What's the best movie you saw this decade?

I was surprised to read early on the thread that someone felt "No Country For Old Men" was awful. Must not have watched the same movie I did. I thought it was remarkable.

Lot of love for "Hard Candy" here, and I thought it was outstanding, though I think some of the tension dissipates late once she really starts messing with him hard-core. A similar, perhaps even better, indie that really impressed me was "You Are Alone" from a couple years ago. Same two-actor interplay between man and teen-age girl, similar tension, an oh-my-god twist ending.

 

George Clooney is approaching, or maybe already is there, the status of an all-time great. Like as in all-time: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, George Clooney ... the guy has charisma, can act in both slapstick, serious drama, fun action. Quickly rocketing up my list of actors.

 

When I pay to watch a movie, I like to see an ending or some sort of resolution.

Tommy Lee Jones talking about his father is cute, but this is a film you have to think about for 20 minutes after it ended to convince yourself they did not just fuck you over with the ending.

At least in There Will be Blood, the two main characters faced off at the end.

 

But Simon does have a point that he's the kind of actor that when you look at him, you still see George Clooney. As good an actor as he is, it's hard to imagine believing him in a role as, say, a retarded homeless man, or a historical figure. He has such a strong air about him that I'm not sure you could separate it.

 

I was the one who hated NCFOM. A few reasons of the many:

1) Bardem was laughable, and the non-scariest psycho, maybe ever. I left thinking Brad Garrett could've played that part equally well, and scared the dickens out of me with his looks of an absolute killer.

2) You want me to invest all of that energy into Brolin's character ... and then you don't even show him getting killed? Fuck that. I want to see the act of murder, and not just the aftermath with his body laying on the floor in the hotel room.

3) Woody Harrelson served what purpose exactly?

It just didn't speak to me. There may have been one sweet moment of cinematography, the extended scene when Brolin goes out to the desert the first time. I kind of liked that.

 

Damon is much better than Affleck, but Affleck is underrated. I could see him becoming Alec Baldwin at some point, being great in supporting roles.

 

I know I've said it before, but Affleck's biggest problem is that he's supporting actor talent trapped in a leading man's body. Although he now seems to have realized he's best at supporting parts (Hollywoodland, Extract) and is taking those roles instead leading ones.

 

He was really good in State of Play this year.

He made some bad films, but it was the Lopez relationship that ruined him. People got sick of him because he was on the cover of every magazine.

 

Then why aren't people sick of Anniston, Pitt and Jolie?

 

I'm certainly sick of Anniston, but Pitt and Jolie, while incredibly overexposed, are also very, very talented.

 

They're the "beautiful" people.

 

I am sick of Jolie, her limited talent may be the reason. I like Pitt, dude has some chops as an actor, Aniston is good for someone who seemingly plays the same role in most of her films.

As far as Affleck, I loved him in Hollywoodland, very cool film. He was good in Good Will Hunting, but when you are acting with your best friend, chemistry like they had better be there.