Best 00’s Films

Best 00’s Films

Films, films, films. Love them or hate them, you sure can’t escape them. People have been making films for a long time, with the first known film being dated back to as early as 1999 when The Matrix was released. Since then, several so-called ‘films’ have been made, here I list a number of them which may be considered good.

1. The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 (dir. Wes Anderson) – When it comes to making films, you don’t get much better than Wes Anderson. That is, of course, my personal opinion, but I haven’t been wrong about anything since 2008, and we don’t talk about that. The Royal Tenenbaums is arguably his best work, and it was certainly the film he gained the most recognition for until the release of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Tenenbaums are a family you take to heart: they leave a greater impression than most people you meet in real life.

2. Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, 2004 (dir. Michel Gondy) – Without a doubt the best performance of Jim Carrey’s career, Eternal Sunshine is one of the strongest romance films of the decade. Refreshingly lacking in clichés or any of the usual romance conventions, we relive a relationship in reverse, a relationship which exists away from reality, caught in the dreams of people who barely remember one another. Soppy though I make it sound, it’s a beautiful story and one which deserves to be heard.

3. Shrek, 2001 (dir. Vicky Jenson, Andrew Adamson) – On a lighter note, we have the singular most important film ever made. Shrek, from its top to its toes, is perfect. The soundtrack, the dialogue, the cinematography: not a hair out of place.

4. This is England, 2006 (dir. Shane Meadows) – There have been films about racism and race relations, all too often set in America. There have also been films which have claimed to represent the working class and/or northern communities. Never have I seen a film handle more elegantly, or with such finger-on-the-pulse accuracy, the reality of life for many people in Britain. Despite being set in the eighties, it touches on many issues which are still startlingly relevant today. Most notably, the title of the film is taken from a speech performed by Steven Graham, one which I believe should be shown in schools as an example of what racism and radicalisation actually look like. It’s also a hauntingly fantastic performance given by Graham and the rest of the cast, not only in the film but also its sequels.

5. Capitalism: A Love Story, 2009 (dir. Michael Moore) – In another 180-degree turn, we have a documentary from film maker Michael Moore. An important and enlightening (by which I mean terrifying and shocking) film which looks at the American banking and stock market system among many other things. Moore is known for his frank and matter-of-fact films, among them are the perhaps better known Fahrenheit 911 and Bowling for Columbine. Both are equally culturally significant, and if you have any interest to speak of in documentaries Moore is the place to be.