Blank Newspaper's Top 50 Movies of the Decade Presented by Visit www.discexchange.com to view their Best of the Decade Lists 50. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Danny Boyle The little underdog movie that could won nearly ever best picture award in 2008. Slumdog looked through the eyes of a witty young man who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, India. As the story unwinds, we meet Jamal, a witty young man with tough skin from the slums of Mumbai, India. After he finds himself on India’s version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," he realizes that every question he is asked reminds him of his childhood. On his way to winning the show’s ultimate prize, officials of the show attempt to beat the truth out of him and get him to admit he is cheating, but in the end, he is not, and he wins in every way possible. 49. Donnie Darko (2001) Richard Kelly Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) talks to an imaginary human-sized-rabbit, which he first sees during a sleep walking spell. The rabbit’s intentions turn evil and Darko is pressured into committing a spree of crimes as both prepare for the end of the world. 48. School of Rock (2003) Richard Linklater In what is by far the best movie with Jack Black headlining, School of Rock feels great all the way through. Black poses as a substitute teacher and he teaches his students the art of rock’n’roll. The youthful ensemble is great and are all very talented. 47. Juno (2007) Jason Reitman It may be a story about assorted family, relationship, and personal troubles that one might expect would follow a teenage pregnancy, but Juno is no Lifetime-esque cliché. Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody constructs a charmingly witty expose of how off-beat teen, Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) navigates the aftermath of becoming pregnant by her more-than-friend-but-too-cool-to-admit-it comrade, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), in an effort to ultimately do what her heart believes is right—while still maintaining a characteristic air of nonchalance and sharp sarcasm about it all. Page injects Juno’s demeanor with a dry humor that is almost too mature to believe, but it is a perfect contrast to the awkward-adorable-adolescent male that Cera has mastered so well. Regardless of her cool exterior, however, Juno’s efforts are sincere and largely dependent on her plan to eagerly give her baby up for adoption to a young clean-cut couple, Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark Loring (Jason Bateman). Juno’s relationship with her father and stepmother during her pregnancy provide many endearing demonstrations of functional dysfunction. The relationship also reveals her fears about raising a child in a "broken" home, the opposite of which Juno believes Vanessa and Mark represent. When the dynamics surrounding this seemingly perfect pair begin to shift, however, Juno’s plan and poise are challenged, belying her vulnerability, youth, and true feelings for the ones she loves, as well as the notion that sometimes the untraditional—whether people or situations—can still harbor the most love. Plus, the hamburger phone is just cool. 46. Lucky # Slevin (2006) Paul McGuigan Mistaken identities are the premise for this caper flick. Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley play mob bosses who are pitted against one another while Bruce Willis and Josh Hartnett smile from the other side of the room. And the ending provides a resounding, "Ohhhhhhhh, ok." 45. Taken (2008) Pierre Morel Liam Neeson kicked so much rump that he didn’t have time to take names. As far as keeping promises go, Neeson bears no false witness as he works his way up the ladder to find his daughter. One of the best action movies of the era. 44. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) Robert Redford Matt Damon plays Junah, a World War one veteran who had it all before the war. Over a decade after leaving Savannah, Georgia as its finest golfer, he returns with no interest in the sport after being the lone survivor of a dangerous mission. Will Smith plays Bagger Vance, the easy going, soothsaying caddy who appears out of nowhere and leads Junah to pride in a match against Bobby Jones and another top golfer. 43. Snatch (2000) Guy Ritchie A London mob movie of sorts, featuring Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and Benicio Del Toro. Pitt plays a Pikey, an illiterate but well-connected fighter and family man. The rest of the cast end up behind Pitt, but not before tons of English humor ensues 42. Seven Pounds (2008) Gabriele Muccino The most powerful performance of Will Smith’s career also features star-making execution by Rosario Dawson. Smith plays an IRS agent who searches for worthy recipients of extensions. The final message is moving and one of a kind. 41. Requiem for a Dream (2000) Darren Aronofsky As affecting as any movie you will ever see. An unpleasant, believable movie about vices and the need for acceptance. If you measure movies on how long they stick with you, Requiem for a Dream would rank at the top. 40. