Simply the Best

The New York Times decided to compile a list of the best films of the 2000s thus far since it's 2025 and all. The fact that the year's not over is beside their point unless they have inside info that the remaining lineup of releases are going to suck burro balls. 

I've seen quite a few myself, don'tcha know and my list, while incomplete since my movie appetite is voracious but my memory is nearly gone with the wind, follows in no particular order.

CITY OF GOD (2002) Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles' brutal look at gang violence mesmerized me.

HERO (2004) Difficult to pick a favorite between CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS and this from Zhang Yimou, but that's what I went with, mainly because it afforded one of the best nights in a cinema I had spent in a long time. All three of these offer superb, albeit tragic love stories, making the selection of a favorite even more daunting.

WES ANDERSON Fell in love with the filmography of this gentleman early on in the century with THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX,  MOONRISE KINGDOM, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (numero uno in my book)

THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (2007) Sumptuous, simply sumptuous, Andrew Domink gave the world the best western of the modern era with a performance by Brad Pitt that finally made me sit up and take notice.

BEST IN SHOW (2000) The mockumentary style had been done to death by now, but ignoring that is Christopher Guest's timeless comedy with a cast made in heaven

GOSFORD PARK (2001) Robert Altman got one more classic in before he kicked. Thank you, Jesus. Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay, so you can thank this film for DOWNTON ABBEY. You're welcome.

THE HURT LOCKER (2008) Goddamn right, Katheryn Bigelow. You deserved it.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) Quentin Tarantino's output in the 2000s contained quite a few home runs, but this was a grand slam.

PIXAR Once the gold standard, its very name was enough to put butts in seats and deliver the goods, which were great by the way. FINDING NEMO, WALL-E and RATATOUILLE all made the grade and beyond, but nothing moved me more than UP (2009). Maybe I identify with Carl too much.

LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY. For three years in a row, these served as my birthday movies and no greater presents did I give myself. Too bad Peter Jackson can't find a way to move on, but I suppose this was his STAR WARS. You get it, don't you, George?

WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013) Martin Scorsese finally won his Oscar for THE DEPARTED, but I refused to believe this sucker was the work of a filmmaker well into his seventies. 

ANIME My grandson, then about 5, introduced me to the magical world of Hayao Miyazaki by way of SPIRITED AWAY (2001) and I became instantly hooked. I have my grandson, then 6 years old, to thank since we watched it together. It also led me to the unfortunately truncated work of Satoshi Kon whose PAPRIKA (2006) prompted me to seek it out on the big screen.

SIDEWAYS (2004) Big Alexander Payne fan, especially with this one which hit me right where I live, reminding me of fine times with my best friend Max and my struggles as a budding writer. Still budding, by the way.

SKYFALL (2012) Everything I've ever wanted in a James Bond film and so much more. (See blog post: SKYFALL: THE LEGEND FINALLY CONTINUES) 

PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006) Guillermo Del Toro. Need I say more? 

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008) Best vampire film of this century.

OLD BOY (2003) Twenty years hence, I'm still reeling from this one from the amazing Park          Chan-wook. NOTE: Not the Spike Lee remake. Got it?

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN- Yet another excellent reason to continue  seeing a film in an actual theater what with INCEPTION (my fave), DUNKIRK, MEMENTO and OPPENHEIMER

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (2009) Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic has been unjustly forgotten. 

THE COEN BROTHERS- Still my go-to filmmakers, I adore O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (2000) overall and not NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN because it threw me for such a loop with a twist I didn't expect or necessarily want that it's still hard for me to get over it. I guess I should just grow the hell up already. 

CLINT EASTWOOD- His Oscar win for MILLION DOLLAR BABY proved UNFORGIVEN wasn't a fluke, but MYSTIC RIVER (2003) the previous year was off the charts. 

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2012) Another superb debut from a promising director who should be working more. Where the heck are you, Behn Zeitlin?

JUNO (2007) Big fan-yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

SIN CITY (2005) Robert Rodriquez and Frank Miller elevated the graphic novel on film to new heights.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008)  I danced out of the theater after I saw this. Someone had to post bail, but it was worth it.

TIME CRIMES (2007) One of those time travel mind-fucks that I crave. 

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000) Probably the best film I will never see again. It will mess you up. You have been warned.

STEVEN SPIELBERG- Taking the reins from the deceased Stanley Kubrick, A.I. finally saw the light of day or a projection screen for that matter. I'll defend it to the death. The same with his version of  WAR OF THE WORLDS.

NIGHT WATCH/DAY WATCH (2004/2006) The only Russian films I saw were these two pieces of a bat-shit crazy fantasy/horror/action saga. How can anyone hate a moovie where a guy drivesup the side of a skyscraper?

TELL NO ONE (2006) French version of a Harlan Coben novel, brilliantly executed.  

DISTRICT NINE (2009) Neill Blomkamp's debut with the sci-fi allegory set in Johannesburg has not been equaled, especially by himself. Still rooting for you, Neill.

WATCHMEN (2009) Zack Snyder. The name conjures up ire, scorn and, from me, admiration, for giving my number one comic book series the film it deserved.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (2010) Yes, a Michael Cera movie is on this list.  Shut up. It's Edgar Wright.

TAKE SHELTER (2011) Gloom and doom on a personal level made for a fascinatin picture from Jeff Nichols and an overlooked performance by Michael Shannon.

THE INVITATION (2015) Not the 2022 horror film , this is a masterful slow-burner from Karyn Kusama that pays off in spades. (Is that a bridge reference? I thought so. I don't play cards. I just watch movies.)

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011) Did this make the list because I saw it during that amazing summer I spent in Brooklyn? Partly. It's also the last Woody Allen movie I admire. So there. 

BAD SANTA (2003) A holiday favorite. Still. 

MUHOLLAND DRIVE (2001) David Lynch, one mo' time.

SINNERS (2025) This is bit of a cheat. Ryan Coogler's film is flawed and unwieldly, but contains what has to be the most amazing sequence about midway through, an incredible feat of filmmaking that will be discussed for years to come. I may come around on the movie as a whole upon a second viewing, but knowing what waits in the center will most certainly draw me back in.

As I said, an incomplete compilation. There isn't one documentary here and there have been several. If I delved deeper, I'd never get this together, so take this as it is. While I agree with many on the NYT list, but they didn't make here. Taste is subjective, especially mine. Your mileage may vary. Six months to go, people!