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Bigd's Top 20 Movies Of The Decade


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I'll co-sign with McGee on all the Boarat/Bruno stuff.---I eat up any Kaufman interview I can find. There's one where the interviewer asks him a question that irritates him a little and that I guess he's sick of, and he gets bitchy with him and half-sulks for the next ten minutes of the interview. He's like the perfect crazy genius/weirdo artist.

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I'm horrible at lists so I'm probably forgetting stuff. I'll do a lot of editing but this is what I have.1) LOTR: Return of the King (03)2) Dark Knight (08)3) Avatar (09)4) Road to Perdition (02)5) Black Hawk Down (01)6) No Country for Old Men (07)7) Sideways (04)8) Collateral (04)9) Finding Nemo (03)10) Slumdog Millionaire (08)11) Pans Labyrinth (06)12) Cinderalla Man (05)13) Apocalypto (06)14) Blood Diamond (06)15) Gladiator (00)16) Bourne Identity (02)17) Borat (05)18) City of God (02)19) Iron Man (08)20) Into the Wild (07)
Yeah that's pretty much my list except Iron Man < Almost Famous and Into the Wild < Momento. Lets be honest.
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Yes, and I'll tell you exactly why. While I liked Borat, I remember at the time thinking that I liked the borat incarnation on "The Ali G " Show better, and saw the movie as just a thinnly veilled excuse to do more "Borat" sketches. And it was funny, absolutely funny, but I felt a lot of the movie was filler, and didn't see the point of it being a movie ( other than to make lots of money).Whereas Bruno I thought was genius, because it was doing something more.... With borat we as an audience get to be smug, and laugh at all these dumb people who get duped by this funny faux eastern european. We are all smug and in on the joke. And that sort of smugness is all fun and games until you see cocks swinging around on the screen, or two men hard core making out, and that's what I loved about bruno.. Bruno made many of the audiences just as uncomfortable as the people on the screen. There were many people who walked out of my screening of the movie, and I've heard many people, in real life and online say how much they hated the movie, because of the gayness and male nudity. And I thought that was just fantastic. It was an evolutionary Andy Kaufman, where the joke is on the audience, and the audience is NOT in on it, and evokes other emotions besides humor and laughter ( like anger, disgust and sexual identity confusion). And I also thought it was just plain funnier than borat. There were several times I lost controll of myself laughing, like hysterical, uncontrollable laughter. THe climax scene was just so brilliant, so, so good.
Hmm yeah I get what you're saying here. I hated Bruno to when I went to go watch it because it was so unbelievably over the top gaym and I watched it with my mom. (Yes, I watched it with my mom). Im not a homophobe or anything but it kinda freaked me out. When I watched it again with some friends later on DVD I enjoyed it alot more though.However imo, the main reason Borat should be on the list instead of Bruno is because Borat actually won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, whereas Bruno probably wont win anything since it is really. (lets be honest), just a different version of Borat.
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Yes, and I'll tell you exactly why. While I liked Borat, I remember at the time thinking that I liked the borat incarnation on "The Ali G " Show better, and saw the movie as just a thinnly veilled excuse to do more "Borat" sketches. And it was funny, absolutely funny, but I felt a lot of the movie was filler, and didn't see the point of it being a movie ( other than to make lots of money).Whereas Bruno I thought was genius, because it was doing something more.... With borat we as an audience get to be smug, and laugh at all these dumb people who get duped by this funny faux eastern european. We are all smug and in on the joke. And that sort of smugness is all fun and games until you see cocks swinging around on the screen, or two men hard core making out, and that's what I loved about bruno.. Bruno made many of the audiences just as uncomfortable as the people on the screen. There were many people who walked out of my screening of the movie, and I've heard many people, in real life and online say how much they hated the movie, because of the gayness and male nudity. And I thought that was just fantastic. It was an evolutionary Andy Kaufman, where the joke is on the audience, and the audience is NOT in on it, and evokes other emotions besides humor and laughter ( like anger, disgust and sexual identity confusion). And I also thought it was just plain funnier than borat. There were several times I lost controll of myself laughing, like hysterical, uncontrollable laughter. THe climax scene was just so brilliant, so, so good.
