The 10 Best Films of the Decade: Ryan's Picks

In last weeks issue of Entertainment Weekly, they presented a list of the top 10 films of the decade. Though their list is respectable, I couldn't agree with it fully heartedly. But that is why these list are made; To generate discussion and bring about conflicting ideas and opinions. So with their list, and in the spirit of Devon's post on The Top 15 Video Games of His Life, I've compiled together what I believe to be the best American films of the last decade.

1. The Dark Knight - There is no sympathy vote here for Heath Ledger. In fact it doesn't matter to me that he is gone, no offense to his loved ones. Christopher Nolan's follow up to Batman Begins is not just a create comic book film, but also an amazing film. This film have both marketability and playability; meaning people will see it because it has an A list cast performing 70 year old characters and it is good enough that an audience will see the movie play again and again. This film sets a standard that other giant tent pole event films should follow. Unfortunately, many won't. In which case The Dark Knight will continue to be at the top of it's class for a while.

The Departed - Martin Scorsese's remake of Internal Affairs takes the good story from over seas and effectively adapts to make it better. Again, we're talking about an A list combination of actors; Jack Nicholson, Leonard DiCaprio, Martin Sheen, and even Mark Walhberg earns an Academy Award Nomination. This film finally earns Martin Scorsese his first Oscar win and the film takes Best Picture. As Ew.com noted Scorsese has at least one film in each of the Best of Decades over the last 40 years; 1970'2 - Taxi Driver. 1980'2 - Raging Bull. 1990's - Goodfellas. 2000's - The Departed. This movie is suspenseful, violent, vulgar, and everything else I love about movies.

Wall-E - Pixar has been dominating the animation field ever since Toy Story, and can really do no wrong. But Wall-E is the real pride and joy of the bunch, a movie about a isolated and alone robot on a broken planet earth. This film is more than just a kids movie. It has various levels of ideals about industrial pollution, consumerism, technology. In a sense it does more than just make people laugh and cry, it also carries a message.

No Country For Old Men - Joel and Ethan Coen picked up

both Best Director and Best Picture awards for their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Their adaptation is spot on to the book, which are both shockingly violent. I think in ten years there will be two villains that we will always remember from this decade. One being Heath Ledger's Joker and the other being Anton Chigurh. Like Fargo, the Coen's have effectively tapped into that sense of lifestyle and culture of a west texas border town. This film inspired me to read the book, and I still don't understand the ending; But I love it still.

Children of Men - Director Alfonso Cuaron had a heck of a decade by going from Y Tu Mama Tambien to Harry Pottery and the Prisoner of Azkaban to the bleak future of Children of Men. Honestly, this film is wonderfully gritty and shot very well and the final near 10 minute long one take shot makes the hallway scene in Oldboy look like a walk in the park.

The 40 Year Old Virgin - Absolutlely, my favorite comedy of the decade. This film changed romantic comedies away from unsuccessful female oriented films and made the male oriented hundred million dollar hits. My favorite of the Judd Apatow films, though I haven't seen Funny People. Steve Carrell is perfectly cast as a 40 year old virgin who, with the help of his co-workers, tries to loose his virginity any way he can. It has the right amount of dirty sex jokes and just enough romance to not make it campy or corky.

Sicko - Love him or hate him, Michael Moore's third documentary of the decade is a much needed examination of the state of health care in this nation. There are moments in this film that are not only shocking, but almost disgusting. I can't imagine anyone who has seen the film and is still opposed to a health reform in the United States. This film is a documentary, and yes it is allowed to be subjective. However, I think everyone should watch this film and allow it to inspire us all to do our own research about the issue in order to make an informed decision. But without going to far on a political stand point, if nothing else the film raises questions; which they all should do.

Brokeback Mountain - I realize that a gay cowboy movie often isn't the most popular genre, and that most men I talk to haven't and plan to never see the film. It seems that heterosexual men are afraid that if they see the film, some how they suddenly become gay. Which is actually why this movie is on my list; because it challenges cultural conventions and pushes people's boundaries. And people need to be pushed out of their comfort zone. I had a professor at UCF tell me that if a film isn't challenging, risky, and pushing the envelope then what is the point? Ang Lee won a well deserved Oscar for Best Direction as the film is really well put together.

Up in the Air - I realize that this movie just came out, but I've seen it twice already and absolutely love it. It is really my favorite of the three Jason Rietman films. This film is this decades Jerry Maguire. It is romantic, dramatic at times, and funny. George Clooney is really great here. Anna Kendrick is completely different from her Twilight role. But also, this film speaks to the culture of today and is relevant to the world we live in. Economy crashing, Corporations downsizing, new technologies being implemented, and the the new meaning of getting older. It may be too soon, but I really think this is one of the decades best films. It is the best film I have seen so far this year.

Man On Fire - Tony Scott's masterpiece film is both dramatic and action packed as Denzel Washington seeks revenge on those who kidnapped the young girl he swore to protect. The structure of the film is brilliant, as it delivers an hour of Dakota Fanning onscreen time before kidnapping her. This hour allows the audience to experience the bond that Washington and Fanning develop together and also help fuel our anger as we enjoy the sweet taste of revenge that Washington acts out. Scott is a great director and this film is his masterpiece. Clearly one of the best of the decade.

Some contenders - Adaptation, Crash, Zodiac, Million Dollar Baby, There Will Be Blood, Inglorious Bastards, Munich, Up, Clerks II, Batman Begins, Gangs Of New York, Snatch, Shaun of the Dead, and The Fountain.

What do you think of the list? Do you think I am spot on or way off? Let us know what you would have picked!