Director of the Decade - 2000s

I received a message about this fabulous director. I decided to reprint my newsletter from two years ago when I awarded the prestigious ‘Director of the Decade’ award to this outstanding man. Please enjoy the article and his classics of cinema. They are on Max.

This is the most difficult choice in my ongoing list. There were so many fabulous films made by lots of great directors that the research was exhaustive (and quite fun). My choice is a filmmaker that deserves more recognition than he has received. A creator of amazing movies that are both visually and narratively unique. He made many fantastic films that you might have missed!

First, a quick review of the rules and the runners-up for this prestigious award:

This choice is based only upon films made/released during the 2000s. Many of these directors made great movies throughout their career, but only this decade is eligible for today.

And the runners-up are:

Ridley Scott - ‘Gladiator’, ‘Black Hawk Down’, ‘American Gangster’

Christoper Nolan - Dark Knight trilogy, ‘Memento’

Steven Soderberg - ‘Traffic’, ‘Erin Brockovich’, Ocean’s trilogy

Peter Jackson - Lord of the Rings trilogy

Andrew Stanton - ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘WALL-E’

Asghar Farhadi - ‘About Elly’, ‘Fireworks Wednesday’

Clint Eastwood - ‘Million Dollar Baby’, ‘Gran Torino’, ‘Mystic River’

The Cohens - ‘No Country for Old Men’, ‘O Brother, Where art thou?’

And the Winner of the Director of the Decade award for the 2000s:

Hayao Miyazaki

Japanese director/writer/producer for Studio Ghibli. His efforts created some of the most imaginative and beautiful films ever made. He deserves so much credit for all the amazing films that he and Ghibli released. His films are so beloved that many actors push to be involved with his movies. Here is a list of some amazing movies that he directed during the 2000s.

Spirited Away (2001)

Stunningly delicious surreal film in which a young girl enters a world of ghosts, spirits and witches in which people magically become beasts based on their personalities. He won the Oscar for this masterwork. Consistently voted as one of the greatest films ever and was the all-time box-office champ in Japan upon its release. Listen for the voices of Suzanne Pleshette, David Ogden Stiers and Lauren Holly.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

A cursed young woman must engage the help of a wizard and his walking castle to escape her fate. Miyazaki was nominated for an Oscar for this movie. Christian Bale was so moved by this film he offered to voice any part just to be involved. Part love story, part magic quest, ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ will move you upon viewing. Along with Bale, the voices of Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal and Jean Simmons are featured.

The Day I Bought a Star (2006)

A young boy makes a trade and receives a magic plant seed. The seed grows into a miniature planet, but it continues to grow.

Ponyo (2008)

Ponyo is a goldfish Princess that falls in love with a boy who frequents the shore near her home. Ponyo uses the magic of her wizard father and the powers of her Sea Goddess mother to transform into a human to be with her love. However, this causes a terrible rift in life that must be addressed. Voice actors in English include Kate Blanchett, Matt Damon and Liam Neeson.

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki make wonderful films. Enjoy them and spread the word for this fabulous, unheralded collection of movies!