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Best Films of the Past 20 Years

AnotherDawg

If you're not a film lover then don't waste your time reading any further. If you are, this is meant to be a fun thread to help pass the time until we get to the 2020 football season, with all the promise it holds.

I thought I would list the Best Picture winners from the past 20 years, along with the top grossing films, my own favorites, honorable mentions, and comments.

The OP is really long, so I'll break it up into 5-year groupings. Then I'll try to stay out of the way and let other folks weigh in.

Feel free to criticize my picks, or list your own favorites, or post whatever comments you like.

2019

Best Picture Winner: Parasite. Top grossing film: Avengers- Endgame. My favorite: 1917. Honorable mention: Ford vs. Ferrari, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Knives Out.

Comments: I thought Joaquin Phoenix was amazing in Joker but I didn't consider it a great film. I did not see Little Women but I've heard it was excellent.

2018

Best Picture Winner: Green Book. Top grossing film: Avengers- Infinity War. My favorite: First Man. Honorable mention: Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star is Born, A Quiet Place.

Comments: One of the weakest fields in the history of Best Picture candidates, and First Man was not even nominated. Mind-boggling.

2017

Best Picture Winner: The Shape of Water. Top grossing film: Star Wars- The Last Jedi. My favorite: Dunkirk. Honorable mention: Baby Driver, Molly's Game.

Comments: Arguably the worst best picture winner in history.

2016

Best Picture Winner: Moonlight. Top grossing film: Captain America- Civil War. My favorite: Arrival. Honorable mention: Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, La La Land, Manchester by the Sea, Sully.

Comments: OK, maybe The Shape of Water wasn't the worst best picture winner in history.

2015

Best Picture Winner: Spotlight. Top grossing film: Star Wars- The Force Awakens. My favorite: Spotlight. Honorable mention: The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, The Martian, Whiplash.

Comments: The Academy got it right!!! I don't know what it is about Spotlight, but I've probably watched it 10 times by now. Probably thanks to the compelling subject matter, and stellar performances from a half dozen great actors, most of whom are not terribly well-known to the average movie-goer.

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Fascinating to note the top grossing films of the past five years. Expect more of the same.

I'll save 2010-2014, 2005-2009, and 2000-2004 for the next few days.

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Comments

NOVADAWG

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417562#Comment_417562

In my opinion they are top films in last 20 years. 🙃

TurkDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417011#Comment_417011

Agree 100% on Casablanca. I only recently realized this film was released while the war was still raging across Europe. Can't imagine the scene inside theaters when La Marseillaise scene was played.

I got to visit the city of Casablanca last year and had dinner at the tribute Rick's Café. If interested, you can read my impressions of it here - https://railstales.com/2019/03/10/as-time-goes-by-in-casablanca/

"Round up the usual suspects!"

razorachilles

Reading the films on the list from the last 5 years was borderline depressing! Lol

Feels like there have been some incredible individual performances - Phoenix absolutely crushed his performance in Joker even though the movie itself was just OK - but not a ton of compelling films. Loved Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and really thought it might have been the classic Oscar career-achievement makeup call the academy voters often like to select (ie - for Tarantino, even a screenwriting Oscar if not director); but was glad to see PItt get the best supporting nod.

Really didn’t understand the fascination with Parasite...1917 wasn’t perfect but felt it was more Best Picture material than Parasite

Then again - history is filled of great pictures and performances NOT winning. Pacino was excellent in Glengarry Glen Ross in 1992, but you honestly could have nominated and/or awarded the best supporting actor to Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris or Alec Baldwin (and I’m leaving off Kevin Spacey, Alan Arkin & Jonathan Pryce from that film, too).

Gene Hackman (winner, in Unforgiven) and Nicholson (Few Good Men) were nominees in that category too and deservedly so...but really speaks to the depth of quality performances/films we enjoyed regularly not that long ago.

AnotherDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417875#Comment_417875

100%

PTDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417858#Comment_417858

So many great lines in that movie.

"What is he like?" "Like any other man, only more so."

"I came here for the waters." "There's no water. We're in the desert." "Oh, I was misinformed."

