New Line Cinema
The 2000s brought groundbreaking ceremony storytelling and visual spectacles that would specify newfangled standards for filmmaking , making it a terrific decade for fans and critic likewise . Those years were a fourth dimension when Hollywood giants clash with go up indie auteur , and invigoration delivered unexpected strike , control that there were numerous great movies for every type of cinephile .
From the landmarkThe Lord of the Rings : The Return of the Kingto the belovedSpirited Away , the decennium deliver several blockbusters and critically acclaimed oeuvre that would earn their place in cinematic history . The good movies of the 2000s brought every genre to sprightliness with style and substance .
New Line Cinema
10. The Lives of Others (2006)
The Lives of Otherswas film director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck ’s feature article film debut , and it chronicle the transformative story of Captain Gerd Wiesler ( Ulrich Mühe ) , a dedicated officer of the Stasi , the notorious East German hugger-mugger police . When he is assigned to supervise the lives of playwright Georg Dreyman ( Sebastian Koch ) and his buff , actress Christa - Maria Sieland ( Martina Gedeck ) , Wiesler begin to notice the contrast between his bleak and isolated life and the couple ’s cozy and loving relationship . This newfound empathy make Wiesler question his allegiance to the tyrannous regimen , ultimately spurring him to take action .
Released 17 years after the descent of the Berlin Wall , the 2006 German drama film is a critical portrait of that roiled period in time . Its collocation of the tense atmosphere full of surveillance and distrustfulness in East Germany and the mania and secretiveness of the couple underline how humanity can prevail even in the darkest situations . The spirit of Othersis aforeign film cinephiles should see at least once , especially since its core paper and substance are still relevant today .
9. There Will Be Blood (2007)
place during Southern California ’s vegetable oil bunce in the early twentieth century , There Will Be Bloodfollows the cunning and driven silver mineworker - turn - oilman Daniel Plainview ( Daniel Day - Lewis ) . When he realise the electric potential to win over landowners to deal their properties to him for much cheaper than their existent value , he turns up the magical spell and manipulates and prevarication to topical anesthetic for a hefty profit . A preacher , Eli Sunday ( Paul Dano ) , soon recognizes his schema and sparks a feud that leads to disastrous result for everyone take .
An acclaimed film by directorPaul Thomas Anderson , There Will Be Bloodis a brilliant lineament study and a chilling musing of fixation . It soar thanks to an award - win performance from Daniel Day - Lewis , whose intense portrayal of Plainview captures the mysterious - seated furor and relentless fixation that would direct him down a violent way . The 2007 movie is a mesmerizing full stop dramatic play with a reputation that has only grown strong over the eld , secure its place as a defining cinematic work .
8. Children of Men (2006)
Children of Mentakes place in the class 2027 , when the world has been plunged into chaos after closely two decades of spheric infertility . Directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on P. D. James ’ 1992 novel , the film primarily focalise on disillusioned polite handmaiden Theo Faron ( Clive Owen ) , who lives in Britain , which is being flock to by asylum quester because it ’s the last remaining static government in the world . When he ’s tax with a shocking mission that could shift humans ’s luck , Theo has to risk everything to complete it .
oftentimes ranked among thebest flick dystopian movie ever made , Children of Menpresents a novel and scarey scenario that asks what would bump if all trust for a future was lose . In the process of spotlight this fragility , it explores other contemporaneous social issues like immigration , xenophobia , and the loss of human right . Cuarón packs all of this into a tight - step and gritty movie full of cut through guesswork and telling set patch that aid create a nail - biting view experience .
7. Y tu mamá también (2001)
Set in 1999 amid Mexico ’s political and economical changes , Y tu mamá también(which translates toAnd Your Mother Too ) is a singular workplace by film director Alfonso Cuarón . The coming - of - eld route movie adopt two teen friends , Julio ( Gael García Bernal ) and Tenoch ( Diego Luna ) , who embark on a spontaneous road trip with a gorgeous old cleaning woman key Luisa ( Maribel Verdú ) . Their unworried adventure is fuel by sexual peculiarity that influences their evolving relationships .
Y tu mamá tambiéneffortlessly reflects the tension and messy emotions that only the most fleeting aspect of youth can bring . Cuarón ’s direction is informal and unflinching , capturing the impulsiveness of adolescence and the many painful parts of self - find . put against the background of a country grappling with change , the 2001 film cease up being a unseamed blend of the personal and political , with the trio ’s journey inevitably touching on the area ’s class disparities and political undercurrent that would order its future .
6. No Country for Old Men (2007)
When Llewelyn Moss ( Josh Brolin ) , a welder and Vietnam War veteran , stumbles upon a drug heap go away wrong and takes a briefcase filled with more than $ 2 million in cash , he does n’t look the red retribution that follows . He sets off a deadly chain of events that see him engage by the bump off man Anton Chigurh ( Javier Bardem ) , all while experienced lawman Sheriff Ed Tom Bell ( Tommy Lee Jones ) struggles to understand the CRO of what ’s get going on in the desolate landscapes of West Texas in 1980 .
No Country for Old Menis amongthe Coen Brothers ’ just picture , with the gripping neo - westerly progress upon haunting suspense and an impending sensory faculty of doom . It also features one of cinema ’s most iconic baddie in Bardem ’s Chigurh . His chilling portrayal of the killer makes every coin toss intensely brass - wracking . A study in theJournal of Forensic Scienceswould even identify his character as the most clinically exact portrait of a psychopath in film .
