Ridley Scott
is among our most productive contemporary film directors, showcasing exceptional skills in constructing worlds and narrating stories that span various genres. Initially, his directing journey was highlighted by revolutionary works like
Alien
,
Legend
, and
Blade Runner
.
Each one is a distinctly different movie, but they all exhibit the same meticulous craftsmanship that Scott is renowned for.
Scott’s career continued to gain traction from that point onward. In 1991, he took the helm of the widely-loved road movie.
Thelma and Louise
He transported viewers back to the New World in
1492: Conquest of Paradise
And in 1997, he took charge of directing it.
Demi Moore
in her
profound performance in
G.I. Jane
. But throughout the
2000s
,
Scott truly hit his stride as a filmmaker, creating an unprecedented number of blockbusters throughout the decade
. From the Colosseum of the late Roman Empire, to the hard streets of 1970s Harlem, to the Somalian Civil War, Scott has a talent for bringing a narrative world to life on screen. Here are the best Ridley Scott films from the 2000s, ranked.
‘Body of Lies’ (2008)
Cast includes: Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mark Strong
This 2008 action thriller, set in the Middle East, follows the CIA and the Jordanian General Intelligence Department, as they pursue a fictitious terrorist, Al-Saleem (
Alon Abutbul
The screenplay was adapted from a novel with the same title penned by
David Ignatius
, and
discussed current stresses in the Middle East regarding Western foreign policy and espionage activities
The story revolves around CIA operative Roger Ferris.
Leonardo DiCaprio
) in his endeavors to locate Al-Saleem, even though he frequently encounters discouraging clashes from inside sources, particularly in his dealings with CIA director Ed Hoffman.
Russell Crowe
The movie constructs a complex network of intertwined objectives and conflicting drives.
War movies from earlier times, before the current era, like
Pearl Harbor
or
Saving Private Ryan
Movies focused on historical victories generally excel at the box office, unlike war films dealing with the “war on terror,” which frequently struggle to attract similar viewership. This might be due to modern audiences finding it simpler to envision themselves as heroes in morally clear battles when enough time has passed since those events occurred.
The typical elements of distrust and redirection in a spy thriller create suspense.
Body of Lies
However, overall the movie seemed divided between different personas.
Ferris, proficient in Arabic and culturally sensitive, serves as a character contrasting against the often-insensitive demeanor commonly attributed to U.S. soldiers serving in Middle Eastern nations. However, the inclusion of a romantic subplot along with typical tropes found in spy thrillers ultimately diluted the potential for deeper societal critique within the story.
‘A Good Year’ (2006)
Cast includes: Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, and Marion Cotillard
Given his expertise in crafting intricate settings drawn from either historical events or fantastical realms, Scott hasn’t typically been associated with romantic comedies. However, this changed in 2006 when he decided to take on an endeavor involving a very distinct form of world-building. Romantic comedies come with their own specific conventions, and several standout entries within the category possess an almost magical chemistry. Movies such as
Sleepless in Seattle
or
Notting Hill
depends on the allure and star quality of their magnetic leading women and their delightful love interests. Yet occasionally, a modest film emerges that manages to astonish viewers.
even though it tilts more towards the dramedy aspect rather than the pure comedy within the genre
.
A Good Year
follows Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), a young and conceited stock trader in London. Max was raised by his uncle in a vineyard in Provence after his parents passed away in his childhood. When Max is called away from his busy city life to settle his uncle’s estate, through a series of accidents, he makes the acquaintance of a young café owner, Fanny Chenal (
Marion Cotillard
).
As things begin to fall apart with his relationships at the firm he works for, Max begins to reassess his life in the city
, and the call of the countryside of his childhood begins to appeal to him more.
‘Matchstick Men’ (2003)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman
Matchstick Men
is a darkly comedic crime movie centered around an experienced con artist named Roy Waller
Nicolas Cage
) featuring an unexpected turn with the appearance of an unanticipated 14-year-old daughter. Roy and his companion Frank Mercer (
Sam Rockwell
) unsuspecting individuals into buying subpar, overpriced water filtration systems. While Roy grapples with his obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome, he seeks out a new psychiatrist to provide him with the necessary medication. Throughout the treatment process,
The therapist discloses that he has uncovered information about Roy’s daughter from an earlier relationship, Angela (Alison Lohman).
.
If handled by a less adept director, the storyline, which originates from the 2002 book of the same title penned by
Eric Garcia
, could have easily veered off course. Cage and Rockwell are both actors recognized for their performances.
delivering high-energy performances
.
In
Matchstick Men
the masterful command they each exhibit in their portrayals of grifters maneuvering through intricate professional and private connections
, as Roy learns to accommodate his new role as a father, drives the film forward. Lohman was just coming off of her breakout role in
White Oleandar
, and she conveyed a similarly poignant emotion to Alison, which won her comparable acclaim to Astrid Magnussen.
‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005)
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, and Edward Norton
Going back to his preoccupation with constructing historically inspired worlds,
Kingdom of Heaven
is originally set in Medieval France before tracking the journey of Balian the Blacksmith
Orlando Bloom
) as he journeys to Jerusalem, having reunited with his father, Baron Godfrey (
Liam Neeson
Balian’s wife took her own life, and he killed his half-brother, a priest who had commanded for her head to be severed so she wouldn’t receive a Christian burial.
The grieving blacksmith accompanies his father and their Crusaders on the homecoming trip to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, seeking redemption.
When soldiers try to capture them to apprehend Balian for killing his brother, Godfrey sustains fatal injuries during the confrontation. As he dies, he bestows upon Balian the title of Baron of Ibelin, thereby merging this fictitious French blacksmith with an actual historical personage.
