The 21st Century’s 100 greatest films

BBC Culture ^ | August 23, 2016

[EveningStar]

...Film-making today, whether massively expensive or made with tiny budgets, shot on celluloid or video, is thriving artistically as much as it ever has. But today you’ll find greater diversity in the kinds of films being made, if not in the people who are making them. That’s why we, the editors of BBC Culture, decided to commission a poll of critics to determine the 100 greatest films of the 21st Century. Last year, we asked critics to name the greatest American films of all time, and we were surprised that only six films made since 2000 made the top 100. Is there a feeling that time sanctifies a classic? Perhaps. But this time, we wanted to prove that this century has given us films that will stand the test of time, that you will continue to think about and argue about if only you give them a chance and watch them...

[Jack Hammer]

Only seen a few of these - and they were mediocre, at best.

[YogicCowboy]

In a word, no.

Although I occasionally watch a good, old movie (e.g., The Magnificent Seven), I mostly watch TV on DVD.

[YogicCowboy]

I think you were too generous.

[YogicCowboy]

“An almost irredeemably pretentious list of unremarkable movies.”

In other words, a critic’s wet dream.

[YogicCowboy]

You’re so right!

I am a former comic-book nerd boy, and I have just about given up on all these so-called franchises: formulaic propaganda.

[Sybeck1]

As long as The Farce Awakens isn’t on there I’m OK

[EveningStar]

How many of us are going to be around in 2100?

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’ve only seen about 20% of these films. “Lost In Translation”, “ The Royal Tannenbaum’s “ and “Hurt Locker” belong. They left out “ No Country For Old Men” and “Gangster Squad”.

[Stentor]

61. Under the Skin (Jonathan Glazer, 2013) :: this movie was absolutely horrible...it's on the list solely because it's "indie" and Scarlett Johannsen is naked throughout

You may be a gentleman, but you a certainly a scholar.

[YogicCowboy]

While I believe in freedom, and do not hold it against anyone, I personally chose to boycott all Godfather movies; I have never seen any of them.

I could tell from audience reactions that Hollywood had glorified and canonized gangster lawlessness, and made the villains the heroes.

I have admittedly found it disturbing that so many conservatives - and Christians - have eulogized these movies as among the best of all time.

However, as I said, I believe in freedom...

[SgtHooper]

I laugh each time when Shuger (?) confronts that “robust” lady who will not give him the address he wants. She has no clue Shuger would kill her in a flash, yet she dresses him down, and he leaves only because he heard someone else outside. LMAO!

[YogicCowboy]

If Hillary gets elected, they may indeed become the best of the 21st Century (and of a mediocre lot): Thereafter, everything would be propaganda to immortalize the Obama regime and its mores, and affirm the Clinton agenda and its motives; the Social (In)Justice Warriors would be emboldened to complete their usurpation of popular culture.

[SgtHooper]

I enjoyed A History of Violence in which he starred.

[SoothingDave]

It’s a great movie. But you definitely don’t understand the beginning until you’ve seen the entire thing. Clementine’s hair color helps track the time.

[katana]

I'd recommend Eastern Promises as well. Plays a Russian Mafia member. Plenty of good plot twists and excellent cast.

[Albion Wilde]

The Godfather movies went a bit deeper than that. Specifically, they drew parallels between working-class and immigrant crime and the crimes of the Establishment classes, whether political or religious. The third one in the series was panned by many; but I particularly liked it, where the corrupted, vengeful son Michael searches for redemption, going all the way to the Vatican to confess, and ultimately to suffer some retribution for his crimes.

[oh8eleven]

:)

[YogicCowboy]

I actually perused the list.

I am relieved to say that I have only seen 1 of the 100: The Dark Knight (which I thought was excellent).

I actively avoid the kind of films that would have me labelled as cultured, nuanced, enlightened, et cetera, by the self-appointed leftist elite.

I am safe for now.

[upsdriver]

Wow. I have seen only 2 of them. I don’t go to movies often.

I've only seen three and two of those were because they were on Netflix. (Amelie and Lost in Translation) The other one was Inglorious Bastards. I watch a lot of movies, I guess my tastes are different than the BBC.

[Albion Wilde]

We seem among the more prolific movie viewers on this thread. Here’s my list; I see we have a few duplications:

96. Finding Nemo
95. Moonrise Kingdom
93. Ratatouille
90. The Pianist
88. Spotlight
79. Almost Famous
68. The Royal Tenenbaums
62. Inglourious Basterds
53. Moulin Rouge!
35. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
22. Lost in Translation
10. No Country for Old Men
3. There Will Be Blood

I’ve seen one of them three times. Does that count?

Here are some additional films of this century NOT on the list that to me were worth seeing:

O Brother Where Art Thou
Hotel Rwanda
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Get Low
The Passion of the Christ
One Night with the King
The Queen
Amazing Grace
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Cold Mountain
Gods and Generals
The Iron Lady
Julie & Julia
American Sniper