The TONY top 50 movies of the decade

We count down the movies that mattered.

DONNIE DARKO (2001)739.fi.top50.48.jpg564801
PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006)739.fi.top50.36.jpg564812
OLDBOY (2003)739.fi.top50.27.jpg564823
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)739.fi.top50.12.jpg564834
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007)739.fi.top50.02.jpg564845

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DONNIE DARKO (2001)

Who knows what to call them: the Aughts, the Naughts, the “Double-Os.” Actually, we prefer the Uh-Ohs, given the movies these ten years have produced. Looking back, we found mastery and mirth—but mainly a lot of pain. This makes perfect sense. Cinema reflects the age it’s made in. We asked 14 of our contributors to provide a ranked ballot of their ten favorites. After tabulating the results (and engaging in some decidedly unscientific back-and-forth), Team Film arrived at a vivid picture of a troubled time. Did we miss anything? Let us know.

Participants: David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf, Keith Uhlich, Stephen Garrett, Andrew Grant, Aaron Hillis, Kevin B. Lee, Karina Longworth, Maitland McDonagh, Troy Patterson, Nicolas Rapold, Lisa Rosman, Nick Schager, S. James Snyder.

50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

Comments

An interesting list - just grossly misnamed. Almost all on it were, undoubtedly fascinating, frequently overlooked (often understandably overlooked) films, but to call them "Top" films while passing over marvels like INCEPTION or *any* of the best animated wonders of the decade merely reflects a self-consciously pretentious "cineast's" taste. It may be TONY but hardly tony. More's the pity.

By JNE (not verified) on 10/29/2011 at 12:36 pm

You people need to relax. It's a list of opinions that you can read or ignore as you see fit. Didn't see your favorite movie on the list? Who cares, go find a list that sees the world more the way you do.

By Anonymous (not verified) on 10/28/2011 at 4:05 pm

For a list that has some of my favorite movies on it (Eternal Sunshine, I Heart Huckabees, Children of Men, Inglorious Basterds), this is one of the most scattershot, ridiculous, bizarre, and (though I hate to use this term) pretentious film lists of any kind that I've ever seen. I'm stunned by its lack of logic or coherence.

By ChristianH (not verified) on 8/15/2011 at 6:10 pm

You didn't think that The New World, A.I., Mulholland Drive or American Psycho were amazing movies? Wow you're an idiot.

By Anonymous (not verified) on 8/11/2011 at 7:41 am

this is a HORRIBLE list, dont waste your time. most of these movies arent even good.

By Paul (not verified) on 7/31/2011 at 11:47 pm

this is a HORRIBLE list, dont waste your time

By paul (not verified) on 7/31/2011 at 11:46 pm

There Will Be Blood as number two? What planet does the writer live on? I hated that movie. Senseless violence at the end. Just stupid. The whole movie was a bummer inducing moodie. I saw No Country for Old Men about the same time, and enjoyed it much more.

By Oldwriter (not verified) on 7/31/2011 at 4:55 pm

Very nice list. I'm right with you on #1 and #2 especially...but what about Bela Tarr? I say Werckmeister Harmonies deserves a spot in the top 10.

By joel (not verified) on 7/31/2011 at 12:38 am

This is fantastic. If everyone agreed with your choices you wouldn't be making a thought provoking and interesting article. I didn't read this hoping to see The Dark Knight, Pixar and LOTR on the list, because THEY'RE ON EVERYBODY ELSE'S LISTS. And that would be SO DAMN BORING. Thank you for this, cos now I'm gonna go watch The New World and Dogville. You're introducing people to great films they might not have seen and I thank you for that.

By Anonymous (not verified) on 7/17/2011 at 7:35 pm

dam

By Anonymous (not verified) on 7/04/2011 at 3:07 am

Have an Opinion? Let's hear it

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