Lars von Trier's magnificent film Dogville will certainly go down as one of the greatest works of the decade. An allegory about all humans that's being misrepresented as "anti-American" by critics and viewers. Von Trier's aims are much more complicated than merely attacking a country, he's talking about all of us, American or otherwise.
Before Sunset surpasses its predecessor on every level. This stands as Linklater's greatest film to date, and is also one of the most beautiful and universal mediations on the meaning of time.
Taking a cue from Alain Resnais and his offbeat sci-fi classic Je t'aime, je t'aime, Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry turn out the greatest love story in God knows how long. More than, however, it's about the way our memories shape us, and how we shape them.
Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny is one of the most hated American films of the past few years, and I've never really understood why. Sure, it's slow and meditative, if a bit narcissistic, but why should anyone expect all films to be fast-paced or packed with guns? This savage tone poem of a film is as human as can get, tender and melodramatic, beautiful and terrifying.
This is my third favorite Anderson film--after Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. That it's still one of the best films of the year shows what caliber this wonderful director works at.
More so than any film in recent years--The Dreamers in particular--Almodovar's wonderful The Bad Education shows how much directors truly love the cinema. A movie about the roles we choose to play in life, it's both noir and melodrama, like Ray meets Sirk.
Whether you prefer the first or second installment of Tarantino's Kill Bill really shows what kind of person you are. Those who prefer Volume I are looking for non-stop visceral fun; while those who, like me, go for the more exquisite Volume II, really care about control, and Tarantino's never shown more of it than here.
Best science fiction movie since... Eternal Sunshine?
Endlessly rewatchable and more lighthearted than Linklater's Waking Life, and it's the first good Naomi Watts movie since Mulholland Dr.
Best relationship movie since... Before Sunset? Hmmm... best Mike Nichols movie since... The Graduate?
