Where's Finding Nemo????

Do you like movies? I do. There's nothing better than being in a theater watching a good one. Instead of ranting about traitorous pricks like Rep. Parker Griffith (D-Ala) who became (R-AL) let's talk movies. It's the end of the decade and in the tradition of every other egomaniac, here are my Top 10 favorite Movies of the decade 2000-2009.

10) Zodiac- I'll never hear Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man the same again after this David Fincher offering of 2007. Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhall star in this story of the Zodiac murders that took place in the Bay Area back in the 1960's and 70's. It's long, it's mysterious and it's a helluva ride.

9)Half Nelson (2006)- Starring Ryan Gosling as a cool teacher in Brooklyn who inspires his adolescent students to care about learning and the future. Yet, he has a secret most of his kids know all too well. Directed by Ryan Fleck and also starring Shareeka Epps as his favorite student, this little movie is so good and has perhaps the decade's most heartbreaking scene when Epps discovers Gosling's secret. Get it.

8) Oh Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)- The Coens could really BE my top 10 but of all the great work they did, I especially liked this one starring George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson is retelling of Homer's the Odyssey. The dancing Klansmen scene, right out of the Wizard of Oz, is good enough to vault it over No Country For Old Men.

7) Pan's Labyrinth (2006)- I know, it's foreign and you have to read. But give this Gillermo Del Toro film a chance. It's a kid's movie not for kids. It's about a child in miserable conditions during the Spanish Civil War who invents a fantasy world to live in. Or is it real? Watch it, it's either the most depressing movie ever or the most optimistic one ever. It all depends on your point of view.

6) Brokeback Mountain (2005)- this is a love story, period. Once you get over the giggles as Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger kiss and embrace and well you know, this story of unrequited love could involve any two human beings. It gets better each time you watch. It's heartbreaking. Really. Get over the doubts and let people be who they are.

5) About Schmidt (2002)- this Alexander Payne flick starring Jack Nicholson hit home with so many people. Many didn't like it's honesty, others saw the truth of life in the Midwest. Nevertheless, it put "Dear N'dugu" into the language.

4) Million Dollar Baby (2004)- Clint Eastwood is 79. His films get better and better while other directors lose their edge with age. Clint, quite frankly, like the Coens, could BE my Top 10 also. But Million Dollar Baby is perhaps a perfect film. From the acting to the plot to the timing it flows as smoothly as anything I've ever seen. Keep it up, Clint.

3) Traffic (2000) - Stephen Soderbergh is really hit (Out of Sight, Traffic, The Limey) or miss (Oceans Whatever, Erin Brockovich) but Traffic, an examination of the illegal drug trade, its hypocrisy, its danger, its effects on a variety of characters was a masterpiece that featured a deNiro-like performance by Benicio Del Toro as an honest Mexican police officer. It is a fascinating look (catch the sun drenched look) at a "war" we will never win.

2) The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001 2002 2003)- I am no sci-fi geek. I am no wizards and dragons guy. This Peter Jackson trilogy I could sit down on a Saturday morning and watch all 9 hours of it without one moment of boredom. I haven't done that yet but the Godfather movies are the only other trilogy I can say that about. I cannot explain it, my geekiness that is, but these movies are what movies are meant to be.

1) There Will Be Blood (2007)- Daniel Day Lewis is maybe the finest actor on the planet. His Daniel Plainview, in full John Huston voice, is one of the most fascinating characters ever on film He is a total prick from beginning to end, yet you can't take your eyes off him. He's cruel, he's a liar, he's greedy and eventually he's a killer. This movie, like Citizen Kane or The Godfather tells the story of American history. Paul Thomas Anderson may have stumbled into legend with this one. He can send a thank you note to Daniel Plainview, every bit as interesting as Charles Foster Kane or Vito Corleone.

That's it. There's others that would make honorable mention like No Country For Old Men, The Lives of Others, The Reader, United 93, Letters From Iwo Jima, Almost Famous, Donnie Darko,Whale Rider, The Quiet American, Mystic River, Gran Torino, The Assassination of Jesse James, The Hangover, and who knows what else.

Have a great holiday season.