10 List: Best films of the last decade

It's hard to believe we're just a few weeks from the close of the decade, and naturally there's the round up of 'best' lists. Creating a tally of 10 premier films spanning ten years is difficult: there are titles with outstanding performances; Monster, There Will Be Blood, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and others with astonishing writing; Memento, The Squid and the Whale, Y tu mamá también, In Bruges, Punch Drunk Love and still more that are visually spectacular like Lord of the Rings and Pan's Labyrinth. I could easily list 100 that I really enjoyed so this is no reflection on any lack of appreciation! Ultimately, watchability was the deciding factor. Does the film hold up? I've seen the final ten numerous times and each for me has the rare combination of great performances, distinct direction, crisp writing with deliciously interesting characters, a unique look and delivers a story you experience.

Joel meets Clementine...again.

2000 - O Brother Where Art Thou? Joel and Ethan Coen
2000 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ang Lee
2001 - Spirited Away Hayao Miyazaki
2001 - Amelie Jean Pierre Jeunet
2001 - The Royal Tenenbaums Wes Anderson
2003 - Kill Bill Quentin Tarantino
2004 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Michel Gondry
2005 - A History of Violence David Cronenberg
2005 - Match Point Woody Allen
2006 - Children of Men Alfonso Cuarón

Sen takes the A train