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) James Mangold Rusty Crowe is great, as always, but it is Christian Bale’s surprise masterpiece that separates this western remake about a rancher (Bale) who tries to prove his worth as a man by escorting a highly sought after outlaw (Crowe) to a train that will take him to prison. 39. Black Snake Moan (2006) Craig Brewer Samuel L. Jackson plays an old-fashioned southerner who has a promiscuous young lady with a tattered past left for dead on his land. In an effort to get her better, he faces the doubts of many while finding love himself with a local pharmacist. 38. Million Dollar Baby (2004) Clint Eastwood A surprise tale of a waitress turned boxer (Hilary Swank) and the entourage, which includes Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. The story exposes the stubbornness of Eastwood’s character and the persistence of Swank’s. All the while, Freeman eases the tension of both. 37. Almost Famous (2000) Cameron Crowe A high school kid gets the opportunity to write a story for Rolling Stone and follows a rising rock band only to discover that life on the road isn’t all its cracked up to be. 36. The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) Gabriele Muccino Chris Gardner (Will Smith) struggles to find comfort for himself and his son in this gut-wrenching drama. The story is set in the early eighties where Gardner attempts to sale bone density scanners to hospitals to no avail. He tries to stay strong on his way to becoming a stock broker, but is pushed past his breaking point several times in the story. 35. Into the Wild (2007) Director Sean Penn does a nice job of finding the point at which Christopher McCandless’ intellect collides with his sanity. A gripping tale of self sustainment and resentment of family. 34. The Prestige (2006) Christopher Nolan Two magicians are close friends until a trick goes wrong and one of their wives is killed. The two turn into enemies and each stop at nothing to see that the other fails in every way. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play the main roles while Scarlett Johanson is also involved. 33. Thank you for Smoking (2006) Jason Reitman Clever, quick dialogue is becoming Jason Reitman’s calling card. In this funny film, he shows he’s much more than just the Son of Ivan. His dark, funny, but very real style is here to stay with the recent success of "Up in the Air," which is in Theaters now. 32. The Last King of Scotland (2007) Kevin Macdonald Forrest Whitaker’s depiction of Idi Amin, a Ugandan dictator in the seventies, is worth the price of the DVD itself. The film features a riveting, horrifying well-told story. 31. The Pianist (2002) Roman Polanski Adrian Brody plays Wladyslaw Szpilman, the finest piano player in Poland in the 1930's. His world goes from playing in exquisite concert halls to the Ghettos of Warsaw and his family is taken to concentration camps. He runs from a similar destiny and witnesses the Warsaw Uprising in the process. 30. Blood Diamond (2006) Edward Zwick Blood Diamond is an epic tale of adventure, love, cruelty, and war, all stemming from the diamond trade that rocks the people of Sierra Leone, a small West African nation located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou pair up to form an unusual combination of friends in Blood Diamond. DiCaprio, a diamond-smuggling mercenary and Hounsou, a fisherman whose family has been ripped apart due to the civil unrest in Sierra Leone, form a unique bond when the pair unexpectedly meet after both end up in jail. This film offers thrilling action, endless adventure, suspense, and if you don't get chills when a nearly destroyed family miraculously reunites in London, well, you will. Blood Diamond has something for everybody. 29. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Michel Gondry When a former couple (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) decide to erase one another from their memory, they get more than they bargained for. This may be the most genuinely unique film of the decade but it was certainly the movie that proved Jim Carrey wasn’t just a loud comedian. This film got a few first place votes from our contributors but was also left off of many lists. 28. Wall-E (2008) Andrew Stanton A cleaning robot falls in love with a robot from space when the latter comes to Earth to see if live can be established 700 years after humans left the planet. Plays on Wal Mart, obesity and the American culture in general are taken on in this lovable and funny animated flick. 