My Top Movies of the last 20 Years.

Who is Hoyte Van Hoytema?    

Here is a selection of of my favourite movies  since 2000, and the answer is there.  

What appeals to me in these films is their sensitivity to beauty, empathy and spiritual depth.  Some of these are thoughtful and intellectually provocative movies that reach way beyond  their genres,  rooted in life enhancing and humane attitudes.  Some are important to me in terms of their political and gender significance.   Many delighted me with their sheer literary  musical, lyrical, acting, directing and filming expertise.   One way or another they have all spoken to my heart and mind.  They have engaged, moved, entertained and educated me - and that is a lot for coloured shadows thrown against the wall to do.    I hope you might find something there to remind you of your own favourites, or prompt you to follow up on movies made by Director’s, Writer's,  Cinematographer’s, Editor’s, Musical Director’s or Actor’s who you might want to follow up.  (Thanks be to IMDB!)

Joker Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix,  
                                              Lawrence Sher.

Mad Max; Thunder Road George Miller, Tom Hardy, Charlize 
                                              Theron, John Seal.

The Dark Knight Chris Nolan, Chris Bale, 
                                              Heath Ledger, 
                                              Maggie Gyllanhaal, Wally Pfister.

Arrival Ted Chiang, Roger Villeneuve, Amy
                                              Adams, Bradford Young,

Blade Runner 2049  Roger Villeneuve,  Ryan Gosling, 
                                              Roger Deakins.

Wall-E Peter Doctor, Pixar.  

In the Mood For Love, Wong Kar-Wai  Maggie Cheung,  
                                             Chris Doyle

Moulin Rouge Baz Luhrmann, Nikola Kidman, 
                                             Jill Bilcock 

Tree of Life Terrence Malik, Brad Pitt, 
                                             Jessica Chastain,  Emmanuel 
        Lubezki,  

The Lives of Others Florian Henckel von Donnersmark.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Benh Zeitlin

Winters Bone Debra Granik, Jennifer Lawrence, 
                                             John Hawkes, 

Leave No Trace Debra Granik,  Ben Foster. 

The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro, Sally Hawkins, 
                                             Richard Jenkins, Dan Lausten, 

Us                                   Jordan Peele, Lupito Nyong’o 

Hero  Zhang Yimou, Maggie Cheung,  
                                            Chris Doyle.

3 Billboards    Martin McDonagh, Sam Rockwell, 
                                            Woody Harrelson,  Frances McDermot

The Incredibles Brad Bird,Pixar,   Danielle Feinberg. 

Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson, Ralph Fiennes,   

American Hustle David O.  Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, 
                                            Chris Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley 
                                            Cooper.

Silver Linings Playbook David O Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, 
                                           Chris Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley 
                                           Cooper.

Avatar James Cameron. 

Happy Tom Shadyak

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Coen Bros. George Clooney, John 
                                            Turturro,  Roger Deakins,  T Bone 
                                            Burnett.

Mr. Turner. Mike Leigh, Timothy Spall.

True Grit Coen Bros.  Geoff Bridges, 

Zero Dark 30.  Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Jessica  
                                            Chastain.  

The Constant Gardener. le Carre, Sam Mendes, Ralph Ffienes. 

Wonder Woman Patty Jenkins. 

Sweeney Todd Stephen Sondheim, Tim Burton, Johnny 
                                           Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter. 

Only Lovers Left Alive Jim Jarmuch, Tilda Swinton, 
                                          Tom Hiddleston.

Inside Out Peter Doctor, Pixar

Mulholland Drive David Lynch. Naomi Watts.

Amelie Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Audrey Tautou.

Inherent Vice Paul Thomas Anderson,   Joaquin 
                                          Phoenix. 

Magnolia Paul Thomas Anderson, Philip Seymour 
                                          Hoffman, Julianne Moore.

