25 for '25
My 25 Best Films of the 21st Century (So Far)
- Only caveat: one film per director
- Shoutout The Big Picture podcast for the inspiration!
25. Lady Bird (2017)
24. Hot Fuzz (2007)
23. Superbad (2007)
22. Get Out (2017)
21. The Handmaiden (2016)
20. The Favourite (2018)
19. Hereditary (2018)
18. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Odds are there's going to be a pretty recognizable pattern that emerges amongst the films on this list. So, as someone whose been told by a professional that their hypercritical self-awareness is a habitual defense mechanism, I'm naturally compelled to admit something off the bat before anyone else starts judging me for it: I'm a real sucker for sincere cinema.
Yes, I'm aware that I wrote all that stuff about being cronically self-aware as an excuse to be overtly self-aware in order to get ahead of—you know what… nevermind.
In any case, I should probably jot down something about Everything Everywhere All at Once this point. Luckily, given that it made this list, you won't be surprised to learn that I love this movie. During the months leading up to its release, I obsessively rewatched the trailer, giddily musing over how the hell a movie could possibly be this many things at once (sorry, unintentional pun, sigh). In retrospect, while I love the chaotic maximalism, brazen weirdness, and complete untetheredness(?) of this movie, its the emotional resonance that seeps out of its core that spoke to me the most. Exploring the relationships between first and second generation immigrants is fertile ground for establishing captivating character dynamics, but this movie does so much more than simply build strong characters capable of holding together an admittedly absurd plot. The power of the film lies at its most human level. Each member of the family feels trapped in their shared circumstance in a unique way. Furthermore, they each have their own way of expressing how they feel and unique stategies coping with their internal struggles. Evelyn wades in the what-ifs of her past and resists change as a means of preserving any semblence of the life that she regrets ever leaving. Waymond is on the verge of giving up his fruitless fight to cobble together enough happiness to get his family through the unfortunate financial circumstances that he feels somewhat responsible for. Joy not only must navigate being a second-generation immigrant teenager, but she doesn't feel accepted for who she is from her own family, leading to apathy.
The movie theater is a magical place, man. I watched this for the first time with my then-girlfriend, a second-generation Chinese immigrant herself, and I cannot begin to describe how powerful it was to, in real time, witness someone feel so seen and understood by a film. These dynamics are so universal to the immigrant experience, and I'm grateful that Everything Everywhere All at Once was able to, not only represent them so well for the families that struggle with them, but raise the level of empathy of non-immigrants towards those who just have it harder than us in so many ways.
17. All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001)
When I put this movie on for the first time a few months ago, I couldn't even get through the opening sequence without spamming my friends with texts professing my love for it. I'm just going to let a few of my initial messages speak for themselves:
Yes, it was incredibly late at night, and yes, I was out on the town prior to watching, and yes, I may have been under the influence of a few substances... BUT THAT WAS FAR FROM THE FIRST TIME I FOUND MYSELF WATCHING A MOVIE IN THAT STATE AND LEMME TELL YA:
This movie f*cks every which way no matter what state of mind you're in (and yes, I've rewatched it since and it still does).
P.S.
All About Lily Chou-Chou is a deeply messed up movie and is an incredibly difficult watch for the vast majority of the film (despite how i've been making it sound)… **genuine trigger warnings for sexual assault, bullying, and suicide**. That being said, its one of the most beautifully shot films I've ever seen. The themes of alienation, escapism, peer-pressure, social media, youth, and fandom are explored in such a raw, unflinching manner. There's a universality to the film's depictions of the horrors of adolescence, yet its simultaneously hyper-specific in its physical and temporal setting (Japan in the late 90s/early 2000s). This movie feels so lived in and only through such specificity of place and time can it ellicit such an emotional response from a global audience.
I've been thinking a lot about how complicated and impractical it is to find a community in our current society. Its been on my mind for a variety of reasons (less-so that I've been feeling especially lonely and more-so that I've just been consuming a lot of media that touches on the subject) and, while alienation (also see: escapism) is a common theme on this list, All About Lily Chou-Chou is the film that keeps coming to mind when I try to think through the socio-economic factors that contribute to the loneliness epidemic that's plagued the youth for decades. Sigh, anyways, I'm done rambling, but I just want to add that this movie also has such an incredible soundtrack, so have fun checking that out if you trust my music taste.
16. The Brutalist (2024)
My buildings were designed to endure such erosion.
A self-indulgent, uncompromised 3 hour epic about the lie at the core of the American dream, how capitalism shackles artists, escapism thru drugs (and f*cking Zionism), the inability of the bourgeois class to engage with art… I don't know its just all very up my alley. Oh– and it took fucking risks!
