I do love Shotgun Stories. There’s a lot of films I love from the past five years. But I guess I’m defining the question of great more selectively, as in, a film so great as you would add it to your list of top 20 of all time. If I’m defining “truly great” as merely a great movie I liked, I could easily click off 25 titles.
As I’m defining “the last 5 years” as 2004-present, I will say …
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Letters From Iwo Jima
Those are ‘10s’ on the scale of 1-10.
Munich and Little Children, Michael Clayton, The Wrestler, maybe Grizzly Man and Brokeback Mountain … I’d put at 9.75
Into the Wild, Charlie Wilson’s War, Away From Her and a few others, at 9.5
I very sorry friends. I not read very good when look at title topic. 5 years not 10. Me like Zodiac over No Country for Old Men, and think The New World also very much good. Please forgive me. I read more better next time yes.
Christopher Sepesy – Charlie Wilson’s War? Really? Please explain.
lol :)
(although I will say I enjoyed it more than The Seventh Seal and Grand Illusion).
Fredo Fredo Fredo always trying to be controversial.
What? That trash is nowhere near the perfection of either of those films, Fredo.
“Can you name a truly great american film in (of) the last 5 years?”
—of course.
This was in regards to a private discussion Sepesy and I had last night (and by “discussion” I mean him chastising me for not liking those films).
Haha I figured. I was just teasing.
Sepesy—I also liked Micheal Clayton a great deal. Very underrated film.
All from 2005: Brokeback Mountain, Good Night and Good Luck, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Three Burials is the only one that I think is nearly equal to There Will be Blood though.
Drag me to hell, Into the Wild, Winter Passing, Land of the Dead, The Life Aquatic, Children of Men. There are a few great American films that have came out in the last 5 years that will hold up to be classics but there is a lot of crap surrounding it. We are sorting through the movies of this generation so our kids don’t have too.
‘We are sorting through the movies of this generation so our kids don’t have too.’
When can we say ‘Mission Accomplished’?
About thirty years from now, Josh.
@Fredo — Charlie Wilson’s War … extraordinarily well-written script by Aaron Sorkin; lighthanded yet tight direction by Mike Nichols; extremely informative and entertaining at once; Philip Seymour Hoffman being fantastic as always, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in what I consider to be the best screen acting either has done; cute Amy Adams; topical to today’s problems; good technicals; and a denouement that really works.
That’s why. This is a superb picture.
And, for the record … That wasn’t chastising. I was simply perplexed. :+)
So long as we defeat the Reels of Evil.
[Cue the patriotic music]
yea Clayton is incredible. And im sorry but (aside from No Country & THBB) Mystic River may be the greatest american film since Goodfellas…
Another vote for The Ass. of Jesse James by the Cow. Robert Ford and Zodiac.
Nice abbreviations Soybean.
Only a professor would use the word denouement! :)
Well, I guess I’m just as perplexed about your love about Charlie Wilson’s War (particularly the strength of the screenplay, which I felt was pretty blah) as you are for my disregard for Grand Illusion. I was equally disappointed with Nichols, particularly because I’ve been really impressed with his recent work (Angels in America, Wit, Primary Colors, The Birdcage – yeah I know, I use “recent” pretty liberally).
I will admit though, Hoffman was pretty fun in that film. And Amy Adams IS the definition of cute.
Oh, C’mon! Blah? The scene when he wants a drink in the Pakistani palace alone is anything but blah! And the toxic gas scotch bottle? The introductory speech at the dinner by Julia? Those are some golden moments, and, seriously, so much a notch above most of what’s coming out as scripts in recent vintage!
Denouement, denouement, denouement!
And so here stands my revised list:
Mystic River – like i said best American film since Goodfellas
Jesse James – any other year and it would have won an oscar
Good Night, And Good Luck – truely admirable performances and art direction
Brokeback Mountain – subdued yet monumental
United 93 – inspiring piece of art
In The Bedroom – i just loved it, sort of a personal favorite of the past 10 years
Aren’t you actually a professor, though, Christopher?
Who doesn’t love Grand Illusion? One must explain themselves on that… That is truly baffling. Almost as baffling as not loving Yi Yi. Two of the most deeply human films. Every moment suggests a depth, and love of humanity without falsity, or any contrivance. It happens so rarely, and I can’t imagine someone not loving them.
Not counting Pixar’s run, let’s say:
Before Sunset (Richard Linklater)
A History of Violence (David Cronenberg – not an American director, but surely it’s an American film)
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola)
Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood)
The New World (Terrence Malick)
No Country for Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen)
Rachel Getting Married (Jonathan Demme)
Zodiac (David Fincher)
Even if I saw a film with Julia Roberts giving a good performance, I’m not sure I would admit it to the world. lol.
Another good word is diagetic and non-diagetic (sound). I remember in film school my cinematography professor (who was a professional cameraman on big Hollywood films) would say NO ONE ever says “diagetic” or “non-diagetic” on set. Those words are strictly for the classroom. I always thought that was funny and any time I hear that word on set, I yell at people. hahaha
Fredo, I find it interesting that you consider The Battle of Algiers to be one of the best films of all time, and then dislike Grand Illusion. I believe they have a very similar message with one difference. Algiers is saying in war both sides are bad, and Grand Illusion is saying in war both sides are good.
That may be true but the style of the films are very different. The Battle of Algiers was a revolutionary film in terms of cinema verite and like Z, that’s a big selling point for my enjoyment and appreciation of the film.
And plus, I like Italians more than Frogs.
the Station Agent was a beautiful film and easily comes to mind.
Somehow Sekzee has managed to slip through this conversation, mentioning twice that “Mystic River” is the best American film since “Goodfellas”, and no one has taken him to task for it.
Sekzee, you are a bad, bad person.
Having said that, I’m genuinely interested to know why hold that particular opinion on “Mystic River”.
Dylan Cassidy
The Wrestler. The Hurt Locker. Knocked Up. Drag Me To Hell. Match Point. Milk.