OK, I strongly disagree, and here's why. Making people uncomfortable is not particularly difficult, and was not the best part of either of these movies. I think that the brilliance of the movie came from its anthropological study of its subjects, not from freaking out the audience. Not that I don't also appreciate the aspect of them that you describe, but I don't think it's what made them so awesome. The real genius behind Borat is that 1) he coaxed people into showing sides of themselves that are totally taboo in our culture (e.g. racism), by giving them a sympathetic ear and 2) he tested people's cultural relativism -- how much do we tolerate this guy's inappropriateness because he doesn't know the rules here? Both of those things made Borat totally fascinating and to the extent that Bruno also hit those notes it was decent, but not nearly as deeply revealing. Bruno freaking people out was not really counterbalanced by their instinct to be open-minded/tolerant as it was with Borat, so it was really just people being grossed out by gay stuff.
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However imo, the main reason Borat should be on the list instead of Bruno is because Borat actually won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, whereas Bruno probably wont win anything since it is really. (lets be honest), just a different version of Borat.
Something winning or not winning an oscar is not a way to make an argument about a movie that's going to mean half a shit to me. I could go on for hours about the failings of the academy awards, but I won't because it's a boring topic I've whinged about enough in the past. I will say, however, the fact that borat won an oscar for screen writing is a pure joke, because everything that was great about that movie was unscripted, at least in any traditional sense. And maybe there is merit in recognizing a new way to write a film, where you make a plot with people who are utterly unware they are in a movie... but I think bruno did this better ( and I'm saying bruno did it better almost exclusively because of the climax scene).
OK, I strongly disagree, and here's why. Making people uncomfortable is not particularly difficult, and was not the best part of either of these movies.
It may not be difficult to make an audience uncomfortable ( see the way people squeem at Jackass, or any of a number of horror movies) but rarly is there a point to the uncomfortableness, rarely does the fact and way (some) of the audience reacts to a movie tie into the themes of the movie. ( the only other movie where I think I've seen something like this was Natural Born Killers, which I could get into if you're interested). The point of Bruno is that people in american culture are still extremely homophobic/ grossed out by gays, uncomfortable with gayness. This point was funniest when illustrated on the screen, but it was taken another level in people's reactions in the audience ( and subsequent reactions on message board, casual conversation and what not) Borat didn't make the audience uncomfortable at all, at least in that sense, because everyone was happily in on the joke. Some people might be uncomfortable in general from that style of humor, but that's not what I mean. It was this crafted audience uncomfortablenss, and how it relates to the theme of the movie, which sets it apart from Borat, I think. As I said before, Borat could have just been scenes from the ali g show. There was nothing about the plot of borat that was funny, it was all the individual situations. All of the "plotty" scenes from borat that weren't him ****ing with people weren't funny ( for the most part). So I don't see why Borat was a movie, the same way Jackass-The Movie is really funny, but not really a movie, just a collection of Jackass TV show clips they are charging for ( But Jackass was a little more honest about this, and didn't try and dress it up in a dumb plot). The same is true of bruno, really, except for 2 things.. the movie audience homophobia factor as I've gone into in detail, and the climax, which is the funniest thing in either movie. Bruno was essentially setting up that scene, and it was really exquisite. I'm not sure if any of that made sense, I'm really tired and am about to go to bed. But... probably most important to me besides these sort of Meta-homophobia considerations, I just found bruno plain funnier.
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OK, I strongly disagree, and here's why. Making people uncomfortable is not particularly difficult, and was not the best part of either of these movies. I think that the brilliance of the movie came from its anthropological study of its subjects, not from freaking out the audience. Not that I don't also appreciate the aspect of them that you describe, but I don't think it's what made them so awesome. The real genius behind Borat is that 1) he coaxed people into showing sides of themselves that are totally taboo in our culture (e.g. racism), by giving them a sympathetic ear and 2) he tested people's cultural relativism -- how much do we tolerate this guy's inappropriateness because he doesn't know the rules here? Both of those things made Borat totally fascinating and to the extent that Bruno also hit those notes it was decent, but not nearly as deeply revealing. Bruno freaking people out was not really counterbalanced by their instinct to be open-minded/tolerant as it was with Borat, so it was really just people being grossed out by gay stuff.