- Check out this very thought-provoking The Big Picture podcast episode featuring Adam Nayman
15. Children of Men (2006)
lol. If The Brutalist was "up my alley", this movie features this scene. Its unbearable how relevant this film is specifically in regard to America's despicable treatment of immigrants (illegal, legal, whatever it shouldn't matter they're people like holy shit have some empathy). The filmmaking in this is maybe the best of the century? The way it demonstrates the infighting that seems to always pop up between Leftist factions in the face of oppression is dope + Cuaron empathizes with the correct side + we need to work together to fight the real enemy.
- Pretty dope opening quote from Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism regarding Children of Men
14. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
This movie blew away my expectations. What I was anticipating would've been dope too, but I mean come on now. No one expects something of this magnitude going into a first-time viewing of any film. I was aware of the prestige and universal acclaim, but this is truly an epic in every sense of the word.
To briefly touch on the fight scenes, they f*cking float. lol. The moment in the initial showdown between Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh where they both just take off into the air holy sh*t its an "OMG… I love the movies" moment. It instantly communicates the enchanting and romantic nature of these mythic martial artists and their mastery over the craft, and, again, it looks cool as f*ckkkkk.
So, the leads of this movie (Ziyi, Yeoh, and Chow Yun-Fat) play maybe the three coolest people to ever exist? All of them deliver phenomenal performances, but its impossible not to key in on Zhang Ziyi. As a 20 year old, she's trusted with large chunks of a film that also features two of Asia's most reknown and beloved actors. Needless to say, Ziyi was more than up to the task (ugh her character is also just so cool this movie is so cool).
There's a lot that contributes to the magic of this movie (too much to try and list rn), but my favorite theme is the suppression of desire between Yeoh and Yun-Fat's characters. I'm not going to spoil, but if you've seen it you know the vibe. What a banger.
13. Whiplash (2014)
You're so pressed about whether you're rushing or dragging, but when was the last time you asked yourself why the f*ck you give such a sh*t? Do you even remember the moment that you stopped loving the thing you spend every waking moment trying to perfect? Are you aware that you're never going to be able to? Are you scared? Do you need your abusive teacher just as much as he needs you? Do you feel more at ease when you're with someone who pushes you further than you're capable of being pushed? How have you fallen so deeply into obsession? Or, why are you so scared of no longer being able to indulge yourself in this obsession that you're making a father-figure out of a man whose life has already been broken by it? There is no perfecting it, you're now only capable of seeking satisfaction through the same cycle of trauma that's broken the fools that went down this path before you. C'mon, Miles. Let's just go to the movies or something instead.
Oooo I love this movie. Its in the pantheon of the movie-about-how-self-destructive-it-is-to-make-movies subgenre, and, since its Damien Chazelle, obviously the metaphor for filmmaking is jazz music (psst all of Chazelle's movies fit in this subgenre). The ending is misinterpreted by some people, but damn is it devastating…
12. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
This was my fav movie throughout high school, and I'm very due to watch it again. It remains my favorite Tarantino (also, f*ck Nazis).
Its undeniable how entrenched some of these scenes/set-pieces are in the minds of everyone who watched them. That feat alone is incredibly special, but this movie's sum is still greater than its parts… just kind of like a masterclass I suppose lol. Also, excuse my language, but Quentin stop being a little self-righteous b*tch and just make another movie why are you more worried abt your legacy than just making a movie about whatever you're into at the time? You made a dumb rule for yourself and you're the only one who cares anddd well yeah I just like want you to get over yourself because you make great movies. Not to mention you're wrong to universally criticize the later career works of directors: Auters like Miyazaki and Scorsese both made your theory look stupid as hell in the past couple of years alone, and those r just examples off the dome. Do whatever you want, I guess. I don't have any right to demand something from an artist, but damn dude I do not understand your mindset right now.
11. Dune: Part 2 (2024)
I don't think I've ever written anything significant abt Dune, which is an unusual thing for me to (not) do when I love something to the extent that I love Dune. the movies both fuck (and so will Messiah—f*ck the doubters + trust in Villeneuve's vision), and the books are among my all-time favorites (mandatorily acknowledging that i dont read much ngl). This might be another example of the "Parasite Effect", a term that I just made up. It occurs when I'm just so passionate about the themes explored and fully aligned with the critiques levelled in films (those akin to Parasite / Dune), and its hard for me to refrain from just saying "hell yeah" or simply listing all the things I love about them. Someday I'll get around to writing more thoughtfully about Dune, but today is, yet again, not that day.
Anyways, here are my favorite books (fiction) (unordered):
(I like sci-fi).
10. Aftersun (2022)
Ok this is the highest ranked movie that I've only watched once. And, I watched it on an airplane. If you've seen it, then you can probably picture me hiding in my hoodie letting tears run down my face while the flight attendant asked if I wanted any water or Biscoff cookies. I cannot do justice to how well paced this movie is. There are a few other films on this list that similarly lure the audience in with their pacing, but I've never found myself as hypnotized as I did watching Aftersun. I do not recall empathizing with a character so deeply in this manner… feeling all of his broken and unsatisfied soul, aware of time fleeting away, understanding the love he undoubtably carries for his daughter, watching him summon all of the remain will he has to try to make some sort of impact on someone he cares about, but ever-so-slowly recognizing he doesn't have enough left to give… and he knows it. Ugh, but watching a person who's given up on the world not only find, but summon the spirit to seek out the occasional moment that justifies him still being here experiencing life and love… Its just too much man lol anytime this movie comes up, the fact that it was director Charlotte Wells' first movie ever is worth bringing up because oh my gosh what the idk what else to say.
9. Ratatouille (2007)
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto, "Anyone can cook." But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artistcan come fromanywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more.
What a life affirming film. I will always cherish it 🐀👨🍳.
8. Parasite (2019)
You know when something just like absolutely nails all the themes you actively want to seek out in every other piece of artwork you engage with? Yeah.
7. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
You guys seen this sh*t? I feel like we don't talk about this shit enough. Oh my god I love this movie there's something about how the story is told that cannot be undersold in its beauty. The horrors of our world sigh this is one of the most humanistic films I've seen, and I vividly remember the impact it had on me when I first watched it on a laptop while laying down on the foot of my bed in like sophomore, actually probably junior, year of high school. I was so entranced I didnt move an inch. Right now, I can still call myself back to that specific emotion it solicited in me… it was a constant wave of complicated, heavy, uncompromised, brutal, beauty. I've watched it a few times since, but I'm more than due for another viewing… guess I got plans for tomorrow night.
6. The Social Network (2010)
Sorry, my Prada’s at the cleaners along with my hoodie and my fuck-you flip-flops you pretentious douchebag.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Oppenheimer (2023)
If you would've told me I'd have Nolan ranked above Fincher prior to Oppenheimer's release (not to mention Tenet), I would've been like "whatever man, he's good and all but Social Network AND Zodiac exist??" Anyways, this is far and away my fav Nolan and has been since I first watched/reviewed it.
Note:
I love Tenet and had to mention it, but I wouldn't put it above either of the Fincher films I referenced (just to quell the (uncultured) Tenet haters before they get upset about not having the courage to submit themselves to that incredible film)… AlsoInterstellar fucks too. I forgot to say anything abt it so there ya go.
4. Spirited Away (2001)
I think me loving Miyazaki so much, seeing every movie he's made, and having a few personal favs that I cherish more than Spirited Away all worked against it in these rankings…
that is: the time I'm currently spending trying to justify only ranking it the fourth best film of the past 25 years is a testament to how incredible this piece of art is… please forgive me, Miyazaki-san 😭🫡
3. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max vs. Spirited Away for the bronze metal is an absolutely brutal matchup. I'm going with my heart and my gut (but things are getting interesting… I don't like that I had to do this).
2. Paprika (2006)
Yep. It was always going to be these two films at the top. I obviously love this movie. I've probably said this about other movies in the past, but I can't think of a single film that aligns with my taste more than Paprika—wait f*ck nevermind lol… I somehow forgot End of Evangelion existed for a split-second there. ANYWAYS, its always overwhelming when I attempt to articulate—ya know what.
I really don't want to even tiptoe around a critical analysis of this film… I genuinely don't know where (or how) to start because whenever I try to focus on any particular element, I'm reminded of three more things that I love and how they're all connected and build off each other an—SOMEDAY I'll write a book or something, but for now: this is what I wrote when I watched this masterpiece for the first time.
On another note…
I'll forever mourn the immense, immense loss of the singular, genius artist who was Satoshi Kon. He made four outstanding films and a brilliant anime all by age 46. He gave the world so much, and we've been robbed of what should've been decades more of his visionary artistry. F*ck cancer so hard. Sigh, well here are a few great YouTube videos about Kon for those interested:
- The SATOSHI KON PROBLEM (video essay by STEVEM)
- Satoshi Kon and Why Love Is All You Need (video essay series by BREADSWORD)
1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hey, this wasn't so hard! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
thanks for reading! (:
- michael beebe