WFM’S Top 25 Movies (2000-2024)
I may have jumped the gun on this project by already sharing my reviews of In the Mood for Love! (25) and Amour! (24). On reflection, I have decided it is more appropriate to share my entire Top 25 list upfront and then post my review of each selection periodically between now and the end of 2025. This is an ambitious task and I applaud myself for rising to the occasion. In terms of process, I reviewed the consensus top 10 lists published by multiple sources for each year. This included the annual lists published by the New York Times!, Metacritic and Sight and Sound. I also reviewed Rolling Stones! Top 100 Movies of the 21st Century and the NYT Top 25 for 2000-2024. Artificial intelligence Apps like Claude are incredibly helpful with this type of research. Instant and accurate information. I also examined my own diary notes and did a systematic scan of my own memory. I honestly don’t know if this time frame can be characterised as a golden age for movies, but respected sources identified over 300 movies as excellent or deserving of special recognition. I noticed during my review that many of the films adored by the elite critics had not been “Home Run” viewing experiences for me. I imagine that a trained professional critic may have more refined taste than yours truly- or are simply more appreciative of avant garde productions. I gave the opinions of others due consideration, made minor adjustments along the way and am very comfortable with my final choices. Perhaps, I am a clandestine “populist” at heart. YIKES- Make Movies Great Again may be my new mantra.
Full disclosure on my personal criteria, biases, pretences and quirks. First, I love movies. Cinema is the most influential art form of the modern era. Films, at their best, combine visual storytelling, character development, technology and music to create moving and viewing and sensory experiences. For over a century, movies have been a mirror and shaper of culture, documenting dreams, fears, triumphs and failures. Films entertain, but also educate. Cinema represents our collective memories and many derive their understanding of major historical events eg The Civil War, WWII, The Vietnam War, Watergate, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights movement from the depictions they see on the big screen. I also admire the Directors- the auteurs who possess the vision to pursue a compelling narrative and the technical ability to execute the vision. Big egos and personas. Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Fellini, Scorsese, Spielberg, Ford, Bergman, Kubrik, Tarantino, Coen, Nolan, Truffaut, Almodovar are geniuses who wield enormous influence.
I also honor the international nature of filmmaking- it is a global phenomenon. Cinema is a universal language with visual narratives transcending language differences. A child’s smile, a loving embrace, a violent explosion- connect with everyone worldwide and make film a very accessible art form. Many revolutionary trends in film were developed in foreign countries: Italian neo-realism, the French New Wave. We now regularly see movies made in Mexico, Iran, Japan and South Korea. The international contributions again prove that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Each culture brings unique perspectives that enrich the global conversation.
The major genres have been amazingly consistent over the the years. Westerns, war movies, spy thrillers, crime dramas, comedies, romances, historical epics, bios and films grappling with social change. Although the Director is the captain of the ship, ultimately the best movies are brilliant team efforts- featuring screenwriters, location and set managers, costume designers, music and technological wizardry. Screenwriters are undervalued- they create the blueprint which the other creative elements build around. Explosions and bloodshed are fun, but great movies depend on character development- people we care about! The industry is also impressive because it does not standstill. Change and adaptation is never ending. We have seen the “sound” era, color technology, widescreen formats, handheld cameras, the digital revolution and modern CGI and VFX. The business model has changed drastically over the past 25 years. Declining theatre attendance combined with soaring production costs creates intimidating economic pressures. The temptation is to sellout and go all in commercial. The streaming platforms are disruptive but also democratising. The market is now global and those in search of profits must appeal to a international clientele. Artificial intelligence is a blessing and a potential curse and many behind the scenes creative positions may be at risk. The industry must cater to younger audiences with short video attention spans, devote significant resources to marketing, stave off political and censorship pressure- all while attempting to make a final product that is memorable. The challenge for the big money fellows in charge is to pursue commercial viability while maintaining a commitment to artistic integrity and creativity. They need to take risks in a risk adverse universe. Film’s greatest strength continues to be the ability to inspire, to teach and to make the audience see the world with greater clarity.
I have looked in the mirror and taken a “selfie” on what my best movie list reveals about my values and preferences. I see an appreciation for historical drama, crime thrillers, international conflict and intrigue. I gravitate to ambitious directors who are also master craftsman. I value visual poetry, moral complexity, understated performances and technical excellence. I embrace films that show human resiliency under extreme circumstances, moral ambiguity and ethical complexity, historical truth telling and cross cultural narratives. I like the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose. Justice is a worthy pursuit. I think my Top 25 (and the honourable mentions) meet that test. I also think they are accessible, with linear narratives and a message. And sometimes fun!
WFM’S TOP 25
1. The Lives of Others (2006).
Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmatck.
Starrring Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Muse and Martina Gedeck.
It features an East German Stassi agent conducting surveillance of a playwright and actress. It’s themes are the dangers of the autocratic state, art v politics, human dignity and redemption.
2. The Pianist (2002).
Directed by Roman Polanski.
Starring Adrien Brody.
A story of a Polish-Jewish pianist’s survival during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw. The themes are Holocaust horror, survival, art as salvation, human dignity and betrayal.
3. The Departed (2006).
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Starring Leonard DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
The subject is the Boston mob and the cops- an undercover cop and a mob infiltrator play cat and mouse. The themes are loyalty, identity, corruption, double lives and Irish American culture.
