, a fairy tale just as dark as anything the Brothers Grimm ever wrote and more beautiful than any fairy tale I have ever seen brought to screen. The effects are amazing, the creatures are awe inspiring and the story is heartbreaking.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

When people talk about Charlie Kaufman's best work it is usually his collaborations with Spike Jonze. However, his best work is directed by a French director named Michel Gondry. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is Jim Carrey's best performance in a movie and the story is amazing. Kauffman is a man who writes from the heart and, many times, it is something that is too confusing for the average viewer. This movie, if you pay attention to the details, is his most accessible and tells the heartbreaking story of unrequited love. What makes this movie so great is Gondry's direction, as he takes the world and disassembles it visually as it disintegrates from his character's minds. The movie is beautiful, inspired and one of the most original films I have ever seen.

1. Children of Men

Alfonso Cuarón is the second Spanish director on my list and, although I never meant it, means my Top 5 is dominated by films by foreign born directors. Does that even mean anything? Anyway, Children of Men is a film that tells the story of the apparent end of the world. The world's population has become infertile and no babies have been born in almost twenty years. When a pregnant woman is found, she becomes the target of the government and special interest groups while select people just want to help her escape the madness and have her baby in peace. The movie is shot brilliantly and the direction is the best I have seen this decade. The single shot car chase scene is breathtaking and, as a filmmaker, amazes me every time I see it, despite knowing exactly how it was done. The ending is heartbreaking but offers a glimmer of hope and this is my favorite movie of the decade. No films have affected me as much as the Top 3 movies on this list over the last ten years.

ARNOLD FURIOUS

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Some movies are just so much fun. SO much fun that they cannot be overlooked. Johnny Depp's performance in 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean movie was career changing for him and also changed public perception of him. He was moody and dark before this. Afterwards everyone knew he was a fun lovin', rum drinkin' pirate. People forget how fun and tremendous the original film was because of the plot-heavy and largely unnecessary sequels. But the original is fast moving, slick and one of the most quotable movies of the decade. Even the more irritating elements like Orlando Bloom were contained in their necessary niches. There have been few blockbusters in the past decade that hit the same perfect notes as Pirates. Sure, Dark Knight had a sensational performance from Heath Ledger and some solid direction from Chris Nolan but you can't compare it to Pirates. For me Pirates is the best straight up Hollywood blockbuster of the past 10 years.

4. United 93 (2006).

9/11 was always guaranteed to produce a monumental film sooner or later, but after just 5 short years we got United 93. Paul Greengrass trimmed the fat from a congested and frantic day and left us with the bare bones. The people on flight 93 aiming to stop terrorism against a backdrop of horrific experiences. Heroism can be that straightforward sometimes and this film strips it back to the bare bones. United 93 is one of those movies that goes beyond cinema. It's an experience. You feel uneasy and tense throughout. The first time I saw United 93 I was absolutely on edge and when the film ended it was like a kick to the stomach. Then I had to tell myself to start breathing again. But United 93 wasn't just about the horror, although it's arguably one of the best horror films ever made, it's about hope. If one plane full of people can stop terrorism, if one person can make a difference then the fight can be won.

3. Der Untergang (2004) aka Downfall

Yes, the whole Hitler rant thing has become an internet phenomenon with various different subtitles being plumbed in to have him complaining about anything from Xbox Live to Kanye West storming the stage at the MTV awards to Burger King. But behind this popular parody is one of the best films of the past decade and one of the best films made about World War II. After all, Hitler was the reason there was a WW2 in the first place. Why are there so few films dedicated to looking at his part in it? Probably because the role is so damn hard to play. How do you take his public persona and take that edge off it? Bruno Ganz has, in my opinion, done this in Der Untergang. It follows Hitler's final days in his bunker in Berlin. As the Allies Forces move closer and Hitler runs out of time he begins to self destruct. Ganz plays it like a mental breakdown but retains Hitler's scary, charismatic and powerful approach. Superb performance and a great film.

2. Gladiator (2000)

I know I said that Pirates was the best straight up blockbuster of the past decade but I feel Gladiator goes beyond blockbuster and allowed Hollywood to re-visit it's glory days. It brought back the historical epic. And yet all the copycats couldn't find a way to repeat that success (even Ridley Scott himself couldn't replicate the success). That's because Gladiator was a perfect meshing of performance and script. Oliver Reed is on fine form in his final film. Perhaps he knew he only had one more opportunity to show the world who he was? Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix both show why they're such good actors. Taking roles that, by all rights, should have been caricatures and giving them vital depth. This isn't easy in big Hollywood productions. Look at how hard it's been for various actors to play the lead. Christian Bale is arguably the worst part of Dark Knight. Sam Worthington struggles a little through Avatar because of the sheer weight of expectations. But with the world on his shoulders Russell Crowe delivers a pitch perfect and tempered performance. He is a general! He convinces me that he's capable of leading men. And yet his vengeance and his love of his family are very real.

