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THE BEST OF THE 2000's: OUR OSCAR® RETROSPECTIVE (PART II)

"The Departed" will be remembered as one of the best films of the 00's

FEATURES

By Kelly Doucette

We enjoyed your input after we presented the first part of our latest special last month. Now, after a very careful analysis, it's time to wrap up it. Remember that many great films were considered and even if they missed a spot in our list, you can still honor them in our forum (click here).

Note: all the following films are Academy Award nominees or winners. They are listed in no particular order.

AMELIE (2001)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Written by: Guillaume Laurant & Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Audrey Tatou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Jamel Debbouze, Isabelle Nanty, Serge Merlin, Lorella Cravotta, Clotilde Mollet, Dominique Pinon, Claire Maurier

Oscar nods (5): Best Original Script (Guillaume Laurant & Jean-Pierre Jeunet), Best Foreign Language Film (France), Best Cinematography (Bruno Delbonnel), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Marie-Laure Valla & Aline Bonetto), & Best Sound (Guillaume Leriche, Jean Umansky, & Vincent Arnardi)

Synopsis: Amélie (Audrey Tatou) is a story about a young girl, named Amélie whose childhood was suppressed by her Father's concerns pf a heart defect. With these concerns Amélie gets hardly any real life contact with other people. This leads Amélie to resort to her own fantastical world and dreams of love and beauty. She later on becomes a young woman and moves to the central part of Paris as a waitress. After finding a lost treasure belonging to the former occupant of her apartment, she decides to return it to him. After seeing his reaction and his new found perspective - she decides to devote her life to the people around her. Such as, a failed writer, a hypochondriac, a man obsessed with a gnome, a man who stalks his ex girlfriends, the "ghost", a suppressed young soul, the love of her life and a man whose bones are made of glass. But after consuming herself with these escapades - she finds out that she is disregarding her own life and damaging her quest for love. Amélie then discovers she must become more aggressive and take a hold of her life and capture the beauty of love she has always dreamed of

Why this Is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): A fantastical foreign film with great sets and a wonderful story that focuses more on the actual production more so than the acting. You won’t regret viewing this masterpiece.

The Flaws: Movie audiences that are not regular viewers of foreign films will find this masterpiece hard to watch.

"The Aviator" is one of the top Oscar winners (without a Best Picture award)

THE AVIATOR (2004)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: John Logan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, John C. Reilly, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Ian Holm, Gwen Stefani, Adam Scott, Danny Huston, Kelli Garner, Matt Ross, Jude Law, Edward Herrmann, Willem Dafoe

Oscar wins (5): Best Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson), Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), Best Costumes (Sandy Powell), & Best Art Direction (Francesca Lo Schiavo & Dante Ferretti)

Additional Oscar nods (6): Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Original Script (John Logan), Best Picture (Graham King & Michael Mann), & Best Sound (Petur Hliddal & Tom Fleischman)

Synopsis: Phenomenal public success contrasts with private behaviors close to madness: Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, from "Hells Angels" (spending a fortune on details) through the only flight of the Hercules, a huge, money-losing transport plane. Along the way, the public Hughes sees the big picture - in movies and in aviation, building TWA and leading it through a fight with Pan Am and the US Senate. In private, phobias and compulsions threaten him with self-imposed solitary confinement. How long can his imagination, drive, and the sympathies of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and the men who work for him stave off these internal disorders?

Why this Is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): Martin Scorsese – Leonardo DiCaprio – Cate Blanchett – Michael Mann. How could this film not be a success? It’s rich use of cinematography, elegant wardrobe, and fabulous music and acting, THE AVIATOR is Martin Scorsese’s best film this decade thus far, yes, even better than 2006’s Best Picture winner, THE DEPARTED.

It’s Flaws: Personally, I was interested in seeing more of the movie mogul Hughes rather than the aviator Hughes. Otherwise, it’s the closest thing to perfection that came out in 2004.

THE PIANIST (2002)

Directed by: Roman Polanski
Written by: Ronald Harwood
Starring: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Maureen Lipman, Frank Finlay

Oscar wins (3): Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Director (Roman Polanski), & Best Adapted Script (Ronald Harwood)

Additional Oscar nods (4): Best Picture (Alain Sarde, Robert Benmussa, & Roman Polanski), Best Cinematography (Pawel Edelman), Best Film Editing (Herve de Luze), & Best Costumes (Anna B. Sheppard)

Synopsis: The true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody) who, in the 1930s, was known as the most accomplished piano player in all of Poland, if not Europe. At the outbreak of the Second World War, however, Szpilman becomes subject to the anti-Jewish laws imposed by the conquering Germans. By the start of the 1940s, Szpilman has seen his world go from piano concert halls to the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw and then must suffer the tragedy of his family deported to a death camp, while Szpilman is conscripted into a forced German Labor Compound. At last deciding to escape, Szpilman goes into hiding as a Jewish refugee where he is witness to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943 and the Warsaw City Revolt in August/October 1944.

