100 Favorites of the ‘00s: 75-51

Welcome back to my 100 Favorites of the ‘00s! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out 100-76 and come back! Because the list is so long, brevity is key here. So, I have broken it up into four posts with brief comments on each film. This is Part 2.

Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s get back into it.

75. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

The Douglas Adams novel is one of my all-time favorite books and one of the few that makes me laugh out loud. So, I was thrilled it was being adapted into a movie - and I wasn’t disappointed! The film is a perfect representation of the book’s sense of humor. It is amazing how much of the book it was able to capture, because things do get rather silly. Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, John Malkovich, and Stephen Fry all star and are wonderful in their respective, silly roles.

74. Enchanted (2007)

The bar was set pretty low for Walt Disney Pictures movies in the ‘00s, starting with 102 Dalmations and The Princess Diaries. The studio’s animation wing was struggling and the live action wing, WDP, was producing films like The Santa Clause sequels, the Pirates of the Caribbean spectacles, The Haunted Mansion, and Bedtime Stories. While not every movie by the studio was mediocre or poor the only live action movie to come close to greatness at all was Enchanted, a film about an animated fairy tale princess (Amy Adams) brought into live action New York City. The film pokes fun at Disney’s history of princess movies and manages to be a solid musical on its own terms. Does it achieve the heights of Mary Poppins? Let’s be real: no movie in Walt Disney Pictures’s history has met the bar Mary Poppins set. But Enchanted was a surprising delight in an otherwise mediocre decade for the studio.

73. Transformers (2007)

I criticize Michael Bay often and I do hate how dumb and poorly written his version of one of my favorite cartoons are. But I really like this first movie. Yes, it does have elements that would quickly balloon to define the franchise - and I do hate those parts (most especially John Turturro’s scenes). But there is a decent action movie here that is more comprehensible than the sequels. What I mean is the action is well-staged and shot where you know where every character is in relation to each other, rather than the absolute chaos that would be found in the following movies. This film was a decent take on the Transformers, even if they look like piles of scrap metal stood up and started talking.

72. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

The Harry Potter movies are among the greatest fantasy films ever made and the greatest film series ever. It was an incredibly rewarding phenomenon that culminated in an incredible finale during the next decade. Everyone has their favorites of the series. This is one of my three favorites. It was also one of the most critically-acclaimed, because director Alfonso Cuaron added his own touches to the movie and it was the beginning of the series pivoting away from the cheery and wide-eyed nature of the first film and towards the darkness and maturity of the final movies. It’s one of the best.

71. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

In the first part of this list, I mentioned Shrek was the best thing DreamWorks created until How to Train Your Dragon. Well, I forgot about the Kung Fu Panda movies. They have always been a step above Shrek, but a step below How to Train Your Dragon and one of the studio’s best creations, regardless. I don’t think the first movie is the best of the quadrilogy. But it’s really darn good and really funny while also owing a lot to the martial arts movies of the ‘70s. This film loves martial arts movies and so clearly wants to bring that feeling to children’s entertainment. While there is a large cast of big names, they’re mostly sidelined and Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, and Ian McShane take the focus. It was a step above most animated fare that decade.

70. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

This film was a sensation for a while. For many it was their first look at life for majority in the country of India. It was eye-opening. It’s also a feel-good fable: a story about the poorest of us triumphing and rising above to literally win it all. It showed us life experience can make one just as knowledgeable as one who is educated. It also had a killer score by A.R. Rahman and a soundtrack that included MIA (whatever happened to her?). Like several of Danny Boyle’s movies it was kinetic and exciting. It wasn’t always pleasant, but it was beautiful. And it opened some to Bollywood and Middle Eastern cinema and culture.

69. Persepolis (2007)

Yes, there were many comic book adaptations in the ‘00s. It was a great time, because I think there were more adaptations of indie comics being greenlighted in the ‘00s than there have been since. Persepolis was one of those movies. Adapted by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, Satrapi’s own graphic novel and film are autobiographical, depicting her youth in Iran during the Iranian Revolution of the late ‘70s and the Iran-Iraq War of the ‘80s. It’s a subject matter that few Americans were aware of and that makes the film informative alone. But it humanized Middle Eastern life and families in a time when Middle Easterners were demonized and receiving a lot of hate. That alone makes Persepolis timely today and worth revisiting. But it is an unusual animated film (of course, it was French not American) with a black and white style that set it apart from most of the period. I’ve only seen the French version, but there is an English dub with Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands, and Iggy Pop.

68. Minority Report (2002)

Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi action movie starring Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell is second only to Jurassic Park in terms of his sci-fi action films. It suffers from a murky cinematography, but largely this is a riveting and fascinating mystery that exists in a future when the police are able to arrest someone just before they commit a murder. Philosophical questions abound. But when that premise turns its head on to one of the force’s top cops, things get really exciting. Despite it being in production before the whole Patriot Act thing there’s some interesting bits of police surveillance here that also makes for a couple of great sequences. This is a solid piece of Spielberg’s filmography.

