The XNUMXst century has brought us new stories in the cinema, neither better nor worse than those of the previous century, simply different.
Here we bring you the 30 most remarkable films of the XNUMXst century if order of preference, just in alphabetical order. Many more deserve to be among the best of the last 15 years, but what is clear is that these 30 films also deserve it.
The 30 best films of the XNUMXst century so far
'Boyhood (Moments of a Life)'
Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood' (2014) - United States
Last year we had a tape that passionate both critics and audiences, 'Boyhood' by Richard Linklater. After the romantic trilogy 'Before…' he finally won awards with a film that puts its director at the forefront.
Argument
The film is an approach to childhood and adolescence through Mason, who grows up in a home with separated parents and from whom we see 12 years, the same years that it took to shoot this film that uses the same interpreters after each temporal ellipsis.
'Buddha exploded out of shame'
'Buda az sharm foru rikht' by Hana Makhmalbaf (2007) - Iran
Hana Makhmalbaf, a member of the most famous family of Iranian cinema, shows us through this harsh film one of the biggest problems in her country, how difficult it is to study in Iran, especially if you are a girl. 'Buddha exploded out of shame' shows the importance of education, and not just the one received at school.
Argument
Baktay is a six-year-old girl who is beginning to be interested in going to school seeing how his neighbor reads the alphabets in front of his cave. On the way to school she meets some children who want to play wicked games with her such as stoning her, shooting her as they saw the Americans shoot, or destroying her as the Taliban did with the Buddha statue.
'The dark knight'
'The Dark Knight' by Christopher Nolan (2008) - United States
If Christopher Nolan has shown anything, it is that quality cinema is compatible with commercial cinema, his trilogy of the dark knight is a good sample of them and there is no choice but to highlight one of the films as the best of the century, the second installment is probably the best of the three.
Argument
With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and Prosecutor Harvey Dent, Batman returns to continue the war on crime in Gotham. Everything indicates that the good will triumph for once but it appears on the scene a new villain ready to bring chaos to town, the Joker.
'Road to Guantanamo'
'The Road to Guantanamo' by Michael Winterbottom (2006) - United Kingdom
After several films shaking the viewer such as 'In this World' ('In this World') or 'Code 46' ('Code 46'), Michael Winterbottom appeared at the Berlinale in 2006 with his most brutal film 'Road to Guantánamo', a film by A complaint about what happens behind the walls of the Guantánamo prison that he shot with the debutant Mat Whitecross at that time.
Argument
'Road to Guantánamo' tells the story of four British friends of Pakistani origin who travel to their country of origin for a wedding. While they enjoy those days to tour the country on vacation, they are stopped by American troops and transferred to the Guantánamo military base where they received humiliation and torture for two and a half years, from September 2001 to March 2004 when they were transferred to London and found not guilty.
'Canine'
'Kynodontas' by Giorgos Lanthimos (2009) - Greece
In recent years, Greek cinema has made a name for itself on the international scene beyond the filmography of Theo Angelopoulos. 'Canino' was the film that showed, at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the award for best film in the Un Certain Regard section, that Greek cinema has a lot to show.
Argument
A marriage educates her three adolescent children, two girls and a boy, with her own methods never having allowed them to leave the property and without receiving any influence from outside. Everything begins to get complicated with the curiosity of adolescence and with the arrival of the only person who has ever entered the house, a security guard who works in the father's factory.
'The hunt'
'Jagten' by Thomas Vinterberg (2012) - Denmark
As forceful as ever, Thomas Vinterberg premiered his film 'The Hunt' in 2012, a work that has not left anyone indifferent since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival where a tremendous Mads Mikkelsen won the best actor award.
Argument
'The hunt' tells the story of Lucas who at forty and recently divorced he is going to live an ordeal after a little lie from a girl from the school where he works.
'The white ribbon'
'Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte' by Michael Haneke (2009) - Germany
Another director who does not beat around the bush is Michael Haneke, the Austrian has been one of the most prominent European directors of the last decades and 'The white ribbon' is perhaps his roundest and most mature work.
Argument
The film, set in a Protestant town in northern Germany shortly before World War I, tells the story of a group of children who are involved in strange violent events, as if they were anticipating what was to come in their country and the rest of Europe.
