10. Silver Linings Playbook - 2012
Directed by David O. Russell
David O. Russell, who often directs movies that aren't particularly groundbreaking (seriously, The Fighter and American Hustle? Even the titles are boring) took a simple plot and made it extraordinary, thanks largely to a great cast of characters played by great actors turning in some of the best performances of their careers. Admittedly, there are very few things about this movie that are all that unique, special, or mind-blowing. I understand that. But every time I watch this movie, I find myself wanting to start it over and watch it again. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence deliver top-notch performances, giving off great chemistry and showing some excellent comedic timing, helping to make them one of my favorite on-screen couples. Even Robert De Niro, who over the past 15 years or so seems to have given up the art of acting in favor of making De Niro-y faces in front of a camera and collecting money for it, gives a great performance as a quirky, somewhat insane old man with a serious case of OCD. I've never seen him quite like this before, and it was nice to see him actually put out effort for a role again. In the end, this movie is hilarious, charming, and emotionally-satisfying, making it one of my all-time favorite romantic comedies.
9. The Conjuring - 2013
Directed by James Wan
One of the most pants-crappingly scary movies I have ever seen in my life, and a sure-fire candidate for greatest horror movie ever made. What we have here are multiple elements at play, all of which common in the horror genre, but rarely seen together on-screen and never close to this effective. Equal parts haunted house, exorcism, and paranormal investigation, this movie balances all these aspects out, fleshing out its characters, building ridiculous amounts of tension and atmosphere, and delivering some of the most effective scares I've ever seen. This movie bothered me so greatly in certain scenes, I had actual physical, internal reflexes I dare not mention here out of consideration for those of you who are still reading up to this point. James Wan nailed it with Insidious, but the few issues I had with that movie are nowhere to be seen here. Every single this about this movie was done right, and any self-respecting horror buff would admit this is easily one of the best we've seen in a long, long time.
8. Exit Through The Gift Shop - 2010
Directed by Banksy
When it comes to the modern art scene, there are few artists as prolific and enjoyable as the enigmatic Banksy. His street art has influenced countless others, and his works - which are strictly-speaking illegal - are touted as priceless gems that can often be sold for millions by the lucky few who are able to collect them off their own property. Banksy's work is totally unique, often quite humorous, and a total 180 from what has become accepted by the art community. So, if I were to choose anyone to make a documentary that effectively spits in the face of the ridiculousness of the art community and the complete lack of talent, creativity, and fearlessness found in the art scene, Banksy would be my subject of choice. Even people who aren't fans of street art would have to admit that what Banksy did here (which is either one of the most brilliantly set-up acts of trolling we've ever seen, or a profoundly effective criticism of what is accepted as "art" these days), is impressive, assertive, and an absolutely fantastic bit of documentary film-making.
7. The Social Network - 2010
Directed by David Fincher
Every so often we witness a film that basically sums up a generation in one way or another. For this generation, one of these films is this David Fincher-helmed look at the development and growth of social media website Facebook, and the people behind it. Jesse Eisenberg delivers a fantastic, quick-witted, snarky, manipulative performance as Mark Zuckerberg, with excellent support from Andrew Garfield, and Armie Hammer in a dual role as Zuckerberg's rivals. Aaron Sorkin's script is one of the very best I've seen put on film with well-developed characters, excellent dramatic pacing, and fast paced, laser-sharp dialogue. Trent Reznor's musical score is fantastic, the editing, cinematography, and just about every other aspect of this movie was done effectively. My biggest complaint? None. I don't have any. Because this movie is about as close to perfect as anything I have ever seen.
6. The Act Of Killing - 2013
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
While Exit Through The Gift Shop is one of the most entertaining, biting social satires ever made (and definitely one of my top 5 favorite documentaries of all-time), this is the documentary that left me with the deepest impact. Telling the story of a documentarian going to Indonesia to film those responsible for the genocide of communists during the mid-'60s. But is he just going down there to interview them? No. What makes this movie truly disturbing is how he chooses to present this information: instead of simply interviewing these men, he has them all film their own adaptations of the murders that took place by their own hands. The casual nature in which they present these killings and the humor they find in how they came about committing them is horrifying to witness, but impossible to look away from. The film mainly focuses on Anwar Congo, one of the main members of the murderous regime (who jokingly admits to the fact he was responsible for thousands of these deaths by his own hand), whose bizarre charm makes him at times seem like a nice person. What happens in the final third of this film and the realizations he comes to by the end are almost too perfect to be true. The fact that this film even exists in the first place seems almost impossible. One of the most legitimately terrifying films ever made, and easily the greatest documentary I have ever seen.
