Here’s my next batch of 25 favourite films of the last decade, taking us from number 50 to number 26.  Each one has a lovingly hand-crafted piece of haiku.  Any resemblance to any haiku appearing in any of my previous end of year lists is purely coincidental.

For 100 to 76 go here

For 75 to 51 go here

My final batch of favourite films will follow forthwith…


50.  Gladiator (dir. Ridley Scott, 2000)

This muscular flick

Made Swords and Sandals look cool

(Got mine from Top Man)

49. Requiem for a Dream (dir. Darren Aronofsky, 2001)

Grange Hill’s Zammo song

Get’s a stark, brutal update

“Just say no… No… NO-O-O!”

48.  The Man Who Wasn’t There (dir. Joel Coen/Ethan Coen, 2001)

Barber shop vignette

Something for the weekend, sir?

Try blackmail and death

47.  X-Men 2 (dir. Bryan Singer, 2003)

Mutant renegades

In x-ceptional sequel

(Should have left it there)

46.  A Scanner Darkly (dir. Richard Linklater, 2006)

Rotoscope dopefest

In this faithful-to-Dick flick

(As in Philip K.)

45.  The Hurt Locker  (dir. Kathryn Bigelow, 2009)

Iraq War drama

Tense bomb disposal thriller

Might get an Oscar

44.  Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World  (dir. Peter Weir, 2003)

Russell climbs Crowe’s nest

For great sea battle epic

(Wrath of Khan with boats)

43.  Adaptation  (dir. Spike Jonze, 2003)

Charlie’s writer’s block

Spawns meta-meditation

On art, and orchids

42.  Inglourious Basterds  (dir. Quentin Tarantino, 2009)

Don’t burn cinemas

Unless there’s Nazis inside

In which case, it’s OK

41.  A History of Violence  (dir. David Cronenberg, 2005)

Cronenberg returns

With tale by Dredd comic scribe

(Give Wagner his due!)

40.  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  (dir. Ang Lee, 2001)

Ang’s ode to wire-fu

Breathtaking and beautiful

Martial artistry

39.  Fantastic Mr Fox  (dir. Wes Anderson, 2009)

Roald Dahl kid classic

Goes stop-motion to Wes World

(It’s no cluster-cuss!)

38.  Wall*E  (dir.  Andrew Stanton, 2008)

Little yellow box

Dreams of love and musicals

Then clears up our mess

37.   Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind  (dir. Michel Gondry, 2004)

Kaufman classic warns:

‘Be careful what you forget’

(Memories can’t wait)

36.  The Prestige  (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2006)

Duelling magicians

In cinema sleight of hand

Abracadabra!

35.  Oldboy  (dir. Chan-wook Park, 2004)

Revenge can be sweet

Live octopus, not so good

It’s the tentacles

34.  Toy Story 2  (dir. John Lasseter/Ash Brannon, 2000)

Buzz and Woody back

With new toys, bigger sandbox

Quixote for kids

33.  In The Loop  (dir. Armando Iannucci, 2009)

Big-screen Thick of It:

In this sharp, sweary satire

‘Fog of war’ turns blue

32.  The Lives of Others  (dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2007)

Secret policeman

Goes from snooper to cupid

(More to it than that)

31.  No Country for Old Men  (dir. Joel Coen/Ethan Coen, 2008)

The Brothers Coen

Go bleak and nihilistic

Beware cattle gun!

30.  Moon  (dir. Duncan Jones, 2009)

Moonbase alpha male’s

Sad existential crisis

(He’s no lunatic)

29.  Spider-Man 2  (dir. Sam Raimi, 2004)

Spidey and Doc Ock

Amazing! Spectacular!

Webhead wonderland

28.  The Fountain  (dir. Darren Aronofsky, 2007)

Tale of love and loss

That might span a thousand years

This one’s from the heart

27.  Tell No One  (dir. Guillaume Canet, 2007)

Hitchcock is alive

And he’s living in Paris

Here’s Exhibit A

26.  Mulholland Drive  (dir. David Lynch, 2002)

Tinseltown nightmare

Spawns mesmerising mindfuck

What’s with that blue key?