27. Up (2009) Pete Docter An old man ties balloons to his house in hope of seeing the parts of South America he had always wondered about. After lifting off, however, he finds that a mischievous boy has come along for the ride. 26. 25th Hour (2002) Spike Lee Edward Norton is sentenced to eight years in jail but has one last night to be with his friends and family. Twists and turns complete a complex movie which also stars Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. 25. The Incredibles (2004) Brad Bird A goofy troupe of superheroes clean up the world’s messes one after the other while trying to balance their family lives. The Incredibles tears down any misconceptions that we have about superheroes with intellect that appeals to people of all ages 24. Memento (2000) Christopher Nolen Guy Pearce attempts to find his wife’s murderer while suffering from short-term memory loss in this crazy good thriller. Using tattoos and old notes, he works his way backwards to the answer he needs. Director Christopher Nolen scored with as many movies as anyone did in the aughts, but it was Memento gave him the lead straight out of the gate. 23. Mystic River (2003) Clint Eastwood When three men are bound by a tragedy rendered upon an innocent child, perhaps the only thing that can usurp that bond is another. When ex-con Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), homicide detective Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon), and friend Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins) were a just boys writing their names in wet cement on a Boston sidewalk, Dave was abducted by pedophiles and subjected to days of sexual abuse until his escape. As adults, Dave is still haunted by his experience, a scar that causes him to become a suspect in the mysterious murder of Jimmy’s teen daughter. The crime is investigated by Sean who struggles to believe Dave could be guilty, but Dave’s own wife eventually believes the worst and shares her allegations with Jimmy. The tragedies that unfold and are uncovered are painful and dark, and the lines between good and evil, guilt and innocence, are mercilessly blurred. Supported by an extraordinary and award-winning cast capable of exploiting each role’s potential to drive the story into every scary emotional nook (and they do), Mystic River attacks viewers’ need for clean lines and closure. Clint Eastwood’s directing features a very minimal tone that makes this stark unease pervasive to the core. 22. Children of Men (2006) Alfonso Cuaron In a world where babies are no longer born and the human race is dying out, Clive Owen finds a pregnant woman. As she is pushed and pulled in every direction, she discovers that there are also those who want her dead. Owen protects her until she can get to the protective arms of people who may be able to figure out how to save the human race. 21. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) David Fincher Brad Pitt plays Benjamin Button, a man who is born old and ages in reverse. As you might guess, there are many peculiar events that take place as a result of Button’s situation, though he somehow finds love with a girl he met during his adolescence. Daisy, (Kate Blanchett) does a phenomenal job of dealing with Button’s case and the two have a child together against all odds. Taraji P. Henson plays the role of Button’s impromptu mother and won several awards for her work. 20. Passion of the Christ (2004) Mel Gibson $611,899,420. That’s how much money Mel Gibson’s little movie about Jesus made worldwide. And to think, he had to put up his own money to make the film because no one thought it would do well in theaters. The story is based on the last days of Jesus Christ, played brilliantly by James Caviezel. It’s a movie that everyone, no matter their faith, should see. 19. City of God (2002) Fernando Meirelles, Katia Lund "Cidade de Deus" is the Portuguese translation of "City of God" and refers to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. This movie paints a bloody picture of a fictional gang war that takes place between Knockout Ned and Li’l Ze. Seu Jorge plays Ned, a reluctant participant who is forced to go on the hunt after Ze kills members of his family and forces himself on his girlfriend. The battle that ensues affects the entire city through the second half of the film. Life is taken with little hesitancy, but somehow a small boy with a knack for photography earns the trust of both sides, and captures the war from the inside. 