1. Cidade de Deus (2002) aka City of God

Fernando Meirelles' slum study came years before Slumdog Millionaire and is without that film's fake hope. City of God has no way out. Not like Boyz N the Hood where ultimately there are sports scholarships or even just getting in a car and driving away. City of God traps you with violence. The slum is the future of realistic filmmaking as I'm sure many filmmakers are aware. If you want realism you need to get into the places where the majority of the world's population lives. Below the breadline. Look at District 9 and how you got an increased sense of realism from Neill Blomkamp shooting in real shacks in South Africa. It has become a trend in recent films to get that realism. And I think it's because more than a few Hollywood directors saw City of God and felt ashamed of their comfy studio shoots. If you want grit and real life you need to get out on the streets. If you've never seen City of God you should probably get out there and rent, buy or steal a copy.

JASON CHAMBERLAIN

Honorable Mentions: Casino Royale (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).

5. Garden State (2004)

Some movies just speak to you, especially when you discover them at a time in your life when you can really relate to the material. Garden State is one of those movies for me. Zach Braff's directorial debut is a fantastic little film about a twenty something desperately trying to find meaning in his life after years of living in a medicated haze. It takes the tragedy of his mother's death to force him to reconnect with his remaining family and friends, and more importantly himself. As a twenty something that's still trying to find my own way, I really related with this movie (and there might be a little wish fulfillment in there too, what with Natalie Portman falling for the main character). To this day I'll throw on this movie when I'm feeling introspective or just need a pick-me-up.

4. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)

Like I said, some movies just speak to you. I love comedies, because there's nothing I enjoy more than laughing my ass off along with a theatre full of like minded people, and when I saw this one back in 2004 I was laughing for days. And it's relatable, too. I can't say I've ever been as blazed as these two guys, but I can totally relate to a) having a mean case of the munchies, b) wanting to do nothing but blow off work and chill with my friends and c) mooning hopelessly over a seemingly out of reach hottie. Combine it all with killer performances from John Cho and Kal Penn, some classic and random comedy (Freak Show, the crooked cops, every man's urinal fears played out on the side of the road). But the real highlight is Neil Patrick Harris who steals the whole movie away from the leads with his scenes as a drug addled, womanizing version of himself. In fact, he plays such a pussy hound here and in How I Met Your Mother, that I was truly shocked when he came out of the closet as a gay man. In light of that revelation, he deserves an Oscar for this performance.

3. Cloverfield (2008)

As far as game changing movies go, here's one. In an industry where more and more movies try to be safe and replicate success with cookie cutter scripts and effects, this one dared to be different. Call it the thinking man's monster movie, the disaster movie for the 21st century, or Godzilla from the ground floor perspective. Whatever you call it, it's fantastic. By using the 'annoying in all other movies but this one' handy cam method of shooting, this flick really drops you in the middle of a devastated New York along with other, normal people and just says, 'survive'. You see the panic, the horror, the devastation and the monster itself (from street level of course) and it creates an epic movie that doesn't look like an epic movie. And the characters you journey with are genuine enough that you feel for them as the movie progresses. Great work from the Bad Robot team that has also brought us Alias, Lost, and the new Star Trek.

2. Batman Begins (2005)

Look, I love The Dark Knight as much as anybody, and truth be told I probably prefer it to this one (Heath Ledger is just that much of a badass). But for me the nod here has to go to this one because it paved the way. It reinvented Batman as a film character after the abortion that was Batman and Robin. It took everything that was great about the character; his tragedy, his heroism, his brains, his need to punish evil that borders on the psychopathic, combined it all together and made a kick ass movie that honored decades of history while creating something new. It took two of the less iconic members of his extensive rogue's gallery, Ras Al Ghul and the Scarecrow and gave them life on the big screen in practical, 'those guys could be real' form. It kicked fucking ass with the casting, with luminaries like Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Rutger Hauer, Cillian Murphy and more all doing away with the notion that working on a 'comic book movie' is slumming it for an actor. And that final tease of the Joker was outstanding even before we knew what was to come.

