The New York Times has released its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.
A few films with Florida connections made the list, including one with a strong Southwest Florida presence.
Before we get started, send me your favorite movie or movies that didn’t make the list or thought deserved to be higher. Email your thoughts (not too long, please!) to dosborn@gannett.com.
Also, the New York Times revealed the Top 100 list of readers’ favorite movies to compare.
What movies made the list
The NY Times officials Top 100 and the readers’ list both had the same movie at No. 1: “Parasite,” a 2019 movie that is brilliant and hard to watch, kind of like the streaming series’ “Breaking Bad” and “Ozark.”
My No. 1 film made the top six on both lists, “No Country For Old Men,” a 2007 Western crime thriller that won four Oscars including Best Picture.
Here’s Top 100 movies with a Florida connection.
“Adaptation” focuses on Southwest Florida
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park figured prominently in the 2006 movie based on Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book “The Orchid Thief” and a screenwriter’s experience trying to adapt the book into a screenplay while suffering from writer’s block.
The book is about the arrest of a poacher (Chris Cooper’s character) and Seminole Indians for stealing rare ghost orchids from Fakahatchee. The film was a critical and box office success, co-starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Cooper, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
“Adaptation” was No. 27 on the NYT list.
“There’s a virtuosic hall-of-mirrors quality to “Adaptation,” directed by Spike Jonze and ostensibly written by Charlie Kaufman and his twin brother, Donald, who does not in fact exist,” the New York Times story said.
“It’s an adaptation of a book that’s actually about how impossible it is to adapt a book; it’s a study of neuroses and courage and obsessive passion; and above all it is an incredibly funny movie, with a delicious, dual Nicolas Cage performance as both Kaufmans.”
However, “Adaptation” did not make the Readers’ Top 100 list.
“Moonlight” shines light on finding one’s self
The Times ranked the 2016 coming-of-age drama “Moonlight” at No. 5 and it was 18th with readers. The movie was filmed in the Miami area, including Liberty City.
” ‘Moonlight’ is about everything it takes to make you who you are,” The Time story said. “It’s about the beauty and love that come your way, what you embrace and what you don’t. And ultimately it’s about feeling like an outcast, but patiently, quietly finding your way home.”
“Moonlight” received eight Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, Mahershala Ali.
“The Florida Project” offers realistic look at Orlando
Another coming-of-age movie, “The Florida Project” focuses on an unemployed single mother who lives in a Kissimmee budget hotel in the shadow of Disney World.
The NYT has it was No. 74 while it’s 70th among readers.
“The film draws power from an unspoken tension (this existence is unlikely to end well) and the way a magical fantasy world — manufactured and marketed by Disney — sits just out of her reach,” the Times said.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@gannett.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Best 100 films of 21st century: What Florida films made NY Times list
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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