Why this Is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): This film brought back emotions I haven’t had watching a film since SCHINDLER’S LIST, which was originally offered by Spielberg to Polanski to direct, but he declined. Well, needless to say, he regretted it and when the opportunity to direct and finance this particular film, he jumped at the chance. For the lead part, Polanski approached the virtually unknown Adrien Brody, who had to lose 15 pounds to play the Jewish musician impoverished in a concentration camp in 1940s Germany. Brody, at the time, was hardly a big name in the business; he had had small parts in such films as ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (1994) and his breakout [silent] role in THE THIN RED LINE (1998). In other words, this is an excellent film because the cast and crew involved were not afraid of hiring anyone too unknown to play or help create this fantastic film. They took all the chances they wanted and produced a wonderful film in the process.

Flaws: Why should I ruin this fine film’s reputation with a few silly mistakes.

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE (2003)

Written & Directed by: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Amanda Peet, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand, Jon Favreau, Paul Michael Glaser

Oscar nods (1): Best Actress (Diane Keaton)

Synopsis: Harry Langer (Jack Nicholson) is an aged music industry exec with a fondness for younger women like Marin (Amanda Peet), his latest trophy girlfriend. Things get a little awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack at the home of Marin's mother Erica (Diane Keaton). Left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Keanu Reeves), a love triangle starts to take shape.

Why this Is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): As Americans, we are used to watching our chick flicks involve two hapless, gorgeous individuals fall in love and so on… With this film, they take that formula but make the gorgeous people third wheels while the elder characters are the ones who are developing what they plan to be their last real relationship.

It’s Flaws: Two words: Keanu Reeves. Need I say more?

TRAFFIC (2000)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: Stephen Gaghan
Starring: Michael Douglas, Amy Irving, Benicio del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid, Miguel Ferrer, Tomas Milian, Don Cheadle, Erika Christensen, Steven Bauer, Topher Grace, Benjamin Bratt, Peter Riegert, Jacob Vargas, Luis Guzman, D.W. Moffett, James Brolin, Albert Finney

Oscar wins (4): Best Supporting Actor (Benicio del Toro), Best Director (Steven Soderbergh), Best Adapted Script (Stephen Gaghan), & Best Film Editing (Stephen Mirrione)

Additional Oscar nods (1): Best Picture (Laura Bickford, Marshall Herskovitz, & Edward Zwick)

Synopsis: Intertwining vignettes frame this tale of America's escalating War on Drugs. Ohio Supreme Court judge Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas) has been appointed the nation's Drug Czar, his new position made more daunting by the discovery that his teenage daughter Caroline (Erika Christensen) is a cocaine addict. Meanwhile, DEA agents Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray Castro (Luis Guzman) are pursuing Helena Ayala (Catherine Zeta-Jones), wife of jailed kingpin Carlos Ayala (Steven Bauer), as she seeks to the control the business that her husband had kept hidden from her. South of the Border, duplicious local constable Javier Rodriguez (Benicio del Toro) is fighting the battle with his own jaded, questionable ethical code.

Why this Is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): Set the bar for future intertwining character-based films CRASH (2005), BABEL (2006), and any other film that is likely to come out in the future. This is a hard thing to do seeing as these types of films usually stand out from others like them.

It’s Flaws: Topher Grace is both great and annoying as Erika Christensen’s druggie boyfriend who leads her down the wrong path. Luis Guzman’s death seems to premature. Not enough Albert Finney and James Brolin. We could have explored the characters for at least another twenty minutes.