My lone complaint, and one for which I can't logically fault the movie, is that ever since this dark, realistic take on Batman, the movie industry has been obsessed with 'dark and realistic'. Every time we hear about a new movie or franchise, it's got to be dark and realistic. It's got to be gritty. James Bond got it right, but what else? Now they're talking about a new, gritty Spider-Man franchise. Before this decade is out, I bet we'll see a 'darker, grittier' take on the Care Bears with a hard drinking Lion Heart and a suicidal Bedtime Bear...

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

I'm probably cheating here but I'm talking about the whole trilogy. As epic, massive film undertakings go, nothing else released in this decade (short of maybe Avatar) could match 'the trilogy' in scale and execution. As a life long lover of fantasy fiction, these movies are damn near perfect in my eyes. I know there are still the hardcore Tolkien loyalists that look down on these films, but as far as I'm concerned there would be no better way to bring those stories to life than Peter Jackson and company accomplished with these three masterpieces. From helping to usher in fantasy as a viable genre to launching careers for Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom and (to a lesser extent) Dominic Monaghan, with killer action, great performances and a big screen translation of one of the greatest stories ever told, it didn't get better than LOTR over the last decade.

BRYAN KRISTOPOWITZ

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Punisher War Zone (2008)

5. United 93 (2006)

Director Paul Greengrass did the seeming impossible with United 93, he made a taught, edge-of-your-seat thriller out of not only one of the most horrific real life events in recent memory but also one where you already knew how it would end. You knew that the movie was going to end badly for dang near everyone involved. That hijacked airplane was going to crash into that field in Pennsylvania. The heroic efforts of the passengers trying to retake the plane from the terrorists were always going to be in vain. And yet there you are in your seat, silently cheering the passengers on, hoping that what you know you're going to see somehow doesn't happen. You want it to be a terrible, awful dream even though you know it isn't. It's just an amazing, amazing movie that haunts you. But you're glad for that haunting. You're glad that you saw it. It's one of the best horror movies ever made, and easily the horror movie of the decade. Again, it's just amazing.

4. Freddy vs Jason (2003)

This was the movie horror nerds had been waiting for for fifteen years. Finally, the two big iconic slasher movie monsters from the 1980's, Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street and Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies were going to do battle in an actual movie. Whether or not you ended up liking the particular story conjured up by the screenwriters and put into motion by director Ronny Yu (I thought it was okay. It served its purpose and it came out way better than I thought it was going to), you no doubt foamed yourself when Krueger and Voorhees started beating the crap out of one another. It was ridiculous, it was kind of stupid, but it was also kind of awesome, and it was what we wanted to see. We wanted to see the glove against the mask. It's also one of the few horror movies that made a boatload of money that didn't then get a quick sequel. So that's got to count for something.

3. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

I probably could have just put the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy here in this slot, but then the entire trilogy didn't win an Oscar for Best Picture back in 2004. Return of the King won a Best Picture Oscar, though. And it was so dang cool to see the Academy give the big award to a fantasy franchise movie. Who the heck thought that would ever happen, especially after the first two movies got nominations for Best Picture but were snubbed for other, far more important artistic achievements in cinema? I know I didn't think it would happen. Return of the King is also the culmination of a massive undertaking by both New Line Cinema and director Peter Jackson that could have failed miserably if no one went to see Fellowship of the Ring. Thankfully, for all involved, that didn't happen. All three movies were huge successes. Just amazing, amazing stuff.

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Revenge of the Sith showed the world how one of the greatest movie villains of all time, Darth Vader, was born. We got to see how the former Anakin Skywalker lost his way and completely turned over to the Dark Side. That's important, isn't it? Of course it is. Whether or not you cared all that much for the Prequel Trilogy (I liked them, but plenty of people didn't), you can't deny that the last movie in that trilogy was the darkest and the most emotional. We saw the Republic fall and the world basically come to an end. We also got to see what it was the Rebels in the Original Trilogy were really fighting. Was the movie worth the almost three decade wait? I think it was. But then again, if you didn't like the prequels you probably didn't like it all that much. It was still dang important, though.

1. Land of the Dead (2005)

With Land of the Dead, legendary director George A. Romero was back, finally, doing what he does best: making a kick ass zombie movie that was chock full of not only biting social commentary but also gobs of gooey gore. It had been twenty years since the last Romero zombie flick, the classic Day of the Dead, and there was always a chance that Romero had lost his edge and would somehow fail. His last movie, Bruiser, was a mess (an interesting mess, sure, but a mess anyway). What if LotD was a mess, too? Thankfully, Romero once again hit it out of the park and made a zombie horror movie classic with Land of the Dead. We never should have doubted him. When it comes to the hungry, shambling dead, George A. Romero knows what the hell he's doing.

