I’ve seen lots of “Ten Best of the Aughts” type lists, usually compiled by qualified professionals and containing a high proportion of movies in foreign languages or starring ugly people–in other words, not movies that typically made it to any theaters near me.  But I do watch a lot of movies, so here are some of my favorites of the 2000s:

1.  Up (2009)

I’m a huge fan of Pixar, and let’s face it: this was their decade.  If you look at the critics’ lists, the only one of their movies that doesn’t pop up all over the place is Cars (which I think is under-appreciated).  But in an effort to not over-represent them, I’ll just include this one, my favorite (at the moment).

2.  Lives of Others (2007)

A well-made drama that I could actually stand to watch over and over!  How often does that happen?  I was in first grade when the Berlin Wall fell; I only remember it because my father told me to.   I need movies like this one to even marginally understand my parents’ excitement that day.

3.  Doubt (2008)

A well-made drama that I probably won’t watch over and over again…but the acting and screenplay were poignant, well-controlled, and the atmosphere was perfect too.  I had enormous respect for this film.

4.  Amelie (2001)

Such a little gem!  Like most of my female friends (and some of the males), I wanted to be swept off my feet by someone as sweet and interesting and adorable as the boy with the photo album.  And I wanted to look as cute as Audrey Tatou with her pixie haircut.

5.  Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Critical opinion seems to favor Spirited Away over Howl’s Moving Castle, and while I like both (indeed, Studio Ghibli is almost as dear to me as Pixar), I find Howl’s Moving Castle the more accessible of the two.  I don’t care for the English dub much, though.

6.  Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

It’ll never replace Star Wars, but these were some of the best popcorn movies of the decade.  Faithful adaptations, beautifully filmed and richly detailed, they’re always fun to watch and never make me feel like a waste of life for having spent nine hours staring at a screen.

7.  Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)

Remember how stupid this sounded when it came out?  Yeah, and then I saw it in the theater at three times, bought the DVD and watched it half a dozen times more, at least.  It’s almost as good as Indiana Jones!  Too bad the next two sucked so much.

8.  Billy Elliot (2000)

A sweet story about a little boy who loves to dance.   Complex themes of homophobia, death, and the UK miner’s strike are interwoven to create a surprisingly deep film.

9.  Swimming Pool (2003)

Most of the movie trips along nicely enough, but the ending!  Oh boy!  It’s as revelatory and exciting as Usual Suspects.

10.  Russian Ark (2002)

Okay, this one is kind of artsy, foreign, and inaccessible.  But I really like it.  It’s a full-length film shot in one continuous take.  How can that not be cool?

Runners Up:

• Snatch (2000)
• Best in Show (2000)
• Mean Girls (2004)
• Batman Begins (2005)
• Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)
• Persepolis (2007)

Movies that made a big impression on me at the time, but I haven’t seen them recently enough to remember exactly why:

• Memento (2000)
• Hotel Rwanda (2004)
• Brick (2005)
• Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)

Movies I wanted to put on the list but realized they were made in 1999:

• Sixth Sense
• American Beauty

In response to the Boston Globe’s top 10 movies of the decad (Mulholland Drive, WHAT?), I thought I’d compile my own. Except I did 16 because it’s my list, my rules damnit!

1. The Lord of the Rings: Two Tours (best of the three)
2. Unfaithful (best infidelity)  
3. Matchpoint (best Woody Allen)
4. Closer (best chilling theme song)
5. Brokeback Mountain (best heartache)
6. Juno (best teenage angst)
7. Little Miss Sunshine (best red boots)
8. Devil Wears Prada (best bitchy fun)
9. Dream Girls (best song I can’t sing)
10. Milk (best “can you f-ing believe we’re still fighting for gay rights” movie)  
11. Best in Show (best. funniest. movie. ever)
12. Anchorman (best use of polyester)
13. Kill Bill v. 1 (best ass-kicking chick)
14. Signs (best creepyness) 
15. 40 Year Old Virgin (best virgin)
16. Sideways (best hate-crime against Merlot)

Oh Eugene Levy, I saw that yet another American Pie movie is coming out on DVD this week, and once again, you are in it.  Don’t you know you can do so much better?  You wrote and starred in Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration for god’s sake!  Those are all brilliant films!

