I'm sure there will be entries on this list that people will disagree with, which makes me happy. If you have issues with my list, leave me feedback. I want to hear what people think, what changes they would make, or even recommendations for things I might have missed that aren't included on this list. Any feedback is good feedback.
But now, to business. This is part 2 of my top 50 of the 2010s decade.
25. Certified Copy - 2010
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami
By the halfway point, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It was a relatively simple film, with good performances and interesting characters. And then something happened that changed this movie into complex, challenging, and totally unforgettable. One of director Kiarostami's finest efforts to date -- which is saying something.
24. Only God Forgives - 2013
Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
If you go into this movie expecting a traditional story and characterization, you will most likely walk away disappointed and bewildered. But if you go into it just to witness a fantastically-shot and edited film with great music and awesome set design, this movie should be right in your wheelhouse. To me, this is a movie that demands the audience draw their own conclusions; a daring move that fully immersed me in the experience.
23. A Separation - 2011
Directed by Asghar Farhadi
One of the best straight-forward dramas of the decade, this look at a disintegrating marriage and the stories surrounding them took me by surprise, throwing twists at me I could not see coming, while also delving into the social aspects of Iranian life I never would have taken a second glance at. Brilliantly written, directed, and acted, here is a fine example of no-frills drama at its very best.
22. Good Night Good Morning - 2012
Directed by Sudhish Kamath
Yet another simple but effective relationship drama, only this time about two people getting close and bonding over a late-night phone call. The kicker: this couple only briefly met earlier that night. The writing here is absolutely perfect, with just enough humor, awkwardness, and genuine emotion to make this feel like a real meaningful human interaction. Shown almost entirely in split-screen and shot in black and white, we see every reaction and witness every nuance of both leading performances, and the result is terrific.
21. 12 Years A Slave - 2013
Directed by Steve McQueen
Taking what could have easily become a desperately cloying, Oscar-baity white guilt movie and turning it into one of the absolute best race-related dramas I've ever seen, Steve McQueen's uncompromising view of the life of Solomon Northup is gritty, powerful, and disturbingly intense. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives the greatest performance of his career by a landslide, with incredible support from the entire cast, most notably Michael Fassbender (obviously) and newcomer Lupita Nyong'o. I was left speechless.
20. Take Shelter - 2011
Directed by Jeff Nichols
A fantastic, paranoid character study about a man who believes a great storm (possibly the end of the world) is approaching. Michael Shannon does an amazing job as a man on the brink of mental collapse, balancing the craziness and concern of a father trying to do what's best for his family in the face of what he believes to be impending doom. Though Jessica Chastain certainly holds her own, this is a movie that's completely driven by one central performance -- and what a great performance it was.
19. Nebraska - 2013
Directed by Alexander Payne
Shot in gorgeous black and white, this comedic drama features an excellent cast performing at their very best, and a great screenplay that full encapsulates the mundane nature of lower-middle class rural life. Bruce Dern has never been better, playing the part of an aging, mentally-diminishing and unattentive father, with a hilarious June Squibb as his overbearing wife, and Will Forte turning in a surprisingly effective performance as a weary son trying his hardest to provide support for a father he never felt close to. Honest, funny, and often quite poignant, this is my favorite Alexander Payne film to date.
18. Midnight In Paris - 2011
Directed by Woody Allen
Though Woody Allen's filmography may be hit-and-miss, there are few movies that so instantly left such a strong, lasting impression on me as this one did. One of the most interesting and charming fantasy movies I've seen in a while, this semi-romantic comedy has fun performances, a great script, and tons of memorable moments. For fans of Paris and the works of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Stein, and (let's not forget) Salvador Dali, this movie is surely not to be missed. A brilliant love letter to days gone by and a wonderful reminder that life, at any point in time, can be a pretty beautiful thing.
17. Moonrise Kingdom - 2012
Directed by Wes Anderson
Yet another in a long line of quirky, charming, and distinctly Anderson-y Wes Anderson films, this coming-of-age comedy has all the trademarks you could expect from one of his movies, all of which culminating in a completely enjoyable experience that never disappoints. The performances by its young actors are awkward and endearing, with great support from a cast of seasoned veterans who give it their all in their unconventional roles, giving the movie a vivid, joyous atmosphere not seen in most films today. But this movie is not just for fans of Wes Anderson; it's for fans of great movies.