'Black Swan'
Darren Aronofsky's 'Black Swan' (2010) - United States
Remarkable in almost everything he has done, Darren Aronofsky achieved recognition from the Hollywood Academy with his film 'Black Swan' a dark tale of self-demand and obsessive perfectionism.
Argument
'Black Swan' tells the story of Nina, an excellent New York ballet dancer who is losing her mind as she is subjected to her own demands, that of her mother and her director, and the rivalry with her partner Lily. The line between reality and fiction is getting thinner and thinner as the day of the big premiere approaches.
'Against the wall'
'Gegen Die Wand' by Fatih Akin (2004) - Germany
The German director of Turkish origin Fatih Akin jumped to the fore with his film 'Against the wall' which earned him the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlinale.
Argument
'Against the wall' counts the love story between two suicide bombers who have seen the attempt to end their life frustrated. On the one hand there is Cahit, a Turkish-German who is in his forties, an alcoholic and drug addict, on the other Sibel, a 20-year-old Muslim girl born in Hamburg who seeks to escape from the prison that her family's beliefs entail.
'Dogville'
'Dogville' by Lars Von Trier (2003) - Denmark
After exploring Dogma, a cinematographic movement that he created together with Thomas Vinterberg, the Danish director Lars Von Trier takes a 180 degree turn to breach the complete decalogue of cinema that I experienced so far and bring us a film that could seem totally artificial, since it is shot on a stage with the walls of the houses painted on the floor, but that gets to move like few others.
Argument
Running from a gang of gangsters Grace arrives in the remote town of Dogville where it is hidden by the community that has Tom as its spokesperson. In exchange for a place to live and a plate of food, Grace works for the residents of Dogville, but as the town is harassed by the police looking for the girl, she you will have to pay a higher price for protection.
'Dolls'
'Dolls' by Takeshi Kitano (2002) - Japan
The end of the 90s and the beginning of the new century were good years to Takeshi Kitano internationally speaking, since now he maintains the same level but his cinema hardly ever comes out outside his native Japan. 'Dolls' is probably the best film of that stage by the Japanese filmmaker.
Argument
'Dolls' collects three stories of love and pain, that of Sawako and Matsumoto, the one that was a happy couple and that now has had to make a vital decision due to the pressure of their meddlesome parents, that of Hiro, an old man who was in the past a head of the yakuza and who before he abandoned his beloved to prosper that of Haruna, who was a successful pop singer and who now spends her time looking at the sea with her bandaged face.
'Happy sixteen'
Ken Loach's 'Sweet Sixteen' (2002) - UK
'Happy Sixteen' is probably the last masterpiece of Ken Loach, the quintessential filmmaker of social cinema. This film is a good sample of what his filmography is.
Argument
The film tells the story of Liam, who has a crazy plan to get money. Liam is about to turn sixteen and his best gift will be his mother's release from jail, something that he wants to take advantage of so that his family starts from scratch, out of the reach of undesirable beings such as his own grandfather or his mother's boyfriend, but for that he needs money.
'The son's room'
'The son's room' by Nanni Moretti (2001) - Italy
The actor, director and screenwriter Nanni Moretti touched the sky in 2001 when he won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival with what we could consider his best film. A shocking film about the loss of a loved one.
Argument
Giovanni, a psychoanalyst who lives peacefully with his wife and two children in a small town in northern Italy, sees how his life changes radically when one day he cannot go for a run with his son Andrea as they usually do due to a call from a patient. That day Andrea goes diving with her friends and she will never return.
'Her'
'Her' by Spike Jonze (2013) - United States
Without a doubt, Spike Jonze's last work 'Her' was one of the films of the year 2013. The film starring Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson surprised everyone by the naturalness in which the year between a person and an artificial intelligence was narrated in it.
Argument
Set in the near future, 'Her' tells the story of Theodore, a lonely writer in the process of divorce who one fine day buys an advanced operating system with artificial intelligence that you will fall in love with.
'Iron 3'
'Bin-jip' by Kim Ki-duk (2004) - South Korea
South Korean director Kim Ki-duk has been one of the top filmmakers of the past two decades. Many are the works that deserve to be highlighted by this director, among them 'Hierro 3', a beautiful story that practically forgoes dialogue, especially between the two protagonists, who are the ones who best communicate in the story despite never talking to each other.
