Here are my choices for the 10 (actually 11) best, or most memorable, films of the past decade, from 2000 to 2009.
The only thing common they share in common is that they are personal, visionary works made by auteurist-filmmakers.
1. Mulholland Drive (2001), David Lynch
2. The Lives of Others (2007), Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
3. Cache (Hidden) (2006), Michael Haneke
4. There Will Be Blood (2007, Paul Thomas Anderson)
5. Lord of the Rings (Trilogy, 2001-2003), Peter Jackson
6. Time Out (2001), Laurent Cantet
7. No Country for Old Men (2007), Joel and Ethan Coen
8. In the Mood for Love (2002), Hong Kong, Wong Kar-wai
9. Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ang Lee
10. Zodiac (2007), David Fincher
11. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Spain, Guillermo del Toro
About the Directors
David Lynch has made many seminal films, including “Blue Velvet” (still my favorite of his works), and followed up “Mulholland Drive” with “Inland Empire.”
Michael Hanekes is represented this year with another good film, “The White Ribbon,” Germany’s entry to the Best Foreign language Film Oscar.
Peter Jackson’s latest work, “The Lovely Bones,” has divided critics and has not opened wide yet.
Laurent Cantet won the Cannes Film Fest top award, the Palme d’Or, for “The Class” (“Enre les murs”)
Joel and Ethan Coen have made a popular comedy, “Burn After Reading,” and “A Serious Man,” a darkly humorous comedy, which is one of 2009’s best films
After winning the Best Director Oscar, Ang Lee made one lukewarm film, and one flop, “Taking Woodstock.”
David Fincher was nominated last year for Best Director for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttock.”
Guillermo del Torro is attached to direct “The Hobbits,” under Peter Jackson’s supervision.
A List of runners up will be published later.