67. Before Sunset (2004)

Before Sunrise is not the kind of film you expect or demand a sequel to. It’s a low-budget romantic drama about two people walking around and talking. But a sequel was made by Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy that follows-up 9 years after the original to see what happened with their two characters. This film didn’t disappoint. Jesse and Celine have since become cinephiles’ favorite couple.

66. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Since it took 6 years after Mission: Impossible II before this film was released, one would easily assume the franchise was in trouble. Actually, despite being the least-popular of the franchise, M:I 2 was a smashing success at the box office, so work began quite quickly for the next sequel. What caused the delay was director turn-over. First it was David Fincher then Joe Carnahan. Meanwhile, actors like Kenneth Branagh, Scarlett Johansson, and Ricky Gervais all dropped off. Eventually, J. J. Abrams became available after his obligations to his hit TV shows Alias and Lost were met and this became his directorial debut. While it had a bigger budget and earned less at the box office than its predecessor it absolutely crushed with critics and fans. It’s surprising how out-of-favor it seems to many these days. I always thought Philip Seymour Hoffman’s villain was the weakest element of the movie - not because of Hoffman, but because of how he’s written. Hoffman brought a lot to that role, including what would become one of the most intense pre-title sequences of the series. What was great about this movie is it was more personal than its predecessors and that element (Ethan’s relationship to Michelle Monaghan’s Julia) would recur throughout the following movies. It also showed us how the face masks and voice replication was executed.

65. Sicko (2007)

There are a lot of revelations and information that are upsetting in the documentary Sicko. But what’s most blood-boiling is we’re nearly 20 years later and still struggling with the same issues this movie is wrestling with. The movie asks: if our country is so great, why can’t we take care of our own? The film examines the medical system in our country and compares to other 1st-world countries, including one a stone’s throw north of us. Michael Moore is at his best when he’s exploring questions and trying to find answers rather than telling the audience what to think or doing smug gimmicks. This film asks a lot of questions and some of the answers lead to more questions about us as a nation. It’s incredibly insightful and will make the fight to get and the subsequent loss of the Affordable Care Act and the health crisis in our country all the more infuriating.

64. Comedian (2002)

I don’t know very many people who know this documentary, but it is an excellent documentary about the craft of stand-up comedy. I’ve learned over the years that I love hearing comedians talk about comedy and their craft. That’s what this movie is and it’s fantastic! I think most people assume the job of a comedian is an easy one that doesn’t require much work. While it isn’t exactly heart surgery or construction, this film illustrates the challenges of crafting a good joke and honing your skill. Comedians talk about which word in a sentence makes the joke funny and which words to emphasize. It’s great stuff and I love it. It features such legends as George Wallace, Robert Klein, Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Jay Leno, and Jerry Seinfeld.

63. Battle Royale (2000)

This movie is intense, thrilling, gory, and unforgettable. A future Japanese society randomly selects every year an 9th grade class to be sent to an island to fight amongst themselves to the death (sound familiar?). It begs such questions as ‘What would you do?’, ‘How would different social cliques respond in that situation?’, ‘Would you be able and willing to kill all of your peers and friends?’. The film’s violence is not stylized or sensational. It is brutal and sometimes matter-of-fact. It is an incredible experience that we now know Hollywood could never replicate adequately.

62. Moon (2009)

A man (Sam Rockwell) is about to complete his solo tenure mining on the moon and come back to Earth. The day before he’s scheduled to return he makes a staggering and baffling discovery. What that is is the basis of the rest of the film’s plot. But it’s worth not knowing going into the movie and letting the experience unravel before you. Regardless, this film features one of Sam Rockwell’s greatest performances. And it was a stunning directorial debut by Duncan Jones. It’s thought-provoking and intelligent and instantly entered the pantheon of high-brow sci-fi.

61. Superbad (2007)

Superbad was one of those films that instantly entered the Teen Movie Hall of Fame. It was incredibly hilarious and became a bit of a pop culture phenomenon with scenes like the fake ID scene. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera had excellent chemistry as the two BFFs who just want to get laid. Their final sleepover scene is surprisingly sweet and makes this more than a run-of-the-mill sex comedy. Emma Stone raised eyebrows as the cool love interest. Christopher Mintz-Plasse became infamous as Fogell aka McLovin’. Seth Rogen (who co-wrote the script) and Bill Hader appear as man-child cops. And Joe Lo Truglio, Dave Franco, and Kevin Corrigan all add to the fun. Superbad also has a really great opening title sequence.

60. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

This is one of the last Spielberg movies I loved until 2012’s Lincoln (the dude has directed 16 movies in 24 years and I only love 5 of them). It’s a charming movie based on a true story about a teenager who conned his way through several identities and professions. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the teen in question. Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent after him. They have a great rapport. But Christopher Walken provides the film’s heart as Frank Abignale’s father, a man who never moves on from his divorce. Spielberg often touches on father/son relationships in his movies and this is one of the more touching ones. Also, the John Williams score is very different from his usual fare. And the animated title sequence is something we rarely saw then and since.

