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Smart Hollywood: My Top Ten Fave Films of the 00’s

the aughts

by Jonathan Fuhrman | 12:50 pm, December 4th, 2009

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8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Who would have thought a Jim Carrey movie would make this list and it wouldn’t involve him talking out of his butt? Seriously, Jim Carrey made quite a few movies where he tried to take his career in alternate directions during the 00’s, but to me the only film of his where he truly got that mix perfectly right is the beautiful, emotional, inventive (insert your own adjective of praise here because believe me they all apply) film, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. There is no way I’m going to try to summarize the plot of this movie, and the fact that it can’t be described in a typical 30 second Hollywood pitch is very much part of what makes it so special. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” rewards multiple viewings, in fact they are almost essential. The second time you see this film, it’s a much different experience, which only leaves the viewer appreciating the film even more. But the film has so many layers and the lead performances by Carrey and Kate Winslet (playing Carrey’s maybe soul mate) are so wonderful that even upon the 10th viewing, you still make new discoveries and get pulled in by the originality and brain-busting nature of the film’s concept. We can thank Charlie Kaufman, one of the decade’s most original screenwriters (and then later, directors) for this amazingly special film. If “Eternal Sunshine” didn’t make this list, the Kaufman written, Spike Jonze directed film “Adaptation” very well might have.

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kevinsemicolon

That’s a pretty interesting list. Of the movies I’ve seen, I would only disagree with a few of them (one in particular—I can guarantee I will not be rewatching any Russell Crowe movie in the next 20 years). Here’s my list, with the added restraint of only one movie per year:

Wonder Boys (2000)
Mulholland Drive (2001)
24 Hour Party People (2002)
The Saddest Music in the World (2003)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Volver (2006)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Coraline (2009)

For Volver, you can substitute Pan’s Labyrinth if you prefer. 2006 was the year Madrid picked up the slack for Hollywood. That was a fun exercise. Thanks!
Rachel Sklar

What a great list. I admit that I can watch “Legally Blonde” anytime…or “Bring It On”…or “Mean Girls”…I think I just stumbled upon another idea for a list…

(I also like smart-people movies too, sheesh. Oh and I think I’d put Inglorious Basterds on any list. I still find myself thinking about it, and arrested by it.)
Jonathan Fuhrman

I agree re: “Basterds” but left it off the list for 2 reasons: 1) personal bias given I worked on it and trying to remain somewhat impartial; 2) and more importantly, it’s probably a case of timing hurting its chances to make the top 10 – its just too soon – need a little bit of time and distance to really determine its place on this list. That being said Quentin’s other masterpiece of the 00′s, “Kill Bill” (especially Volume 1) was definitely a near miss to this list. I can watch that scene where The Bride takes on the Crazy 88 over and over. What a movie.
lkruse

Excellent choices! I agree with all those films. I think if I had to try and do both: pick movies just from the 00′s that I’ll enjoy yrs from now (enjoy being the key word in this category as some of the best movies can be difficult to watch over and over again), as well as movies that stand up to critical acclaim I would have to add:

Both Joe Wright’ films “Atonement” and “Pride and Prejudice”
Steven Soderbergh’s “Erin Brokovich”
“Little Miss Sunshine”
“Tropic Thunder”

Smart Hollywood: My Top Ten Fave Films of the 00’s

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