A list with a “Hello Dolly” fan, three Nolan gems, and a family vacation.

Any critic can make a list like this any time of the year, as did The New York Times and Peter Travers of The Travers Take, so why don’t I share my views what the next century has brought to us so far? A list like this can change without warning, but I’ve been watching a lot of movies and I’ve been appreciating them more.

10.) “Wall-E”

I could pick any Disney and Pixar movie of the 2000s from “Monsters Inc.” to “Up,” but “Wall-E” is the one I make the most comparisons with when having conversations. A desolate Earth is given a second chance when a garbage collecting bot by the name of Wall-E” may hold the key. And along the way, he develops a romance with another robot named Eve, who was designed to find any form of life back on Earth. This gem couldn’t be more political, more consistent, and more visually appealing.

9.) “Oppenheimer”

Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning hit is one that knows the “father of the atomic bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer. And Cillian Murphy gives one of his best performances as Oppenheimer, along with an all-star cast of Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr, Kenneth Branagh, and Tom Conti as Albert Einstein. This is a history film and a blockbuster, one that really tests our senses and represents the fear of the detonation of the atom bomb. 

8.) “Everything Everywhere All At Once”

I told Ke Huy Quan that this movie would so far be the best movie I saw this decade, and how surprised he was when he won the Oscar for his role. This is a multiverse movie like no other, one that loves movies, people, Chinese culture, and originality. The directors-Daniels-are pure geniuses in taking the genre to new heights and for having a terrific cast also with Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Zsu among others.

7.) “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Martin Scorsese has made a brilliant portrayal of Wall Street brokers, and their love for stolen money, which they use for drugs, parties, and mansions, etc., etc. Leonardo DiCaprio is flat-out fantastic as Jordan Belfort, who abuses the power inside the Ben Franklins; Jonah Hill is razor sharp as his business partner; and Margot Robbie has revealed herself as a talented young actress as Belfort’s wife. Scorsese knows how to provide a narrative structure, as well as his ability to understand criminals and their goals and temptations. More on that in a few minutes.

6.) “Manchester by the Sea”

The best movie of 2016 is also the best movie I’ve saw in the 2010s. Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, and Lucas Hedges have given first-class performances in a masterpiece from writer/director Kenneth Lonergan. It has gripping and emotional drama, honest characters, and decent humor-all enough to hold my attention. This is a great film, combining the qualities of a coming-of-age story with a powerful family drama.

5.) “Slumdog Millionaire”

Danny Boyle’s best movie tells the story of a young Indian man (Dev Patel) who earns a spot on the country’s own version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” Because he gets all the answers right, the police accuse him of cheating. But that isn’t the case. It’s all based on memories of his best and worst times growing up in a difficult environment. Sometimes, it’s hilarious and stinky, and other times, it’s uplighting and courageous. Never overlook a winner like this.

4.) “The Departed”

Like I said: Scorsese knows how to provide a narrative structure, as well as his ability to understand criminals and their goals and temptations. His Boston version on the Hong Kong movie “Infernal Affairs” drives us up the wall with Matt Damon playing a dirty cop associated with a sadistic gangster played by Jack Nicholson, and Leonardo DiCaprio plays a cop going undercover in the mob. Nothing is guaranteed in the story, so you better sit back and take it all in.

3.) “Memento”

This was one of Christopher Nolan’s earlier films, and one of the most ingenious entries at that. Guy Pearce plays a man who can’t make new memories following his wife’s tragic death, and he tattoos his body with the clues he comes across. His story is told backwards with the color scenes going back and the black and white segments going forward until they both meet up at the end. I watched this film in my Film Appreciation course at Brookdale Community College, and I saw later in my adulthood, and I think it holds up strong within the course of 25 years.

2.) “The Dark Knight”

And as Nolan’s career has been moving on high, he made a sequel to his “Batman Begins.” Matter of fact, he made one of the best superhero movies and one of the best sequels of the 21st century. With some of the best action sequences filmed in Chicago and an authentic view of Gotham City, there’s a strong complexity that becomes ageless. You have Christian Bale reprising his role as Batman, and you also have the late Heath Ledger giving an unbelievable performance as the Joker. This isn’t your average Batman movie; this is a cinematic achievement.

1.) “Little Miss Sunshine”

20 Years have passed since this gem came to theater, and 20 years later, it still holds up strong. A road trip dramedy with one of the best dysfunctional families ever features a first-rate cast of Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and the late Alan Arkin. Quotable, hilarious, heartwarming, and original, this is something for the ages. It’s a film that knows how to follow your dreams and not care what anybody else says. This movie made me want to become a film critic, and I’m proud of the people who made this gem: directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

Again, any list like that can change as time goes on, but we do need a reminder on why these films were so good in the 2000s, the 2010s, and the 2020s.