59. Walk the Line (2005)

This movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter is one of my favorite biopics. Joaquin Phoenix perfectly embodied Cash. And Reese Witherspoon gave one of her greatest performances as Carter, the woman who tried resisting her fated partner for years. They both perform the songs exceptionally. Yes, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for many critics about the style of biopics and all of their tropes (Walk Hard was a welcome response to this film for some). But I can’t avoid giving it a pass for some reason and loving it. I think it’s a combination of James Mangold’s direction and the performances by Phoenix and Witherspoon.

58. Role Models (2008)

Role Models was a decent success in 2008, but not exactly a hit comedy. I think it’s a bit underrated these days as one of the great comedies of the ‘00s. Paul Rudd plays a miserable, unhappy energy drink spokesperson who gets sentenced community service with his partner (Sean William Scott, who is actually playing a sort of straight man here). The community service is to participate in a Big Brothers, Big Sisters-like program. The thing is the kids they get partnered with aren’t easy to get along with: one is a LARPing geek and the other is a foul-mouthed precocious preteen. The hilarity largely comes from these kids, although Rudd gets in a few great lines that have since become memes. Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, and Ken Jeong are the stand-out supporting players here.

57. I Love You, Man (2009)

Yet another great comedy starring Paul Rudd, I Love You, Man is about a guy who relates best with women and comes to the realization he has no male friends once he and his girlfriend get engaged. He sets out to make a male friend and eventually comes across Jason Segel’s easy-going investor. It is truly one of the great bromance movies that I relate to quite a bit. Rudd and Segel are hilarious, but there’s a slew of great supporting talent that pops up throughout.

56. Fantasia 2000 (2000)

The original Fantasia was an innovation in animation. But I prefer the sequel. It’s more colorful, vibrant, and I adore most of the song selections more than those in the original film. Favorites for me include ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and ‘Firebird Suite’. It also helps that this film is 30 minutes shorter than the original. I just wish we didn’t have to wait another 60 years for another Fantasia to be created. It’d be probably more possible to make Fantasia live on as a series of short films rather than full-length features. After all, it was Walt Disney’s dream to create a series of Fantasia movies every few years. In the meantime, I’ll appreciate this one.

55. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

This sequel not only surpasses the original Hellboy movie in just about every way, but it’s a great film that got overshadowed by The Dark Knight and Iron Man the same year - especially the former. It unfortunately hit theaters a week after The Dark Knight. The result is it only earned 15% as much as that Nolan movie. Hell, Beverly Hills Chihuaua, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, 10,000 BC, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor all earned more money than this film. It’s a shame, because The Golden Army is one of the most imaginative movies of the decade and most satisfying sequels. It was critically acclaimed, but has since faded into the distance of the collective consciousness. It’s unique, it’s wild, it’s fun, and edgy. It deserved more attention.

54. Let the Right One In (2008)

This Swedish horror drama was quite the sensation among cinephiles and critics in the late ‘00s. And it is a great film. It is to Twilight what Battle Royale is to The Hunger Games. It’s just an interesting and richly character-driven story about two adolescents who befriend each other. It was remade by Matt Reeves, I believe, and that film is better than most American remakes of foreign films, but still quite the step down from this one. I’m not even going to say anything more about what it is, because it’s such a great film to let unfold on you. Roughly 15 years ago, I hosted a marathon with three films and this was easily the audience’s favorite discovery from that marathon. It’s a great film and if you haven’t checked it out you absolutely should.

53. Hero (2004)

So, thanks to a particular movie that will be mentioned much later in the list, there was a huge foreign film boom in the ‘00s - especially with Chinese and Korean films. The wuxia subgenre became very popular and Hero was one of the films that enjoyed that popularity. It was one of the biggest foreign film hits of the year. It stars Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Donnie Yen, and Zhang Ziyi - all greats of Chinese cinema. The film is loosely based on an assassination attempt on the King of Qin back around the 220s BC. It’s directed by Zhang Yimou, who is one of China’s greatest directors. It features absolutely gorgeous cinematography and uses of color and its narrative takes on a Rashomon-like structure with regards to the protagonist’s claims to have killed a couple of renowned assassins. It was a huge hit back then, but has since subsided in people’s memory. But it should be revisited.

52. Kung Fu Hustle (2005)

Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle had massive American appeal, because it combined elements of martial arts movies, Looney Tunes shorts, and superhero movies into one amusing and accessible pot. It’s about a gang taking over and terrorizing a neighborhood of 1940s Shanghai and the unlikely trio who fight back. It is violent, wacky, and so much fun! It worked so well that it made over $100 million worldwide off of a $20 million budget.

51. WALL-E (2008)

Back when WALL-E was about to be released, industry talking heads were fairly confident in the track record of Pixar. But they questioned whether a film that is dialogue-free for the first half hour would work with modern audiences. I think that first half hour is the best of the entire film. But once the film breaks away from that act and becomes a more traditional animated story it’s still among the best of the decade. Most of what makes WALL-E so great, aside from its humor, are the stunning visuals, especially in space. It’s another gorgeous film by the studio, this time with environmental and societal messages that are still pretty important.

So, that ends Part 2 of this 4-part entry in my Film Faves series through time. Be sure to check back soon for Part 3: 50-26.

In the meantime, which are your favorites so far? Do you share some of my experiences or thoughts? Leave a comment.