The image you see above represents the “also rans.”
To see my full list, I must whisk you away to UGO.com where you can flame me right there on the page.
Okay, fine, if you just want a thumbnail:
11) There Will Be Blood
10) 1408
9) Once
8) Rescue Dawn
7) Knocked Up
6) No Country For Old Men
5) 300
4) Charlie Wilson’s War
3) 3:10 To Yuma
2) Sunshine
1) The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
> 11) There Will Be Blood
Lots of brilliance, but I think I agree with your original assessment that it didn’t add up to much. If I had left before the third act I might have declared it a minor classic. But there’s a lot of silliness and inconsequence towards the end. I think, as always, PTA is a much better director than he is a writer.
> 10) 1408
Good enough, but … top 10?
> 9) Once
I think I saw this too late … after everyone was telling me how awesome it was. I liked a lot of it, but — isn’t this the one where you described the lead as a “volcano of talent” or something? Just too much hyperbole around this good little movie.
> 8) Rescue Dawn
Yeah, this one is good.
> 7) Knocked Up
Funny, but at the macro level the writing is just too thin for a top ten.
> 6) No Country For Old Men
Yummy stuff.
> 5) 300
Surely you chest.
> 4) Charlie Wilson’s War
Good, old-fashioned Hollywood professionalism. A nice piece of work.
> 3) 3:10 To Yuma
Good, but falls apart in the third act. Russell Crowe’s character goes in a very boring direction.
> 2) Sunshine
Another one with third act troubles! Liked it until it got all weird at the end.
> 1) The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Also wins the eye-candy award.
Thank you for remembering Rescue Dawn. Was beginning to think I was the only one!
-mullins
300 before No Country??? Did I read this list backwards? Is that Jordan talking or UGO talking? Surely, you are just baiting controversy!