STEVE GUSTAFSON

Honorable Mentions: Old School, O Brother Where Art Thou, and Almost Famous

5. The Incredibles

"No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!"

To prepare for the seemingly impossible task of taking 10 years of movies and picking the Top 5 I re-watched a number of films again to refresh my memory. Originally I had Shrek in this spot but after watching these two back-to-back, this easily took the spot.

Outside a couple other picks, The Incredibles is a superior comic book. In spirit and execution. Plus, it works on a number of levels. This movie about a family of superheroes is for everyone. The Parr family is like any other family with their likes and dislikes. After the government orders superheroes to live a normal life, Bob Parr, who formerly went under the superhero alias "Mr. Incredible," secretly returns to being a superhero behind his family's back. We get to watch his kids come to terms with their powers while his wife becomes suspicious of his activities. Throw in a super villain and this movie hits on all cylinders. The action pulls you in. Who didn't get a sense of awesomeness watching the son, Dash, use his super speed while on the bad guys island, pushing himself to the limit? The writing and characters ring true and easily avoid falling into a cliche mess. While it would be easy to say, "This is Pixar being Pixar," you can't dismiss the movie because it served to take the company to the next level. The Incredibles won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and still retains that watchability factor.

4. The Departed

When I was growing up, they would say you could become cops or criminals. But what I'm saying is this. When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?

When you have a cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Alex Baldwin, you run a risk of having the project sink under the weight of ability and egos. But if you're Martin Scorsese you weave brilliance while balancing story and energy. Do not dismiss The Departed because it's a remake/inspired by Infernal Affairs. Scorcese does excellent work in a crafting an engrossing gangster drama that focuses on a couple of angles of the same story. Irish Mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) patiently guides his protégé, Colin Sullivan (Damon) into a state trooper job with the Massachusetts police. A brilliant tact to keep an eye on his enemies. Same coin, different side is Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), a police cadet who is plucked from the ranks and sent undercover by Capt. Queenan (Sheen) to infiltrate Costello's gang. Both men stumble yet succeed with their fraudulent identities. While Colin rises in the force, Billy rises in the gang. Soon a rat is suspected on both side, leading to plenty of gripping drama. Director Martin Scorsese won a long overdue Oscar, and film won Best Picture. A top film no matter how you dissect it.

3. There Will Be Blood

Drainage! Drainage, Eli! Drained dry, you boy! If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake. I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!

The absolute genius of this movie rest on the direction of Paul Thomas Anderson and the acting talent...wait, that's not strong enough...the marvelous thespian blessing that is Daniel Day-Lewis. After just watching this, I'm still in awe and don't feel that I have the capacity to do this movie justice in explaining why it's one of the best of the 00's.

I'm finished!

2. Gladiator

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
You'd have to be daft not to get shivers as Russell Crowe delivered this line. In recent years I've been seeing a bit of a backlash against this film. "Oh, it's not so great." The same people who say that are the ones who still sit down when they pee, type FML after every status update on Facebook, and secretly wish Forever 21 had a guy section. ENOUGH! Time for men to take this movie back! Gladiator is a tried-and-true shield-and-sword revenge epic! Roman General Maximus (Crowe) is betrayed by the new Emperor, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), his wife and son killed, and finds himself with the status of slave. He must then fight his way back to the Coliseum to face off against the dilluded Emperor. Crowe IS Maximus. You believe in his quest for revenge. You feel his pain and his intensity. Phoenix IS Commodus. And Ridley Scott's talent is on display and reinvents the Roman epic for a new generation. I dare you to watch this and not go out and get in a fight. Impossible!

1. City of God

It was like a message from God: "Honesty doesn't pay, sucker."

Imagine that. The best movie of the 2000s has probably not been seen by the vast majority of you reading this. I had heard a lot about this film before I saw it. Shockingly it lived up to the hype...and exceeded it. To catch you up, it's based on a true story of two boys (Rocket and Li'l Zé) who grow up in the slums, the not-so-aptly named City of God. It was originally a well-intentioned housing project built in the 1960s that became one of the most dangerous areas in Rio de Janeiro. The two boys take different paths in life; one dreams of becoming a photographer, the other a gangster. This film is as in-your-face as they come. When people describe some of the tripe Hollywood puts out, they use terms like honest, uncompromising, realistic. I have a hard time thinking a movie that deserves those words as this one. This film will live with you long after you turn it off.