I just checked your IMDb profile; seven American Pie movies, really?  The Man, with Samuel L. Jackson?  New York Minute, with the Olsen twins?  I just saw you in Taking Woodstock this summer and you were good!  Why can’t you do more stuff like that?

And by the way, Samuel L. Jackson – we’ll have to talk too, later.

I could’nt resist the List!  And could’nt recall very many memorable comedies?  Help me out guys.  Anyways, here is my 10 best movies of the decade list:

12. Zodiac (USA, 2007)

11. The Hurt Locker (2008)

10. Muholland Dr. (2001, USA)

9. Grizzly Man (2005, USA)

8. Visitor Q (2001, Japan)

7. Best in Show (USA, 2000)

6. You can Count on Me (USA, 2000)

5. Amorres Perros (2000, Mexico)

4. The Lives of Others (2006, Germany)

3. Old Boy (2003, South Korea)

2. The Wire (2002-2008, USA)

1. There Will Be Blood (2007, USA)

Please feel free to leave your own Best o’ the 00s in the comments.

Ok, I had so much fun doing the Best 9 of ‘09 I figured why not do every other year in the Aughts (2000-2009) and then the best of those best! Best of the WHOLE decade! So I’ve done that. It got harder and harder as the years went back, especially considering I was pretty young in the year 2000. But I think I’ve come up with a pretty good list of my favorites (and least favorites!) from the past ten years. Again, maybe Avatar or some other such movie will blow my brains out all over the place before the end of 2009 and force me to amend my lists, but we’ll see. Ok, I’ll start with the shakiest years and move forward ending with my best 9 of the decade:

Worst of 2000:
Battlefield Earth

Best of 2000:
9- Battle Royale
8- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
7- Shadow of the Vampire
6- The Emperor’s New Groove
5- Memento
4- American Psycho
3- Gladiator
2- Requiem for a Dream
1- Best in Show

Worst of 2001:
Jurassic Park III, Monkeybone, Planet of the Apes

Best of 2001:
9- Amélie
8- Zoolander
7- Ocean’s Eleven
6- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5- Wet Hot American Summer
4- Shrek
3- Mulholland Drive
2- Monsters, Inc.
1- The Royal Tenenbaums

Worst of 2002:
Queen of the Damned, Signs

Best of 2002:
9- The Salton Sea
8- Solaris (2002)
7- Secretary
6- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
5- The Bourne Identity
4- Punch-Drunk Love
3- 28 Days Later
2- City of God
1- Adaptation

Worst of 2003:
Cold Mountain, The Hulk, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Best of 2003:
9- Lost in Translation
8- Bad Santa
7- 21 Grams
6- Kill Bill Vol. 1
5- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
4- The Cooler
3- Coffee and Cigarettes
2- Swimming Pool
1- Finding Nemo

Worst of 2004:
Alexander, The Village

Best of 2004:
9- Undertow
8- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
7- The Aviator
6- Kill Bill Vol. 2
5- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
4- Primer
3- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2- Shaun of the Dead
1- The Incredibles

Worst of 2005:
The Jacket, The Devil’s Rejects, The Island

Best of 2005:
9- The Three Burials of Malquides Estrada
8- A History of Violence
7- Batman Begins
6- Oldboy
5- Capote
4- Grizzly Man
3- Paradise Now
2- Good Night, and Good Luck
1- Cache (Hidden)

Worst of 2006:
Ultraviolet, Thank You for Smoking, The Da Vinci Code, Superman Returns, The Wicker Man, The Black Dahlia

Best of 2006:
9- The Proposition
8- Inside Man
7- Stranger Than Fiction
6- Brick
5- Pan’s Labyrinth
4- Inland Empire
3- The Fountain
2- Casino Royale
1- Children of Men

Worst of 2007:
Transformers, Across the Universe

Best of 2007:
9- 3:10 to Yuma
8- The Bourne Ultimatum
7- The Darjeeling Limited
6- Michael Clayton
5- Superbad
4- Eastern Promises
3- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2- There Will Be Blood
1- No Country for Old Men

Worst of 2008 (and among some of the worst movies ever made):
The Happening, Wanted, Chapter 27, The Life Before Her Eyes, Choke, Repo! the Genetic Opera

Best of 2008:
9- The Fall
8- Iron Man
7- The Dark Knight
6- Young@Heart
5- Tell No One
4- The Wrestler
3- Slumdog Millionaire
2- WALL-E
1- Let the Right One In

I’ll post 2009 here again, just so your life is easier!

