7. The Aviator (Martin Scorsese)
It may not be as complex or daring as other Scorsese films, but The Aviator proves that Marty still can impress, even when he's after something a bit more commercial.
8. Collateral (Michael Mann)
Forget New York: Los Angeles is the new playground for a new generation of film noir. I'm admittedly rather cold on Michael Mann, in general, but this film is his best work yet. Beautifully-shot on crisp digital video - I can only think of less than a handful of films that equal it in the visuals department.
9. Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood)
So delicately-told that it took a few days to really sink in for me; Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby takes a trite premise and tells it the right way. Eastwood may have not have handled the religious themes well enough as he should have - but the film's final segment still is potently quasi-metaphysical. It snuck up on us all at the last minute, which was the perfect way to discover it.
10. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater)
I won't lie: Richard Linklater's sequel to Before Sunrise hasn't reasonated too well for me since I saw it in theaters; I remember liking it much more than I do now. But, it was a brilliant idea to reintroduce us to the duo nearly a decade after-the-fact, and its concise nature makes it easier for multiple viewings than its predecessor is.
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
excellent list, John. i know the horrors of trying to see everything in order for to make the list JUST RIGHT, but it's pretty much impossible. Bad Education has just been released here as part of an almadovar box set (region 2), although its available seperate, too. I'm inclined to purchase it, since although i find his early nonsense most detestable (Pepi Luci Bon with its comedy rape etc, although it gets points for having a pissing-on-womans-head-by-another-woman scene, i guess), but post-Women On The Verge i think he's grown considerably.
I've yet to see 2046, but hope to do so shortly. It's been quite the evasive motherfucker, is what.
Also, Celinie and Julie rules, is what.