Best Movies of the Decade

Here it is, the much anticipated "Best Movies of the Decade," according to Rich Keefe, co-author of The Sports Brief and a huge fan of film. You already saw the Top 10 Comedy Movies as well as Top 10 Horror Movies (scroll down or hit the archives) from the past 10 years. Those films will not be found in this list. So no Old School or Wedding Crashers here. Let the debate begin...

10. District 9 (2009)
This is the only movie from 2009 to make the Top 10 or even Honorable Mention. Sci-fi story involving aliens living in a community, "District 9" in South Africa. It stars no one you've ever heard of but it doesn't matter, you'll be sucked right in.

9. The Prestige (2006)
I had not seen this movie until about a month ago despite the fact it had been out for over 3 years. Like District 9, The Prestige, is the only other film on this list that I have only seen once. So maybe I got caught up in the moment, or maybe it should be even higher? And I mean who doesn't like magic?

8. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Admittedly I am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan. I think I own all of his movies. Kill Bill was great, Vol. 1, to me was much better than its sequel. You're trying to figure out what the hell is going on while be treated to a number or memorable fight sequences.

7. Gran Torino (2008)
Clint Eastwood continues to get the job done. There is no way around it. The constant racial and ethnic slurs breaks up the tension throughout the film. If you haven't seen this one yet do yourself a favor.

6. Iron Man (2008)
I like comic book movies. There have been a ton of them, Spiderman, X-Men, Punisher, Ghost Rider, Hulk, Wolverine, Fantastic 4, Batman, and Superman all have been on the big screen at least once. (Iron Man sequel on its way). I would put the first installment up against almost any other, with the combination of Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Tony Stark/ Iron Man and of course all the special effects that come with these types of movies.

5. No Country for Old Men (2007)
In 2008, No Country took home 4 Oscars including Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor. I usually don't look at Oscar winners to determine good movies, but that year they got it right. Great acting, crazy story, and a must see.

4. The Departed (2006)
Another Oscar winner, the year before No Country. You have all seen The Departed by now, just an all-star cast and cool story. I particularly enjoy the roles by Alec Baldwin and Mark Walhberg.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)
I would put Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker up against any other from the past 10 years with the exception of Daniel Day- Lewis in There Will Be Blood. I'm not just saying that because he died before the movie was released. Sure that made it stand out a little bit more than it would have, but even still it was incredible. I never thought they should have even tried to use a Joker because Jack Nicholson's was so good, it would have been insulting. Well, you know what? Heath's was better.

2. Sin City (2005)
Some movies have 1 bad ass character, few have 2, Sin City give you 3 genuine bad asses. Hartigan (Bruce Willis), Dwight (Clive Owen), and Marv (Mickey Rourke) are the 3 guys you follow around Basin City in this graphic novel turned movie. A ridiculous cast you watch as all the characters intertwine. Still waiting on the sequel, that appears less and less likely.

1. Snatch (2000)
My favorite movie of the past 10, 25, 50, 100 years. A lot is going on between a lot of different characters. They talk fast with an English accent or even faster with a Pikie accent (Brad Pitt), but still to this day I have not found a movie that's been more fun to watch. I don't expect you all to agree with me that it's the best movie of the decade, but you have to admit it belongs on the list.

Honorable Mention:
Gladiator (2000), V for Vendetta (2005), Crash (2004), Mystic River (2003), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), X2 (2003), Training Day (2001), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Memento (2000), Planet Terror (2007).

-Keefe