7. “Before Night Falls”
A moving and passionate testament to the power of art and open expression in the face of ideological fascism, Julian Schnabel‘s sophomore directorial effort is both political in its anti-censorship stance (and anti-Castro bearing) and personal in its soulful depiction of the protagonist’s human integrity. Impressionistic and fractured, the picture is also a visually stunning portrait of the life of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, who paid the price for daring to be openly gay and harboring counter-cultural ideas in his published works during Castro’s revolutionary yet tyrannical regime. Already becoming a star in Spain, ‘Night Falls’ also brought Javier Bardem to wider audiences, and the film featured a show-stopping, double-duty performance by Johnny Depp as a flaming drag queen and a no-nonsense Cuban Lieutenant.
6. “George Washington”
David Gordon Green might be better known now as the guy who directed “Pineapple Express,” but in 2000 when his career was just blooming, he delivered a resplendent, poetic and Malick-ian meditation on childhood set in the decaying urban areas of North Carolina. Eschewing basic narrative for capturing snapshot moments of youth and beauty — Tim Orr‘s textured and contrasty cinematography is superb and Michael Linnen and David Wingo‘s lilting acoustic score is plaintively tender — it’s no wonder that just four years later Terrence Malick himself would ask the young filmmaker to direct the gothic Southern adventure horror “Undertow.” While Green has veered off in several eclectic directions, the lyrical and soulful “George Washington” still proves to be his most absorbing work.
5. “Dancer in the Dark”
While it’s now remembered as the film where Lars Von Trier‘s exacting directorial style drove Björk to declare she would never act again, it needs to be reassesed as one of Von Trier’s most distinct works to date. The film, a daring and moving blend of musical tropes with Bergman-esque tragedy, is a heartbreaking journey through the increasingly drastic and selfless acts of a mother determined to save her son’s sight. Featuring a great soundtrack exclusively written by its star, with inspired and slightly amateur musical numbers, “Dancer In The Dark” moves headlong into to the rare shock ending that will leave you in tears.
4. “Beau Travail”
A great adaptation should take its source story, throw away everything it doesn’t need, and reveal what’s left in a way only the film medium could. French auteur Claire Denis does just this in her reimagining of Melville’s classic, “Billy Budd.” The story, now set in modern day Djibouti, revolves around a French Foreign Legion whose commanding officer (Denis Lavant) cannot come to terms with the physical and moral superiority of one of his men. As one would expect from a contemplative French drama, not a lot is said or done, but the underlying emotionally tacit storm between the characters lurks under every scene, creating an effect of masculine tension that simmers violently. The film sets Benjamin Britten‘s enormous score (taken from his opera adaptation of the same novel) to the every day military drills of the troop, turning routine procedure into choreography. The end result is as much a film as it is a graceful ballet and a slow-moving work of poetry.
Crazy idea: put them all in a list on the same page.
It\’s unfortunate that the singularly most raw, honest romantic film of the decade doesn\’t even garner an honorable mention, as many people tend to forget about it.
Before Sunset is not only the continuation of the "Before" series started with Before Sunrise, but as good as that first film was, it doesn\’t have an ounce of the maturity and regret Before Sunset does.
Before Sunrise is, like its 20-something protagonists, a bit up it\’s own ass at times.
Before Sunset is a brutally honest look at the lives of 30-something adults who\’ve lived lives of compromise and settling for what they have instead of trying for what they want or need. The anguish in Delpy\’s face and voice during that taxi ride towards the end of the film makes me want to cry, and Hawke\’s gradual realization that he even though his life is perfectly fine by normal standards, he wanted so much more makes you want to reevaluate your own life.
As good as Boyhood is, I believe Before Sunset is Linklater\’s best film. Before Midnight has its own place, as its the film that shows you what happens "after" the moment in the romance film, where the leads come together at the end of the film, and it is also honest and raw.
But Before Sunset is the best of the bunch, and if not the best film from the 2000s, then in the top-10 for sure.
"Requiem For A Dream" was The WORST Film of 2000!!!
"Wonder Boys" was The BEST Film of 2000!!! It was ROBBED of a Best Picture nomination and Michael Douglas was ROBBED of a Best Actor nomination in one of the all-time WORST all-around Oscar races!!!
And…"American Beauty" was The WORST Film of 1999 and one of the WORST Best Picture winners of ALL TIME!!!
Love this exercise! So many good films to remember or check out if we haven\’t seen them. Before Night Falls is an absolute delight. And both Ratcather and Jesus\’ Son are a feast for the eyes. No dialogue necessary. Simply beautiful films.