For Robert Altman at his finest, check out the magnificent "Gosford Park"

GOSFORD PARK (2001)

Directed by: Robert Altman
Written by: Julian Fellowes
Starring: Maggie Smith, Alan Bates, Emily Watson, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Charles Dance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ryan Phillippe, Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban, Derek Jacobi, Kelly MacDonald, Jeremy Northam, Tom Hollander, Geraldine Somerville, Clive Owen, Stephen Fry

Oscar wins (1): Best Original Screenplay (Julian Fellowes)

Additional Oscar nods (6): Best Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith), Best Director (Robert Altman), Best Picture (David Levy, Bob Balaban, & Robert Altman), Best Costumes (Jenny Beavan), & Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Anna Pinnock & Stephen Altman)

Synopsis: Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) is a wealthy but uncouth industrialist-turned-aristocrat, with a large house in the English countryside, complete with staff. It is a world where everything runs in order - both upstairs, where Sir William and his much younger wife Lady Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas) indulge in a very comfortable existence of shooting, dinners and parties, and downstairs, where the servants work endlessly under the command of the butler Mr. Jennings (Alan Bates), and the house keeper Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren). Whether they like it or not, everyone knows their place. But a shooting party will change all of that, with friends of the McCordles and their servants arriving from outside to upset the order. And so begins a complicated tale of secrets, lies, deceit, betrayal, revenge, bitterness, hatred, money and love - and that's all before the murder...

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): An ensemble period piece from the late Robert Altman that is defined as his last masterpiece. It is also uniquely British, with a few American characters (Ryan Phillippe and Bob Balaban) to bring it home. It plays out like a play but is more than that, it is an epic murder mystery with popcorn factor to boot.

It’s Flaws: American audiences do not always warm up to British films with British dialogue and British humor. In other words, American and British audiences are very different in what they like to see.

THE DEPARTED (2006)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: William Monahan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, Anthony Anderson

Oscar wins (4): Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Adapted Script (William Monahan), Best Picture (Graham King), & Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker)

Additional Oscar nods (1): Best Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg)

Synopsis: Years ago, a powerful Irish mafia figure (Jack Nicholson) placed a small selection of his youngest, brightest men into the Massachusetts State Police Academy as cadets. Their purpose is to eventually rise within the prestigious ranks of the state police department, to serve as the eyes and ears of their boss. While somewhere else, a young cadet (Leonardo DiCaprio) was assigned with an equally dangerous task: infiltrate the Irish syndicate headed by the man sending in his own to the Massachusetts State Police. Now, one cadet (Matt Damon) is an up and coming police official with a torn allegiance to his job and to the criminal mastermind that put him there. While the other cadet is the trusted number two of that man, only finding his professional duties are becoming blurred with his current state. But new clues have lead to unfortunate discoveries, when both sides realize the enemy is watching them. It's now all just a matter of time before the men assigned to find out whose the infiltrator, could come to a bloody end when someone's identity may be revealed.

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): This is Martin Scorsese’s return to form. Scorsese’s previous mobster films: MEAN STREETS (1973), GOODFELLAS (1990), and CASINO (1995) are all classics and this is no different, just not as good as those previous efforts.

It’s Flaws: Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson playing Frank Costello. Vera Farmiga’s character is one of the least relatable female characters in movie history. It’s no GOODFELLAS, but the Academy gave him the Oscar to make for his 1991 snub.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)

Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, & Peter Jackson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Hugo Weaving, John Rhys-Davies, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis

Oscar wins (4): Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie), Best Original Score (Howard Shore), Best Makeup (Peter Owen & Richard King), & Best Visual F/X (Randall William Cook, Jim Rygiel, Richard Taylor, & Mark Stetson)

Additional Oscar nods (9): Best Supporting Actor (Ian McKellen), Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Adapted Screenplay (Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, & Peter Jackson), Best Picture (Barrie Osborne, Fran Walsh, & Peter Jackson), Best Film Editing (John Gilbert), Best Costumes (Ngila Dickson & Richard King), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Dan Hennah & Grant Major), Best Original Song – “May It Be” (Nick Ryan, Roma Ryan, & Enya), & Best Sound (Gethin Creagh, Michael Semanick, Hammond Peek, & Christopher Boyes)

Synopsis: In the old times of Middle Earth, the dark lord Sauron created a ring; 'the one ring to rule them all'. Sauron was destroyed but still lives on in the ring, and with the evil-turned Saruman the White (Christopher Lee) and an army of dreaded orcs, Sauron will continue to bring death and terror to all of Middle Earth. To prevent this from happening, the ring must be thrown into the fires of Mount Doom and destroyed. This important task is down to one little hobbit, Frodo (Elijah Wood). Now the newly formed Fellowship of the Ring, which consist of Sam Gamgee (Sean Astin), Peregrin Took (Billy Boyd), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), Gimili (John Rhys-Davies), Aragorn (Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) must travel across Middle Earth, whilst battling the weather, beasts, emotions and even themselves

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): It shows that fantasy films can be more than just silly; this is a masterpiece. Also, I much prefer the characters when we first learn who they are before we become used to them by the third installment of the franchise.