"Here's looking at you, kid."

"I'm shocked! Shocked to find out there is gambling going on in here." "Here are your winnings, sir." "Oh, thank you very much."

TurkDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417911#Comment_417911

“What’s your nationality?” I’m a drunk ard.

Plus, the famous line most everyone quotes is never actually said! (Play it again Sam).

Which is similar to a Munson misquote I’ve heard many time “Run Lindsay Run!” - Munson didn’t say this either during the 93 yard catch and run to beat Florida!!!

EastAtlDawg

Wolf of Wall Street..

USADawg

2004 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Lots of Ferrell movies that I don’t like, but I will never not turn the channel to this one, much to my wife’s dismay. I laugh hard every time I see it.

RandomFan

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417933#Comment_417933

Most quotable movie of all time, and it's not even close.

DamnYankeeDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/417911#Comment_417911

Agree. A few of my favorites not mentioned.

"Where were you last night?" "That's so long ago, I don't remember." "Will I see you tonight?" " I never make plans that far ahead."

"How extravagant you are, throwing away women like that." "Some day, they may be scarce."

Huckleberry

Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2.

Hipdawg

Oh snap, No Country for Old Men was the most intense movie in a long, long time. It made me feel sick , I guess because how realistic the subject matter was portrayed and how creepy the vilian was. Every scene was great except for the ending .

Steve_Zissou

“The Master” is probably my favorite of the last 10

“All the real Girls” is probably my favorite of the last 20

”Lebowski” favorite of the last 25. I’ve probably seen it 89 times

AnotherDawg

OK, here's Part III of IV: Best Pictures, Blockbusters, Favorites, and Notable Films, 2005-2009.

First, a couple of corrections from my last post. I mistakenly mentioned Jonah Hill as Jonah Goldberg, which I'm quite certain he wouldn't be happy about. Also, I included Whiplash in both the 2014 & 2015 lists. If you catch any errors below, large or small, feel free to point them out.

2009

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Top grossing film: Avatar

My favorite: Inglourious Basterds

Honorable mention: Crazy Heart, Duplicity, An Education, The Hangover, Up in the Air, Up

Comments: A good year for film. If you're a fan of small movies, An Education is beautiful and heart breaking, with great lead performances from Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard.

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2008

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Top grossing film: The Dark Knight

My favorite: In Bruges

Honorable mention: Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda

Comments: If there are still any W00dy Allen fans out there, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is pretty good. Not a classic, but worth watching. Then again, anything with Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson is worth watching.

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2007

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men

Top grossing film: Spider Man 3

My favorite: Michael Clayton

Honorable mention: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, The Bourne Ultimatum, Gone Baby Gone, There Will Be Blood

Comments: Michael Clayton features George Clooney in arguably his best role, plus memorable performances from Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack. Written and directed by the brilliant Tony Gilroy.

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2006

Best Picture: The Departed

Top grossing film: Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Man's Chest

My favorite: United 93

Honorable mention: Apocalypto, Borat, Pan's Labyrinth, The Prestige, The Queen, Talladega Nights

Comments: Also released in 2006, The Lives of Others, about the last days of East Germany under the Stasi, is the best foreign language film I've ever seen. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

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2005

Best Picture: Crash

Top grossing film: Star Wars Ep. III- Revenge of the Sith

My favorite: Wedding Crashers

Honorable mention: Batman Begins, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Walk the Line

Comments: Given the alternatives, this seemed like a good year to recognize a comedy, and Wedding Crashers is certainly worthy. Great performances across the board: Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in the lead roles, Rachel McAdams and Isla Fisher as their love interests, plus a supporting cast that included Bradley Cooper, Jane "Kitty Kat" Seymour, Will Ferrell, and the great Christopher Walken.

Kasey

I saw Wedding Crashers four times the week it came out. One of my best friends was getting married the same week which probably led to some of it. My only complaint is in the latter half the movie gets a little lazy when the gay brother and Vince Vaughn have their scene. Everything after is a little too forced.

Still fantastic though and still makes me laugh