Julianne Moore’s 10 favourite movies of the 21st century
Like many actors, Julianne Moore started out on the small screen, cutting her teeth in the world of television before graduating to the glorious world of cinema in the 1990s. It didn’t take her long to prove her genius, appearing in Todd Haynes’ Safe to widespread acclaim.
The film saw Moore play a woman who is stricken with a mysterious illness, and while she wasn’t the first choice for the part, her audition soon proved her to be the only suitable candidate. As Moore’s first leading role, the actor’s career only continued moving forwards, with parts in highly praised movies like Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski and Magnolia rounding out the decade.
Since then, Moore has retained her position as one of her generation’s most beloved stars, and she has dominated the 21st century with roles in everything from I’m Not There and Children of Men to Still Alice and A Single Man. But what are her favourite movies of the century so far?
Picking out her ten favourite movies of the 21st century for The New York Times, Moore highlighted a diverse range of films that spanned cringey comedies to moving dramas. Superbad and The 40 Year Old Virgin were Moore’s picks for the former category, clearly loving the kinds of films that don’t take themselves too seriously while also being well-written and jam-packed with memorable lines. Who can forget either McLovin or Steve Carell’s nipple-waxing scene?
Another comedy that Moore loves is Parasite, although it’s much darker than the aforementioned titles. Released in 2019, it was soon heralded as a modern classic, winning several Oscars, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ for Bong Joon-ho. The film explored class with extreme precision, weaving both black comedy and tragedy seamlessly.
Heading into more absurd comedic territory now, Moore picked Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth, which helped to put the Greek auteur on the map as a truly unique and idiosyncratic filmmaker. It’s a bizarre tale of family, sex, authority, and violence that will have you squirming in your seat, but it’s one that you’ll never forget.
Moore also loves Ex-Machina, another strange story, although Alex Garland’s sci-fi film centres around artificial intelligence, with Alicia Vikander playing a female humanoid who falls for Domhnall Gleeson’s Caleb, a computer programmer. It stands as one of the most innovative sci-fi movies of recent years, taking us into a world that is scarily relevant despite its dystopian core.
Continuing the theme of intense films, Moore also selected the vibrant thriller Good Time by Josh and Benny Safdie, as well as the gruelling tale of obsession and perfectionism Black Swan. The latter featured Natalie Portman, whom Moore would come to star alongside in Haynes’ acclaimed age-gap feature May December. Black Swan earned Portman her Oscar, and her performance is a truly unforgettable foray into the mind of someone who is falling apart.
Moore seems to have a thing for films where people reach breaking point, with Phantom Thread also making it onto her list. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, with whom Moore has worked several times before, the film charts the unusual relationship between Reynolds Woodcock, a dress designer, and his unlikely muse Alma, a waitress. Their relationship soon turns poisonous, and it’s an intoxicating watch, complete with stunning cinematography and a perfect score by Jonny Greenwood.
Melancholy is something Moore appears to be drawn to as well, with Michael Haneke’s Amour earning a place on his list. The moving drama follows an elderly couple as they face health challenges that threaten to destroy everything, and it’s the kind of film that is almost guaranteed to make you cry. Emmanuelle Riva, who was 85 at the time, became the oldest ‘Best Actress’ nominee in Oscar history with her performance, although she lost out to Jennifer Lawrence, the second youngest winner of the category.
Finally, a film that tows the line between comedy and moving drama – Lost in Translation. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, the movie depicts an unlikely companionship between an aging star, played by Bill Murray, and the young and lonely wife of a photographer, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. Set against the backdrop of a foreign country – in this case Japan – the film communicates isolation and the joy of finding connection in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Julianne Moore’s 10 favourite movies of the 21st century:
- Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010)
- Good Time (Josh and Benny Safdie, 2017)
- Superbad (Greg Mottola, 2007)
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Judd Apatow, 2005)
- Parasite (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)
- Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017)
- Ex-Machina (Alex Garland, 2014)
- Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003)
- Dogtooth (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2009)
- Amour (Michael Haneke, 2012)
