Top 250 Films of the 21st Century; And A New Sight&Soundesque Movie List Is Born

Every January, the website THEY SHOOT PICTURES, DON'T THEY? re-issues their "top films of the 21st century" list to incorporate the films from the previous year. This year's list was particularly interesting because it included the "best of the decade" lists too, hence a more significant amount of movement (including four changes in the top ten). I realized that even though this list is updated annually, the —0 years will be such a comprehensive summary of the current state of critical thinking that this entry (next to be seen in 2020) in my opinion joins Sight & Sounds' —2 year list (next due in 2012) and AFI's —5 list (next due in 2015) as a to-be-looked-forward-to uberfilmlist... listing the future VERTIGOs and KANEs.

This year 34 films dropped off the list. SPIRITED AWAY pushed FAR FROM HEAVEN from the high slot of #6 (FFH is now #14). The biggest jump goes to THE NEW WORLD— from 178 to 81 (OLDBOY which jumped an amazing 170 slots last year is up by another 6, now residing at 69).

Some films whose stock I knew would go up: THERE WILL BE BLOOD; DONNIE DARKO, CHILDREN OF MEN

Some films whose stock I knew would go down: FAR FROM HEAVEN; FLIGHT OF THE RED BALLOON; A CHRISTMAS TALE

Happy to see these films get more respect: 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS; SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK; THE NEW WORLD

Sad to see these films take a significant plunge: MY WINNIPEG; BORAT; SCHOOL OF ROCK; AWAY FROM HER; BROKEN FLOWERS

Still reigning at #1 is Wong Kar-wai's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (photo above).

Here is a list of the 2009 additions (and link to the entire list):

13. THE HURT LOCKER
48. SUMMER HOURS
65. INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
67. A SERIOUS MAN
72. FANTASTIC MR. FOX
90. THE HEADLESS WOMAN
101. 35 SHOTS OF RUM
110. UP
114. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
121. POLICE, ADJECTIVE
122. THE WHITE RIBBON
181. TWO LOVERS
182. UP IN THE AIR
189. TIE XI QU: WEST OF THE TRACKS (2003)
191. IN THE LOOP
194. DOWNFALL (2004)
195. THE SUN (2005)
203. FEMME FATALE (2002)
209. CASINO ROYALE (2006)
220. BRIGHT STAR
221. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008)
222. THE BEACHES OF AGNES
223. GERRY (2001)
224. GOMORRAH
230. 28 DAYS LATER... (2002)
235. STILL WALKING
236. BLISSFULLY YOURS (2002)
237. CORALINE
238. KUNG FU HUSTLE (2004)
239. CODE UNKNOWN (2000)
241. OF TIME AND THE CITY
245. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
247. IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS (2006)
248. PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES (2006)

Link to my blog entry from last year on the update.