Let The Right One In     Tomas Alfredson, John Ajvide Lindquist, 
                                         Hoyte Van   Hoytema

Paddington 1 & 2 Paul King,  Sally Hawkins, Ben Whishaw. 

Under The Skin Jonathan Glazer, Scarlett Johansson, 
        Daniel Landin, Mica Levi. 

Black Panther Ryan Cooler

Skyfall Sam Mendes, Neal Purvis, Roger Deakins,

Casino Royale Martin Campbell, Neal Purvis

Taxi to the Dark Side Alex Gibney

Spotlight                      Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, the ensemble.  

Song of the Sea Nora Twomey, Cartoon Saloon. 

Melancholia Lars von Trier, Kirsten  Dunst, 

Walk the Line Joaquin Phoenix,

The Life of Pi Ang Lee.

The Great Gatsby Baz Luhrmann, Di Caprio, 

Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee, Heath Ledger, Jake Gylenhaal

Harry Potter                   (whole series) 

The Avengers                 (whole series) 

Inception  Christopher Nolan, Leonardo di Caprio

The Guard John Micheal McDonagh,  Brendan 
                                       Gleason

Captain Fantastic Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay.

Green Book Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, . 

Moonlight                  Barry Jenkins, Mahershala Ali, 
                                       Naomi Harris

Loving Jeff  Nichols, Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga.

1917 Stephen Mendes, Graham MacKay, 
                                      Roger Deakins. 

Cloud Atlas Tom Tykwer, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 
                                      ensemble. 

The Social Network Aaron Sorkin, David Fincher,  Jesse 
                                      Eisenberg

Kill Bill 1 & 2 Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman,

Interstellar Christopher Nolan, Matthew 
                                      McConaughey, Hoyte Van Hoytema

The Martian Ridley Scott,  Andy Weir, Matt Damon. 

Attack The Block Joe Cornish, John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Michel Gondry, Jim Carey

Whiplash Damien Chazelle, Miles Teller, 
                                       J.K. Simmons, Justin Hurwitz

Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle, Simon Veaufoy, Dev Patel, 

No Country for Old Men Coen Brothers, Tommy Lee Jones, 
                                       Javier Bardem

Pan’s Labyrinth Guillermo del Toro

Ex Machina Alex Garland, 

Donnie Darko Richard Kelly,  Jake Gyllenhaal.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Shayne Black, Robert Downey Jnr. 

Up!                           Peter Doctor, Pixar. 

In Bruges Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell, Brendan 
                                      Gleason 

Only Lovers Left Alive Jim Jarmusch,  Tilda Swinton, 
                                      Tim Hiddleston 

Toy Story 3 & 4 Pixar

Her                           Spike Jones, Joaquin Phoenix, 
                                      Scarlett Johannson, Hoyte Van Hoytema.

Crouching Tiger Ang Lee, Michelle Yeoh.

District 9 Neill Blomkamp. 

Michael Clayton Tony Gilroy, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton

Logan James Mangold,  Hugh Jackman

Dunkirk                    Christopher Nolan,  Hoyte Van Hoytema

Birdman Alejandro G. Inarritu,  Emmanuel Lubezki,  
                                     Micheal Keaton. 

Gravity Alfonso Cuaron, Emmanuel Lubezki, 
                                     Sandra Bullock.

The Breadwinner Nora Twomey, Cartoon Saloon. 

Brave Pixar

Moon Duncan Jones, Sam Rockwell. 

Bridge of Spies. Steven Spielberg, Mark Rylance.

Edge of Tomorrow/Live Die Repeat. 
                                     Doug Liman,  Jez Butterworth, Emily Blunt. 

You Were Never Really Here. Lynne Ramsay,  Joaquin Phoenix, 
                                     Jonny Greenwood,  Thomas Townsend.

And who is Who is Hoyte Van Hoytema?   It turns out he is one of favourite cinema photographers, but I didn't know that until I made this list.  

Of course by tomorrow I will want to add others.....