Reel Perspectives: The Top 100 Films of the decade- pt 4, 70-61

70- Inland Empire- 2006

What happens when David “Erashead” Lynch swings for the fences? The answer: something worth watching. Inland Empire is a mystery…sort of, it also has talking anthropomorphic rabbits.

This is bizarre movie, but for its twists I never found myself disengaged. Seriously, this film really needs to be seen to be believed.

Key moment- Doing the Locomotion. In most films the scene would come out of left field (and it does here as well), but nonetheless – it’s a crazy scene.

69- Junebug- 2005

Why should you care about a film that centers on a art gallery curator’s trip to the American South to meet her husband’s family? Amy Adams (as the sister in-law of the family the curator is visiting). She’s so sweet and sincere here, that it’s no wonder why her star has been on the rise this decade.

Of course the film also succeeds in many other ways as well. It has many uncomfortably funny set pieces all the while nicely looking at the culture clashes that can exist within American society between north and south.

Key moment- A moment of prayer. It’s such a real prayer that it’s esoteric nature really captures the world with witch the main character has so little in common (even if she married a part of it).

68- Ghost World- 2001

The 00’s have seen some great graphic novel adaptations: History of Violence, Road to Perdition, American Splendor and, of course, Ghost World. It’s nice seeing as one medium mature another is willing adapt these tales (and not just ones of spandex wearing heroes) for the big screen.

Steve Buscemi is a creepy guy. So making him somewhat of an adorable geek is no easy feat. This however, is Ghost World’s strength- it really plays with expectations.

It’s a somewhat depressing film, but it’s also funny. It’s also kind of uplifting. Ghost World covers a range of emotions and makes nothing easy.

Key moment- The end of a friendship. Few movies so perfectly capture the end of a relationship so openly; even fewer dare to not reconcile.