"What is Jerusalem? Your holy places lie over the Jewish temple that the Romans pulled down; the Muslim places of worship lie over yours! Which is more holy? The wall? The mosque? The sepulchre? Who has claim? No one has claim!"

Bonus 1: Kingdom of Heaven (2005) d. Ridley Scott


"This isn't the last song, there's no violin....the choir is so quiet, and no one takes a spin....it's the next to last song...and that's al--"

Bonus 2: Dancer In The Dark (2000) d. Lars Von Trier

The Wackness (2008)

George Washington (2000)

CASINO ROYALE (2006) d. Campbell

DEAD MAN'S SHOES (2004) d. Meadows

A continuation of my theme, but good films in their own right.

The Patriot (2000)

Capote (2006)

Hustle & Flow (2005)

The Aviator (2004)

The Host (2006)

The Descent (2005)

Hunger (2008)

Lady Vengeance (2005)

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) - Larry Charles

8 Mile (2002) - Curtis Hanson

Irreversible (2003)

Yi Yi (2000)

So many to choose from...

"But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." I assume you dream, Preston.

Equilibrium (2002) - Kurt Wimmer

My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub.

Inside Man (2006) - Spike Lee

The Mexican (2001, Gore Verbinski)

Wonder Boys (2000, Curtis Hanson)

One for fun and one serious one.

[Rec] (2007)

Because what's an '00s draft without a first person, digital horror film. This is the best.

The Lives of Others (2007)

I find it hard to believe that the best surveillance film of the decade didn't go in this post-9/11 / Patriot Act world.

Stardust (Matthew Vaughn, 2007)

Road to Perdition (Sam Mendes, 2002)

Before Sunset (2004) - dir. Richard Linklater

• This was the one I kicked myself for forgetting.

Shattered Glass (2003) - dir. Billy Ray

• I love that this movie uses my dislike of of Hayden Christensen as an advantage!

Brokeback Mountain (2005) - dir. Ang Lee

• I wasn't that taken with this film, but I was still surprised that it wasn't picked.  So I'm picking it!

"It's okay! This is where they make the drugs!"

Bad Boys II - Michael Bay - 2003

"I'm being post-modern, before it's fashionable."

24 Hour Party People - Michael Winterbottom - 2002

"What we do in life echoes in eternity."

Gladiator (2000) - d. Ridley Scott

- It vexes me that this wasn't picked. I'm terribly vexed.

----------------------

"Happy Anniversar-eeeee... To Sally and Jooooe.... Don't split up agaaaaiiiin.... 'Coz we like the food."

The Anniversary Party (2001) - d: Alan Cumming/Jennifer Jason Leigh

- Would have drafted this myself as a "Husbands and Wives" pick for my draft, but decided to give Machuca deserved props instead.

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) dir. Don Coscarelli

Wall-E (2008) dir. Andrew Stanton

Snubs:

A favorite comedy: Best in Show (2000) - Christopher Guest

A guilty-pleasure Oscar-baiter: Billy Elliott (2000) - Stephen Daldry

24 Hour Party People (2002) - dir. Michael Winterbottom
Black Dynamite (2009) - dir. Scott Sanders

Chopper (2000) - dir. Andrew Dominik

"Prove it."

Bad Santa (2003) d: Terry Zwigoff

"Welcome to the Suck."

Jarhead (2005) d: Sam Mendes

SNUBBED, I TELL YOU!

Snubs:

One genuine horror-comedy classic:   Slither (2006)

One genuine horror AND/OR comedy classic:   Orphan (2009)

Snubs:

War of the Worlds (2005) - dir. Steven Spielberg

Super Troopers (2001) - dir. Jay Chandrasekar

A beautiful mind

Man on Fire

Star Trek (2009)

Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) - dir. Jim Jarmusch

99 Francs (2007) - dir. Jan Kounen

Had I not gone with the animation theme.

Despite the backlash I still would have considered  Juno (2007)

and for a more serious film: Un Prophète (2009)

BIRTH.

CACHE.

Apocalypto (2006)

The Promotion (2008)

Had the busiest day ever. Let's get to business.

I never said thank you.

And you'll never have to.

Batman Begins (Nolan, 2005)

---------------------------------

Look, we need to take down either of these cartels: either Juarez or Tijuana. Not because they're a symbol but hell, they are a symbol, but because we need to send a message! When Carlos Ayala hires Michael Addler as his legal defense, I send Ben Williams down to San Diego as a prosecutor, why? Because it's a symbol. It's a symbol that we are sending the best! It's a message that we're going after their top guys.

Traffic (Soderbergh, 2000)
 

And just because:

---------------------------------

Stuart, now is not the time for dick measuring!

Taken (Morel, 2009)