21 Best Films Of The 21st Century By Genre

This may prove a controversial choice for top spot due to the abundance of brilliant War films produced this century. Saving Private Ryan was a far more deserving best picture nominee than Shakespeare in Love, its brutally realistic D-Day landing sequence a film treasure. Other outstanding films of the genre such as Dunkirk, Black Hawk Down and 1917 were outstanding in its ability to place the viewer in the line of fire.

But the winner for best war film of the century goes to the film that explored the battles of the Iraq War, in what may just be the most realistic depiction of war ever produced. While the autobiographical work the film was based on copped its fair share of criticism from war veterans, Jarhead the film has been seen as a major improvement from those who served their country.

The idea of depicting War as a long draining journey where little happens isn't the most entertaining concept ever heard, but Sam Mendes brilliantly executes this idea in an enthralling manner. The depiction of soldiers simply freezing on the spot under fire is made all the more poignant by the fact that these events actually happened.

The war cliches are all disposed of here, replaced with soldiers desiring to fight after months of doing nothing in the deserts of Iraq. The moment when a 'Jarhead' is not allowed to take the shot he had been waiting so long to make, is as powerful a moment as you'll see on film.