It’s not too easy to describe the main characteristics of the cinema of 2000s. Mostly because it might give a bad vibe. Especially if you’re one of those people who’s tired of the franchise-driven industry, complain about Hollywood’s safe choices, or miss the good old days when mid-budget studio dramas were profitable, then yes, unfortunately, the 2000s is where it all began. While independent films were still on the rise, the development of special effects led studios to focus more on big-budget “event” films that they clearly intended to turn into franchises.
That said, it was still a fantastic decade for cinema, with many innovative films, boundary-pushing new wave of directors, interesting experiments, and powerful performances. When you dig deeper, you’ll find a remarkable number of underappreciated films in every genre. Some of these films received Oscar nominations and widespread critical acclaim but have since been forgotten. Of course, there’s always time for re-appreciation, which is what we’ll do here. Amidst the noise of blockbuster franchises, many exceptional films slipped under the radar, especially those not backed by major distributors with the hopes of Oscar recognition. This has always been a problem in the industry because marketing is very important.
Nowadays, indie companies like A24 and Neon are doing a great job promoting their films, but over the years, many other smaller companies didn’t know how to handle their rather small films. Many still don’t. Whatever the reason, the 2000s was an era that yielded a good number of underappreciated films. In this article, we’ll shine a spotlight on 10 of these underrated films from the 2000s, and hopefully, there’ll be something for everyone.
10. Panic (2000)
In the late 90s, the topic of the mid-life crisis became increasingly popular in American cinema. No matter what you watched, there was always some guy disappointed with his life and job. Even the decade ended with the Oscar win of “American Beauty,” which explored similar themes. Maybe that’s why “Panic” got lost among them. It’s not exactly the same genre as “American Beauty,” but then again, it’s hard to classify “Panic” because it’s a little bit of everything: dark comedy, drama, and crime thriller—it has it all and blends them surprisingly well.
William H. Macy is the master of these kinds of deadpan roles, and he gives a strong performance as a hitman named Alex who’s stuck in a career he no longer enjoys. His questions about his marriage and overbearing dad (played amazingly by the legendary Donald Sutherland) become so overwhelming that he goes to a therapist… whom he soon learns he has to kill. Then Neve Campbell’s character enters the picture as a young woman who might change Alex’s worldview.
This is a complex but also entertaining film about family, personal identity, and even daily life struggles. It manages to take on heavy themes with such a nice sense of humor that it becomes quite easy to watch and surprisingly relatable as well. For a film that successfully blends different genres and deals with dark themes, the filmmakers did an outstanding job of not messing it all up and instead gave us a well-shot film with a sharp script. The film received excellent reviews but probably came out at the wrong time.
9. Nothing but the Truth (2008)
One of the reasons why these films end up being “underrated” is mostly because they’re underseen, and the reasons behind it can vary. Sometimes a film becomes a hit but then becomes hard to purchase on physical media, and in the age of streaming, it’s especially hard to find some films if you rely on your favorite streaming platforms. Many great films are not available to watch at any platform which is crazy.
“Nothing but the Truth” had that sort of problem from the beginning—it couldn’t get proper distribution, which hurt it greatly. That’s a great shame because it’s such an engrossing political thriller that has something to say about journalistic integrity, personal sacrifices, work ethic and dignity, as well as government secrecy. Kate Beckinsale delivers one of her best performances as a journalist who exposes a covert CIA operative’s identity, leading to a fierce battle with the U.S. government.
The film explores the consequences of her decision, not just on a political level but also on a personal one, as she faces imprisonment and the erosion of her personal life. There’s a lot of thrills and tension to be found, but what makes the film work particularly well is watching our lead character’s mental strength in not giving up. The film also works as a courtroom drama and has a rich supporting cast, especially Vera Farmiga, who steals the show in a limited role. In the end, you’ll find yourself questioning or discussing the limits of press freedom and many more.
8. The Contender (2000)
“Nothing but the Truth” is directed by Rod Lurie, who years earlier explored similar themes in a different way in “The Contender,” a film that ended up getting Oscar nominations. That’s great, of course, but since then, the film has started to be forgotten a bit, which is understandable because, by the looks of it, you might think it’s just another Oscar bait drama and ignore it. Films about American politics, especially, tend to be ignored by international audiences. However, “The Contender” is not just about American politics. It’s a sharp political drama that examines double standards (especially regarding gender) which is a universal thing.
Just like “Nothing but the Truth,” it is about staying true to your principles and the sacrifices that come with it. It gives you lots of questions to discuss, especially about the public’s right to know versus the private lives of public figures/politicians. Some might be disappointed by the less ambiguous ending, but the message is so strong and the performances so powerful that it doesn’t bother you.
Joan Allen (who really needs to be in more movies) and Jeff Bridges got well-deserved Oscar nominations, but Gary Oldman’s chilling performance was overlooked. Another standout is Sam Elliott, who gets to share great scenes with Jeff Bridges once again after “The Big Lebowski,” albeit playing wildly different characters this time. In our modern era, where smear campaigns against public figures are still so common and where we can easily be manipulated by false information and rumors, “The Contender” resonates strongly.
7. The Matador (2005)
This is the type of film we kind of miss seeing in cinemas these days. Even when it came out, it felt refreshingly offbeat compared to other crime comedy films of the time. Pierce Brosnan is a wonderful actor who can show vulnerability and comedic timing, but he’s also a charismatic :movie star”. That’s why he spent a large part of his career playing Bond-esque characters that heavily relied on his charm, like in “The Thomas Crown Affair.” But then “The Matador” came up, marking the start of his character actor era. He gives one of his best performances by shedding the Bond persona here as Julian Noble, a burnt-out hitman going through a midlife crisis.
He plays opposite Greg Kinnear, who made a career out of playing mild-mannered businessmen. It’s not a diss—Kinnear is good at it and terrific in many films, especially in Paul Schrader’s “Auto Focus,” and he gets those roles because he’s so good at them. One can call him underrated even. What follows is a strange yet oddly touching (and funny) friendship that develops between the two characters as they each grapple with their respective life challenges.
For a film like this to work, chemistry is important, and it’s amazing between Brosnan and Kinnear. They both deliver on both dramatic and comedic fronts. The film itself, directed by the underrated Richard Shepard, also does a great job of balancing dark crime comedy elements with emotional depth. And of course, it’s always nice to see Hope Davis.
6. Happy Accidents (2000)
Speaking of underrated directors, Brad Anderson is one of those. The man has made many entertaining and intriguing thrillers/horrors over the years, like “Transsiberian,” “The Machinist,” and “Session 9,” but no one knows his name. Interestingly, he started his career as a romantic comedy filmmaker—not your average fluffy studio rom-coms, but rather interesting indie ones. The first was “Next Stop, Wonderland” starring Hope Davis, whose couple of films are also featured on our list, and the second was the unconventional film called “Happy Accidents.”
It stars Marisa Tomei as a woman with a history of failed relationships who finally meets the perfect boyfriend in the form of Vincent D’Onofrio, who claims to be a time traveler from the future. Is he insane? Is he telling the truth? Does it even matter? Then again, maybe it doesn’t matter. It’s just an element here—even though you’ll try to keep guessing the truth, the real reason behind this fantasy element is just a tool to explore their relationship and the themes of love and the universal desire for connection. That’s where the charm lies.
Tomei is no stranger to playing women who fall in love with oddballs (you should watch “Untamed Heart” if you haven’t), and here she and D’Onofrio have amazing chemistry together. Even those who usually don’t like quirky stuff might find themselves charmed by this one. Nothing wrong with his other work, but maybe Anderson should try to do one more rom-com again.