# The Onion's best films of the decade **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931 "2009-12-04T01:40:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/21 "2009-12-04T17:09:25Z")
> [@Talon\_Karrde](#): > > I’m glad _No Country for Old Men_ is on the list and is as high as it is, but I’d probably put it as my #1. I think it should at least be above _There Will Be Blood_. Those two movies were the ones I thought were the most inflated, overrated movies of the decade, so I was a bit disappointed to see them rated so highly, especially No Point for that Old Film. Other than that, and the woeful underrating of Dark Knight and omission of Let the Right One In and Amelie, it’s a good list. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/22 "2009-12-04T17:29:38Z")
They have really good taste, I’m probably going to check out the ones I haven’t seen. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/23 "2009-12-04T22:00:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Here, for comparison purposes, is [Paste’s Top 50 list](http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html). The Departed? _Little Miss Sunshine???_ Are you fucking kidding me? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/24 "2009-12-04T22:16:23Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > They have really good taste, I’m probably going to check out the ones I haven’t seen. Me too, though they seem to like some pretty dark fare, which I’m not good at watching, even if I know it’s objectively good. I could take me a while, too, as I don’t watch a lot of movies. The ones on their list that I had seen definitely packed a punch, though. (I also agree with their #1, even though I haven’t seen it since it came out, and I don’t if I can watch it again.) ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/25 "2009-12-04T22:20:36Z")
Of those 50 movies I’ve only seen 12 and only ‘The Dark Knight’ at a theater. I haven’t seen any of the top 3. Surprised me a bit, I still don’t have any interest in seeing the one’s I’ve missed. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/26 "2009-12-04T22:49:25Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Any such list which doesn’t contain **“Let the Right One In”** cannot be taken seriously. Agreed, particularly when the token Swedish movie is ‘Together’, which is a good movie, but pretty much like an extended episode of a good TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/27 "2009-12-04T22:52:46Z")
\*Decent list, the only list better than that iss one that I would put together :). My #1 would be _There Will Be Blood_. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/28 "2009-12-04T23:08:13Z")
I liked the list. **American Psycho** and **Waking Life** were the only two that I thought didn’t belong. > [@Hamlet](#): > > Other than that, and the woeful underrating of Dark Knight and omission of Let the Right One In and Amelie, it’s a good list. FWIW, **Amilie** was included in the [Almost the best films of the decade list](http://www.avclub.com/articles/almost-the-best-films-of-the-00s-orphans-and-perso,35939/2/) **Let the Right One In** was a good movie, but I wouldn’t have counted it in the top 50 either. Course no ones going to agree on the top 50 list any way. And of course, the list was probably compiled a few weeks ago, so we can forgive the omission of **Ninja Assassin** since they probably didn’t have a chance to see it when the wrote the article. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/29 "2009-12-04T23:49:02Z")
Haven’t even finished scrolling the list, but I was so pleasantly surprised to see The Prestige that I came here. I thought I was the only person who had seen it, much less liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/30 "2009-12-05T00:11:47Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Any such list which doesn’t contain **“Let the Right One In”** cannot be taken seriously. My thoughts exactly. I thought **Brick** should have been on that list too. I did not see Dogville, Requiem for a Dream, or In Bruges either. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/31 "2009-12-05T00:53:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Bizarre thing about the list is that there are no 2009 films in it, so it’s a bit incomplete. > > Or maybe movies this year really sucked. Doubtful. My favorite movie this year, (500) Days of Summer, would have been beloved by the people who created the list (IMO). ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/32 "2009-12-05T01:06:27Z")
