Moviescramble’s favourite films of the 21st century

BBC Culture’s 100 Greatest films of the 21^st Century has sparked a degree of debate all over the internet and, of course, among us moviescramblers. There were some surprises, not least of all the winner, Mulholland Drive. None of us know what any of Lynch’s movies mean, but some of us love them anyway. Mulholland Drive’s genius is in the fact that it is haunting, beautiful, but impossible to define, yet it certainly wouldn’t be our number one. We were flabbergasted about some that had been missed so we just had to do our own list. Here are our favourite films of the century (these are favourites and not ‘best films’ and there is a difference).

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

JJ Abrams’ long awaited addition to the franchise had the same feel and cadence as the original trilogy, making it an instant hit with hardcore fans from the outset. Even without mentioning the breathtaking space battles, lightsabre duels and action packed blaster battles, this film still grips with just the right blend of exciting new characters and original favourites. A vital conduit linking the original trilogy, it gives fans a chance to proudly move into the future in this glorious franchise. Yes, the plot relies on a rehash of the original, Star Wars: A New Hope. Yes, we didn’t see anything of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker together, but the feel, the look, and the soul of Star Wars has returned.

 

Casino Royale (2006)

Daniel Craig as James Bond was an introduction that revitalised the Bond movie. With 21^st century Bond Girl, Eva Green (arguably one of the sexiest women on the planet) added into the mix alongside Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini and Mads Mikkelsen, it was a stellar re-imagining. Although Skyfall is considered by many as the best Bond film of the Daniel Craig era, it would never have been made had Casino Royale not been so bloody brilliant. With a grittier tone, including a naked torture scene that would make anyone with a pair of balls wince, it brought an energy back to Bond not seen since the early days of Connery.

 

Ex-machina (2015)

This sensual, creepy and fascinating film will have you on the edge of your seat. Domnhall Gleeson is a geeky computer programmer invited to participate in an experiment led by the enigmatic Nathan (a chilling Oscar Isaac) involving a beautiful AI, Ava (an ethereal-looking Alicia Vikander). What starts out as a weird assignment turns into an exploration of the concepts of genius, artificial intelligence, morality and sexual attraction. Prepare yourself to be seduced and utterly shocked.

 

Rust and Bone (2012)

Rust and Bone perfectly captures the complexities of the human condition in a way few films do. Alain (Matthias Schoenart) and Stephanie (Marion Cotillard) are two fascinating, flawed characters who find themselves in a most unlikely relationship that unfolds beautifully and realistically. With very raw performances, it is subtle, passionate,  and incredibly moving, a true exploration of what love really is.

 

John Wick (2014)

Action movies just don’t get any better. John Wick is smart, with a dash of humour, an abundance of style and Keanu Reeves proving he still has enviable movie star charisma. What made it stand out was the world of the assassins that was beautifully realised. Whilst it may be simple, relying on the age-old revenge thriller plot line, it does it so well it’s undeniable that it’s an action classic.

 

Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash is a disturbingly dark tale of mentorship and the
pressures the consequences of pushing yourself to be the absolute best. It is a masterful story that builds the tension to a blistering crescendo, resulting in a thrilling pay-off that will leave you dangling from the edge or your seat. Utterly sublime, Damien Chazelle presents an outstanding piece of filmmaking.

Battle Royale (2000)

Kinji Fukasaku’s ultra violent film was released at the start of the century amidst a flurry of controversy. Takeshi Battle Royale struggled to get an official release in many counties, including the US, yet it didn’t prevent people watching as the film grew a large cult audience.

 

About Schmidt (2002)

Jack Nicholson’s final great work. No, not the Departed, but Alexander Payne’s terrific study of a wasted life in pieces. After Warren Schmidt’s retirement, he travels across America for his daughter’s wedding in search of some meaning, but it is in Africa (in spirit anyway) that he finally finds a sign of self-worth. All together now… ’Dear Ndugu’.

 

Kick-Ass (2010)

What’s not to love about Kick-Ass? From the very fertile minds of director Matthew Vaughn and comic book writer Mark Miller, came a film chock-full of action, humour, and comic book violence – it even had a decent plot to boot. This movie ticks all the boxes, and that’s before we get onto the unassailable height of coolness that is Hit Girl…

 

 

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Here at moviescramble, it is simply an undisputed fact that Kingsman was one of the most enjoyable films of this century. It is such a satisfying, fun, cool, funny, fresh film. The cast is superb, the new talent and old working together seamlessly, particularly the unlikely turns of Colin Firth as a badass secret agent (with an already infamous church massacre) and Samuel L Jackson as a squeamish psychopath who has convinced himself that what the world needs right now is a good violent rampage to bring down the population. Newcomer Taron Egerton is both adorable and hot at the same time and although it is all a tad silly, it works perfectly because it never takes itself too seriously.

 

Arn: The Knights Templar (2007)

Arn: The Knights Templar is a glorious epic charting the fictional Swedish Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson. This film grips from start to finish and at 139 minutes long, that is no mean feat. The story is full of drama, heroism, honour and it expertly illustrates how a single action can have a massive effect on your future. The film proved to be popular enough to have both a sequel the following year and subsequently a TV series.

