Gladiator in 2001! Similarly to 2023, 22 years later, there was much anxiety in Hollywood Studios about how drastically Hollywood had changed since the days of large picture epics in the tone of GLADIATOR. Also just an amazing film.
2000s
2000s. Deep under Harvey Weinstien's stronghold - oop! Let me not get too ahead of myself. Great films, good films and bad films.
What, politically, was happening this decade and how did it affect who took the trophy home?
Chicago's sweep in 2003 was both precedented and unprecedented. A fantastic film aside, it is impossible to bring up its sweep without mentioning the man behind it, Harvey Weinstein, who was absolutely a large reason the film won how it did with his rule-breaking promotional methods. The film's legacy as a best picture winner is still secure, or is it?
Crash. Crash in 2005. ... ..? Crash's Best Picture win is Academy voters in their truest form. Morally self-serving and stupid. Crash tackles racial tensions, I guess? And police brutality? Far and away the worst Best Picture win I have talked about on this site, if not ever. What else can I say?
Finally handing over some trophies to Martin Scorsese, The Departed's Best Picture win in 2007 was interesting. The iPhone and more happened that year, and it's safe to say this was another year of rewarding overdue nominees. Good movie! Fine win.
It's safe to say the themes, in particular the ending scene, of No Country for Old Men in 2008 hit hard with Academy voters. As Tony Soprano said, "Lately I've been getting the feeling that I came in at the end; the best is over." Doubt in the institution of America was high this year, deep in the aftermath of 9/11. Also, another example of rewarding overdue nominees. Also just a good movie!