I totally agree with all this, and would just like to add that if, as an audience member, you're not grossed out by gay stuff, the movie isn't funny, or even really interesting to watch have an affect on the audience (people being uncomfortable with gayness is not news). it's just boring.i saw you (bigd) say you thought it was funnier, but i think you're in a pretty small minority position. i can't even remember what "the climax" was - that's how inconsequential the plot of the movie was
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I totally agree with all this, and would just like to add that if, as an audience member, you're not grossed out by gay stuff, the movie isn't funny, or even really interesting to watch have an affect on the audience (people being uncomfortable with gayness is not news). it's just boring.i saw you (bigd) say you thought it was funnier, but i think you're in a pretty small minority position. i can't even remember what "the climax" was - that's how inconsequential the plot of the movie was
LOL I mean the near riot. I'm also fine being in the minority position in thinking bruno was funnier, I've never claimed to speak for the people.
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I totally agree with all this, and would just like to add that if, as an audience member, you're not grossed out by gay stuff, the movie isn't funny, or even really interesting to watch have an affect on the audience (people being uncomfortable with gayness is not news). it's just boring.
This is exactly my point. The cock swinging around and freaking people out was fine, but I didn't find it all that funny...in college I had at least 3 friends that pulled the same trick whenever they could, and it's much funnier in person. Frankly, I don't care if it grossed out audience members, I judge a movie on how it affects me personally, and Bruno just wasn't as funny as Borat for me because I didn't have a huge reaction to the gay antics one way or the other aside from mild amusement. Now if the reactions of the people in the film were funnier that would have made a huge difference, but for me the reactions to Borat were a lot better.
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I'm horrible at lists so I'm probably forgetting stuff. I'll do a lot of editing but this is what I have.1) LOTR: Return of the King (03)2) Dark Knight (08)3) Avatar (09)4) Road to Perdition (02)5) Black Hawk Down (01)6) No Country for Old Men (07)7) Sideways (04)8) Collateral (04)9) Finding Nemo (03)10) Slumdog Millionaire (08)11) Pans Labyrinth (06)12) Cinderalla Man (05)13) Apocalypto (06)14) Blood Diamond (06)15) Gladiator (00)16) Bourne Identity (02)17) Borat (05)18) City of God (02)19) Iron Man (08)20) Into the Wild (07)
Wow... This is pretty much my exact list give or take a couple i haven't seen (Avatar, Sideways) although I didn't really care for Apocalypto as much as others. I'd probably have Blood Diamond in my top 10 and Finding Nemo lower but nice list!
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Something winning or not winning an oscar is not a way to make an argument about a movie that's going to mean half a shit to me. I could go on for hours about the failings of the academy awards, but I won't because it's a boring topic I've whinged about enough in the past. I will say, however, the fact that borat won an oscar for screen writing is a pure joke, because everything that was great about that movie was unscripted, at least in any traditional sense. And maybe there is merit in recognizing a new way to write a film, where you make a plot with people who are utterly unware they are in a movie... but I think bruno did this better ( and I'm saying bruno did it better almost exclusively because of the climax scene).It may not be difficult to make an audience uncomfortable ( see the way people squeem at Jackass, or any of a number of horror movies) but rarly is there a point to the uncomfortableness, rarely does the fact and way (some) of the audience reacts to a movie tie into the themes of the movie. ( the only other movie where I think I've seen something like this was Natural Born Killers, which I could get into if you're interested). The point of Bruno is that people in american culture are still extremely homophobic/ grossed out by gays, uncomfortable with gayness. This point was funniest when illustrated on the screen, but it was taken another level in people's reactions in the audience ( and subsequent reactions on message board, casual conversation and what not) Borat didn't make the audience uncomfortable at all, at least in that sense, because everyone was happily in on the joke. Some people might be uncomfortable in general from that style of humor, but that's not what I mean. It was this crafted audience uncomfortablenss, and how it relates to the theme of the movie, which sets it apart from Borat, I think. As I said before, Borat could have just been scenes from the ali g show. There was nothing about the plot of borat that was funny, it was all the individual situations. All of the "plotty" scenes from borat that weren't him ****ing with people weren't funny ( for the most part). So I don't see why Borat was a movie, the same way Jackass-The Movie is really funny, but not really a movie, just a collection of Jackass TV show clips they are charging for ( But Jackass was a little more honest about this, and didn't try and dress it up in a dumb plot). The same is true of bruno, really, except for 2 things.. the movie audience homophobia factor as I've gone into in detail, and the climax, which is the funniest thing in either movie. Bruno was essentially setting up that scene, and it was really exquisite. I'm not sure if any of that made sense, I'm really tired and am about to go to bed. But... probably most important to me besides these sort of Meta-homophobia considerations, I just found bruno plain funnier.
