Best movies of 2001
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For further thoughts on films rated 10/10, please see my Best of 00s list.
Memento (2000)
U.S. release date: March 16, 2001

I went into Memento knowing only what a friend had told me...that the entire film plays in reverse. Knowing that in advance had no effect on my enjoyment of it...it only helped me encourage my friends I went with to watch it since they'd never heard of it & were reluctant to do so (and fortunately there was nothing better playing at the same theatre). All of us were blown away, and I've gone out of my way to see every one of Nolan's films ever since. Now he's one of my favorite directors, and I have Memento to thank for putting him on my radar.

I have to believe in a world outside my own mind. I have to believe that my actions still have meaning, even if I can't remember them. I have to believe that when my eyes are closed, the world's still there. Do I believe the world's still there? Is it still out there? ... Yeah. We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are. I'm no different.
I went into Memento knowing only what a friend had told me...that the entire film plays in reverse. Knowing that in advance had no effect on my enjoyment of it...it only helped me encourage my friends I went with to watch it since they'd never heard of it & were reluctant to do so (and fortunately there was nothing better playing at the same theatre). All of us were blown away, and I've gone out of my way to see every one of Nolan's films ever since. Now he's one of my favorite directors, and I have Memento to thank for putting him on my radar.
the giraffe's rating:

Iron Monkey (1993)
U.S. release date: Oct. 12, 2001

One of the best martial arts films ever, thanks in no small part to Yuen Woo-Ping's direction.

One of the best martial arts films ever, thanks in no small part to Yuen Woo-Ping's direction.
the giraffe's rating:

Vanilla Sky (2001)

My dreams are a cruel joke. They taunt me. Even in my dreams I'm an idiot...who knows he's about to wake up to reality. If I could only avoid sleep. But I can't. I try to tell myself what to dream. I try to dream that I am flying. Something free. It never works...
My personal favorite:
You will never know the exquisite pain of the guy who goes home alone. Cause without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet.
the giraffe's rating:

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
U.S. release date: Jan 26, 2001


Our battle, our struggle, is to create art. Our weapon is the moving picture. Because we have the moving picture, our paintings will grow and recede; our poetry will be shadows that lengthen and conceal; our light will play across living faces that laugh and agonize; and our music will linger and finally overwhelm, because it will have a context as certain as the grave. We are scientists engaged in the creation of memory...but our memory will neither blur nor fade.
the giraffe's rating:

Novocaine (2001)

I trust people, but I'm no dummy. I knew she was scamming me, and I should have thrown her out right then but I didn't. You see, that's the nature of attraction. You find yourself doing things, and you have no idea why, but you do them anyway.
the giraffe's rating:

Shrek (2001)

Gingerbread Man: NO! Not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!
Lord Farquaad: All right, then! Who's hiding them?
Gingerbread Man: Okay, I'll tell you... Do you know... the Muffin Man?
Lord Farquaad: The Muffin Man?
Gingerbread Man: The Muffin Man.
Lord Farquaad: Yes, I know the Muffin Man. W-who lives down on Drury Lane?
Gingerbread Man: Well, she's married to the Muffin Man...
Lord Farquaad: The Muffin Man?
Gingerbread Man: THE MUFFIN MAN!
Lord Farquaad: She's married to the Muffin Man...
the giraffe's rating:


Runners-up

Unwatched contenders
Top films listed in the order I like them, though repeat viewings could potentially rearrange said order. And of course the order could be further altered once I watch the "Unwatched contenders".
Runners-up and Unwatched contenders listed alphabetically.
Runners-up and Unwatched contenders listed alphabetically.
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the giraffe's best of and favorites lists (movies)
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Published 13 years, 2 months ago
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