So ""Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"" just came out on DVD. This was one of those bumbling, inferior sequels: good for the sword fights and squirming villains it had promised, but not much else. Keira Knightley is constantly screaming and hysterical, and most of Captain Jack's lines are nothing but recycled material from the first movie, and yet for some strange reason, the low-voiced guy on the trailer for the new DVD called it ""The Film of the Decade."" Pft. A mediocre sequel based on a ride at Disneyland/World? The best film in 10 years? Hm. I don't think so.
Now, I suppose that movie trailer people are allowed to do this sort of thing. It grossed a lot of money, helped revive Johnny Depp's career and kick-started Knightley's strangely misplaced one, so it's the movie of the decade. A movie about pirates.
While I saw the film, and I laughed and enjoyed the film, I don't think it's necessarily 10-Year Best material. If we're talking 2000-2010, there are still three more years and the rest of '06 to get through before movie trailer guys start really saying things like Movie of the Decade.
If ""Pirates of the Caribbean 2"" can be movie of the decade, then why can't ""Finding Nemo?"" Or ""School of Rock?"" How is it possible to determine a movie of the decade? What, then, is the movie of the nineties? The eighties? Is this something anybody even thinks about? Or am I just desperate to ask stupid questions? Either way, I'm going to try to work out the idea of a Movie of the Decade by envisioning some of my own choices for the title. We're talking 2000-present. And no, none of them are ""Pirates of the Caribbean."" I just feel that Movie of the Decade is a large and unwavering designation. I'm not about to call Brett Favre President of the Universe, nor am I going to crown myself Queen of Buckyland. All of these things would be really fun and exciting (especially the thought of having a throne), but they're just not realistic. Duh.
Choice #1—""Crash"" (2005) This film brought the realm of social commentary back into film without getting too Lifetime. It also called attention to the issue of racism with a collection of powerful voices, and because it's a movie, people watched. It made people listen.
Choice #2—""Moulin Rouge!"" (2001) Not only did this Baz Luhrmann classic practically pioneer the popular movie musical revival, but it created a solid following and a new, enormously popular interest in the fast-paced, music video-on-acid type of filmmaking.
Choice #3—""Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"" (2004) Or, anything written by Charlie Kaufman. I chose this movie because it is one of the only recent romantic comedies that manages to be romantic and yet to avoid all clichAcs.
Choice #4—""Finding Nemo"" (2003) This computer-animated gem grossed almost $1 billion worldwide. Not only did it save a summer of bad action flicks and indie attempts gone wrong, but it captured the hearts of both kids and adults all around the world.
Choice #5—""Lost in Translation"" (2003) Indie movies have been around since ""Sweet Sweetback"" in 1971, but only recently have big Hollywood actors begun to poke their noses around in the low budget arena. ""Lost in Translation"" led the way of indie greats such as ""Little Miss Sunshine,"" ""Garden State"" and ""Winter Passing.""