Argument
'Iron 3' tells the curious story between Tae-suk, a young person who occupies homes temporarily while the owners are absent and Sun-hwa, a beautiful young woman who was a model and whom Tae-suk saves from her husband's mistreatment.
'The island'
'Seom' by Kim Ki-duk (2000) - South Korea
Another notable film by Kim Ki-duk is the island, a much more visceral story than other much more recognized works by the director. A little gem.
Argument
'The island' tells the story of Hee-Jin, the owner of a remote fishing village. During the day Hee-Jin rents floating houses for fishing and sells food to the fishermen and at night he sells her body to the same customers. His life is peaceful until Huyn Shik, a former police officer who has just killed his lover, arrives at the scene to commit suicide.
'Lilya Forever'
'Lilja 4-Ever' by Lukas Moodysson (2002) - Sweden
Lukas Moodysson, as Ingmar Bergman himself pointed out, began his career as one of the most promising filmmakers of recent years. Finally it seems to have been a very good director quite irregular, although he has shown us masterpieces like 'Lilya Forever'.
Argument
The film revolves around Lilya, a 16-year-old Russian teenager who lives abandoned by her mother in a miserable city of the former Soviet Union. Hope comes into her life through an attractive boy a little older than her, Andrei, who promises her a better life in Sweden, although ultimately nothing is what it seemed.
'Melancholia'
'Melancholia' by Lars Von Trier (2011) - Denmark
Lars Von Trier is probably the best-known European director in the world, and he is so for his controversies, but also thanks to the high quality of his films. Practically all his filmography is remarkable, but we chose one of his best films is 'Melancholy'.
Argument
'Melancholy' tells the story of Justine and Michael who celebrate their wedding with a big party at the house of their sister and her brother-in-law just when a planet is discovered, which they will call Melancholy, which appears to be heading towards Earth.
'Mulholland Drive'
'Mulholland Drive' by David Lynch (2001) - United States
In such a list, the teacher David Lynch could not be absent. After interesting films like 'Blue Velvet', 'Wild at Heart' or 'Lost Highway', he finished off at the beginning of the new millennium with his masterpiece ' Mulholland Drive '.
Argument
The film narrates the story of young aspiring actress Betty who just arrived in Los Angeles in search of success. There, Rita, a woman who suffers from amnesia due to an accident she has just suffered, will come across in his life. Betty will help Rita to investigate who she is and what happened to her.
'Mystic River'
Clint Eastwood's 'Mystic River' (2003) - United States
Another director who could be on this list for multiple films is Clint Eastwood. In this case we choose 'Mystic River', one of the most acclaimed by the industry, critics and the public from the director.
Argument
'Mystic River' tells the story of three men, Jimmy Markum, Dave Boyle and Sean Devine, who played together as children on the street of a working-class neighborhood in Boston. Dave was something happened in those days that changed his life forever And now, 25 years later, tragedy brings them together again when Sean, who is now a cop, is given a new case, the murder of Jimmy's teenage daughter Katie.
'The child'
'L'enfant' by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne (2005) - Belgium
The Dardenne brothers have been, along with Ken Loach, the greatest exponents of social cinema in recent years. 'The boy' is one of his most complete films by these Belgian filmmakers.
Argument
The story revolves around Bruno and Sonia, a young couple of 20 and 18 years old respectively who live poorly in the suburbs of Liège, she receives an allowance, while he engages in petty theft with his gang.When she gives birth to little Jimmy, their son, she begins to wonder if Bruno will finally be able to behave responsibly or if he will continue with his bad life.
'Oldboy'
'Oldeuboi' by Park Chan-wook (2003) - South Korea
Park Chan-Wook got it with 'Oldboy' bring genre cinema to the general public, something that is not available to everyone. Violence has a space between great works, although this is not a cinema for all types of audiences.
Argument
The film begins with the kidnapping of Min-sik Choi, a businessman who spends 15 years of his life in a room with the only company of a television. One fine day he is released and his only goal is to find the person who did that to him and get revenge.