5. 13 Assassins - 2011
Directed by Takashi Miike
When recalling the great Japanese films, my first reaction would be to name about half the filmography of Akira Kurosawa, followed swiftly by random films by Mizoguchi, Ozu, Kon, Miyazaki, Ichikawa, and many other difficult-to-pronounce-without-sounding-ridiculously-pretentious directors. But there is one director - largely one film - that would easily find a way to slip in among the ranks of Kurosawa's finest works, and that would be Takashi Miike's incredible 13 Assassins. A film that easily holds up with the likes of Seven Samurai, this movie does everything to give the feel of the classic samurai epics while also utilizing more modern techniques and methods at its disposal to produce one of the most fully fleshed out, extravagant, and action-packed Japanese films ever made. With an hour of build-up followed swiftly by an hour of pure carnage, this movie gets its hooks in and doesn't let up until the credits roll. Awesome fight choreography, sets, costume design, cinematography, music...this is a classic samurai film brought into the 21st century. Totally bad-ass.
4. 127 Hours - 2010
Directed by Danny Boyle
As a whole, I have never found myself particularly enthralled by survival films. Either the subject of said catastrophe makes it out alive, or they tragically fail; I'm generally left unaffected either way. But where this movie succeeds is in how it realizes the similarities it has with other films of this sort, and instead chooses to present things in a different way and focus equally on both the internalized, emotional struggle and the challenges surrounding the predicament itself. With fast-paced editing and fantastic cinematography, this movie presents itself in a unique way for the genre, and despite the constrained, claustrophobic setting, manages to show off the largeness of the surroundings, helping to add to the hopelessness of the situation. With an incredible performance by James Franco that I consider to be one of the greatest of all-time and one particular sound effect utilized in the third act, this movie is emotional, intense, and often surprisingly beautiful. This is the best survival movie I've ever seen, and one of the best dramas to come out in a long time.
3. Drive - 2011
Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
The third and final entry by Nicholas Winding Refn on this list, and yes, it is definitely the best. Taking familiar elements and filmed in a similar way as his previous work, only this time with more focus on story and character development than his films are usually known for. Ryan Gosling is incredibly subdued yet intimidating, giving one of the best performances of his career. Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Bryan Cranston all give great support as well, but the real highlight here is Albert Brooks, who takes on a rare non-comedic role and totally nails it. I still firmly believe he deserved an Oscar for his performance. Everything about the way this movie was done, from the lighting and editing to the acting, pacing, and storyline, is amazing. It only gets better every time I watch it, and though there are a few moments that lack the adequate punch, there are a handful of scenes that, whether riddled with intense violence or subtle emotional nuances, I will never forget. This is the film Refn deserves to be remembered for, and though it never got the attention it deserved around awards season, it is held in high esteem by movie buffs elsewhere.
2. The Raid: Redemption - 2012
Directed by Gareth Evans
For the longest time, I clung to the idea that Die Hard was the greatest action movie ever made. But after watching this movie several times, I can without a doubt retract that statement and proclaim The Raid: Redemption the absolute best. When it comes to pure adrenaline-pumping wall-to-wall action, this is about as relentlessly intense a movie as you will ever find. Though the plot is a bit thin at times, it is all forgiven due to the sheer simplicity of its execution: the police raid a building. Drug dealers defend the building. Guns, explosions, and martial arts ensue. From the very beginning, this movie sinks its teeth in you and doesn't let go until you're left almost as exhausted as the characters in the film. The absolute chaos and brilliant way it is put on screen never ceases to entertain and amaze you, utilizing insanely tricky cinematography as well as fast-paced editing and a fantastic musical score. This movie knows exactly what it's trying to be and succeeds on every level. And though I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone (particularly those out there with a particular disinterest for action movies), fans of the genre - or even just fans of great film-making - should drop everything and watch this movie immediately. This is the best.
And now, before I proceed on to my #1 favorite/best/most incredible/unforgettable movie of the 2010 decade, let us have a short recap of what all we've seen on here.
(To view the whole posts, click here to read about my #50-26 choices, or here for spots #25-11.)