Worst of 2009:
The International, Watchmen, Adventureland, Surveillance, Public Enemies, Where the Wild Things Are

Best of 2009:
9- The Brothers Bloom
8- Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
7- Inglourious Basterds
6- Zombieland
5- The Road
4- A Serious Man
3- Star Trek
2- Up
1- Moon

And here it is… the moment of truth…

My favorite 9 films of the Aughts!!!
9- Best in Show
8- Star Trek
7- WALL-E
6- Up
5- There Will Be Blood
4- Moon
3- Cache (Hidden)
2- Let the Right One In
1- No Country for Old Men

Well there you have it! My favorite and least favorite movies of the past ten years. Maybe not all technically the best movies ever made, but my favorite. Agree? Disagree? Think I’m crazy? Maybe I am. Why don’t you tell me about it, or better yet offer up your lists in the comments I’d love to hear them!!

December 17th, 2009 Chicago [IAN]

I have no relation to this person... maybe.

I love shopping for – what my mom likes to call – nick nacks. And for me, Urban Outfitters is the place for just that. Plus, it’s cheap, inspired, unique, and often-funny. Here are some items that have been tickling my fancy:

Cats Bandages, Because Cats Scratch

Cats Bandages, $7.

Sailboat Earrings, Because She Lives By the Harbor & Likes to Sail

On A Boat Posts, $12.

Poodle Tumbler, for the Uptight Stage Mom

Best In Show Tumbler, $4.99

Crab Earrings, Because Once You Go Crab, You Never Go Back

We Dream In Colour Sea Life Earrings, $14.99

Reindeer Shower Cap, Because She Already Has A Duck & Frog Version

Shower Caps, $6.

Owl Ring, 'Cause She's Always Looking Around for Something

Owl Ring, $16.

This list wasn’t as hard to compile as I thought it would be.  When I go to the movies, after I’m sitting there watching the credit, I decide then and there whether I’m going to buy it when it comes out on DVD. I don’t know if anyone shares the same sensation but after I see a movie I absolutely love, I look forward to owning.  Not necessarily to watch again (although that’s part of it) but to be able to share the movie with friends who haven’t seen it so they can love the movie too and we’ll have that in common (or they can hate it and it will always be a blemish on their permanent friendship record). So I looked at all the movies that came out in the 2000s and looked for the ones I owned and that made it easy*.  I also tried to put them in order of best to least best.  Honestly, the only numbers that matter is 1-15. After that it gets pretty interchangeable.

If I ever wrote anything on my blog about the movie, there’s a link to it.

50. The Fountain
49. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
48. Away From Her
47. Casino Royale
46. Up
45. Tropic Thunder
44. The Hangover
43. Little Miss Sunshine
42. The Way of the Gun
41. The Prestige
40. American Psycho
39. The Bourne Ultimatum
38. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
37. 28 Days Later
36. Raising Victor Vargas
35. Thank You For Smoking
34. Snatch
33. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
32. Lars & The Real Girl
31. The Constant Gardener
30. Old School
29. Shaun of the Dead
28. The Departed
27. Spider-Man 2
26. Best In Show
25. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
24. Finding Nemo
23. Love & Basketball
22. In the Mood for Love
21. X2: X-Men United
20. The Incredibles
19. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
18. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
17. Spirited Away
16. The Royal Tenenbaums
15. Kill Bill Vol. 1
14. Almost Famous
13. Once
12. Oldboy
11. High Fidelity
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Love Actually
8. Brokeback Mountain
7. Pan’s Labyrinth
6. The Dark Knight
5. WALL-E
4. Memento
3. Children of Men
2. Before Sunset
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Scottish terrier Sadie wins AKC national dog show – Pet Tales : The Orange County Register.

Look at that Sadie – so serious about her job and yet secretly, those Scotties can be so impish.  (Okay not so secretly if you’ve had a Scottie.)  I grew up with a Scottie. I love Scottie’s.  Her name was Penny – she was my very first dog – we picked her out of the litter at Thanksgiving from my cousins when I was seven and I slept in the back of the car with her all the way home from Spokane to Bellevue Wa (about 5 hours). We had another dog – Rini an elderly Manchester Terrier – Penyy wasn’t a big hit with Rini but she was my dog nonetheless.

