Ranking The Best Pictures of the 2000's

Since I have closed out a decade now I decided to rank the ten best pictures like I just did with all the other best pictures since I have seen all eighty five of them.  I will also rank all fifty five of the films in another post as well.

10. The Hurt Locker (2009) – Another one of those films that years from now people will scratch their heads and say why did this win?  And anyone who was alive would shrug their shoulders and not have an answer.  Not really a good war film either but the only one, so far, to win based on the Iraqi war.

9. Chicago (2002) - If you enjoy musicals then you love this movie.  If you don't it ranks up there with having your toenails being pulled off.  It was based on the play and was the first musical to win in thirty four years but didn't start a new pattern thankfully.  The costumes were done well and it was a popular film especially that the county was still numb after 9/11.  Otherwise it will be forgotten as a top movie years from now.

8. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - A rather depressing movie about a poor orphan who ends up on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and can answer all the questions even though he has no education.  You find out that the reason why he knows the answers is based on usually a horrible tragedy in his life.  And his brother is a crime boss, or at least a wanna be crime boss and other sappy drama.  But it is in the standard Bollywood style so it is one that made it big in Hollywood. 

7. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - A solid Clint Eastwood film about a female boxer.  Well acted and took on a somewhat controversial topic, it has slowly lost it's significance as time goes on.  It did finally give a long overdue Oscar to Morgan Freedman.  It clearly won best picture, although The Aviator did give it a good run.

6. Gladiator (2000) - A film made in the classic action drama style like a 1950's epic movie.  A Roman general ends up on the run and becomes a gladiator.  I know I'm giving a very vague recap but it has been a few years since I've seen it and besides great costumes and some cool fight scenes it's a good movie that falls about the middle of the best picture pack for the decade.

5. The Departed (2006) - The one that finally got Scoresse the Oscar for best director and picture.  A very intense cop film that is a remake of a Hong Kong movie from a few years earlier.  This is not his best, there are at least a half a dozen better, but it's not his worst with an equal amount much worse.  It was a lifetime achievement Oscar, kind of like The Greatest Show on Earth but thankfully he isn't done making movies yet. 

4. Crash (2005) - A powerful drama that shows what you see on the surface is not always what is underneath.  Those who you think are racist are not and those who you think aren't really are.  A very good movie that reminds us that there are differences between races, nationalities, religions and not everyone will get along but we should judge on character. 

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - This was more of an Oscar for the trilogy than specifically for this film, but it was worthy of it.  Only the second trilogy to have all films nominated for best picture.  Great special effects tied to a classic story and a rare feat for a sci-fi fantasy film to win.

2. A Beautiful Mind (2001) - A great bio-pic from the decade of bio-pics.  A powerful story of a genius who has hallucinations and develops a world of mystery that crashes around him.  Well acted and a good story that stays consistent in its story telling from start to finish.  One of the better films of the decade.

1. No Country for Old Men (2007) - A modern day classic, one of the best Coen brother's movie, a simple story that was told perfectly.  The acting is amazing, Javier Bardem is the most evil and creepiest villain of all time.  I consider almost of the Coen brother's movies to be the best of the year but this is one that will go down as one of the best of all time.  Clearly the top best picture of the decade.