So many good movies from 2000, My films – Top ten 2000 2001 2002
1. Almost Famous 2. Requiem for a Dream
3. Battle Royale
4. Memento 5. Gladiator
6. Yi Yi 7. The Filth and the Fury
8. Chopper
9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
10. O Brother Where Art Thou. Also loved In the Mood for Love, Dark Days, the circle, Amores Perros and American Psycho
The reality is whatever year you consider it\’s release date I would put it in the top 10
CIRKUSFOLK-Memento was released in European theaters starting in October 2000. Yes it was released in the U.S on Jan 20 2001. So I stick with my argument that it belongs on the top 10 of 2000. But I see your point as well 🙂
Not to be that guy, but I think \’In the Mood for Love\’ was actually released in the U.S. in 2001. It\’d make me list either year. My picks for 2000: Almost Famous, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Traffic, You Can Count On Me, Requiem for a Dream, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Beau Travail, Dancer in the Dark, American Psycho, Nurse Betty. Also very good: Wonder Boys, Yi Yi.
Billy Elliot in the top 5 for me
1) Requiem for a Dream 2) Traffic 3) Gladiator 4) Snatch 5) Almost Famous 6) Dancer in the Dark 7) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 8) O Brother, Where Art Thou? 9) Beyond the Mat 10) Before Night Falls
Wonder Boys is definitely worth a rematch. It has a beautiful, wistful, almost elegiac tone, and superb performances from Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr and Katie Holmes. Exquisitely formed. I like it more and more every time I see it.
TODO SOBRE MI MADRE!!!
Wait a minute, "Ratcatcher" came out in 1999. Not 2000.
Michael, this is the best films of the year 2000, not the 2000s.
To the people who keep mentioning Memento…it\’s technically a 2001 film, so stop.
Quills
There Will Be Blood definitely deserves a spot on this list. Also The Tree of Life.
Maybe also Pans Labyrinth?
No love for Gladiator, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or Memento?
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE is, as you say, a masterpiece. It\’s hard to believe one of the best films ever made could still be so young.
This list is actually pretty good, although I do agree that Andrew Dominik\’s CHOPPER is worth a relook.
This list is a joke. Almost famous over something like Mulholland Dr. I have no respect for the movie taste of the people who made this.
In the Mood for Love
O Brother, Where Are Thou?
Unbreakable
Traffic
Cast Away
Almost Famous
You Can Count on Me
Erin Brockovich
High Fidelity
Gladiator
I was floored by Amores Perros when I saw it. Would be in my top 5 for sure. Glad to be reminded to see Before Night Falls. Completely forgot about this one. Javier Bardem will be one of the hall of fame legends among cinema titans when his days in front of the camera have ended. If he\’s not already. And of course Johnny Depp when he still did movies like Fear and Loathing or Ed Wood instead of all the fools gold of the Hollywood machine he takes to the bank. (Then again I thought Private Resort was hilarious too so maybe Im not the best judge-INSERT face in hands and ashamed here) BUT HOW THE HECK MOMENTO DOESN\’T BEAT OUT ALMOST FAMOUS IS BEYOND ME.
Happy to see BEAU TRAVAIL on there. I would add Varda\’s THE GLEANERS AND I, no question.
Chad
An alternate list for those looking to be challenged: \’Werckmeister Harmonies\’ – Bela Tarr; \’The Gleaners and I\’ – Agnes Varda; \’La Commune (Paris, 1871)\’ – Peter Watkins; \’The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him\’ – Stan Brakhage; \’Platform\’ – Jia Zhangke; \’La Captive\’ – Chantal Akerman; \’As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty\’ – Jonas Mekas; \’Mysterious Object at Noon\’ – Apichatpong Weerasethakul; \’The Circle\’ – Jafar Panahi; \’One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich\’ – Chris Marker
1. In the Mood for Love (Wong Kar-Wai)
2. Werkmeister Harmonies (Bela Tarr)
3. Yi Yi (Edward Yang)
4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee)
5. O Brother Where Art Thou? (Coen Bros)
6. Memento (Christopher Nolan)
7. Songs from the Second Floor (Roy Andersson)
8. George Washington (David Gordon Green)
9. Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe)
10. Together (Lukas Moodysson)
But I still haven\’t seen:
Amores Perros (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)
Chopper (Andrew Dominik)
My list in no order, with most you didn\’t even mention: Snatch, Wonder Boys, Tigerland, You Can Count On Me, The Beach, American Psycho, Almost Famous, High Fidelity, O Brother Where Art Thou, The Family Man
No love for American Psycho? Huh. I’d figure this site would be all about championing the work of a subversive work by a woman director on a notoriously controversial work from a male author.
In all fairness, American Psycho is one of the stupidest movies ever made.
Gladiator. Unbreakable. Wonder Boys. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Really surprised Chicken Run didn’t get an honorable mention.