Key Takeaways
- Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins finalized their '25 best movies of the 21st century' list.
- The list-making process involved specific criteria, including films from Jan 1, 2000, US release, and one film per filmmaker.
- The collaborative process brought personal anxiety and extensive debates, balancing individual taste with critical consensus.
- The final list notably omits many acclaimed films, prominent directors, and movies released after 2019.
- The ranked list, from #25 'Michael Clayton' to #1 'The Social Network', was revealed during the episode.
Deep Dive
- Amanda Dobbins described the '25 for 25' project as a 'weird psychological exercise' and her 'biggest personal test' to date.
- The list-making criteria included films released from January 1, 2000, onward in the US, with a limit of one film per filmmaker.
- Amanda's initial draft had 35 movies but was 'weak on international, very weak on animation,' and lacked a Spielberg film.
- Sean Fennessey broadened his considerations to directors like Almodóvar, Haneke, and Miyazaki after reviewing Amanda's notes.
- The hosts discussed differing opinions on Christopher Nolan's films like 'Interstellar' and 'Inception'.
- 'The Dark Knight' was identified as a standout, serving both the superhero genre and as a premier action film.
- While 'The Dark Knight' holds significant affection, 'Dunkirk' was admired for its craft but lacked deep emotional connection.
- They acknowledged 'The Dark Knight' might generate debate but noted its inclusion on their 25 best films of the 21st century list.
- Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' was highlighted for significant common ground, distinguishing it from 'Kill Bill'.
- Sofia Coppola's 'Lost in Translation' was an initial first-draft inclusion, while 'Marie Antoinette' was a personal favorite.
- David Fincher's 'The Social Network' was chosen over 'Zodiac' for its relevance and preferred style.
- Martin Scorsese's 'The Wolf of Wall Street' was selected over 'The Departed' and 'Silence' for its balance of craft and entertainment.
- Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' was debated as his number one film, acknowledging 'Memories of Murder' as number two.
- Park Chan Wook's 'The Handmaiden' was discussed, with 'Old Boy' noted for its influential 'hallway fight' scene.
- One host admitted voting for 'The Handmaiden' due to its explicit content, calling it Park Chan Wook's 'sexiest movie'.
- Nancy Meyers' 'Something's Gotta Give' was praised as a peak of her directorial powers and a culturally influential film.
- Sean Fennessey mentioned his personal list of documentaries was made during a 'date night in Palm Springs'.
- Documentaries discussed included 'O.J.: Made in America' (where Sean had a potential conflict of interest) and 'The Last Dance' (disqualified as a miniseries).
- Other acclaimed documentaries like 'Stories We Tell,' 'Amy,' 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,' and 'The Fog of War' were praised.
- For comedies, 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' was championed over 'Superbad' and 'Stepbrothers' as a more definitive pick.
- 'Mad Max: Fury Road' was praised, with Steven Soderbergh calling it the 'best action movie'.
- The hosts debated the inclusion of multiple action sequels like 'Mission Impossible: Fallout' and 'Top Gun: Maverick'.
- One host criticized the third hour and performance in Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'.
- 'Top Gun: Maverick' was argued for its significant cultural impact in 2022, described as a 'vital return to theaters' and a widely entertaining blockbuster.
- The hosts noted potential scarcity of European filmmakers on their list, attributing it to their upbringing in Hollywood, but anticipated better Asian cinema representation.
- Spike Lee's 'Inside Man' was considered, with Denzel Washington's performance highlighted, while Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' introduced Asian cinema to a wider art house audience.
- David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive' was discussed, along with James Gray's 'The Lost City of Z'.
- Films like 'Hereditary,' 'Uncut Gems,' and 'The Master' were identified as a category of potentially overlooked films during list balancing.
- Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' was anticipated as the representative for his work, despite its 75th ranking on the latest Sight & Sound poll.
- Guillermo del Toro's 'Pan's Labyrinth' was considered his more celebrated film over 'The Shape of Water'.
- Clint Eastwood films were absent, with 'Million Dollar Baby' prompting disagreement and explicit exclusion by both hosts.
- Other international films discussed included Kelly Reichardt's 'Meek's Cutoff' and 'Old Joy', Denis Villeneuve's 'Arrival' and 'Sicario', and Lee Chang-dong's 'Burning'.
- 'Almost Famous' was removed from the list to include 'There Will Be Blood', alongside other 'hard cuts' like Steven Spielberg's 'Minority Report' and Damien Chazelle's 'Whiplash'.
- 'Moonlight', 'Certified Copy', 'Tar', 'Arrival', and Pixar's 'WALL-E' were noted as films not making the final cut.
- The hosts expressed dissatisfaction with the omission of 'The Lord of the Rings' and highlighted the absence of numerous prominent directors, including Soderbergh, Malick, Jenkins, and Villeneuve.
- The final list features only one Best Picture winner, one comic book movie, one action movie, one horror movie, and three sequels.
- The hosts began revealing their finalized list, strategically placing 'Michael Clayton' at number 25 to engage the audience.
- 'The Handmaiden' secured number 24, followed by 'Mission Impossible: Fallout' at number 23, and 'Something's Gotta Give' at number 22.
- 'The Dark Knight' was placed at number 21, with 'The Royal Tenenbaums' at 20 and 'Spirited Away' at 19.
- 'Y Tu Mamá También' ranked 18, selected over 'Children of Men', and 'Anchorman' was placed at number 17, as the definitive comedy pick.
- 'Moneyball', identified as a 'patron saint' of the podcast, was introduced at number 14.
- 'Get Out' ranked number 13, and 'Melancholia' was placed at number 12, following a reordering of 'The Royal Tenenbaums'.
- 'Marie Antoinette' secured number 10, with 'Parasite' at nine, 'Mad Max: Fury Road' at eight, 'In the Mood for Love' at seven, and 'Mulholland Drive' at number six.
- The hosts considered flipping the order of 'Parasite' and 'Mad Max: Fury Road', discussing how public feedback can influence list decisions.
- The final top films were revealed: 'Lady Bird' at #5, 'Inglourious Basterds' at #4 (with a note about 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'), 'There Will Be Blood' at #3, '25th Hour' at #2, and 'The Social Network' at #1.
- One host expressed a strong preference for 'Inglourious Basterds' as their personal favorite Tarantino film, even over 'Pulp Fiction'.
- Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Spike Lee, and David Fincher were identified as directors whose films engage in a 'death struggle for primacy' in the hosts' hearts.
- Despite some debate, the hosts agreed that the films on their list are essential for bridging the gap between critic and film enthusiast, with Greta Gerwig and Sofia Coppola also represented on the list.