I will always have a thing for Scotties. My cousin John (the same cousins) has a great Scottie named Sherman. Oh he gives my Olivia and Isabella a run for their money. He’ll pretend to play the game of letting them think it’s their house – but if there’s a ball – he’s going after it and may the best dog win.

Love the name Sadie – obviously the best dog won!!

p.s. remember that Saturday Night Live sketch – the famous quote – “if it isn’t Scottish – it’s crrrrrrraaaaaaap!”

p.p.s. I have blogged below about my new Cat Francesca potentially being the reincarnated Alexandria – my old cat – well I’ve often wondered if Olivia my 1/2 Border Collie is a reincarnation of Penny.  Oh more random thoughts of an Animal Communicator…..another post on pet reincarnation is clearly in the future says the pet psychic!!

www.joanranquet.com.

The countdown continues.  This group is the fourth tier, or those films that would be numbered 31 – 40.  While the previous group had many films that were genre-oriented, this group has a bit of a documentary theme, with some exceptions of course.  Ordered chronologically by (United States) release date, I give you the fourth tier:

31 – 40

• Best in Show (2000) – Christopher Guest’s mockumentary about the people who inhabit the world of dog shows is a brilliant character study that never tips its hand and barely allows you a breath between laughs.  All the Guest regulars are here, and their improv comedy skills could not be any sharper.

• Fat Girl (2001) – Catherine Breillat’s examination of adolescent female sexuality, sisterhood and self-perception with regard to body image is a bold and disturbing film.  Its honesty is difficult to digest but impossible to deny.  The two young leads give exceptional performances.  The shocking final moments angered some, but taken in the context of the whole, the end makes total sense.

• Rivers and Tides (2002) – You’ve likely seen images of Andy Goldsworthy’s work, but Thomas Riedelsheimer’s documentary allows an unobtrusive view into Goldsworthy’s process.  Watching these temporary masterpieces come to life, and hearing Goldsworthy speak about nature and his work, is almost equally as beautiful as the finished pieces themselves.

• O Fantasma (2002) – A frequently wordless meditation on lust and alienation, João Pedro Rodrigues’ O Fantasma eschews traditional narrative structure as it follows garbage collector Sergio through Lisbon on a quest to make a connection that perhaps even he could not describe.  Sergio’s regression in the final reels recalls some of Pasolini’s work.

• About Schmidt (2002) – Jack Nicholson miraculously disappears inside the title character of this touching and extremely funny Alexander Payne film.  Rarely has a film had this kind of perspective on life after retirement and the death of a spouse.  It is Payne’s best film (though my favorite is still the hilarious Election).

• Winged Migration (2003) – Once you accept that Jacques Perrin’s film is intended primarily as a visual experience, you can sit back and marvel at this breathtaking documentary about birds.  Utilizing state-of-the-art technology to photograph birds in flight, Perrin’s beautiful film resembles other jaw droppers such as Microcosmos.

• Capturing the Friedmans (2003) – Although Andrew Jarecki’s documentary takes as its focal point father Arnold’s criminal charges, Capturing the Friedmans is really about how the familial bonds decay under the stress of those charges.  Uncomfortably personal at times, but always compelling.

• American Splendor (2003) – Part biopic and part adaptation of the (autobiographical) comic book series, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s film chronicles the life of Harvey Pekar.  Using both footage of (and interviews with) the real Harvey (and wife Joyce Brabner) as well as actors (Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis) to dramatize the story, Splendor is a unique hybrid of a film.

• Mysterious Skin (2005) – Gregg Araki’s most mature work to date, Mysterious Skin examines the fallout from childhood sexual abuse.  Brutal at times, but never exploitative and remarkably touching.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an incredibly nuanced performance–this was his breakthrough role.

• Nobody Knows (2005) – Based on a true story, Hirokau Kore-eda’s film is about a group of children abandoned by their mother in a Tokyo apartment.  Kore-eda rejects sensationalism and instead explores the plight of the children through the minutiae of their days spent alone in the apartment.

The 2000s produced hours and hours of truly great cinema but, after much debate and discussion, Tangled Up in Wires has narrowed it down to our 25 favorites. Not to spoil anything for you, but Michael Bay didn’t make it. Read on to find out who did and then tell us where we’re wrong in the comments.