4. The Social Network (2010).
Directed by David Fincher.
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake.
The subject is Mark Zuckerberg’s creation of Facebook and the resulting lawsuits. The themes are friendship, betrayal, success, intellectual property, the digital age, isolation.
5. Gladiator (2000).
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Starring Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielsen.
The subject matter is the Roman empire and a man’s journey from General, to slave to gladiator. The themes are power, honour, courage, family, corruption, legacy, despotism.
6. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006).
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Starring Ken Watanabe.
The subject is the Japanese perspective on the the Battle of Two Jima in WWII. The themes are honor, leadership, sacrifice, the futility and humanity of war, cultural understanding.
7. 12 Years a Slave (2013).
Directed by Steve McQueen.
Starring Chiwetel Eliofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyongo.
The subject is a free black man kidnapped into slavery in the ante-bellum south. The themes are human dignity, survival, brutality, America’s original sin.
8. Mystic River (2003).
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon.
The subject is a childhood trauma resurfacing when one friend’s daughter is murdered. The themes are working class Boston, vigilante justice, guilt, child abuse.
9. No Country for Old Men (2007).
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.
Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin.
The subject is a Vietnam war vet finding drug money and the chase that ensues. The themes are psychotic behaviour, evil, chance, violence, fate v free will and generational change.
10. Y tu mama tambien (2001).
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.
Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Maribel Verdu.
The subject matter is coming of age and mortality in Mexico. The themes are class, inequality. Mexican reality, love and death.
11. Whiplash (2014).
The Director is Damien Chazelle.
Starring JK Simmons and Miles Teller.
The subject matter is a talented young drummer pushed to extremes by a brilliant teacher. The themes are art, creativity, ambition, mentorship, abuse, inspiration and perfectionism.
12. Inglorious Basterds (2009).
Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Starring Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz.
The subject is Jewish American soldiers and a Jewish cinema owner plotting revenge against the Nazis. The themes are revenge fantasy, alternate history, barbarism with humour, language, power and cinema as a weapon.
13. Dark Knight (2008).
Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart.
The subject is Batman facing the psychotic Joker who forces Gotham to choose between chaos and order. The themes are sacrifice, absolutism, morality, heroism, pragmatism and psychosis.
14. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
Directed by Ang Lee.
Starring Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh.
The subject is a martial arts epic about legendary warriors and a stolen sword. The themes are honor, duty, desire, feminine power, mentorship and sacrifice.
15. The Aviator (2004).
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Starring Leonardo DiiCaprio, Kate Beckinsale and Cate Blanchett.
The subject is Howard Hughes rise as an aviation pioneer and Hollywood mogul. The themes are compulsion, feminine and feminist loyalty, mental illness, brilliance and ambition- corruption and capitalism.
16. Parasite (2019).
Directed by Bong Joon Ho.
Starring Song Kang-ho and Lee Sun-hyun.
The subject is a poor Korean family infiltrating a wealthy family through deception. The themes are class, inequality, loyalty, family, capitalism, social mobility and illusions.
17. A Separation (2011).
Directed by Asghar Farhadi.
Starring Payman Makadi and Leila Hatami.
The subject is an Iranian couple’s divorce and caregiver complications. The themes are moral ambiguity, truth, deception, class conflict, religious and secular tension, justice.
18. A Star is Born (2018).
Directed by Bradley Cooper.
Starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
The subject is a veteran musician helps an unknown singer achieve fame. The themes are addiction, artistic authenticity, love, sacrifice and the cost of fame.
19. 1917 (2017).
Directed by Sam Mendes.
Starring George Mackay and Dean- Charles Chapman.
The subject is two WWI British soldiers crossing into No Man’s Land to deliver a no attack order. The themes are the futility of war, duty, sacrifice, brotherhood and survival.
20. Volver (2006).
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.
Starring Penelope Cruz.
The subject is three generations of women dealing with secrets and supernatural visits. The themes are family secrets, female solidarity, death, memory and identity.
21. Match Point (2005).
Directed by Woody Allen.
Starring Jonathan Ray Meyers, Emily Mortimer and Scarlett Johansson.
The subject is an Irish tennis star marries into a wealthy British family but begins an affair with an American actress. The themes are morality, luck, class, ambition, adultery and consequences, fate and guilt.
22. Oppenheimer (2023).
Previously reviewed in 2024 - see my review.
23. Michal Clayton (2007).
Directed by Tony Gilroy.
Starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson.
The subject is a law firm fixer confronts his conscience in a massive corporate cover up matter. The themes are corruption, redemption, compromise, ambiguity, personal and professional ethics.
24. Amour (2012).
See my recent review.
25. In the Mood for Love (2000).
See my recent review.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The King’s Speech
Brooklyn
Lincoln
Selma
Black Swan
Hacksaw Ridge
Minority Report
Zodiac
Million Dollar Baby
Black Panther
CRITICAL FAVORITES THAT DID NOT WORK FOR ME:
There Will Be Blood
Moonlight
Boyhood
Pan’s Labyrinth
Tree of Life
Mulholland Drive
Roma
The Royal Tenenbaums
Call Me By Your Name
Everything Everywhere All At Once
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES!
