My Ballot For The New York Times Readers' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
Last summer, The New York Times invited readers to assemble their own ballots for a “Readers’ Choice” edition of its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. For my ballot, I picked 10 somewhat random films from this century that I had watched (several of which have directly influenced my approach to filmmaking) and submitted them for consideration. A few of my choices ultimately appeared on The New York Times’ official list, while others received honorable mentions. Below are the ten films I selected, presented in alphabetical order, along with brief notes on why I consider each one to be among the standout films of the century.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Directed by Ron Howard
Russell Crowe in Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind (Universal Pictures)
Released in the months following one of the most significant events in world history, it was no surprise that Ron Howard’s biopic about famed mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe) and his struggle with schizophrenia would resonate so deeply with viewers who have faced similar challenges. It’s easy to see why it won the Academy Award for Best Picture, thanks to an extremely honest and largely accurate on-screen depiction of mental illness and a moving portrayal of Nash’s perseverance in overcoming his obstacles.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
The cast of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The second chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s epic sci-fi saga is probably the best sci-fi film of the century so far. As our hero Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) continues his mission to wage war against House Harkonnen, we are treated to magnificent visual wonder, masterfully lensed by Greig Fraser, accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s brooding, immersive score, making this installment surpass its 2021 predecessor across virtually every creative and technical front.
The Fabelmans (2022)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans (Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment)
Steven Spielberg is known for his cinematic depictions of childhood and growing up (E.T., Empire of the Sun, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, among others), but what sets The Fabelmans apart is that not only does he tell a story about that subject, he puts the camera in front of his own, symbolically. A fictionalized look at his early years, we follow teenage filmmaker Sammy Fabelman as he discovers his passion for cinema, the struggles in his family and school life, and everything that shapes his future. Featuring great performances from Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Judd Hirsch, with a memorable closing scene cameo from David Lynch to boot, this film should be required viewing for all young aspiring filmmakers everywhere. And with this being one of the influences of the narrative feature I’m developing (The Lens Within Me), I’m happy Spielberg got to make this film at the time he did.
La La Land (2016)
Directed by Damien Chazelle
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land (Lionsgate)
After wowing the world with Whiplash two years earlier, Damien Chazelle got to show the larger part of his “musical side” with this beautifully-made tribute to the Golden Age of Movie Musicals, jazz and Hollywood itself. The chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling fits like a glove the moment they first sing and dance together in the iconic “A Lovely Night” scene, as we follow their characters’ own separate journeys that share the same goal: making art, even if it is different mediums. Accompanied by the music of Justin Hurwitz and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (the latter two in their breakthrough year following the Broadway launch of Dear Evan Hansen), La La Land soars gracefully as one of the best musicals ever to light up the screen, making “the fools who dream” feel seen and heard.
Les Misérables (2012)
Directed by Tom Hooper
The cast of Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables (Universal Pictures)
Sure, it may have its flaws, including a certain miscast, but Tom Hooper managed to defy all the conventions of how film adaptations of stage musicals are filmed, audio recorded and stylized with his epic take on the musical that rightfully earned its place as “the world’s most popular.” Adapted in turn from Victor Hugo’s classic tale, Les Misérables reaches the stratosphere by presenting the story through a modern documentary-like lens, allowing us to feel the real chaos, tension and upheaval of France in the early 1800s, culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion. Hugh Jackman’s take on Jean Valjean feels fresh and Anne Hathway’s take on Fantine deserved the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award thanks to her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream.” Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried make the perfect Marius and Cosette. Russell Crowe’s performance as Javert, despite being on-key 90% of the time, is simply there to complete the cast lineup. In the end, this film has since played a major influence on my visual style as a filmmaker ever since my first viewing.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus revolutionizes the traditional period biopic with all the bells-and-whistles to make it also feel like the thrill ride of your life. Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, “the father of the atomic bomb,” as well as striking visuals of Hoyte Van Hoytema, make this blockbuster just as memorable than it could ever possibly be.
Past Lives (2023)
Directed by Celine Song
Teo Yoo and Greta Lee in Celine Song’s Past Lives (A24)
Celine Song’s semi-autobiographical directorial debut is this century’s Before Sunrise. A meditative look at relationships, complete with a beautiful visual style and great performances from Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro, it’s a perfect 106 minutes of cinematic art.
WALL·E (2008)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
The titular robot from Andrew Stanton’s WALL·E (Disney/Pixar)
Disney/Pixar’s sci-fi adventure filled with comedy, robot romance and a powerful environmental message is a multi-generational modern classic. Its story structure even mirrors the history of cinema itself, from the era of silent film with extremely limited dialogue during the first half-hour, to the entrance of holograms, tablets and of course, artificial intelligence and its true sinister nature. The homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey during the climax is the icing on the cake.
West Side Story (2021)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
Taking on a second adaptation of a musical whose first film went on to become the most Oscar-winning musical film ever is no easy task. And Steven Spielberg, for his first official film in this genre, succeeded, all while putting his own visual flair on the beloved source material. Featuring the breakthrough performances of Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose, the latter of whom repeating the awards season success of Rita Moreno winning the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award over 60 years earlier for the same role, this version of West Side Story is much stronger in the historical context of its setting while keeping the classic Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim score intact.
Whiplash (2014)
Directed by Damien Chazelle
Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)
The feature film that put Damien Chazelle on the map, Whiplash is a complete jazz symphony itself, its frenetic editing matching the on-screen tension between Andrew (Miles Teller) and his jazz instructor Fletcher (J. K. Simmons). These two performances, alongside its musical score, are the driving forces that make this one of the best of the century.