25. Oceans 11
Less than satisfying sequels aside, Steven Soderbergh’s remake of the Rat Pack classic doesn’t have a bad moment in it. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and the rest of the class have such great chemistry that the back and forth banter seems incredibly natural and hardly seems forced. Just as fun in the first moments as it is in the last, Oceans 11 is a movie you don’t turn off when it’s played over and over on TNT. (M)

24. Goodnight and Good Luck
Goodnight and Good Luck is a brief, fascinating intellectual and stylistic exercise that doesn’t idealize its protagonist. Instead, director George Clooney takes a journalistic approach to Edward R. Murrow’s fight with Senator Joe McCarthy. It helps when he populates the cast with low-key, naturalistic actors like Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, and David Strathairn, whose deadpan work as Edward R. Murrow went beyond a mere impression. Similarities to more recent events are irrelevant; more historical dramas should have the rigor and depth of Clooney’s. (J)

23. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Documentaries can sometimes be tedious, 90 minute arguments for an issue that you become either strongly for or strongly indifferent towards in the end. Then there’s King of Kong, which throws all of that out the window. Documenting the battle for the record for the highest Donkey Kong score between long time champ Billy Mitchell and down-and-out everyman Steve Wiebe, the film takes a look into the cutthroat world of competitive arcade gaming while creating an emotional resonance that literally got me up and cheering the first time I saw it. (M)

22. Pan’s Labyrinth
Fairy tales are as much about tragedy as triumph, and Del Toro includes plenty of the former in his gothic horror film. Pan’s Labyrinth’s layered narrative goes to some extremely dark places, as it depicts the harsh, violent reality of life in fascist Spain in 1944, but still provides moments of tremendous beauty. This contrast is certainly helped along by some of Del Toro’s best effects and creature work ever. (J)

21. Lord of the Rings
It may be cheating to name a trilogy as one entry, but it’s really impossible to separate Peter Jackson’s three perfect adaptations of the classic books. Visually, the films are the most stunning sci-fi films you’ll see. Story wise, the films are extremely faithful to the books, and the strongest devotees have extended DVD versions with even more. The best part is that the films are hugely epic while not going over the top. Definitely classics that shouldn’t be missed. (M)

20. 28 Days Later
Danny Boyle’s anti-zombie film starts with a moment of such showy eeriness that it would have been easy to coast by on just that. But after working through the creepily empty streets of post-zombie apocalypse London, Boyle moves on to tell a story that, like the best bits of horror, is more about the monsters that lurk inside of us. Boyle doesn’t go for easy scares, and instead crafts a deliberate, assured film that’s still extremely terrifying. (J)

19. The Squid and the Whale
Noah Baumbach’s intensely personal film about a family taking sides in a divorce is at times a hard film to watch because of it’s unabashed realism. It’s hard to really side with either of the parents in the film (Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels), and Jesse Eisenberg doesn’t oversell his role as the son stuck in the middle. Though he’d already gotten recognition for his debut, Kicking and Screaming (not the Will Ferrell movie), The Squid and the Whale brought Baumbach to the forefront of a new generation of indie filmmakers. (M)

18. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Despite making millions of dollars from it in the 1990s for his action scripts, its clear (probably some time around The Long Kiss Goodbye) that Shane Black soured on Hollywood. But the result was this completely overlooked near masterpiece, an entertaining, hyperactive, loquacious, hilarious action film with an excellent cast (anchored by Robert Downey Jr.’s typically strong work and Val Kilmer, looking like he’s having the most fun he’s had in year) and a fun, twisty script. (J)

17. Best in Show
Having already perfected the mockumentary with This is Spinal Tap and Waiting for Guffman, Christopher Guest took on the world of dog grooming in his hilarious improvised comedy. A cast of fantastic improvisers come together in a film full of goofy one liners and genuine sweetness that produces some of the most memorable lines of all time. That’s really all I have to say, I have to get back to reading American Bitch magazine. (M)

16. Wall-E
Combine Buster Keaton, Arthur C. Clarke, Tex Avery, and Steven Spielberg and you get something close to what Andrew Stanton and the Pixar team achieved with Wall-E. It is not just a children’s film adults can enjoy or an adult film with some elements for children, Wall-E is a film for everyone. Underneath the shockingly dark dystopian view of the distant future and Pixar’s technical wizardry is a film with true heart and emotional heft. (J)