18. There will be Blood (2007) Paul Thomas Anderson This bloody oil epic has gotten even more haunting with time. As with any Daniel Day-Lewis role, the viewer is submerged into whichever world the actor chooses. This time, he plays Daniel Plainview, the most despicable man of the decade by far. His greed and willingness to use anything as leverage is only matched by his self-hatred. Plainview is as grossly unruly as any character in a real-life role ever. 17. Gangs of New York (2002) Martin Scorsese As previously mentioned, no one plays the villain better than Daniel Day-Lewis. As a matter of fact, Day-Lewis could be the finest actor period of the last twenty years. Before this film, it would be hard to remember a character that was as easy to hate as Day-Lewis’ William "The Butcher" Cutting. Cutting kills nearly every likable character as the plot develops until a showdown with Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio). 16. V for Vendetta (2006) James McTeigue This film examines the dystopian world that Alan Moore and David Lloyd created with their 1980's comic book series by the same name. Set in Britain in the year 2027, people are ruled in a totalitarian manor by a fascist regime. The public obeys all government rules out of fear until a humble vigilante starts an uprising against the aforementioned party. Wearing a Guy Fawkes mask throughout the film, V’s true identity is never revealed. His bold voice is matched by a sturdy frame and a solid thought process no matter how extreme his methods become. Natalie Portman was perfectly cast as his hesitant sidekick. This is the best futuristic political thriller of its time. 15. Catch Me if You Can (2002) Steven Spielberg Based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. and his various scams and schemes, the cat and mouse movie sees Tom Hanks chase Leonardo DiCaprio all around the world. In the end, DiCaprio and Hanks find one another and become, of all things, friends. Spielberg’s finest work of the aughts, by far. 14. BLOW (2001) Ted Demme Ray Liota plays Fred Jung, father to real-life cocaine cowboy George Jung (Johnny Depp) in this emotional thrill ride to riches and prison. Every emotion is examined, as the film builds differing opinions on the importance of money. As George becomes a man, he moves to California with a friend in hopes of starting over. They find success in selling drugs, which leads to extreme wealth before leading to family trouble and eventually prison. 13. The Wrestler (2008) Darren Aronofsky The Wrestler was significant for two reasons. It was Mickey Rourke’s return to the limelight after years of darkness, and it was the mainstream introduction of director Darren Aronofsky. Rourke’s role as Randy "The Ram" is perhaps the most believable performance of the decade. Throughout the film, the fading wrestler inflicts damage on himself as much as his opponents in the ring. After a heart attack, he is forced with living a normal life without wrestling. After finally becoming comfortable with a slower pace, he disappoints his daughter, whom he tried to reconnect with, and eventually heads back into the ring against doctor’s orders. Marisa Tomei lends a fabulous supporting role as Randy’s potential love interest while Evan Rachel Wood plays his daughter. The Wrestler is a truly moving motion picture. 12. The Departed (2006) Martin Scorsese Scorsese’s 2006 rendition of the American mob movie is one of his best. The Departed possibly owns the finest ensemble of actors and roles of any film of the decade. Leonardo DiCaprio proved again that he wasn’t the kid from Titanic anymore as William Costigan, an undercover agent who infiltrates Francis Costello’s (played by Jack Nicholson) mob family. Costello in turn has an informant placed in the police force (Matt Damon). Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen also lend wonderful efforts as policemen. There are several casualties along the way as with any Scorsese film, but it is impossible to predict who will be left standing in the end. 11. Lost In Translation (2003) Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation is one of the finest romantic comedies of all time. The comedy is as dry as a forgotten used washcloth, and the script is nearly flawless. Bill Murray is as good as ever and newcomer Scarlett Johansson springs onto the screen with immediate star-power. The two tickle the boundaries of love tastefully and with great intrigue. And we all still wonder what he whispered in her ear at the end. 10. The Bourne Trilogy (2002-2007) Doug Liman (Identity) Paul Greengrass (Supremacy, Ultimatum) Jason Bourne was by far the baddest dude of the last decade. Over the three installments of the Bourne trilogy, Matt Damon portrays a CIA operative named Jason Bourne, who fights, runs, chases, and escapes all over the world. The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum are what you need in a government thriller. This genre has grown in popularity over the past decade, and this trilogy set the standard. Jason Bourne is a multi-lingual, butt-kicking, ingenious, fugitive who starts in Western Europe, goes to Greece, India, Russia, Germany, and the United States on his quest to find out who he is, clear his name, and exact revenge on the people who created him and shot his girlfriend. Damon is absolutely the star of this series. After you see the first one, you will not only watch the rest of them, you'll do it time and time again. 