11. Chris Cooper, Best Supporting Actor (Adaptation, 2002)
Though he wasn't as great as Streep in Adaptation, Cooper performed in a way I never would have expected to see him. He totally became this ridiculous, sometimes comedic, role of LaRoche. A perfect example of an actor just falling into their character and becoming them. Great performance, and one that I'm surprised the Academy honored.
10. Finding Nemo, Animated Feature Film (2003)
The best animated film ever, in my opinion, even though I'm not a total animation fan. Yet, Finding Nemo is pure storytelling, at its finest. The screenplay is Oscar worthy, the film is pretty and Ellen Degeneres gives an inspired performance. One of the better films of the decade.
9. Lose Yourself, Best Original Song (8 Mile, 2002)
The musical anthem of 2002. And to think the Academy gave it the win. I forgot how good of a song this is. Gotta get onto YouTube right now and listen.
8. A Beautiful Mind, Best Picture (2001)
Many people give this film bullshit for winning, as it comes across plainly, not very artistic, in some ways. Even I have given Ron Howard some shit this year, for all the Frost/Nixon...love? I guess. Anyway, A Beautiful Mind is a simple film, yes, and not at all flashy. Yet, the story is executed perfectly and Crowe gives the best performance of his career. A great character piece and it deserved to come out on top.
7. There Will Be Blood, Best Cinematography (2007)
What was so stunning about Robert Elswit's cinematography in There Will Be Blood was that it conveyed the frenetic manner of the film. All of the shots were a bit off-kilter and bare. In a way, that's how the film conducted itself. It's a tricky combination of bluntness and crazy, and I felt Elswit displayed that in his photography. TWBB also should have taken home the Art Direction prize (and every other award...)
6. Diablo Cody, Best Original Screenplay (Juno, 2007)
I think everyone, by now, has gotten rather bored of Diablo Cody, but we can't forget how great of a screenplay Juno was. Yes, the dialogue may annoy you at times, but I thought it was witty and it helped create and reflect the character of Juno MacGuff. And the story wasn't all fun and games. Cody added an appropriate amount of drama, as well.
5. Bowling For Columbine, Best Documentary Feature (2002)
You wouldn't think a documentary about guns would be so entertaining, funny and daring. It's one of those films, that, as you watched, you could sense the director was totally on their game. Moore hit all the correct notes, blending the sorrow of the subject matter with fascinating history and some comedic, wacky moments (the whole part when Moore's in Canada is pretty odd).
4. Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Actor (There Will Be Blood, 2007)
An epic performance that made a very good film into a great one. No one else deserved to win the award in 2008, but DDL. Possibly the best lead performance of the decade (that's a conversation for another day...)
3. Javier Bardem, Best Supporting Actor (No Country For Old Men, 2007)
Bardem played Chigurh as simply as he needed to. He's a cold-blooded killer. He doesn't need to add much more oo him, and Bardem didn't, which I found pretty bold. An every time-they-are-in-a-scene-the-film-gets-100-times-better-type performance.
2. Million Dollar Baby, Best Picture (2004)
One of my favorite films of the decade. Stop groaning, assholes. So I wouldn't say everyone finds this to be the greatest film, and neither do I, but I still thought it was a semi-masterpiece. Swank gives a good performance (maybe not Oscar-worthy) and Eastwood directs perfectly. It's a sweet story with one of the saddest endings of the decade. Overall, a beautifully-made film.
1. Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, Pierre Bismuth - Best Original Screenplay (Eternal Sunshine...2004)
Ingenious is the ideal word that describes this screenplay. It's so smart, yet also funny, poignant and just, just...awesome. The best film of the decade, the best story and certainly the best script. A massive, massive achievement.
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