Best of the Century, Pt. 2


On Tuesday the BBC released a list of the 100 best films of the 21st Century so far. It was a list of movies from around the world and compiled by critics. Yesterday I took a look at the movies that were included on the list. Today, I'm going to offer five movies that I think should have been on the list.

1. Doubt (2008)
About: This movie, based on a stage play from John Patrick Shanley, was nominated for many Academy Awards but didn't win much. All four principal actors, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis were nominated for Academy Awards, and several should have won. This is a film that asks a lot of hard questions, features some fantastic performances and probably should have been the Best Picture winner. It should have been one of the films that made the list.

2. Up In The Air (2009)
About: Jason Reitman has faded from view a bit in recent years with his past few releases, but no director started stronger than Reitman. His first three movies were "Thank You For Smoking," "Juno," and "Up In The Air." All of them were fantastic, and two were nominated for Best Picture. I'm shocked that one of his films didn't end up on the list. But I think "Up In The Air" is the best of the three, and one of my favorite movies of the last 20 years. George Clooney and Anna Kendrick are great in it, and it's a beautiful story.

3. About Schmidt (2002)
About: This is an oft overlooked film. Jack Nicholson delivers one of his most powerful and unique performances, and he's great in this film. I think he should have won the Oscar for Best Actor, and this probably should have won the Oscar for Best Film. Alexander Payne is another director that has created a strong body of work over the past 16 years, yet failed to get a single film landed on the list. This is his best film, to me, and certainly a powerful film that's worthy of inclusion on any list of the best films of the 21st Century.

4. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
About: Clint Eastwood has had a long and varied career, but in the early part of the 21st Century he established himself as one of the finest directors working, going on a historic run. "Million Dollar Baby," which tackles some incredibly difficult topics and features a beautifully told story, is the best of those films. I think it ranks up there as one of the best films of the first decade of the Century, and should have made this list.

5. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
About: My final filmmaker on this list is David O. Russell, who's done some incredible film work the past 16 years. To me, "Silver Linings Playbook" is his best. It features a great performance from Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, and is an oddly delightful film. I can see the argument for it being left off the list, but for me it deserves to be there.

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