9. No Country for Old Men (2007) Cohen Brothers The Cohen Brothers have two movies in the top ten of BLANK’s movies of the aughts. The first is the tale of a traveler with murder on his mind. Based on the book by Knoxville’s own Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men is captivating and impossible to turn away from, no matter how gruesome the main character’s actions become. 8. Gladiator (2000) Ridley Scott In this five-time Oscar winning film directed by Ridley Scott, viewers see the ancient ruins of the Roman Coliseum brilliantly recreated to host the infamous gladiator games in an epic story of love, jealousy, deceit, courage, and revenge. Gladiator is the tragedy of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a beloved general of the Roman army whose family is executed. Meridius is then sold into slavery following the ignoble ascension to the throne by Emperor Marcus Aurelius’s (Richard Harris) jealous and depraved son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). As a slave, Maximus is sold and trained to become a gladiator, a fate he initially rejects but later uses to turn the Roman people against Commodus. Viewers can appreciate that even though Maximus must maim and murder to exact his revenge, his allegiance to Aurelius, courageous strength, and deep sorrow over the loss of his family make him an easy hero, especially in contrast to Commodus, the perfect villain. It is a good-guy-versus-bad-guy story that ignites and excites the emotions while fostering intrigue for one of history’s most fascinating periods, all against the beautiful musical backdrop composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard. 7. O’ Brother Where Art Thou (2000) Cohen Brothers No one can make you laugh and cringe in one single motion quite like the Cohen Brothers. They covered the gamut with this movie, as they follow George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson on their tumultuous and goof-ridden journey. Loosely parallel to Homer’s The Odyssey, this film shows the many ups and downs of these friends and is hilarious all the way home. 6. Kill Bill (2003-2004) Quentin Tarentino Knoxville’s finest contributer to film opened even more doors with two installments of these revenge tales. The dialogue is some of Tarentino’s finest, and Uma Thurman was the perfect choice for The Bride. Though she never seems to die when she should, the story is still believable and despite being the toughest woman in film history, The Bride remains a lady throughout. 5. Avatar (2009) James Cameron When the movies of the first decade of the new millennia are revisited ten years from now, Avatar will most likely sit atop the throne from the period known as the aughts. As of now, James Cameron’s visually groundbreaking war tale has only been on the big screen for a month, so it’s hard to rank it any higher, however deserving it may be. People who realize that they are humans before they are a member of a political party will find great intrigue in a storyline that beckons remembrance of the Native American struggles while addressing the current global state of consumption. It is a story of greed, love and war, but the main theme urges unity between the land and its occupants. This film is futuristic in every way. Though some see this film as a warning, it is actually a pleasant reminder of the respect our grandparents showed for their land. 4. The Dark Knight (2008) Christopher Nolan What a movie! The Dark Knight is probably is finest big-name-comic movie ever made. And there are several reasons why. But more than anything, it’s because of Heath Ledger and his unbelievable portrayal of the Joker. To think we thought that Jack Nicholson did a perfect job of playing the clownish villain in the eighties...boy were we wrong. There simply wasn’t a better acting job this decade, and that has nothing to do with Ledger’s death. In his swan song, he even stole scene’s he wasn’t in with the anticipation of what he would do or say when he did get back on screen. Fans of the latest Batman series can get ready for the third installment of the new series and Aaron Eckhart’s version of Two-Face. "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." 