COUNTDOWN TO NOSTALGIA

Remembrance Of Things Past: The Decade's Greatest Overlooked Movies

By Calhoun Kersten

Calhoun TWO THINGS USHER EVERY YEAR TO A CLOSE: De rigueur "lists" and twinges over what might have been. HERE'S MY MASHUP OF THE TWO: The top overlooked film gems of the 2000s.

2000: Wonder Boys
This coming-of-age tale showcases excellent performances from Michael Douglas, Robert Downey, Jr. and then-newcomer Tobey Maguire. The film feels like a good book; totally satisfying and yet you're sad to see the characters go when it's over.

2001: Sexy Beast

This heist film is more of a character piece on a retired criminal who's dragged back into the game. Sir Ben Kingsley performance alone makes this film worth watching, but all performers in this film are phenomenal.

2002: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

George Clooney's directorial debut didn't receive much fanfare at the time, but this darkly comedic "biopic" of game show host Chuck Barris hosts a star-studded cast and plenty of laughs and intrigue along the way.

2003: Love Me if You Dare

This French film, starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, tells the story of a boy and a girl and the games they play with each other's hearts. This film may sound like a cliché but the surreal style bats it out of the park.

2004: House of Flying Daggers

This martial arts epic boasts exceptional visual style. The color and the camera work make it an unforgettable experience. Problem is, most people thought they'd seen it all after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. They didn't; check it out.

2005: Brick

The 2000s were kind to the neo-noir. Brick is one of the more "art house" examples of this, following the classic noir story arc of good cop discovering the seedy underbelly of his existence. Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries this movie with ease and with class.

2006: Lucky Number Slevin

Josh Hartnett headed the star-studded cast of yet another neo-noir revival, this one about an average Joe being pulled in to a plot way over his head. This film's twist and turns make it engrossing, but the quirky and charismatic Lucy Liu brings the charisma.

2007: The Orphanage

This Spanish psychological thriller is an impressive addition to the horror genre. Sure it has your run-of-the-mill ghost story, but more importantly, it's got heart. It somehow manages to be terrifying and tear-jerking until the very end.

2008: Rachel Getting Married

While this film got attention for Anne Hathaway's performance, the buzz almost deafened the rest of the cast. The entire cast shines but Oscar buzz got the best of this movie and most people seemed to write it off.

2009: Away We Go

Sam Mendes broke out of his Oscar-winning "dark side of suburbia" formula with this film on a 30-something couple expecting a child and looking for a home. While this film could've spilled into schmaltzy or melodramatic, instead it infuses humor and drama beautifully. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph show they can bring a whole lot more to the screen than just funny.

Calhoun Kersten is a Cincinnati, Ohio native who now calls Chicago home. He is a senior in the film program at Columbia College Chicago.