Peter Foy's Top Ten Films of the Decade

Seeing that this month not only marks the end of a year, but also the end of a decade, it only seemed appropriate to compile a list of the best films of the last 10 years. One would think that this wouldn’t be that hard as there were plenty of terrible movies in the 00s. Looking back at any decade, though, you’d realize that’s always the case. The films here not only fulfilled their duty as entertainment, but also qualified as great art, socially revelant, and spot-on critiques of culture.

10. Wall-E: For years people have been saying we needed a silent movie revival. But who thought we’d get it with two love bound robots? Kids will love it for sure, but adults will especially appreciate that this marks Pixar’s transcendence into true art.

9. No Country For Old Men: This is one of the Coens brothers’ very best pictures. Somber in tone, archaic in symbolism and unpredictable in its narrative (all without use of a soundtrack), the film is even better than the lauded book. Plus, it’s got the creepiest movie villain since Hannibal Lecter.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet both give soulful performances and Godry’s direction is amazing, but Charlie Kaufman’s ingenious script is what really makes this film special. Eternal Sunshine turns romantic comedies right on their heads with this mind bender of a tale that’s both bittersweet and psychologically intriguing.

7. The Dark Knight: Even without the late Heath Ledger’s beloved Joker, this would still be a great film. The fact that he’s there only propels it to being a phenomenal one! Christopher Nolan returned Batman to gritty territory, giving us a crowd-pleasing popcorn flick that didn’t have a happy ending. It might go down as the Empire Strikes Back of our time.

6. Up: Pixar’s latest film is their best, which is saying a lot since they’re arguably the best animation studio in the business. One would think the concept would be rather silly, but instead they crafted a really sweet and touching story that brought audiences to tears in just the first 10 minutes. We need more old guys as protagonists in adventure movies.

5. A History of Violence: David Cronenberg had made a name for himself in the body horror genre, but who knew his masterpiece would be a contemporary western. Far more analytical than most people take it for, A History of Violence makes a powerful statement on violence while also providing us cheer-raising action scenes. Viggo Mortenson gives an extraordinary performance, and second viewings reveal new nuances to his character. This is one of the few genre films that is both realistic and meaningful.

4. City of God: It’s one of the most touching gangster films ever made. This Brazilian film (based on actual events) takes filmgoers to a world not often seen. The slums of Rio de Janeiro look like paradise, but are filled with violence, sometimes at the hands of mere children. It can be an extremely depressing film at times, but there is a true friendship in it that shines a ray of hope. Besides HBO’s The Wire, this is the most important crime epic of our time.

3. Kill Bill: Tarantino’s best work may still be Pulp Fiction, but Kill Bill is the film he was born to create. At first viewing one might suspect this film to be four hours of self-indulgent eye candy that references every kung-fu movie from the 70s in its destructive path. In actuality though, Kill Bill is a very human film that’s more than just a tribute to those movies. Uma Thurman gives her signature performance as a woman suffering loss and betrayal, and it’s impossible not to feel sorrow for her once you look past the beautifully campy violence. This is the perfect movie to get teenagers interested in more highbrow cinema. It did for me!

2. There Will Be Blood: It wouldn’t be an understatement to call this movie the Citizen Kane of our time. Paul Thomas Anderson’s American epic features the decade’s best performance with Daniel Day Lewis as the complex oil baron Daniel Plainview. Carefully paced, thematically rich, and magnificently shot, There Will Be Blood will be talked about for decades to come.

1. Pan’s Labyrinth: I’m giving this the number one spot because (among other things) it’s the one film on this list I wouldn’t hesitate to call groundbreaking. Guillermo del Toro had already proven to be a great director in both his Mexican and Hollywood films, but it wasn’t until this one that we really saw his strengths shine. The visual effects are superb, as they are both haunting and beautiful. The story however, which mixed historical fiction and high fantasy, is just as memorable and one of the most moving tales in recent memory. It’s not just del Toro’s best work, but it’s the penultimate fairy tale movie that will influence filmmakers for generations to come.

Honorable Mentions
Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Wrestler, The Incredibles, Muholland Drive, Children of Men, Let the Right One In.