[Rory]

Alright, so I figured since others have done Top Songs of the Decade, I'll do one about something that I'm passionate about: films. If this thread turns out to be a fail where nobody comments about the films that I post, I'll just end up posting my list. And most of the higher numbered ones I just copied the synopsis and added like a sentence about my opinion on the film onto the end. Don't expect too special of descriptions until about the Top 25!

50. Funny Games U.S. (2007)

"You shouldn't forget the importance of entertainment."

Michael Haneke's shot-for-shot remake of his 1997 film, "Funny Games" comes in at number 50 in my Top Films of the 2000's, exploring how voilence is portrayed in the media and how we consume it. Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, and their son travel to their vacation house, only to find themselves terrorized by two young, articulate serial killers who bet that in 12 hours, all three of them will be ka-put.

49. An Education (2009)

"If people die the moment that they graduate, then surely it's the things we do beforehand that count."

One of the films set to be nominated for a few Oscars this year (especially Mulligan's performance as Jenny), An Education is about a 16-year-old girl whose parents' goal is for her to get into Oxford. She falls for an older man who exposes her to his way of life, causing problems between how she wants to live and how her parents expect her to live.

48. Up (2009)

"You know, most people take a plane, but you're smart because you'll have all your TV and clocks and stuff."

After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl flies away on an unbelievable adventure, with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, unexpectedly in tow. Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain. Pixar's movies never cease to amaze, touch, and please me. Up is no different. I laughed, I cried, and I got to watch it in 3D.

47. The Prestige (2006)

"Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call 'The Prestige'."

At the dawn of the 20th century, rival magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden endeavor to reveal each other's secrets. Obsessed by the escalating competition, the two illusionists begin to perform increasingly risky tricks, which soon turn deadly. The first (of 3) Christopher Nolan films to appear in my Top 50, The Prestige, which I got confused with The Illusionist that came out around the same time, has a nice twist ending (which I may have spoiled too much, but don't let it stop you from seeing it) that I love.

46. The Departed (2006)

"When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?"

To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in Martin Scorsese's multiple Oscar-winning crime thriller. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them. I know it's a remake of Infernal Affairs, which I've seen - but The Departed's atmosphere, cinematography, and overall feel is a lot better.

45. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

"Your life is defined by its opportunities... even the ones you miss."

David Fincher directs this Oscar-nominated tale of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) -- a man who was born old and wrinkled but grows younger as the years go by -- with a screenplay adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The plot throws linear conventions upside down to explore love, loss and memory from the perspective of a character living under incredibly unique -- and unexpectedly difficult -- circumstances. I relate Benjamin Button to Forrest Gump, where you're given the stories of his entire life that'll make you cry at the end (except Forrest Gump didn't make me cry...)

44. Mystic River (2003)

"The reality is we're still 11 year old boys locked in a cellar imagining what our lives would have been if we'd escaped."

Tragedy reunites childhood friends Sean, Dave, and Jimmy when they're linked together in the Boston-based murder investigation of Jimmy's teenage daughter. But while detective Sean works the case, Jimmy launches his own quest for the truth. Really all that I think about with this film is "oh, coincidences". (Yes, I know my little added-on tidbits are getting shorter and shorter, haha)

43. Up in the Air (2009)

"How much does your life weigh?"

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) racks up major miles flying around the country firing employees on behalf of companies. But he faces losing the job he savors to Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) -- and losing the ability to escape emotional ties to anything. A connection he builds with Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), however, might change his outlook on the future. I had to drag my family to go see this, which they ended up not liking it because of how it ended - but I loved it. Another 2009 film that's set to win a few Oscars.

42. 21 Grams (2003)

"How many lives do we live? How many times do we die? They say we all lose 21 grams... at the exact moment of our death. Everyone. And how much fits into 21 grams? How much is lost? When do we lose 21 grams? How much goes with them?"

A tragic car accident brings together three strangers -- a teacher (Sean Penn) with a weak heart, a former drug addict (Naomi Watts) turned housewife and an ex-con (Benicio Del Toro) who's found Christ -- forcing them to face their darkest fears, reevaluate their lives and seek redemption. A popular trend seems to be the "lives intertwining" (naming a few that aren't on this list are Crash and Babel) but 21 Grams shows how one event impacts many lives. 'Tis good.

41. Collateral (2004)

"Someday? Someday my dream will come? One night you will wake up and discover it never happened. It's all turned around on you. It never will. Suddenly you are old. Didn't happen, and it never will, because you were never going to do it anyway."

Max (Oscar nominee Jamie Foxx) only took a job as a taxi driver to make ends meet. But he's about to have his craziest day yet when he discovers that Vincent (Tom Cruise), who's just paid him a handsome sum to be driven around all night, is a hit man. Max took the money with an eye on getting out of his dead-end job and opening up his own business. But now, it's up to him to keep Vincent's last hit alive. Alright, I'll admit - towards the end it gets a little ridiculous, but overall it's an amazing movie that I owned since it was released on DVD, I just never got around to watching it until earlier this year.