My Favorite (Not Necessarily the Best) of the Decade: Part 1 of 5

Over the past decade, I had the privlidge of discovering everything imaginable. I can’t say I’ve seen all of the classics, but I have seen enough to make me come across as an educated civilian who is probably the only 20 year old to know about “Harvey”. So after 10 years and probably over 500 titles, I have managed to see the classics and notice the new breed as the public discovers it.
So call me a movie nut, but in truth, I am only 20. My tastes are not quite on par with critics like Peter Travers. When compiling 100 films I liked this decade, I realized that not all are really that great, but somehow manage to have a hold on me. Many are encased from memories of watching them while others are just good. To contrast this better, I have included in my list their current ratings on Rotten Tomatoes (for the uninformed: it’s on a 1-100% scale based on reviews. 100% is the best, anything below 50% is bad).



I am not mentioning several movies in a singular franchise. I have instead decided to name which one was my favorite. I am not saying that in ten years, these movies will have the same lasting impact, but for the time being, it reflects where I am in my tastes in movies, which is a fragile state where I can logically claim to have not seen the classics because I was too young. I can also state that the lame brain comedies were great simply because I didn’t know better. Next decade, I will have no excuse… so enjoy.
So here is my list and a brief reason on why I included them.


Adventureland [2009] 88%One of the first masterpieces of 2009 was Greg Mottola’s follow-up to “Superbad”. Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, this take on working at an amusement park features a great soundtrack, supporting cast, and a solid story that comes across as a nostalgic feel for even the current generation of part time working 20 year olds.

Almost Famous [2000] 88%This movie would not be memorable if it were not for one scene. On a bus ride to the next city, the band breaks out into Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”. When Patrick Fugit turns to Kate Hudson (giving the one memorable performance she has done in her otherwise dense career this decade) and says “I need to go home”, Hudson solidifies the moment by saying “But you are home”, and makes it easily one of my favorite scenes of the decade.

American Pie 2 [2001] 52%
While it’s not quite as amazing as the original, it does manage to capture a lot of the raunchy energy of the first one and takes the gang on a road trip to a beach house. There are plenty of solid performances and memorable moments, including a scene involving band camp. The “American Pie” energy was not quite the same after this, creating one mediocre sequel and several bad straight-to-DVD spin-offs.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy [2004] 65%
Can you really leave this movie off of any reasonable comedy of the decades list? From the opening scene, this movie goes on a wild rampage to be the “Caddyshack” of my generation, and succeeding quite well with Will Ferrell leading a cast including future leading men Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd in a simple plot with absurdist twists.

Anger Management [2003] 43%
One of Adam Sandler’s more memorable movies, notably from his chemistry with co-star Jack Nicholson. The movie manages to be a great study on human emotions and how simple change and envy can lead to hilarious emotional breakouts.

A Serious Man [2009] 87%
The latest from the Coen Brothers delves into Jewish culture in America in the 1960’s. While it’s slower and darker than their previous efforts, it manages to intrigue with a strong performance from Michael Stuhlbarg, whose efforts to straighten out his dysfunctional family is both disheartening and a little funny.

Bad Santa [2003] 76%One of the few unique takes on Christmas that doesn’t make you cringe. Billy Bob Thorton as an alcoholic heistman really comes through and makes the heart in this raunchy comedy work. It also has inspired my love for mall Santas.

Blades of Glory [2007] 69%
Along with “Dodgeball”, it’s a low brow slapstick masterpiece that manages to parody sports to a T. The movie also manages to be endearing with an amazingly choreographed routine to Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and proves that non-sequitor comedian Jon Heder could do movies outside of the popular kitschy indie “Napoleon Dynamite”.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazahkstan [2006] 91%In my opinion, Sacha Baron Cohen is the next Andy Kaufman, but does it so much better. In this movie, supposedly to make a documentary on the United States as a foreign correspondent, he manages to capture the citizens in their true colors. His bravery to take such abuse makes this biting satire a look in the mirror.

Brokeback Mountain [2005] 86%
Since this movie’s release, there have been countless gay jokes made referencing it. I suppose this means that the movie was popular, though moreso infamous. I finally got around to watching it and I just found it to be an amazing story of love and repression. It was also one of the few movies with Heath Ledger that I will admit to enjoying.

Bruno [2009] 67%
Definitely more outrageous than “Borat”, though not nearly as accepted because of it’s content. I think it’s perfect because Sacha Baron Cohen manages to take our insecurities and display them before us. He doesn’t only take on homosexuality, but our dense celebrity culture and religious standpoints, making this easily more diverse and controversial, and moreso hilarious.

Burn After Reading [2008] 77%
I cannot name too many people who enjoyed this movie, but in truth, I was very fond of it with the intertwining stories and my personal introduction to John Malkovich as an actor. It also helped me believe that I shold start seeing both Coen Brothers and Brad Pitt movies more often.

Click [2006] 32%
The first movie I really admit to crying the first time I saw it. It remains one of my favorite Adam Sandler movies (only topped by “Happy Gilmore” and “Funny People”) as it manages to capture his old buffoonish ways with a developing mature persona. The concept as well is even made more haunting as Sandler’s character’s name, Michael Newman, is my father’s birthname.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [2008] 71%
Another Brad Pitt masterpiece about falling in love while aging backwards. The story is only second to the amazing effects that give us the ability to believe Pitt as a short old man and a younger version of himself. With a solid love story and acting, I am hard pressed to find a movie that has achieved so much to an adaptation of a book from an author I could care less about.

The Dark Knight [2008] 94%
One of the most memorable of the decade. It remains the only film I have paid to see five times and features an amazing performance from Heath Ledger as the Joker. It took storytelling in comic book adaptation to a new level and director Christopher Nolan gets my nomination for innovator, having created several masterpieces this decade that test us with intellect, visuals, and unique storytelling.

District 9 [2009] 90%
First time director Neil Blomkamp based this off of his short “Alive in Joburg”. Peter Jackson saw it and gave him the right to direct. The result is one of my favorite science fiction movies of the decade. It also features an amazing performance from newcomer Sharlto Copley. Overall, I feel this movie pushes boundaries and gives us promising new talents that will hopefully innovate us in the next decade.

The Devil Wears Prada [2006] 75%
One of Anne Hathaway’s many amazing movies this decade. Alongside Meryl Streep, this look into the fashion industry remains one of the harshest, and possibly most true.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story [2004] 69%The slapstick classic of the decade. You will be hard pressed to find a movie that features people being hit with dodgeballs repetively without losing a laugh. It also features an amazing performance from Rip Torn as Patches O’Hoolahan and introduces the world to Justin Long.

8 Mile [2002] 74%
The one movie Eminem did was a ghetto version of “Purple Rain”, true, but it also proved that he could get deep and personal. However, the one thing people will remember from this movie is the theme song, Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, which is easily one of the best and most inspirational songs of the decade.

Elf [2003] 83%
Will Ferrell does a man-child movie for the whole family and succeeds as an elf wanting to find his family by traveling to New York. It puts Ferrell on the map and paved the way for Jon Favreau to direct “Iron Man”.

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