JEREMY THOMAS

Honorable Mention: Stardust, Inglorious Basterds, Up in the Air

5. Into the Wild

As close as it was between my honorable mentions and the muber five slot, this just gets the edge from me. Based on the real-life story of Christopher McCandless, this film was written and directed by Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless in a star-making performance. Helped along by one hell of a supporting cast, Hirsch invokes a strong sympathy for the character, yet makes him fallible and all too human. In any movie, the characters go through transformatioons of sorts; Hirch's transformation is startling to watch and completely absorbing. This was not only one of the best movies of the decade, but also one of the most surprising by far.

4. Avatar

Let the hate begin. Yes, I get that the story is similar in theme to Dances with Wolves; I always find it funny that people compare it with Pocahontas instead, as if they want to compare it to a bad film than a good one. Either way, the fact of the matter is that Avatar is an amazing movie. Are people going to trash The Magnificent Seven because it has the same story as Seven Samurai? What about The Departed for being a remake of Infernal Affairs? I didn't think so. The bottom line is that this has a familiar story that is very well-told, excellent acting and a very strong heart at the core. Without all of those elements, the cool special effects would have been all for naught and the experience would have been completely hollow. That's not the case at all, and what we have here is an engrossing, captivating movie that shows us how a master at his craft does it.

3. No Country for Old Men

The Coen brothers have created a lot of films that people have called masterpieces before; this one happens to be their best. The script is wonderfully written, the dialogue sharp, the mood is tense and the performances fabulous. So much has already said about Javier Bardem's performance as Anton Chigurh; it's mesmerizing, chillingly evil and just a joy to watch. I know that people were frustrated by the ending and the lack of the on-screen face-off; not all movies give us the endings that they want. Sometimes, they give us the endings that they need to present. I love the way this film plays out and it's a joy to watch Brolin, Bardem, Tonny Lee Jones and the rest of the cast deliver a film only the Coen brothers could make.

2. Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon was my top film of 2009, and I wasn't surprised that when I compiled my top films of the decade this was almost at number one. This features on of my favorite actors of the decade, Michael Sheen, working alongside one of the top performances of the last several years in Frank Langella's Richard Nixon. The way the movie is plotted out draws the viewer in, and we sit in amazement as we watch Nixon first pummel the out-of-his-depth David Frost and then, slowly, see the verbal fight even up. This is, when it is boiled down to its essential elements, a duel between two skilled combatants, and seeing the three-round match play out is fantastic to watch, thanks not only to Sheen and Langella, but to the stellar supporting cast and director Ron Howard's superb framing and attention to detail.

1. Serenity

Joss Whedon's film is not only my favorite movie of the decade, it ties with Casablanca for my favorite film of all-time. Some might scoff at the selection of this film, and I say to each their own. I acknowledge that not everyone is going to get drawn in by the avdentures of Mal Reynolds and his crew, and that the "space meets western" motif is going to be a turn-off for some people. Obviously, I am not one of those people. Serenity is a fanboy's dream, a film that came out of fan support for a television show that was unfairly given the shaft and then cancelled. It was the passion of the audience that made the film possible. But that alone couldn't have saved this movie if it sucked. The good news is, it's as far from that as possible. This provided the epilogue that we were all waiting for, and even people unfamiliar with the television series fell in love with it because Whedon was smart enough not to make the show required viewing to get the movie. At the same time he didn't ignore the series or make long-time Browncoats feel like the show they'd loved was irrelevent. This is a movie I love every moment of, and have seen more times that I can count; I have more than one copy of it on DVD (regular edition and special edition).

So that's it for the 200th edition of the 411 Movies Top 5. Once again, I'd just to thank all of the Top 5 contributors, past and present. I know there are plenty of other "list" columns on the Internet (heck, on this site), but getting to see different viewpoints at once on various topics is what I think makes this one special, and I obviously wouldn't be able to do that without you guys.

Next week, we'll stay in the same vein with a look at the Top 5 TV Shows of the Decade. Until then, be sure to check out my personal blog at Night of the Living Trev for the rest of my Top 20 Movies of the Decade list (coming this weekend), my Top 25 Horror Movies of the Decade list, as well as some other upcoming decade and year-ending lists. Yes, I'm going a little list-crazy. But hey, hosting the Top 5 for so long will do that to you. Have a great week, everyone.