Curb is unscripted, and I would give it an oscar in a heartbeat. (If they did that for TV shows)
LOL I mean the near riot. I'm also fine being in the minority position in thinking bruno was funnier, I've never claimed to speak for the people.
I saw the movie and I don't remember the "climax" either. You saying 'near riot' still isn't helping. I have no recollection of a near riot.
Wow... This is pretty much my exact list give or take a couple i haven't seen (Avatar, Sideways) although I didn't really care for Apocalypto as much as others. I'd probably have Blood Diamond in my top 10 and Finding Nemo lower but nice list!
*shakes head*
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1) Traffic2) City of God3) O Brother, Where art Thou?4) Gangs of New York5) Almost Famous6) Gladiator7) Schnechdoche, NY8) LOTR trilogy9) Bottle Shock10) Slumdog Millionaire11) Borat12) Wall-E13) No Country for Old Men14) The Incredibles15) Cinderella Man16) Kill Bills17) Wrestler18) Sugar19) Memento20) Mulholland DriveCaveat: I never saw Inglorious Basterds or There Will be Blood

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*I know I can count on JoeyJoJo, for one. If more pepole were like JoeyJoJo, the world would be a more organized and hilarious place. I'll post one too at some point, after I crib off of you guys.
Well, crap. That means I need to do some research and stuff.
Christ, you spend one evening in close proximity to a child and this is what happens to you.
Haha
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Wow... This is pretty much my exact list give or take a couple i haven't seen (Avatar, Sideways) although I didn't really care for Apocalypto as much as others. I'd probably have Blood Diamond in my top 10 and Finding Nemo lower but nice list!
Gov drop what you are doing and go see Avatar right now please.Did any of you like Sideways as much as I did? Most people disagree with me with this, but I loved it. It might be because I have a sense of attachment to the area it was filmed. I went to college near there and there is a casino right next to all the wineries and restaurants. Paul Giamatti's character just blew me away, such an awesome movie.Sick Boy I agree that Memento is a great movie and it is more well made and complex than Into the Wild. It is my list though and I liked Into the Wild better lol. Also, I couldn't leave Iron Man off that list... I still haven't seen Almost Famous though.
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It seems like nobody ever agrees with me when I tell them how much I liked this movie.
I don't disagree at all that you like that movie.sideways and shaun of the dead would both be solidly in my top then for sure.
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I’m almost certain there are “better” movies of the decade and almost as almost certain that I’m forgetting something, but I think these are my favorite movies of the decade.I don’t know if I have the categories right either, but whatever.OverallNo Country for Old MenInglorious BasterdsLord of the RingsBlood Diamond (I cheated putting this one up here. It wasn’t initially in my overall category, but I decided I wanted four movies in each category, so it got bumped up. This definitely wouldn’t have made it here after the first time I watched it, but it’s really grown on me. The other three I am comfortable with as my top three.)DramaThere Will Be BloodAlmost FamousEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindBefore SunsetActionKill BillsGladiatorThe Dark KnightBlack Hawk DownComedyKung Fu HustleJunoShaun of the DeadO Brother, Where Art Thou?AnimatedFinding NemoUpWall-ESpirited AwayRewatchability was a big criterion of mine, which is why I’m calling it my favorite movies instead of the best movies. I think there were a lot of really good movies that I wouldn’t care to watch again.

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Curb is unscripted, and I would give it an oscar in a heartbeat. (If they did that for TV shows)*shakes head*
For best picture, maybe, but not for best screen writing.
I saw the movie and I don't remember the "climax" either. You saying 'near riot' still isn't helping. I have no recollection of a near riot.
you don't remember straight dave's man slamming max out? Really?
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I saw the movie and I don't remember the "climax" either. You saying 'near riot' still isn't helping. I have no recollection of a near riot.
i think he means the wrestling match. i think that was amusing, but it was ruined for me somewhat by the account i read of how it was filmed. if i hadn't read that first i'd have probably thought it was funnier.i think that borat/bruno reminds me a lot of delirous/raw. in both cases the first ones were so fresh* and funny, and the second were stale and tried to compensate by being ruder, crasser, more over-the-line, but lost the charm of the originals. * i had seen a few scenes of Ali G prior to Borat but didn't really know much about him. i was too young to know who eddie murphy was when Delirious came out. i was well aquainted with both Eddie and Cohen by the time the second movies came out.
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i don't know how much you like that movie, but i think it's pretty great.
It was in my top 23, but I didn't want to go outside the parameters of the thread title.
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