Best Films of the 2000's

[Chris L]

I should've put A Serious Man at about 34 (today), actually.

I also watched the extended cut of The New World last weekend. There's still only so much Colin Ferrell canoodling I can take but it's obviously a film that will keep growing in stature.   The last 5 minutes alone probably should have put it on my list. 

[Christina]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I liked both Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt in that thing.

[masterofsparks]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I liked both Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt in that thing.

Brad Pitt really impressed me in that role.

[Joe Rogaine]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I still have to see LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF. I've heard nothing but great things.

His next film with Pitt and Affleck sounds like it might even top The Assassination of Jesse James.

[Denim Gremlin]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I still have to see LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF. I've heard nothing but great things.

It's 2 hours of some dude whining about how he hates the way LA is misrepresented in movies, I don't think he says a single positive thing.

it's interesting to see all the old clips and hear facts about them but that dudes voice over is a real bummer.

I say skip it. or at least don't get to excited.

[Chris L]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I still have to see LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF. I've heard nothing but great things.

It's 2 hours of some dude whining about how he hates the way LA is misrepresented in movies, I don't think he says a single positive thing.

it's interesting to see all the old clips and hear facts about them but that dudes voice over is a real bummer.

I say skip it. or at least don't get to excited.

Andresen certainly has good things to say about films like The Exiles and Killer of Sheep which attempt to explore communities and segments of society that Hollywood has largely ignored, or have altogether disappeared. His Marxist-leaning criticisms might turn some people off but he makes any number of fascinating observations, such as analyzing how the designs of specific architects are used as backdrops of decadence and villainy (which admittedly may be more interesting than it sounds).  I thought overall for a video essay it was more original and compelling than a lot of narrative films I saw from last decade.

[Denim Gremlin]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I still have to see LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF. I've heard nothing but great things.

It's 2 hours of some dude whining about how he hates the way LA is misrepresented in movies, I don't think he says a single positive thing.

it's interesting to see all the old clips and hear facts about them but that dudes voice over is a real bummer.

I say skip it. or at least don't get to excited.

Andresen certainly has good things to say about films like The Exiles and Killer of Sheep which attempt to explore communities and segments of society that Hollywood has largely ignored, or have altogether disappeared. His Marxist-leaning criticisms might turn some people off but he makes any number of fascinating observations, such as analyzing how the designs of specific architects are used as backdrops of decadence and villainy (which admittedly may be more interesting than it sounds).  I thought overall for a video essay it was more original and compelling than a lot of narrative films I saw from last decade.

It's funny you bring that up, because that's about the point when it really started to go off the rails for me. I saw that as a perfect example of an intellectual egghead reading way deeper into something than what's really there. Something I think he does alot in the film. It felt more and more as I watch it like he was cherry picking film clips and using them in service of his own miserable world view. I guess that's the point of the essay but it bugged me

also, Riggs pulling the house with his truck in lethal weapon 2 seems much more like a "holy shit he just pulled a house down with his truck" idea than a "look how disposable and flimsy modern architecture is" idea.

[SJK]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

Roger Deakins is a certified genius in my opinion, and for a sort of first time director...Andrew Dominik knocked it out of the park for me. I don't understand why it's considered pretentious...which will probably explain the rest of this post. The Lives of Others was exceptional. I Am Love looked like an Italian classic, I wonder if it will hold up as well. I really liked The Reader...how about The Diving Bell And The Butterfly? Amelie?

Having reviewed this entire thread, many of the best movie lists are helpful reminders of great films from the last decade. I am a saccharine sentimental sap, so films like High Fidelity and Almost Famous would be included in my 'best of' list.

[Chris L]

Great list, Chris L. I'm glad to see that someone else is sticking up for THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. Yeah, it's pretentious. So what? Where would we be without pretension? It's also gorgeous.

I still have to see LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF. I've heard nothing but great things.

It's 2 hours of some dude whining about how he hates the way LA is misrepresented in movies, I don't think he says a single positive thing.

it's interesting to see all the old clips and hear facts about them but that dudes voice over is a real bummer.

I say skip it. or at least don't get to excited.

Andresen certainly has good things to say about films like The Exiles and Killer of Sheep which attempt to explore communities and segments of society that Hollywood has largely ignored, or have altogether disappeared. His Marxist-leaning criticisms might turn some people off but he makes any number of fascinating observations, such as analyzing how the designs of specific architects are used as backdrops of decadence and villainy (which admittedly may be more interesting than it sounds).  I thought overall for a video essay it was more original and compelling than a lot of narrative films I saw from last decade.

It's funny you bring that up, because that's about the point when it really started to go off the rails for me. I saw that as a perfect example of an intellectual egghead reading way deeper into something than what's really there. Something I think he does alot in the film. It felt more and more as I watch it like he was cherry picking film clips and using them in service of his own miserable world view. I guess that's the point of the essay but it bugged me

also, Riggs pulling the house with his truck in lethal weapon 2 seems much more like a "holy shit he just pulled a house down with his truck" idea than a "look how disposable and flimsy modern architecture is" idea.

For me, it's an interesting component of his larger look at how Hollywood chooses to recontextualize and sell aspects of Los Angeles to the world at large. The clips in that segment are the only familiarity most people will ever have with those buildings.  How does their use in these films stack up against the ambitions of their architects?

Here is the segment in question if anyone wants to see for themselves.

Los Angeles Plays Itself