 

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

With the plethora of movies coming out of the MCU (Marvel Comic Universe for those none comic-geeks), there was always the chance they would knock something out of the park. Guardians of the Galaxy does this by taking a group of lesser-known characters and seamlessly putting together a film filled with humour, excitement and heart. The result? Marvel have their first bona fide classic.

 

The Wrestler (2008)

Some films become more than just actors on a screen and none more so than Darren Aronofsky’s the Wrestler. The tragic tale of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson was an opportunity for Mickey Rourke to pour every last detail of his soul into a piece of work, and that he does, giving us every laugh and every tear he has in him. A tour de force film that should have resulted in Mickey Rourke taking home the best actor oscar in 2009.

 

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

The work of Roald Dahl has often been difficult to translate into suitable viewing for children, with some brilliant exceptions in Gene Wilder’s crazed Willy Wonka, and the daytime nightmare of The Witches. Wes Anderson takes an admirable stab at it with this stop-motion animated tale of thievery and checked trousers. The small matter of a voice cast containing George Clooney and Meryl Streep never gets in the way of the hi-jinks at hand.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost take the buddy cop drama, transplant it into the English countryside and make what is arguably the best British comedy in the last twenty years. The strength of the film lies in the razor sharp script and the performances from some of the best-known dramatic and comedic actors around today. It is consistently funny and stands up to repeat viewing: the mark of a classic film.

 

Volver (2006)

Perdo Almodovar was at the top of his game when Volver was released. It features some truly memorable characters in a tale of love, loss, murder and food. Penelope Cruz has never been better as the woman trying to hold her family together in a time of struggle and crisis. It features one of the greatest movie moments ever, when she sits down to sing in a restaurant while her sister and mother observe her from afar.

 

The Prestige (2006)

A film that requires your full attention, Christopher Nolan’s Prestige is a tale of obsession, love and magic. Like the best magicians, Nolan performs a cinematic magic trick, misdirecting your attention onscreen to pull off a satisfying surprise. Top performances from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine make this a real treat. A cameo performance from David Bowie as Nikola Tesla is a highlight, as is his part in the final reveal.

 

Secretary (2002)

Yes, this is a film about spanking, but it is also an unlikely romance. Maggie Gyllenhaal puts in a ground-breaking performance as Lee Holloway, a self-harming secretary recently out of a mental institute who gets a job as a secretary for Mr Grey (James Spader), a complex character who gets very turned on by spanking his new employee really hard for making mistakes. It doesn’t sound like the kind of film that will leave you with a renewed faith in people and the redemptive power of love, but strangely, it does, it’s also a comedy (kind of).

 

The Artist (2011)

The Artist is a beautifully sweet, endearing love letter to the silent film era. It is filled with iconic scenes and motifs, romantic moments, and superb acting especially from the leads Jean DuJardin and Berenice Bejo. This story of love and redemption will have you enthralled, in tears and ultimately feeling like life is a wonderful thing, particularly after a really good movie.

 

Django Unchanged (2012)

Hollywoods favourite trailblazer, Tarantino gave us the most badass black action hero of the 21^st century in Django Unchained. What he does here and what he has been doing since he started directing, is make truly diverse films where it doesn’t matter what colour the skin is or whether the hero has balls or not – they are awesome – for the simple reason that they are awesome. At the time, no one hardly mentioned the fact that it is a black hero – because it doesn’t matter – it’s Tarrantino and even with outstanding performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Waltz, Jamie Foxx is the star of the show – and that’s kind of how you do it.

 

Watchmen (2009)

This film is an adaptation of a graphic novel that is quite possibly the only film adaptation that is 99% like the work it’s based on. It has a soundtrack that takes the film to a level the novel never could (obviously). Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ is the first in a long list of truly exceptional songs from the likes of Nat King Cole, Nina Simone and Simon & Garfunkel. Not only one for music lovers, it is a visually stunning film that can be watched over and over and over.

 

High Fidelity (2000)

While it may not be everyone’s favourite, it offers an honest glimpse into the imperfect life of a record storeowner with a compulsion to sabotage everything good that comes into his life. It can be incredibly emotional with some absolutely hilarious moments, and every scene is held together with a truly sublime soundtrack. With offerings from The Kinks, The Velvet Underground and an unforgettable rendition of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On by Jack Black, it is a film for every music enthusiast who has ever experienced love and every person who loves their Vinyl collection more than their other half.

 

Zombieland (2009)

Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is the perfect accompaniment to the destructive, bloody, gory opening scenes of this modern zombie movie. You would be excused for thinking that is as good as it is going to get, but the sharp script is full to the brim with witty one-liners and cheap gags that is a perfect match for the light acting of a decent cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone. Yes, it is over-the-top and super-cheesy, but it has an excellent cameo from Bill Murray and did we mention the blood and gore?

 

Of course, there are more. Did you like us, think that Traffic, the Fighter, Slumdog Millionaire, the Town, and Black Swan should have been on the list? Have we missed your favourite out?

There were many we did agree with, some of our favourites on the BBC Culture list are: Amelie, Moulin Rouge, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Wolf of Wall street and The Dark Knight. It’s what we love about film: the fact that we all love different ones, and can therefore spend hours debating which ones are the best.