'Oslo, August 31'
'Oslo, 31. August' by Joachim Trier (2011) - Norway
With 'Oslo, August 31' we discovered in 2011 a promising director such as Joachim Trier, in the next few years we will see if he establishes himself as a great director or if he is off to a good start and that's it, but for the moment he has left us one of the best films of recent years.
Argument
'Oslo, August 31' follows in the footsteps of Anders, who is about to finish a detox treatment. As part of the treatment, he goes to the city for a job interview and there he meets people he has been with for a long time, which reminds him of the missed opportunities in his life. However, when night falls, everything becomes more hopeful when dreaming of finding love and starting a new life.
'Paranoid Park'
'Paranoid Park' by Gus Van Sant (2007) - United States
Gus Van Sant has interspersed in his career little jewels that have gone unnoticed with much more commercial but lower quality tapes. We could highlight other films by the filmmaker, such as 'Elephant', although 'Paranoid Park' deserves to be vindicated.
Argument
'Paranoid Park', a very free adaptation of 'Crime and Punishment', tells the story of a boy who is investigated for an incident that took place on the train tracks near a skate park in which a security guard was killed.
'Wild tales'
'Wild Tales' by Damián Szifrón (2014) - Argentina
Spanish-speaking cinema also deserves a space on this list and it is worth noting one of the great surprises of 2014, 'Wild Tales' by Damien Szifrón.
Argument
'Wild Tales' is a series of chapters in which hethe characters are pushed to the limit to such an extent that the situations in which they are involved end up exploding, be it a small conflict on the road or an unexpected guest at a wedding.
'Requiem for a Dream'
'Requiem for a Dream' by Darren Aronofsky (2000) - United States
Another Darren Aronofsky film that is worth highlighting on this list is 'Requiem for a Dream', probably the director's first film that reached all audiences after debuting with the bizarre 'Pi'.
Argument
The film tells us two stories that revolve around addiction, on the one hand we have Harry and his girl Marion who want to distribute drugs to earn money and get their own business but who end up hooked on the material that at first they only wanted to sell, on the other hand there is Harry's mother who is obsessed with participating in a television contest and for this she is determined to lose weight at any cost.
'Shame'
Steve McQueen's 'Shame' (2011) - UK
Another film about addictions that must be included in the best of the century is 'Shame', a film that stars a sex addict.
Argument
The film revolves around Brandon, a New Yorker with serious problems controlling his hectic sex life. His constant sexual encounters with strangers and prostitutes and his addiction to pornography do not allow him to relate in a healthy way and everything becomes complicated when his sister appears at his house without warning to stay for a while.
'Elite troop'
'Trope de Elite' by Jose Padilha (2007) - United States
Although the most famous film that has come to us from Brazil in recent decades is 'City of God', the best is probably 'Elite Troop', a film that brings us closer to the reality of the most unprotected place in the South American country.
Argument
The film is set in the late 90s and follows Captain Nascimento, who commanded a squad from the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), an elite body of the Rio de Janeiro police.
Brazil, 1997. Captain Nascimento (Wagner Moura) is in command of a squad of the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), an elite body of the Rio de Janeiro police. Its mission is to act in the favelas, in which the police, out of fear or corruption, do not intervene. Nascimento wants to leave his position as he is about to become a father, but first he needs to find a suitable replacement. To that end, he began to instruct two honest policemen and friends since childhood: Neto, who is a man of action, and Matías, who studies Law because he believes in the law. Together they will enter the BOPE and fulfill their missions to the end.
'The life of Adele'
'La vie d'Adèle' by Abdellatif Kechiche (2013) - France
Abdellatif's French film kechiche was one of the great surprises of 2013 since it won the Palme d'Or at the prestigious Cannes Festival, after which everything was controversial, awards and above all, excellent reviews, especially for its two protagonists.
Argument
'La vida de Adèle' tells the story of Adèle, a fifteen-year-old girl who discovers her sexuality when she meets Emma, a blue-haired young woman with whom she will start a relationship, which will lead her to suffer the judgments and prejudices of relatives and friends.
