Spring 2009 - Issue 5

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Top 10 Movies of the Decade

Neil Michling, Staff writer

10. 10. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

   One of the most under-rated movies of the last decade. “Requiem for a Dream” directed by the visionary Darren Aronofsky, and starring Ellen Burstyn and Jennifer Connelly.  This film takes us to a dark place and has one of the most eerie musical scores in movie history. With great film editing and cinematography, this movie brings to life the horrors of what drug addiction can do to a person. If you make it to the end of the movie, you’re in treat for a scene that will have you permanently scarred as you witness what hitting rock bottom is really like.

9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

   This is arguably one of the best foreign films of all time, and the only one to be nominated for the Oscar’s Best Picture Award in the last decade. It has a stunning musical score that captures the emotions of every loving embrace and violent punch thrown throughout the movie. The cinematography dazzles the eyes from start to finish, taking us through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world as two warriors chase after a stolen sword.  Directed by Ang Lee (who later won an Oscar for “Brokeback Mountain”) this movie teaches us about love and duty and at the end leaves it up to us to decide whether we can have happiness.

8. Chicago (2002)

      With “Chicago” came the return-to-power of the musicals on the big screen. Taking place in the 1920’s it follows the story of inmates trapped inside a women’s penitentiary. Featuring catchy musical numbers and choreography and great art direction under the guidance of director Rob Marshall. Its all-star cast includes Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly and Queen Latifah. “Chicago” took home six Oscars out of 13 nominations. Whether you’re into musicals or not, this movie will have you singing and dancing the “Cell Block Tango” by the end.

7. The Dark Knight (2008)

This is more then just a comic-book fan boy’s movie. Batman once again is called to save the city of Gotham, this time from the diabolical Joker. It’s about the epic struggles we all face and what it means to do the right thing. There are so many underlining themes in this movie, mostly the inner turmoil of good and evil we all face each and every day — and the price we pay to be strong and do the right things. The Oscar-winning performance given by the late Heath Ledger as the Joker is nothing sort of legendary, as he has now set the bar for all movie villains in years to come.

6. Juno (2007)

Juno is the little movie that could, making its way up to a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. It takes us through the joys and sorrows of teen pregnancy. Great witty banter carries this movie through, making you listen intently not wanting to miss a word — from it sly remarks and funny zingers to the heart-felt moments about growing and what it’s like to be and feel like a mother. Juno makes you feel every emotion on the spectrum.

5. Traffic (2000)

This movie set the path for future films like “Crash” and “Babel.”  Steven Soderbergh won the Oscar for directing this story about many characters and various story lines. It keeps you on the edge of your seat making you have to pay attention. Mostly taking place in New York and Los Angeles, “Traffic” follows the world of drug trafficking, and how can we stop it when so many of those closest to us are using. Bringing into play race and social classes, it’s a great moral movie that will have you question your own beliefs by the ending credits. 

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

This decade’s “Forrest Gump.” The Curious Case of Benjamin Button follows the tail of a person who ages backwards. Spanning nine decades, we get to watch as the world grows up and Ben grows down. With beautiful art direction, cinematography and masterful story telling along with the greatest performance of Brad Pitt’s career, this movie brings to life one of the greatest characters to ever grace the big screen.  

3. Mystic River (2003)

In a decade dominated by Client Eastwood’s directing, this is his masterpiece, even though it didn’t win the Oscar (thanks to the film that’s number one on this list). I can’t remember a time a movie had so much acting star power, with Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both winning their first Oscars for their roles and still having Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne left over. Marcia Gay Harden also was nominated for best supporting actress. Getting the best of all his actors, Eastwood put together a powerful film about the murder of a girl in a small river community, showing us that a group of friends can travel down very different paths on their way from childhood to adulthood.

2. Crash (2005)

Thanks to the efforts of “Traffic,” “Crash” would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Set only in Los Angeles, “Crash” takes place roughly over 24 hours. It shows us the racism that is still present in our modern day melting pot society and, whether it be a little or a lot, we all are racist to some degree. With realistic characters and fantastic story telling, the movie gives you that very real life feeling, because these characters are like you and me.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

With 11 Oscars (tying the all-time record), “Return of the King” is the best movie of the decade. Director Peter Jackson brings the beloved fantasy series about a mythical world inhabited by wizards, hobbits and other creatures, to a fantastic close. Everything, from the cinematography to the musical score to the special effects, is done with such precision. This movie goes to show that attention to detail is what truly makes a masterpiece. (If you didn’t think the film was long enough, make sure to watch the extended version with an extra 50 minutes to add to the already 201 minutes of film. You’ll definitely get your moneys worth.)