25. The 40 Year-Old Virgin
It many ways I suppose The 40 Year-Old Virgin is the birth of the bromantic comedy. There have been numerous rip off's of this formula (vulgar with a heart) over the last several years, but there are none that exhibit the spirit and general hilarity of this movie. Here is a film that makes you constantly laugh while caring about the characters. The 40 Year-Old Virgin introduced the world to Judd Apatow (Virgin, Knocked-Up, Funny People) who is perhaps the smartest person in comedy today. This movie would be on the list due to its fantastic ending alone. This is a perfect background movie- you can sit and listen to it while doing other things (unless your family is over).
A true movie with a heart. This film is significant not only in its ability to make us laugh, but its ensemble cast as well. This is the film that introduced the world to not only Judd Apatow, but Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch. Catherine Keener is brilliant as well. What a wonderful movie.
24. The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Ultimatum could very well be the best pure action film of the decade. The action starts from the very beginning and is relentless until the end. The promises of the earlier, more uneven, installments in the Bourne franchise are all realized here. Matt Damon does an exceptional job in these films of giving his character realism and heart while also being engaged with ridiculous action sequences. The quick-editing, loathed by some in The Bourne Supremacy, is also tamed down here- with more coherent shots that focus on telling the story. If you are a fan of twists, car chases, fight scenes, or mystery there are few better experiences out there.
23. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Sascha Baron Cohen creates one of the most ingenious and outrageous filmmaking devices with his creation of the character Borat Sagadiyev. Based on his alter-ego from HBO's Da Ali G Show, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America Make Benefit for Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is funniest movie of the decade. It is certainly one of the funniest pictures of all time.
In Borat, Cohen has created a loveable yet horribly racist, sexist and grotesque character. He then inserts the fictional character into real world situations. The comedy stems from the actions of Borat, but the brilliance and importance of the film comes from the human element- the people that do not know they are part of an act. It is amazing what people will do or say when they do not think someone is watching. Borat is just dumb enough, foreign enough, for them to put their guards down. We know Baron Cohen is joking when he is talking about the Jews, the homosexuals, or the inferiority of women- his real life co-stars do not. In his ridiculous set pieces, Cohen creates a portrait of the real American psyche- and it is certainly not as flattering as one would hope.
But this is not to say that Borat is weighed down with seriousness. On the contrary, there are moments in this film of such audacity that they will be forever engrained in the history of comedic film. Cohen is fearless in his relentless attempts to garner a laugh. He puts himself in great physical danger in these elaborate set pieces, yet never breaks character. I read that Cohen was arrested multiple times in the making fo the film, and one particular set piece (the Rodeo scene in which Cohen sings the "Kazakhstan National Anthem" almost caused him to be lynched. Ironically, Cohen was not arrested in the films most outrageous (and hilarious) segment, in which he is involved in a fully nude wrestling match with his agent Asamat (Ken Davitian) in a crowded hotel. This is a movie to watch with a respirator near by.
22. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot?
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.
Each prayer accepted and each wish resigned.”
Now here is a love story! Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, written by the extraordinary screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry, is a one of a kind modern love story. It is always unconventional- there is never a non-original moment in the film. It is this that makes is so special.
What would you do if you could erase a loved one from your memory? If the loved one died, or left you, or broke your heart would you want to forget they ever existed? This is the central question posed to both Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet- in her best performance). Clementine is angry at Joel, you see, so she decides to see Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) at Lacuna, Inc. and have her memory erased. Joel of course finds out about this, and decides he will show her. He chooses to erase his memory of Clementine. But what happens if he decides halfway through the procedure that he changed his mind?
The themes of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are, well, eternal. Love, loss, relationships, and the importance of memories are explored in heartbreaking detail in this film. Carrey gives his best performance here. He is subdued and relaxed, there is never a moment when the Jim Carrey that bends over and talks out his ass enters the scene. Kate Winslet is magical, as are all of the supporting performances by the likes of Kristin Dunst, Elijah Wood, David Cross, Jane Adams and Mark Ruffalo. While I do not consider it Kaufman’s best work, a Charlie Kaufman screenplay is the equivalent of Shakespeare. This is a film that is in good company. The best love story of the decade.
21. The Departed
I love being in familiar territory. Watching The Departed is like putting on your favorite hooded sweatshirt. It is always comfortable, it is cozy, and fits just right. Martin Scorsese (the greatest living American director) returns to form in The Departed, but instead of cruising down the mean streets of New York City, so carefully examined in Scorsese classic’s Taxi Driver, Mean Streets and Goodfellas, we take on new city- Boston.
The villain is Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), a mob boss that doesn’t really pretend not to be a mob boss. The other villain is Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), the member of the State Police on Costello’s payroll. Then there is Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), the undercover cop that is forced to be a criminal. But wait! There’s more. You see, Costello is also sort of a cop too… but I am getting ahead of myself. The Departed is about the roles in which we give ourselves. There is a tagline on the poster. “Cops or Criminals. When you are facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?” The tagline desribes the entire film. Each character is in a role that they don’t want to be in; their role is that of the rat, the informant- the most dishonorable role any person can ever posses, at least according to the mob.
Scorsese has not been this great in years. From the opening sequence, featuring the Rolling Stones “Gimmie Shelter” (a staple of Goodfellas, Casino, and his recent Stones documentary Shine a Light) we know that we are back in a place that will make us happy. We smile, put our feet up, and watch the movie in all of its Roman Catholic symbolism glory. When it comes to Catholic guilt, there is no one better than Scorsese. It seems fitting that the film ends the way it does. After all, who wants a rat in their home?
I would be a liar to say that I didn’t tear up a bit on Oscar night 2007, when The Departed won for both Best Picture and Director. Our greatest director has evaded the top prize for years. Seeing him with a statue brought a joy to my heart.
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