Best Movies of 2000

A personal cross-language ranking of films first publicly released in 2000, from Hong Kong restraint and a Taiwanese family panorama to documentary curiosity, martial-arts movement and inventive thrillers. Festival premieres count: Werckmeister Harmonies, Sexy Beast and Under the Sand screened in 2000 before later commercial dates listed by some catalogues. In the Mood for Love leads for its complete control of feeling, image and rhythm. The Gleaners and I offers an inviting documentary route; Requiem for a Dream and Battle Royale are especially harsh adult choices. Placements judge complete films rather than awards or box office.