15. Primer
If you want mind blowing science fiction that takes at least a second viewing to fully grasp, then Primer is the movie for you. Shot with a tiny $7,000 budget and written by a former engineer and filled with technical jargon, the film’s take on time travel makes Back to the Future seem absurd as opposed to fantasy. Primer is a cult classic who’s impact on sci-fi will undoubtedly continue to grow in years to come. (M)

14. Lost in Translation
Sophia Coppola’s follow-up to The Virgin Suicides isn’t about story as much as it is about a feeling. Feeling lost, confused, and generally put down doesn’t usually lend itself to cinema, but in Coppola’s hands, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson’s loneliness takes on a fragile beauty, set against the backdrop of one of the most vibrant cities in the world. (J)

13. Brick
Making an old fashioned film noir picture is one thing, but setting it in a high school, as Rian Johnson did in his directorial debut, manages to make Brick an unpredictable, powder keg of a film, ready to blow at any time. A great performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a phenomenal script by Johnson make Brick one of the great independent features of the 2000s. (M)

12. The Dark Knight
Such is the nature of Christopher Nolan’s bleak vision for Gotham City that, by the end of The Dark Knight, the heroic Harvey Dent has become a supervillain who needs to be stopped, the vigilante Batman has had to burn the proverbial forest down to catch his nemesis, and half of Gotham is charred and burnt. Sure he catches the Joker at the end, but its cold comfort in a movie that is as much an anti-superhero film as it is a superhero film.(J)

11. The Incredibles
Not the most popular or commercially successful of Pixar’s stream of successful movies, The Increibles is their best. A pulpy, action packed movie that draws on 1950s comics, The Incredibles is just plain fun to watch. In a decade in which film heroes needed to be more human, The Incredibles are revealed as a normal family with the added circumstances of being forced to hide who they really are. (M)

10. Hot Fuzz
We here at Tangled Up in Wires know that Shaun of the Dead is generally the more popular choice, but, unlike Simon Pegg’s by-the-books policemanofficer, we don’t play by the rules! Hot Fuzz’s laughs are more consistent than its predecessor and Edgar Wright’s direction feels more confident, especially as he handles the big finale. Hot Fuzz is the rare movie that’s as funny when you’re shouting the quotes along with it, as when you’re hearing them all for the first time. (J)

9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
If you could erase certain parts of your memory, would you? That’s the central premise of the Charlie Kauffman penned, Michel Gondry directed film. The film doesn’t so much dwell on the scientific possibilities of such invention as the human use of it. The film’s characters use it not to forget their childhood or embarrassing moments, but rather the ones they have loved or want to love. Great performances from a solid cast make the quirky story work on screen in a film that avoids any sort of classification. (M)

8. Donnie Darko
Appropriately enough for someone with a keen interest in time loops, Richard Kelly’s career has basically consisted of the same thing happening: he makes a movie, it is reviled and dismissed by the public, and then it gets a cult on video. But neither of his follow-ups work on the purely visceral level that Donnie Darko does. Part episode of Lost, part coming-of-age story, part Greek tragedy, and part nostalgic romp through the 1980s, Donnie Darko stretches the limits of science fiction until they rip apart. (J)

7. Memento
Before hitting it big with the Batman reboot, Christopher Nolan made a movie that is just as perplexing to watch the third time as it is the first. A story in reverse about a man with a severe memory condition is a taxing film to watch, but that’s what makes it most enjoyable. The film gets better and better with every viewing, as each time you know something you didn’t before. (M)

6. No Country For Old Men
As of 2006, the Coens’ output for the 2000s consisted of one decent, funny film, one puzzler, and two complete failures. Many had given them up for dead, but like Javier Bardem’s hulking, unstoppable force, they got back up and made one of their finest films yet. No Country for Old Men daringly casts aside narrative conventions, painting an impressionistic picture of the modern west and of people trapped by forces beyond their control. (J)

5. Children of Men
Alfonso Curan’s futuristic film could have veered into the realm of bad science fiction, but with minimal acting and barely even a musical soundtrack, Children of Men is a haunting and beautifully photographed film. The film never dwells on how the world got to be the way it is, instead focusing on what it is and how it can better, and once things are set in motion, there’s hardly a moment to breathe. Fantastic performances by Clive Owen, Julianne  Moore, and Michael Caine are punctuated by Curan’s trademarks style in this truly fantastic film. (M)