'Whiplash'
'Whiplash' by Damien Chazelle (2014) - United States
The last film that we highlight in this list is curiously one of the last to reach us, 'Whiplash'. The big surprise of the American awards season in which he won up to three Oscars, best editing, best supporting actor JK Simmons and best sound.
Argument
'Whiplash' tells the story of Andrew Neiman, an ambitious young man who is willing to leave his soul to become the best jazz drummer and for this he has to attend the classes of Terence Fletcher, a music teacher famous for his questionable ways.
Best XXI Century Comedies
Borat
We start the list of the best comedies of the XNUMXst century with this film directed by Larry Charles, Borat is a politically incorrect comedy. It highlights the participation of Sacha Baron Cohen, British actor who is characterized by developing extravagant characters.
In his plot, Sacha represents Borat, a journalist native to Kazakhstan who travels to the United States with the excuse of developing a report on its culture and political interests. However, Borat's true intention is evident in the opening minutes of the film, when falls in love with actress Pamela Anderson. They are the consequences of watching an episode of "Baywatch."
Directed under a documentary format, this film presents moments of North American idiosyncrasy from the perspective of the character. Critics and even international political delegates considered the piece an offense. But Borat's character makes the documentary fun thanks to his wacky comments.
My best friend's Wedding
Also known as the Ladies' War, this piece brings together the most prominent comedy actresses of the XNUMXst century. Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, she is chosen as a bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding. With a failed professional past, Annie takes her role seriously and plans to help organize the marriage, until she meets the rest of the bridesmaids and with them Helen (Roe Byren).
From there on, A war will break out between an emotional but messy Annie and the perfectionist Helen. It is about being the favorites of the bride and the group of ladies.
The film contains a perfect balance between humor, sensitivity and the absurd. This is largely due to the exquisite script written by Wiig herself and the interpretations of a cast chosen like a glove.
Mean Girls
Translated as Bad Girls, this movie starring Lindsay Lohan It is based on the life of Cady Heron, raised in the jungle. When he turns fifteen, his parents conclude that the young woman should go to high school and socialize with girls like her.
As expected, a Cady finds it very difficult to blend into the new habitat. Advances and technology aside, his new life still reminds him a lot of the jungle in which he lived. Competing for popularity in a high school full of teenagers is something new to her. But in the jungle they also struggled to survive.
To add more difficulty to everything, Cady falls in love with a boy, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), who happens to be Regina George's (Rachel McAdams) ex-boyfriend), the most popular girl in the whole center. Jealousy of this will be a real torment for Cady.
Shaun of the Dead
This British comedy, also known as Zombies Party, is a parody of zombie movies from the early XNUMXst century. Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, tells the story of two friends who fight a battle with all the zombies of London to save the lives of their family and friends closer. Their plan is to take shelter in their favorite bar until they are rescued by the British Guard; However, the plan must change when they discover that the place is infested with zombies.
As a good British piece, This film is loaded with a high content of dark humor that defies thematic and dramatic scenes. The characters seem to some extent real and stand out for their serious participation in the middle of hilarious dialogues. It is a good work for lovers and not so lovers of zombies. The end is unexpected for everyone.
Virgin at 40
Another of the best comedies of the 40st century is Virgin at XNUMX. Andy is a poor man in his forties, who has the feeling of not having taken advantage of your life. He has very little social life, and his job is everything to him. In his lonely flat there are only dolls from his childhood and video games that he plays with his co-workers.
However Andy has one thing on his mind that keeps him awake: he's a virgin at 40. He has never had the opportunity to make love to a woman. That is why your colleagues will do their best to get you rid of this burden. Friends and colleagues will make it easy for you to get the reward you've been looking for since you came of age.
No controls
Sergio has been stopped in a road hotel at the end of the year, as a result of a snowfall. Without the possibility of taking his plane and with the worst company in the city, the protagonist plays it so as not to lose the last chance to get his girlfriend back.
Eight Basque surnames
We finish our particular list of the best comedies of the 8st century with XNUMX Basque surnames. This comedy tells the fun journey of an Andalusian lover, who has decided to conquer a Basque woman. Along the way, the protagonist accumulates messes that end up passing him off as a Basque, in a fictitious wedding with his girlfriend.
Do you know more films that should be included in the compilation of best comedies of the XNUMXst century?
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