re: 100 Best Films of the 21st Century, BBC Culture

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9. A Separation (Asghar Farhadi, 2011)
8. Yi Yi: A One and a Two (Edward Yang, 2000)
7. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
5. Boyhood (Richard Linklater, 2014)
4. Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001)
3. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007)
2. In the Mood for Love (Wong Kar-wai, 2000)
1. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)

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I disagree with all of these.

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Is this film really top-20 worthy? I know everyone seems to love it, but this seems like a pretty lofty ranking given the film's genre and style

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Nevermind the genre and style, the plot is abysmal. I loved the movie, but really? That was the conclusion? Just seemed like they couldn't figure out how it should end. Although it is a beautiful film in many ways

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Nevermind the genre and style, the plot is abysmal. I loved the movie, but really? That was the conclusion? Just seemed like they couldn't figure out how it should end. Although it is a beautiful film in many ways

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Mad Max knew what it was and accomplished what it set out to do with great competence. At no point was it trying to have much of a plot. It was just a vehicle for a visual show and action. I won't criticize something for not being what it wasn't trying to be.

That said it will never be one of my favorite movies, but I still think it should be congratulated for what it accomplished.

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10. Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog, 2005)

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and ill say again, NCFOM was terrible.

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At no point was it trying to have much of a plot. It was just a vehicle for a visual show and action.

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Well then it's a story that shouldn't be told. I hate this excuse for "good" films. This is an excuse for comedies where plot can take a back seat to jokes for the sake of entertainment or for action films where plot can take a back seat to visuals and action for the sake of entertainment, but to then say that that action movie or comedy is one of the best films of the last sixteen years is nonsensical to me. I loved Mad Max Fury Road, but if plot (and for that matter character) isn't important, then it can't be a great film. Film is a medium for story, and shouldn't be relegated to putting pretty images on screen. That's a bastardization of the intent of the medium.

Fwiw, I think Mad Max had a story to tell. I just think the creators lost direction toward the end and exchanged it in favor of technically shot, visually stunning, audibly breathtaking pieces of action. And to me, that means it's a great action movie, but not a top 100 movie.

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Film is a medium for story, and shouldn't be relegated to putting pretty images on screen.

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It's a medium for entertainment. The story that it told was the action and unfolding of the chase. It is a deconstruction of the typical convoluted presentation to its simple form of a chase. Details unimportant.

Think of the real roots of cinema where the wonder lay in the wonder of watching the recreation of reality in the picture show. It's the projection of our imagination into a real world form that we can watch. Think of the stunts of Buster Keaton. A person can just watch the clips to be captivated. Also, the stunts of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan or any of the martial arts people. It has its place as a separate genre.

If it had tried and failed to make a compelling story then I would critcize it, but I never got the impression that it did. They just needed an excuse to run over here then run back over there. In between it was a visual spectacle.

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but to then say that that action movie or comedy is one of the best films of the last sixteen years is nonsensical to me.

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Maybe it isn't one of the best movies of the last 16 years. That's up to what you want to value, and what you think makes something best.

Regardless, I tend to think that lists and rankings like this are pretty tedious. They are good for seeing what has been noteworthy and what has been forgettable.

Tree of life.

List is invalid

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Anybody have Whiplash in their top 100?

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I'd put it in the top 100, pretty easily.

Also there are way too few comedies on the list. I'd think there should be at least 10. If one comedy should have made the it on the list, I'd go with Hot Fuzz.

Pretty decent list, surprised to see Holy Motors so high at no. 16.

TSPDT has more comprehensive list, ranking the top 1000 of the 21st century.

LINK

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Tree of life.

List is invalid

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You're right, it should be ranked higher.