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis a sci - fi story with a amatory twist from managing director Michel Gondry . It revolves around Joel Barish ( Jim Carrey ) and Clementine Kruczynski ( Kate Winslet ) , two former lovers who , after a irritating breakup , decide to undergo a medical subprogram to rub out each other from their memories . As Joel ’s memory of Clementine are systematically erased , he experiences their relationship in blow , which eventually makes him earn he does n’t want to lose the memory of their metre together .
Written by Charlie Kaufman and infused with his signature style , Eternal Sunshineis a beautifully dreamlike film that demand if the pain of recede love could ever genuinely outshine the value of its vivacious get-go . Its narrative is also delivered with a grounded sci - fi mount that introduces an interesting possibleness for memory use . A cult classic that unfolds in a nonlinear fashion , it allow audiences , much like Joel , to slowly piece together the miss persona of the tale with a little aid from fate and a train ride .
4. In the Mood for Love (2000)
Set in 1960s Hong Kong , In the Mood for Loveis a visually sensational chef-d’oeuvre that follows the liveliness of Chow Mo - wan ( Tony Leung ) and Su Li - zhen ( Maggie Cheung ) , two neighbors who come upon that their spouses are having an affair with each other . Sharing this unlikely aspect in common , Chow and Su form a deep bond that develop into romantic feelings , but they never act on them . Despite their undeniable connecter , they prefer to suppress their emotions to avoid repeating the mistake of their unfaithful partners , settle for unspoken words instead .
mastermind by Wong Kar - wai , the 2000 film is remembered for its recherche motion-picture photography that dead complement the characters ’ relationship , which is delineate by miss opportunities and unfulfilled desire . Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung pitch life history - expert performances that are a showcase of constraint , with every yearning glance and little gesture enounce more than discussion ever could . Two decades later and the dreamlikeIn the Mood for Loveis still among thebest love story movies ever made , not to mention an all-important work from Asian cinema .
3. Spirited Away (2001)
Spirited Awayis theatre director Hayao Miyazaki ’s crown accomplishment and Studio Ghibli ’s most democratic film . It depicts the witching taradiddle of 10 - yr - old Chihiro Ogino ( Rumi Hiiragi ) , who stumbles upon an abandoned amusement park with her parents . As nighttime fall , the green reveals itself to be a fantastical realm and her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba ( Mari Natsuki ) . Chihiro must find a way to live and economise them , with the first stair being to take a Book of Job in Yubaba ’s bathhouse , where she meet a host of unforgettable role like Haku ( Miyu Irino ) and No - Face ( Akio Nakamura ) .
The 2001 moving picture is a timeless classic that would clear an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and far-flung acclaim for the Japanese director and now - noted studio . At first coup d’oeil , Spirited Awayis a jaw - droppingly enamour depiction of another world where both exciting and terrifying magic coexist . At its core , however , it ’s Chihiro ’s heartwarming coming - of - years tale that has made it such a beloved strike . Watching the ab initio unsure girl transform into a bold and confident drawing card makes for a cheering viewing experience that would determine future Ghibli flick .
2. The Dark Knight (2008)
Director Christopher Nolan would create what many still consider to be thebest portrayal of Batman on the big screenthrough his legendary trilogy , which peak with 2008’sThe Dark Knight . Set in the crime - depend upon urban center of Gotham , it follows Bruce Wayne / Batman ( Christian Bale ) as he look his most redoubtable resister yet : the Joker ( Heath Ledger ) . The chaotic and nihilistic criminal mastermind seeks to launch the city into anarchy , but his reign of terror is complicated by the Caped Crusader , along with District Attorney Harvey Dent ( Aaron Eckhart ) and Lieutenant Jim Gordon ( Gary Oldman ) .
The Dark Knightwould redefine the superhero genre , with many accredit the picture show for inspiring grittier and drab cinematic adaptations . Heath Ledger ’s portrayal of the Joker is iconic , with his magnetic performance and unbelievable saving of lines like “ Why so serious ? ” immediately carving their place in cinematic chronicle . The 2008 film made an indisputable influence on the genre , and its live impact on democratic culture make it clear that it ’s one of the decade ’s unspoiled and most important picture show .
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the Kingis the monumental finale of the acclaimed trilogy train by Peter Jackson and based on J.R.R. Tolkien ’s epical fantasy novels . It see the continuation of Frodo Baggins ’ ( Elijah Wood ) escapade as he , along with the ever - truehearted Sam ( Sean Astin ) , inch nigher to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring . Meanwhile , Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ) , Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ) , and the remaining member of the Fellowship prepare for the ultimate battle against Sauron ’s forces . These last leg of their journeying will find the fate of Middle - earth .
After following along for years , fans acquire the highly awaited outstanding closing they wanted withThe Return of the King . Jackson stuck the landing with a technically brilliant terminal motion-picture show that garner a historical 11 Academy Awards , including Best Picture . The 2003 movie is not just considered a landmark achievement in the fantasy genre , but in filmmaking as a whole , as it would press the boundaries of what ’s possible and inspire unnumbered other directors and artist around the world . The Return of the Kingis a meet conclusion to one of the most challenging and beloved trilogies in moving picture history , one which will in all probability be appreciated as a rewatchable classic for generations to issue forth .
