The Best Films of the 2000s and more.
Posts tagged Independent
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Aug 17th
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Drama
There have been a lot of strides made in incorporating gay culture into mainstream cinema over the last decade. Films like Milk and Brokeback Mountain have dealt with the issue head-on, but The Kids Are All Right tends to take a different direction. As brilliant as the aforementioned films might be, they still depict homosexuality as outside the norm. This film might be the first to depict homosexuality within the context of a working family unit.
This film is about bigger issues than the fact that it centers around a lesbian couple. In fact, Cholodenko seems adamant about getting the distracting stuff out of the way quickly, (Moore and Bening kissing, calling each other honey, holding hands,) out of the way early so that it doesn’t hinder the material being presented. Cholodenko and co-writer Stuart Blumberg have a message larger than the “we’re gay and we’re here to stay” motto. Instead they seem to want to show that gay or straight, it’s damn hard to keep a working family unit.
Bening and Moore are absolutely winning in their respective roles. Both have had their ups and downs this decade, but in this film they simultaneously show why they’ve been household names for so long. Ruffalo also puts in another compelling performance that will hopefully garner the attention he finally deserves.
Appropriately named after the famous glam-rocking gender-bender David Bowie’s song, The Kids Are All Right is a wonderful depiction of the New American Family.
Top 10 Directorial Debuts of the 2000s
Aug 15th
There’s nothing more exciting than the potential of a fresh and exhilarating new director. Great talent usually takes many features to develop, but these directors stand out as crafting some of the most impacting, memorable, and extraordinary first-time feature length films. Some of these filmmakers we’ve already seen establish themselves into well respected and acclaimed directors, and others have yet to show us their next work.
This list is accumulated chronologically by the first feature length film helmed by the following directors, (it’s not by official theatrical release, which is why directors like Christopher Nolan and Edgar Wright aren’t on here.) The list will also be updated regularly, as these things are always in a constant state of changing.
David Gordon Green – George Washington (2000)
Over the last decade, David Gordon Green has shown an uncanny ability to paint an indescribable tone stemming from the confines of small towns. Sometimes nostalgic, sometimes tense, sometimes sweltering, sometimes sweet, Green’s ability to capture that je ne sais quoi is unparalleled, and it all started with the quiet storm that is George Washington.
Winter’s Bone (2010)
Aug 2nd
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Dale Dickey
Director: Debra Granik
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Thriller
The quiet chaos that is Winter’s Bone…
There might not be a better breakout performance in 2010 than that of Jennifer Lawrence in this matter-of-fact thriller. Debra Granik’s thriller takes place in the backwoods, observing a community of people seemingly shut off from the outside world, but not unaffected by its economic turmoil. Lawrence stars as the 17-year-old Ree who must find her father who has put their house up for his bond – the same house that shelters her, her young brother and sister, and mentally sick mother. This Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner stirs up some subdued fears as it’s delicately crafted suspense begins to chill the bones like it’s title suggests. As Ree pushes through her journey to find her father, she’s driven purely by the need to protect and survive – a trait that alone gives her the strength to endure all too much. Veteran supporting actors John Hawkes and Dale Dickey also shine unlike they ever have before. This is one film that is sure to slowly work its way into the public consciousness.
American Splendor (2003)
Jun 28th
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis, Judah Friedlander
Director: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Most original mix of reality and fiction of the decade.
Biopics are a dime a dozen. Most of the time they are overly dramatized excuses for an actor to be a candidate for Best Actor. But American Splendor takes a far different approach. It’s part documentary, part adaptation of a graphic novel, part dramatized biopic. It’s a movie about a movie being made about a man who has written a comic book about himself. The funny, and perhaps most impressive thing is, it never comes off self-indulgent. Harvey Pekar, the film’s subject, is known for his blatant truth-telling and the film stays true to that. It blends animation with interview footage and traditional scripted scenes. Paul Giamatti puts in a splendid performance as the depressed hygiene-handicapped comic book writer.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Jun 14th
Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Country: USA
Genre: Romance
An art-house Adam Sandler film.
Punch-Drunk Love seems to be the single movie that students in film schools cling to as their mecca. Perhaps it’s because it’s a great transition piece from mainstream films into the experimental independent world. Sandler puts in his best, albeit strangest, performance of his career as the pudding-obsessed Barry Egan who falls in love with the equally bizarre Lena, played earnestly by Emily Watson. Thomas explores a lot of strange, but extraordinary technical things in this film from intentional use of lens flares, distorted sound, and the famous kaleidoscope effect. Most notably, Jon Brion‘s score is brilliantly pieced together with random sounds of percussion and some of the sweetest melodies ever recorded. Punch-Drunk Love is one of the most off-beat films in history, but it pays off in ways unimaginable.
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (2009)
Jun 9th
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton
Director: Lee Daniels
Country: USA
Genre: D-r-a-m-a-a-a-a-a.
The greatness of this film is a surprise of a lifetime.
It’s not unfair to say that this film is targeted for a specific demographic. However, it is a testament to its quality when its reach exceeds and transcends the boundaries of its marketed audience. Sure, it was an award season darling, but make no mistake, its roots are in the festival circuit where the issues of independent films aren’t shied away from or sugarcoated (The Blind Side being the counter piece to this film, and the worst offender of Hollywood dribble.) Here, the performances are so real it’s grating. Mo’Nique creates a villain equal to that of all the Waltz’s, Bardem’s and Ledger’s the Academy has ever seen. Sidibe is an absolute revelation as the twice pregnant abused high schooler. Precious makes Hollywood underdog stories look like children’s books. Lee Daniels really created something special here – something that deserves every ounce of praise it gets.
Feast (2006)
May 18th
HORROR PICK:
Starring: Henry Rollins, Judah Friedlander, Navi Rawat
Director: John Gulager
Country: USA
Genre: Horror
The ‘characters-stranded-in-a-house-while-being-attacked-by-creatures’ subgenre never gets old.
This Project Greenlight film definitely fills a void in this decade’s lack of decent creature features. Feast is hyperaware of the stereotypes that tend to bog down other horror films, (whiny female characters, children, unrealistic heroism,) and remedies it with gooey splattery fun. This film’s audacity to hold nothing sacred is its biggest weapon. The unexpected can and does happen creating a complete sense of chaos. Are there loop holes in the plot? Sure. But over analyzing it is missing the point entirely. It’s a barrage of unadulterated grimy tongue-in-cheek horror that Hollywood almost never releases.