16. Insidious - 2011
Directed by James Wan
One of the creepiest and coolest horror movies of our time, this movie single-handedly put James Wan on my radar. With its creepy images, incredibly effective scares, and absolutely fantastic musical score, there are very few major complaints that I can make about this movie - most of which I can just chalk up to campiness, which essentially only adds to the films charm. Just searching images to use from this movie gave me the chills, and though the sequel essentially negates the effectiveness of the ending, I still find this an intriguing movie with a series of bizarre and totally plausible theories surrounding some of its ambiguous plot points. Fun, interesting, and always great for providing chills.
15. Valhalla Rising - 2010
Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
What do you get when you smoosh together elements of Aguirre, Wrath Of God and the works of Ingmar Bergman, and put it in the hands of a crazy Danish man who enjoys making movies about drug-dealers, getaway drivers, and Malaysian boxing? This. And yes, it's every bit as awesome as it sounds. Though his character never actually speaks, Mads Mikkelsen's silent lead provides a brutal, intimidating central fixture to a very carnal backdrop which definitely helps separate the film from the insanity of Aguirre. Amazing camerawork, bizarre editing, and a plot that definitely takes a few odd turns along the way, this is the brand of bleak, daring film-making I admire more than most anything else.
14. The Grand Budapest Hotel - 2014
Directed by Wes Anderson
Yes, another quirky gem from the nearly-obnoxiously charming Wes Anderson canon. With a cast that includes roughly 90 actors and actresses you've heard of, and a bizarre, sweeping story that spans several decades, this movie could have easily been an incohesive mess of sloppy writing, muddled direction, and endless cameos. But alas, Wes Anderson took these elements and churned out yet another work of pure charm. The set design was great, the characterization was great, the cinematography, music, acting, and pacing were all great. In short, this whole movie was great, fully deserving of its current #1 position on my favorite movies of the year list, and although 2014 is not yet finished, I'd find it hard to see many movies topping it.
13. The Artist - 2011
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
For whatever reason, ever since this movie won Best Picture, I haven't heard almost anything about it. Granted, it may seem a bit gimmicky to do a modern silent film, but nothing about this movie is done poorly, and the simple fact that it was able to not only mimic, but pay adequate tribute to the silent film era gives me a great deal of appreciation for the all those involved in the production of this masterpiece. Jean Dujardin's charming lead performance is one of the best of this decade, capturing all the emotional ups and downs of his character with sincerity and subtlety, with Berenice Bejo and the rest of the cast providing excellent support. Beautiful, charming, touching, and a great example of how modern film-making conventions aren't always the most effective.
12. Toy Story 3 - 2010
Directed by Lee Unkrich
One of the most amazing animated films I've ever seen, this movie is a great conclusion to one of the most beloved trilogies of all-time. The voice-acting is amazing, with great animation, music, and an unexpectedly fun prison escape plot. Though much of this movie is essential a rehash of Toy Story 2, this movie took all these concepts from its predecessor and improved on every single one of them. The characters are more well-developed, the story is more mature, and the ending itself made me cry almost as much as any movie ever has before. Having grown up with these characters, this movie hit all the right nostalgic notes and served as one of the best send-offs I could ever hope for.
11. Captain Phillips - 2013
Directed by Paul Greengrass
One of the single most intense movies I have ever seen in my life. From about 15 minutes in, and for the next 2 hours, I was completely sucked in. Tom Hanks gives it his all, in what I believe to be one of the strongest performances of his career, while Barkhad Abdi absolutely knocks it out of the park in his very first motion picture role, capturing the intensity and desperation of one of the most complex and deeply motivated "villains" in the history of film. Every action has motivation, every conflict has a purpose. Never before have I seen such an intense movie so deeply grounded in realism. And this translates all the way through the ending, which is one of the most emotionally-draining and wholly effective conclusions of the past decade -- and it's here that Tom Hanks really shines. A powerful drama that could have easily become yet another "YEAHHHH 'MURICA!" type movie that instead chose to actually develop its antagonists with real, tangible motivations. Amazing.
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