4. There Will Be Blood
Oil, money, greed, religion, violence. The question is what happens when you combine these forces and the answer is there in the title. There Will Be Blood makes no qualms about wanting to toss the last 10 years in a blender, but it avoids overt politicizing. Instead, P.T. Anderson’s finest film takes a stark, unflinching look at one person and how a combination of those forces mentioned above turned him into something much less. The violent, divisive epilogue to the film plays, especially upon seeing the film a second time, as the only natural conclusion to the preceding three hours. (J)

3. Adaptation
Charlie Kauffman had already established himself as a daring screenwriter, but with Adaptation, he raised the bar for originality in Hollywood. Rather than writing a straight adaptation of Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief, Kauffman wrote his struggles as a writer and person into the story, as well as a fictional brother Donald. Throw in director Spike Jonez, Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, and a fantastic Chris Cooper, and you have a quirky, thoroughly enjoyable film. (M)

2. Ghost World
Being young sucks. It’s not exactly the newest theme but Ghost World plays it to the hilt, casting Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as the most convincing, disaffected youth this side of Neptune High School. But its only after they attempt to prank another outcast, just as lonely and misunderstood as them, that they begin to connect with the world. Ghost World is often hilarious, but there’s a real sadness underneath the laughter that gives the film a weight, boosted by Terry Zwigoff’s assured direction. (J)

1. The Royal Tennenbaums
Wes Anderson became an indie auteur master in the 2000s, but it’s first film of the decade, that is the most fun to watch. Filled with rich characters in an oddly vintage world, The Royal Tennenbaums manages to be a film about disappointment and forgiveness while at times be absolutely hilarious. Aided by a great cast, The Royal Tennenbaums is one of the few films I find I can watch over and over again without getting tired of it. (M)

For Wes Anderson’s third movie, he set out to make a film about Something. The largely ensemble nature, the more openly emotional beats, and the way he cranks his signature stylistic tics up to 11 all point to the high potential for messy overreach. And yet, through the clutter emerges a starkly personal vision of life’s ups and downs, filtered through the candy coating of Anderson’s direction. He borrows from Welles and Salinger (and from Schultz and Konigsberg and Scorsese and Jagger and Smith) like a neighbor borrowing sugar and eggs to bake a cake. Even if you recognize the ingredients the results are something completely unique. (J)

Best in Show, 545 Castro Street

It’s our 7th Anniversary, and we’re celebrating with a Secret Santa sale! Mention our Anniversary, or just say “Secret Santa” when you’re checking out and receive 10% off your entire purchase. Offer valid from 12/8 through 12/11. Online customers enter the coupon code SECRET in your shopping cart. This is our way of thanking you for supporting us through all of these fantastic years. It really has been fantastic!

We started out during the Holiday season in 2002 with simply a passion for our dogs. We didn’t know what was in store for us, but we knew we wanted to provide other passionate pet owners with the best merchandise and the best shopping environment. Along the way, we learned a lot about our business, a lot about ourselves, and we’ve helped countless dogs and cats get adopted right in front of our old Sanchez Street store.

In 2006, we opened our second store on Castro Street so we could be right in the middle our historic neighborhood. We’re just a few doors down from Harvey Milk’s original camera shop and right down the block from the Castro Theater, with its iconic neon marquee. What’s terrific about being right on Castro Street is interacting with the tourists who visit our neighborhood daily. We have tourists from all over the world coming to the Castro to visit, to study our history and architecture, to shop, and to mingle with one of the most diverse populations in the world. And Best in Show feels very fortunate to be a part of this.

So come and visit, come and shop, and save 10% off your entire purchase. Happy Holidays!

it’s monday so i won’t force you guys to use your brains too much.  i mean i spent my weekend making a fro out of newspaper and cutting out buttloads of snowflakes so i’m definitely a little loopy.  (don’t worry, there will be pictures!)  any-vay, here’s a little activity that will hopefully brighten your day for a millisecond: try and find me in the photo below!  i know, it’s difficult- i mean have you ever seen so many yellow people crammed onto couch together?

a worm crawled in my mouth and i ate it.

click the simpsons for a tribute to ralph wiggum!

