Top 10 Underrated Films of the 2000s
Some fantastic movies were released in the 2000s; these are the ones no one saw. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Movies of the 2000s. For this list, we're looking at movies released between 2000 and 2009 that remain mysteriously overlooked or forgotten over the years, despite their quality.
Special thanks to our user Kadeem Gomez for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Underrated Films of the 2000s
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Some fantastic movies were released in the 2000s; these are the ones no one saw. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Movies of the 2000s. For this list, we’re looking at movies released between 2000 and 2009 that remain mysteriously overlooked or forgotten over the years, despite their quality.
#10: “Narc” (2002)
Everyone loves a good gritty cop drama, and “Narc” is just that, which begs the question: why isn’t “Narc” more popular? The film stars Ray Liotta and Jason Patric as two detectives who are trying to find the killer of an undercover police officer. The co-stars turn in electrifying performances, portrayingthe dirty, unethical cop figure with gusto and intensity. While critics praised the movie, it only ever showed in fewer than 1,000 theatres and therefore didn’t reach a wide audience. It saw little recognition on video either and eventually faded into obscurity.
#9: “Brick” (2005)
Directed by Rian Johnson and starring a younger, subtler Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “Brick” is one of the best thrillers of the decade – that no one saw. Playing out like a hardboiled detective story set in high school, “Brick” borrows heavily from classic noir stories in the vein of Dashiell Hammett, and is every bit as entertaining and complex. It has a well-developed story with rich characters, and the high school setting provides a great modern twist onthe old school detective story. Today, it’s a cult classic.
#8: “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” (2002)
Directed by George Clooney and with an all-star cast that includes Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, and Clooney himself, it really is a wonder why this movie never caught on. The film follows the biographical story of Chuck Barris, a game show host who claimed to be an assassin working for the CIA.The actors are all fantastic, most notably the perpetually underrated Sam Rockwell as Barris, and the sets and cinematography capture the era perfectly. Mixing dark humor with intense drama, the movie finds a perfect balance and creates a unique, sadly overlooked experience.
#7: “I’m Not There” (2007)
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Inspired by the life of timeless performer Bob Dylan, this movie uses non-traditional techniques to achieve its distinctive feel. Many famous actors portray the different facets of Dylan, including Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, but it’s Cate Blanchett who steals the show, receiving an Academy Award nomination for her stellar performance. It’s a weird and intimidating film, but it’s all for the sake of artistic merit, and in that sense, the film is flawless. Dylan even praised the movie and its actors in a Rolling Stone article, calling them “incredible,” so at least it wasn’t overlooked by its subject.
#6: “Watchmen” (2009)
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This movie has superheroes and a dark, complex story. What more could you want? The story follows a team of retired superheroes in an alternate history at the peak of the Cold War. Like Director Zack Snyder’s previous movie “300,” he adapted the graphic novel flawlessly and perfected its dark look for the screen. It’s a visual masterpiece featuring strong performances and an intriguing mystery, but somewhat underwhelmed at the box office due to its tiring length and controversially violent content.
#5: “Treasure Planet” (2002) This animated feature, as well as the overlooked “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” played a hand in Disney’s brief downfall during the early 2000s. Sometimes the masses simply underappreciate great art in its time, though. A futuristic take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” the film follows a young boy as he battles the elements of space to reach a prosperous planet. It’s a visually wondrous film, and while critics liked its sense ofhumor, excitement and pace, audiences didn’t: the film only amassed $109 million on a $140 million budget, making it a financial bomb and ensuring its planned sequel was cancelled. #4: “Moon” (2009)
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Another movie with another amazing performance by Sam Rockwell, “Moon” is a grossly underrated science fiction film that attempts to tackle heavy themes and questions while looking great in the process. The movie follows an astronaut as he faces a crisis after being alone for three years on themoon. It’s a dark and lonely picture filled with elegant, spacious cinematography, but it’s Rockwell’s Oscar-snubbed performance that pulls at our heartstrings. It could be considered the next great sci-fi experience, if people would actually watch it.
#3: “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005)
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An overlooked classic in the crime comedy genre, this movie centers on a thief who is posing as an actor in Hollywood that gets caught in the middle ofa murder investigation. Co-stars Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer share terrific chemistry, and the movie features one of Downey Jr.’s most overlooked roles, as he is truly hilarious. The comedy is sharp and the action is gritty, with the movie blending so many genres together it becomes a biting satire on classic hard-edged stories.
#2: “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004)
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This movie was written and directed by Wes Anderson, and features all of his trademark quirkiness, eccentricity and originality, which make for a fun, if awkward, time. It’s filled with terrific performances by an all-star cast, most notably Bill Murray as Steve, a man who sets out to find the shark that killed his friend. While Wes is becoming more popular today, this movie proved too strange for audiences, receiving mixed reviews and bombing with a box-office performance of only $35 million. Before we look at our most underrated movie of the 2000s, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Zodiac” (2007) - “25th Hour” (2002) - “The Fall” (2006) - “Open Range” (2003) - “Lord of War” (2005)
#1: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (2007)
A unique title for a unique movie, it lets the audience know right away what they’re getting into, which is a terrific story leading up to the titular historic killing of Jesse James by Robert Ford. Starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, respectively, they become their characters through hypnotic performances, and the movie is completed by memorably beautiful and desolate cinematography. It deserves a spot in the pantheon of great Westerns, but sadly, it bombed at the box office and has failed to make an impression. Do you agree with our list? What movie from the 2000s do you think is underrated? For more great top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.