Yeah, that’s a good list. 25th Hour being number 2 is a great choice. Though after seeing that I have to say Bamboozled is conspicuously absent. Like any such list we could kvetch about what belongs and what doesn’t, and about the order, but it’s a really great list with some surprises on it. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/33 "2009-12-07T00:07:59Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Doubtful. My favorite movie this year, (500) Days of Summer, would have been beloved by the people who created the list (IMO). Scott Tobias, one of the contributors to the list, gave it a [B-](http://www.avclub.com/articles/500-days-of-summer,30422/). > [@mswas](#): > > Yeah, that’s a good list. 25th Hour being number 2 is a great choice. Though after seeing that I have to say Bamboozled is conspicuously absent. Like any such list we could kvetch about what belongs and what doesn’t, and about the order, but it’s a really great list with some surprises on it. I really like the AV Club. The writers are enthusiastic about what they like and they aren’t afraid to go against what’s considered cool. The fact that they included A.I. is a pretty good example of that. ---
**Author:** ![Pulp\_Friction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@Pulp\_Friction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pulp_Friction)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/34 "2009-12-07T00:28:36Z")
I’ve seen 31 of the 50. **Why Is It In There??:** A.I. Punch Drunk Love **Why Is Is Not In There??:** Juno In Bruges Up In America The Bridge **Glaring Omissions:** Once Lars and the Real Girl ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/35 "2009-12-08T05:10:24Z")
> [@Talon\_Karrde](#): > > I really like the AV Club. The writers are enthusiastic about what they like and they aren’t afraid to go against what’s considered cool. The fact that they included A.I. is a pretty good example of that. For a long time I couldn’t stand Nathan Rabin. Mostly early-mid 2000s. At this time he seemed to ONLY review rap and hip-hop, and like every second review he’d say “THIS is the MOST IMPORTANT album of the DECADE. NO, WAIT. THE CENTURY. Hell, I’ll say it’s better than any rock album. EVER RELEASED.” He did get better, and he’s a good writer, so I mostly enjoy his pieces now. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/36 "2009-12-10T17:23:41Z")
I’m surprised that **Monster** isn’t on the list. I don’t want to see it ever again, but it was a stunningly good movie. I also think at least one Clint Eastwood directed movie should be on the list. **Unforgiven** , **Million Dollar Baby** , or **Mystic River** would be good candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/37 "2009-12-10T17:32:17Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > I’m surprised that **Monster** isn’t on the list. I don’t want to see it ever again, but it was a stunningly good movie. > > I also think at least one Clint Eastwood directed movie should be on the list. **Unforgiven** , **Million Dollar Baby** , or **Mystic River** would be good candidates. \*\*Unforgiven came out in the early 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![jordanr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@jordanr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordanr2)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/38 "2009-12-10T17:39:01Z")
Not sure why, but I expected more from them. A few things I like, balanced out with an awful lot I dislike or to which I’m indifferent. Apichatpong Weeraseethakul, at least one of his films from this decade, belongs on any such list (instead we get two titles by the vapid Christopher Nolan). The omission of Pedro Costa, Jia Zhang Ke, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Aleksandr Sokurov, Hong Sang-Soo, Bruno Dumont, and Claire Denis (in favor of things like _United 93_) is a sin. _What Time Is It There?_ seems to be a favorite on a lot of these lists, but I like _Goodbye Dragon Inn_ and _The Wayward Cloud_ better. At least they chose _Gerry_ over _Milk_, though _Elephant_ was probably Van Sant’s best this decade. As the comments acknowledge, no Guy Maddin or _Inland Empire_? Ridiculous. They went for the wrong Lukas Moodysson film (they call his recent work “didactic,” but _A Hole in My Heart_ has to be his most powerful). And no list like this is complete without _In Praise of Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/39 "2009-12-10T17:39:51Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > \*\*Unforgiven came out in the early 90’s. Hopefully, I will be forgiven for this faux pas. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931/40 "2009-12-10T23:23:09Z")
I feel like the only person on earth who didn’t like _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_. It had great acting and an interesting idea, but the wandering around Jim Carrey’s head part was just WAY too much of the movie. It was like a visual representation of someone telling you about their dream. “Yeah, you were there, but you weren’t YOU, you know? You were this guy I knew in fourth grade and then we were all chased around by giant pinecones and then we went to the beach my cousin Fred was there…” BORING. If more of the film had been about the actual _storyline_, I would have liked it approximately eight thousand times more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onions-best-films-of-the-decade/519931.md?page=3)