You can purchase all of these movies on www.amazon.com

Lykke til alle dere som skal stille pommene deres idag på dogs4allmessen. MVH Bella Kleins pomeranian

The amazing Jane Lynch got her big break in the movie Best in Show.   Last week she spoke with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, and it’s a delightful interview.  Who knew Terry snorts a little when she laughs? Adorable! We get to hear it because Lynch is so damn funny and sends Terry into a couple of giggle fits. I laughed out loud on the bus a couple of times myself. Lynch is promoting her new show Glee, which speaking of delights … if you’re not a fan already, tune in Wednesdays on Fox.

Best in Show was a fabulous movie.  Lynch and Jennifer Coolidge are an amazing comedic pair; they are perfectly ridiculous together.

And speaking of perfectly ridiculous, you simply must check this out.  I have never heard of “Creative Grooming” shows before, but unless this is a giant hoax, these poor Poodles are all dolled up and ready to take top prize.  These are just two of my favorite photos by Ren Netherland who, according to the article, “travels thousands of miles each year to attend each competition.”  Remember: these are Poodles.

Props to JV for sending this my way.  Which ones are your faves?

I use the word ‘momentum’ lightly, but the Bruins had shown some encouraging strides in their last four game home stand and seemed poised to continue that upward trend.  So much for trending up. The following two games, at the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 14 and back home against the New York Islanders on November 16, were polar opposites in terms of effort by the Bruins, but both games had the same result: making Bruins fans nauseous.

The Bruins got a point in Pittsburgh, and it was well-earned as they came back from FOUR one-goal deficits to finally take a 5-4 lead with 2:29 remaining in regulation. But they let the win slip away like a fart in the desert as Tim Thomas let in a softie by ex-Bruin Billy Guerin with just under a second left.  Another giveaway  from Thomas in OT secured the two points for Pittsburgh.  Here’s the game summary for those interested…I’m still not ready to re-live this loss.  New Hampshire native Ben Lovejoy  did record his first NHL point in his second NHL game as he registered an assist for the Penguins.

Against the Islanders, the Bruins were so uninspired for such long stretches of the game, I had to check to see if Dave Lewis was back behind the bench.  There were no Bruins highlights. Here’s the game summary….Roloson and Moulson, and some empty Bruins jerseys.

The Bruins are headed on the road until Thanksgiving for four games, starting tomorrow night in Atlanta.  They are currently tied for 11th place in the Eastern Conference, and Bruins fans are sweating like Amy Winehouse  going through customs.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I need a laugh.

CLICK  below to cachinnate:

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]]> http://nobodybeatstheliz.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/kalil-kash-best-in-flow-download/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:13:32 +0000 emaphotography http://nobodybeatstheliz.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/kalil-kash-best-in-flow-download/

Since we’re on the subject of borrowed beats, Newark, NJ MC Kalil Kash brings you a new joint called “Best In Flow.” Borrowing the instrumental for “Best In Show” by P. So, Von Pea of Tanya Morgan and Homeboy Sandman, Kalil Kash lets us know why he has the best flow out there… You be the judge!

Enjoy… Kalil Kash will be performing at the next Show & Tell (details coming real soon!), so I encourage to come out and support great talent!

Kalil Kash – “Best In Flow” (Download)

Away We Go is the 5th film from Director Sam Mendes. Known for American Beauty, Road to Perdition and last years Revolutionary Road which are very dark in tone and content, this is a step away from the norm from him and frankly is a breath of fresh air. Away We Go is the story of Burt, played by John Krasinski (The Office, Leatherheads) and Verona, who are a mid-thirties couple who find out they are going to have their first child. Burt’s parents played by Jeff Daniels (Gettysburg, Speed) and Catherine O’hara (Best in Show, Beetlejuice) decide to move to Belgium a month before the baby is born. Burt and Verona, having no ties to their home town any more, go exploring for the perfect place to raise a family. visiting lots of friends and family across  the country, it is a fun adventure of possibilities.

The performances in the film are all pretty good, but the one surprise performance that stands out is that of Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary). She plays Burt’s cousin and takes the idea of being close as a family to a whole new level, to the point of being creepy. Her performance is spot on as she delivers her lines with complete confidence without batting and eye as she talks about sharing a bed with her husband….and her kids! She is so good in this role, I could see her getting a Supporting Actress nomination.

Overall I don’t think this is Sam Mendes best film as the movies mentioned previously are very powerful films, but this is a very light, intelligent and delightful film. I would recommend seeing this movie, it is something fresh and not the usual rehashing of a story line you have seen twenty times already. Worth watching for sure!