3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) Peter Jackson Otherwise known as "The Trilogy," the series is remarkable in that the movies are about as close to the books as films can get. Directed by Peter Jackson, the trilogy's cinematography is phenomenal. Filmed primarily in New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is nearly cinematic perfection. Its scenery: amazing. The characters: superb. There is nothing wrong with any of these films. The movie lover has him or herself a day of fun with this trilogy, which runs approximately 10 hours in total length. These movies are the film versions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. While watching the trilogy you will witness the adventure of four Hobbits as they go on their perilous journey from their homeland, The Shire. On their way there, they meet Aragron, who leads them throughout the first film. They pick up four more companions here: one elf, one dwarf, one wizard, and one more man. Their mission is to deliver the ring of power to its point of origin: Mt. Doom in Mordor. The story of their journey is told over the course of the three films. In the second film, The Two Towers, the party has been split up. Two hobbits were captured and the other two on their way to destroy the infamous ring of power. In the third film, Return of the King, we see the story come to an end. These films were masterfully put together and would surely be considered worthy by Tolkien himself. The trilogy is full of adventure and surprises, and is definitely in the upper echelons of the fantasy genre. If you have not read the books, you just may after seeing this amazing series. The stars of the trilogy are Elijah Wood, as Frodo, Viggo Mortensen, as Aragorn, Ian McKellan, as Gandalf, and the guy from Rudy, as Sam. 2. Sin City (2005) Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller & Quentin Tarantino As visually stunning as the comic-to-film translation has ever been, Sin City was innovative in many ways. The entire film was shot in color and in production the colors were taken out one by one. This was a strenuous process, but one that gave the film an extraordinarily unique look. The film stars Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Clive Owen, Powers Booth, Jamie King, Josh Hartnett and the late Brittany Murphy. The opening scene is as gripping as any of the decade and sets up a twisted tale of violence, revenge and heroics. The scene shows Hartnett’s character as he charms Jamie King before kissing, then killing her. The action that follows is revolutionary because of Miller’s aesthetic involvement, which he later lent to the movie 300. The plot of the film revolves around three of Miller’s comics in particular, with all of them coming together in the end to some degree. Rourke couldn’t have done any better with Marv, the lovable, GI JOE-like prisoner of self demise. Throughout the movie, Robert Rodriguez translates the comics flawlessly, and Tarantino even gets in on the action by directing a car-scene with Del Toro and Owen. 1. Hotel Rwanda (2004) Terry George In Hotel Rwanda, director Terry George vividly paints the brutal picture of the genocide that took place in Rwanda in the early nineties. In this real life tale, Don Cheadle plays Paul Rusesabagina, a mere manager of a ritzy hotel in the middle of the uncivilized conflict between the Tutsi’s and the Hutu’s who slowly becomes a hero to many. Rusesabagina, a Hutu himself, is led by his conscience to pay for the lives of his Tutsi family and their neighbors during the initial takeover. Within days, he provides the safest harbor within city limits to over 1,200 Tutsi’s. The first scenes show Rusesabagina’s intellect and willingness to please the guests of the hotel. As a man of character and respect, he has earned the trust of many celebrated individuals throughout his time at the hotel. As the conflict slowly works its way to the hotel gates, the lodge is abandoned by anyone of importance and the responsibilities are given to Rusesabagina. As he runs out of leverage to keep the savage Hutu army away, he begins to question his life decisions, though he never abandons composure and the hope of saving the people he is supposed to hate. Almost: Gomorrah (2009), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Super Troopers (2001) Worst movie of the decade: The Room (2003) This film has been called the worst movie ever made. So of course, there are a lot of fans of The Room. Supposedly containing one uncomfortable scene after the other, this movie has been shown across the country in recent years to sold-out audiences. It sold less than $2,000 in theaters during its original release. Performers of the decade 1. Meryl Streep 2. Matt Damon 3. Leonardo DiCaprio 4. Daniel Day-Lewis 5. Brad Pitt 6. Johnny Depp 7. Heath Ledger 8. Morgan Freeman Lead performance of the decade Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler Supporting performance of the decade Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight