I’ll always look back on this past decade in film as the one in which I as a film junkie plunged head first into the world of cinema. In 2000 “Gladiator” became the blueprint to which all other films in the following decade would have to live up too. Granted I was 16 at the time and could only hope to live a life interesting as Maximus.
The next three years were devoted to Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.” My friends and I devoured every detail of these films massive pop culture machine. I still have my four collectable glasses from Burger King. Yet not unlike Frodo, nothing could be the same for me after the experience ended.
I went to film school the following year and my tastes grew as one would expect. I began to notice more meaty flicks like Malick’s “The New World,” Speilberg’s “Munich” and Todd Field’s “Little Children”. Even our action heroes like Jason Bourne and soon after 007 took a turn for the serious. After school I learned to lighten up with the onset of Judd Apatow’s comedies. “You know how I know your gay…?”
Soon after several masterworks from Cuaron and P.T. Anderson demanded everyones attention. Pixar proved that they had nothing to prove as the years went on. Then Chris Nolan created the ultimate version of my childhood (and adulthood really) hero. Mickey Rourke broke my heart, Quentin continued to be a master of our language, and Cameron sealed the deal. I sat and watched in awe of them all. I suppose the following list says less about my tastes and more about my journey as a film goer. Or maybe it’s just a list of films I thought were cool. Hopefully its a little of both.

1. There will be Blood
2. Children of Men
3. The Dark Knight
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5. The New World
6. Munich
7. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
8. Wall-E
9. Inglourious Basterds
10. Little Children
11. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
12. Almost Famous
13. The Wrestler
14. Junebug
15. Brokeback Mountain
16. Kingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut)
17. Cast Away
18. Minority Report
19. Apocalypto
20. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
21. Gangs of New York
22. United 93
23. Man on Wire
24. Memento
25. The Departed
26. Chop Shop
27. Gladiator
28. Snow Angels
29. Half Nelson
30. The Prestige
31.  Tsotsi
32. The Lives of Others
33. Avatar
34. The Fountain
35. No Country for Old Men
36. Let the Right One In
37. Pan’s Labyrinth
38. The Hurt Locker
39. Eastern Promises
40. Zodiac
41. The Lookout
42. Adaptation
43. The 25th Hour
44. Millions
45. Road to Perdition
46. The Proposition
47. The Incredibles
48. Hot Fuzz
49. Sideways
50. The 40 Year Old Virgin