The movie, featuring remarkably beautiful camerawork and meticulously staged battle scenes, offered a profound exploration of the intricate historical loyalties during that era.
.
Edward Norton
His portrayal of Leper King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem marked a departure from his usual types of roles and garnered acclaim.
Eva Green
delivered a captivating portrayal as Queen Sibylla, another real-life individual whose life story was dramatized for cinematic purposes since history provides no evidence of her relinquishing her claim to the throne to pursue her blacksmith paramour and return to France. The movie effectively captures the intricate interpersonal relationships affected by conflicts between religious devotion and warfare among the characters. It ends with a caption revealing that even after almost one thousand years, tranquility in the Holy Land continues to be unattainable.
‘Hannibal’ (2001)
Cast includes: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, and Ray Liotta
This adaptation of the follow-up to the unparalleled
Silence of the Lambs
was controversial for
recasting the starring role
of Clarice Starling, originally played by
Jodie Foster
in the 1991 film. After the 1999 release of the long-awaited
Thomas Harris
novel was published, plans for the sequel film could begin. But when Foster seemingly objected to the novel’s portrayal of Clarice, and had a scheduling conflict once production on the film began, she passed on the screenplay and was replaced by
Julianne Moore
in the leading role.
Scott was lucky to find Moore,
who infused the character with the same genuine toughness as her admired forerunner did
.
Once again,
in the hands of a more prosaic director, the screenplay for
Hannibal
would have been challenging to achieve
. Using a well-known monster such as Hannibal Lecter
Anthony Hopkins
A physician who consumes individuals he deems unpleasant—whom he calls “free-range rude”—and transforming this character into Clarice’s entrancing love interest, as depicted in the book, proved too contentious a path for directors aiming at commercial success. Even though changes were necessary for the conclusion, Scott’s movie ends maintaining Dr. Lecter’s respect for Clarice’s integrity without pushing her despair with the FBI to such extremes that she became unhinged, unlike the reversed predator-prey dynamic seen in the novel.
‘American Gangster’ (2007)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor
American Gangster
is a biographical crime film
based loosely on the rise of 1970s criminal kingpin, Frank Lucas
, played by
Denzel Washington
. Lucas works for Harlem crime boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, until the death of his mentor leaves a space to be filled. He enters the heroin trade and, under the brand “Blue Magic,” makes a name for himself for the purity of his product.
As Lucas’ achievements expand, his illicit activities become concealed in everyday operations, as he establishes legitimate facades through the companies he founds.
However, the boss’s opulent way of life makes him a target for Newark Detective Richie Roberts, played by Russell Crowe.
The script was crafted by
Steve Zaillian
, using the
New York Magazine
article ”
The Return of Superfly
as source material. The movie delves into the grim underside of the American Dream. In the beginning, Lucas shows how far he’s willing to go to carve out his place in the world by publicly executing Tango,
Idris Elba
) with a stunning demonstration of strength that immediately earns them respect on the streets.
One of the strangest aspects of the tale is indeed
taken from real life
As the bond that appears to form between Lucas and Roberts in the movie is rooted in the relationship that developed between them following Lucas’ capture.
‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001)
Cast includes: Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor
This wartime movie, created by
Jerry Bruckheimer
It was adapted from a 1999 non-fiction book with the same title.
The movie portrays the experiences of U.S. soldier crews whose helicopters were brought down during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia.
. The UN troops had established a presence in the area to address the famine caused by the continuing civil war, yet they faced significant challenges as they tried to help the United States set up a centralized government. The leader of the Somali National Alliance was met with opposition.
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
(The primary objective of the U.S. mission in Somalia) was portrayed in the movie by his militia leader, Yousuf Dahir Mo’Alim.
Razaaq Adoti
).
The movie served as a platform for a star-studded group of talented young Hollywood actors to come together with the camaraderie seen among siblings in wartime dramas. This type of brotherhood is something war films often emphasize.
Body of Lies
was an espionage novel where the made-up story seemed at odds with the real-world politics it tried to mirror,
the perspective of
Black Hawk Down
does not get bogged down by the complexities of averting a possible worldwide catastrophe
, as the emphasis stays on the ensemble cast playing soldiers primarily concerned with surviving until nightfall. Though the movie does take some creative freedoms and clearly leans towards a Western perspective, its dedication to achieving a gripping sense of realism deserves recognition.
particularly when viewed from a technical standpoint
. A
recent Netflix docuseries
titled
Surviving Black Hawk Down
, created by Ridley Scott Associates, seeks to retell the events of the battle, this time from both the perspective of the surviving American servicemen and local Somali civilians.
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
Cast includes: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen
Gladiator
stays one of Scott’s most recognized and cherished movies.
The movie demonstrated the filmmaker’s skill in producing grandiose historical epics.
.
Gladiator
Additionally, this film initiated the director’s creative collaboration with Russell Crowe, which thrived over the next ten years. Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus Decius Meridius stood out for its fervor and depth.
Joaquin Phoenix
It’s a disturbing depiction of Commodus, yet the real highlight of the movie was the vivid world that Scott managed to create on-screen.
The movie was so cherished that in 2024, Scott revisited ancient Rome with a follow-up film.
Gladiator II
.
Paul Mescal
stars as Maximus’ son, Lucius Verus Aurelius, who was banished from Rome by his mother Lucilla (
Connie Nielsen
), the offspring of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, out of concern that he might become a target for rivals to the throne. The catalyst for this story occurs when Lucius is enslaved following the invasion of Numidia by the Roman Army, which immediately draws thematic and narrative similarities to the initial movie.
Gladiator
started Scott’s marathon run during the 2000s
and rightfully claims the top position on the list.
NEXT:
10 Films to Check Out If You’re a Fan of ‘ Blade Runner’