Favorite movies of the decade.

As I hope I've made clear at this blog, I'm not the kind of guy who goes for movies that are a) arthouse, b) foreign, c) subtitled or d) independent. Something really has to appeal to me to get me to see it, quote it, buy it on DVD, watch it on cable even if I own it on DVD and, generally, love it. These are my favorite movies of the decade:


Big Trouble
(d: Barry Sonnenfeld; w: Robert Ramsey & Matthew Stone, based on the novel by Dave Barry; m: James Newton Howard)
Ensemble casts are like catnip to me, and this has to be one of the finest assemblages of talent I've yet seen. The dialogue, taken from the source in some instances, is a howl and the cast gives it their all. Don't let the airline hijacking in the latter third throw you. This is a gem.


Casino Royale
(d: Martin Campbell; w: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis, based on the novel by Ian Fleming; m: David Arnold)
Shamefully, I've only seen a handful of Bond movies, so I can't honestly judge if this is one of the all-time greatest. Still, it's a damn good movie, with a terrific performance by Daniel Craig.


Catch Me if You Can
(d: Steven Spielberg; w: Jeff Nathanson, based on the book by Frank Abagnale, Jr.; m: John Williams)
Not just a fun caper movie, but the story of a young man wanting a family, held together by a smashing, should've-been-Oscar-nominated performance from Leonardo DiCaprio.


The Emperor's New Groove
(d: Mark Dindal; w: David Reynolds, story: Mark Dindal and Chris Williams; m: John Debney)
Without question, one of the funniest animated movies of all time, and one of Disney's most underrated features. It bears repeat viewings to catch the many hidden jokes that one misses the first time around.


Hot Fuzz
(d: Edgar Wright; w: Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright; m: David Arnold)
An over-the-top action movie and a parody of over-the-top action movies. Ridiculously fun and amazingly quotable.


The Incredibles
(w & d: Brad Bird; m: Michael Giacchino)
Every 'best of' list ought to have at least one Pixar title on it. Funny, smart and exciting.


Inside Man
(d: Spike Lee; w: Russell Gewirtz; m: Terence Blanchard)
As I've said before (and will continue to say until it sinks in), there was already a perfectly fine Denzel Washington-starring remake of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three in existence...and without Tony Scott's meth-infused visual style (anyone bitching about the use of Lee's trademark shot ought to see a few Scott movies, if only to see how much more annoying things could've been).


Kill Bill
(w & d: Quentin Tarantino)
Like a modern-day grindhouse flick; cheesy, gruesome and compelling, with some wonderfully memorable sequences.


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
(w & d: Shane Black, based in part on the book "Bodies are Where You Find Them" by Brett Halliday; m: John Ottman)
A little unfair that one of the least-expensive projects with Black's name on it would struggle at the box office. Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer make a great team, and then there's the jaw-droppingly beautiful Michelle Monaghan. Now, where's the sequel? (Seriously, with Downey and Monaghan's stars rising ever higher and Kilmer's supposed retirement, it may already be too late.)


Kung Fu Hustle
(d: Stephen Chow; w: Stephen Chow, Tsang Kan Cheung, Lola Huo and Chan Man Keung; m: Raymond Wong)
Essentially a live-action cartoon (with appropriately cartoony CGI), and a damn fine one, packed with great, weird little gags.


The Road to El Dorado
(d: Don Paul & Eric 'Bibo' Bergeron; w: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio; m: Hans Zimmer & John Powell)
Dreamworks' best animated feature. There, I said it. A splendid update of Hope and Crosby with lush animation, a terrific score (Note: I said score, not songs), and fine vocal work.


Speed Racer
(w & d: Andy & Larry Wachowski; m: Michael Giacchino)
It's weird that people level complaints about live-action adaptations of cartoons not being faithful to the source material, only to let this one flop for, what, being too faithful? Who knows? Still, I greatly enjoyed this movie: vibrant, exciting and humorous.


Team America: World Police
(d: Trey Parker; w: Trey Parker & Matt Stone & Pam Brady; m: Harry Gregson-Williams)
Mix a season of "Thunderbirds" with a Jerry Bruckheimer movie and...I guess you'd get this. Achingly funny, and filled with absurd little details.

That's the list. What of the next decade? Why did it take me so long to post this one? I don't know.