It’s Flaws: There are several dramatic departures and eliminations from the book that only fans of the books can understand. Also, the film is REALLY LONG!

COLD MOUNTAIN (2003)

Written & Directed by: Anthony Minghella
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Renee Zellweger, Donald Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, James Gammon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Melora Waters

Oscar wins (1): Best Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger)

Additional Oscar nods (6): Best Actor (Jude Law), Best Cinematography (John Seale), Best Original Score (Gabriel Yared), Best Original Songs – “You Will Be My Ain True Love” (Sting) AND “Scarlet Tide” (T-Bone Burnett & Elvis Costello), & Best Film Editing (Walter Murch)

Synopsis: COLD MOUNTAIN tells the story of a wounded Confederate soldier named Inman (Jude Law) who struggles on a perilous journey to get back home to Cold Mountain, N.C. as well as to Ada (Nicole Kidman), the woman he left behind before going off to fight in the Civil War. Along the way, he meets a long line of interesting and colorful characters, while back at home, Ada is learning the ropes of managing her deceased father's farm with Ruby (Renee Zellweger), a scrappy drifter who assists and teaches Ada along the way.

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): With THE ENGLISH PATIENT (1996) and COLD MOUNTAIN (2003), Minghella proves his talent as a director of cinematography is reminiscent of David Lean while his ability to handle actors and multiple storylines is reminiscent of John Ford. What’s not to love?

It’s Flaws: Too many small roles, they could have extended the appearance of some of their characters so we could get to know them better.

One of the most efficient ensembles of the decade: Sideways

SIDEWAYS (2004)

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Written by: Jim Taylor & Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke

Oscar wins (1): Best Original Screenplay (Jim Taylor & Alexander Payne)

Additional Oscar nods (4): Best Supporting Actor (Thomas Hayden Church), Best Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Best Director (Alexander Payne), & Best Picture (Michael London)

Synopsis: Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a failed writer living a meager existence in San Diego as an English teacher. With his career seemingly fading and the fate of a book hinging on a publisher's decision, Miles is depressed with himself and what he hasn't achieved. Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) is a television actor whom some recognize but not many do, as if he were a minor actor who got a taste of success. With his best friend Miles, the two embark on a road trip through California's wine country. Miles wants to give his friend a nice sendoff before married life, while Jack simply wants to have a fling beforehand. As they're both nearing middle age with not much to show for it, the two will explore the vineyards while ultimately searching
for their identities.

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): SIDEWAYS is a beautiful portrait of mid life disappointment. The backdrop is lovely California wine country, and the casting is flawless. Every single performance in this film is surprising, pitch perfect, and unusual. The movie has the remarkable ability to capture sadness and desperation in just the light that allows the audience to recognize the humor. The ending is satisfying but not too pat.

It’s Flaws: Audiences sometimes have a tough time feeling bad for pathetic characters.

CAST AWAY (2000)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Written by: William Broyles Jr.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Chris Noth, Nick Searcy, Jenifer Lewis

Oscar nods (2): Best Actor (Tom Hanks) & Best Sound (Dennis S. Sands, William B. Kaplan, Tom Johnson, & Randy Thom)

Synopsis: Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is a Fed-Ex manager who demands that everything must be on time and travels the world to make sure punctuality is on top of everything else. He has a girlfriend, Kelly (Helen Hunt), with whom he is deeply in love with and family he hardly sees. When work intrudes on Christmas Eve, Chuck has a quick gift exchange in the car and kisses Kelly goodbye. He boards a delivery plane going overseas which gets caught in a horrendous storm and crashes into the Pacific. The sole survivor Chuck washes up on a remote island along with several Fed-Ex packages that he must use for supplies. With limited luxury, he adapts to the island over the course of 1,500 nights. When Chuck finally sees his chance he rafts out on the ocean and fortunately is spotted. After a bittersweet welcome-back reception, Chuck finds Kelly has married another man and has children. But he is missing more than her. For all his life his objective was work. For four years, it was survival. Now Chuck is compelled to live.

Why this is One of the Best Films of the 2000s (so far): A film starring Tom Hanks and a volleyball with a brief appearance by the loveable Helen Hunt, what’s not to love?

It’s Flaws: This film was obviously built on the premise that Tom Hanks is such a bankable movie star that he could be in any movie and make it a success. Obviously, this was before THE TERMINAL (2004).

Read Part I of our Best of the 2000's Special!

Join our forum debate: what are the best films of this decade so far?

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