50. The Avengers
49. Leviathan
48. Beyond The Black Rainbow
47. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
46. Life Itself
45. Pacific Rim
44. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
43. Moneyball
42. The Descendants
41. The Skin I Live In
40. The Cabin In The Woods
39. Holy Motors
38. Frankenweenie
37. Inception
36. Skyfall
35. Gravity
34. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil
33. Under The Skin
32. The Raid 2
31. Maniac
30. Shame
29. The World's End
28. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
27. The LEGO Movie
26. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Pt. II
25. Certified Copy
24. Only God Forgives
23. A Separation
22. Good Night Good Morning
21. 12 Years A Slave
20. Take Shelter
19. Nebraska
18. Midnight In Paris
17. Moonrise Kingdom
16. Insidious
15. Valhalla Rising
14. The Grand Budapest Hotel
13. The Artist
12. Toy Story 3
11. Captain Phillips
10. Silver Linings Playbook
9. The Conjuring
8. Exit Through The Gift Shop
7. The Social Network
6. The Act Of Killing
5. 13 Assassins
4. 127 Hours
3. Drive
2. The Raid: Redemption
1. Her - 2013
Directed by Spike Jonze
Instead of simply defining this generation, this movie digs deeper and sets the tone for generations to come. The way Jonze portrays this not-so-distant future, with its largely realistic technological advances and emotionally-distant occupants, feels almost like a shockingly accurate prediction of things to come. An entire generation raised on the conveniences of technology, but completely out of touch with the depths of human emotion, and in desperate need of finding that special connection with someone -- or some *thing*.
The story focuses on Theodore Twombley, a man who works for a sort of greeting card company that writes personalized "hand-written" letters for its clients. The people in this society are so emotionally-crippled, even the simplicity of a hand-written note becomes too inconvenient a gesture, so they pass the duty on to complete strangers. And Theo is quite adept at it. He pours his heart into letters for others, but can't deal with his own emotional needs. Having recently split with his wife, he is at a very difficult time in his life, and the loneliness and depressed nature of his existence is quite substantial. He frequents anonymous phone-sex services, which certainly provide mixed results. One day returning from work, he notices an advertisement for a personalized operating system. To help him sort out his life, he gets one. His OS is named Samantha, and he soon finds there is much more to her than he ever could have imagined.
Some people are understanding of his choice to enter a romantic relationship with Samantha, whereas others are confused, or downright appalled at the sheer idea of it. How could he love someone he never met? Or how could he even love "someone" who isn't even a real human being? Serving as somewhat of an extension on online dating, as well as the nature of purely online friendships, this movie strikes at the very core of both the positives and negatives of this type of relationship and how we view them in modern society. Some people are understanding, others are not, but neither are wrong for feeling this way. We all view emotions as strong as love in different ways, and that being the case, have different needs when it involves them. The lack of physical contact is evident, but the depth of Theodore and Samantha's relationship is more genuine than probably any I've ever seen in a movie before. This is a believable couple, and the love they share for one another is very real - and very painful during the moments when they are reminded that they can never truly be together.
Everything about this movie from a technical perspective is stunning: the music, cinematography, and editing are all fantastic. But above all else, where this movie succeeds in in its writing and two lead performances. Joaquin Phoenix, who is arguably the best actor currently working, gives the strongest performance of his career as Theodore; a difficult role fueled by complex emotions and sincerity. And equally impressive is Scarlett Johansson, who takes all these same complexities and conveys them flawlessly in what I would call the best voice-only performance ever in a film. Jonze's writing and direction takes us on an emotional journey from start to finish, demonstrating the ups and downs of this love story for the 21st century.
Her is the most emotionally resonant, beautiful, and heart-wrenching movie I have ever seen. An instant classic that deserves to be seen, and easily my #1 movie of the 2010s.
The story focuses on Theodore Twombley, a man who works for a sort of greeting card company that writes personalized "hand-written" letters for its clients. The people in this society are so emotionally-crippled, even the simplicity of a hand-written note becomes too inconvenient a gesture, so they pass the duty on to complete strangers. And Theo is quite adept at it. He pours his heart into letters for others, but can't deal with his own emotional needs. Having recently split with his wife, he is at a very difficult time in his life, and the loneliness and depressed nature of his existence is quite substantial. He frequents anonymous phone-sex services, which certainly provide mixed results. One day returning from work, he notices an advertisement for a personalized operating system. To help him sort out his life, he gets one. His OS is named Samantha, and he soon finds there is much more to her than he ever could have imagined.
Some people are understanding of his choice to enter a romantic relationship with Samantha, whereas others are confused, or downright appalled at the sheer idea of it. How could he love someone he never met? Or how could he even love "someone" who isn't even a real human being? Serving as somewhat of an extension on online dating, as well as the nature of purely online friendships, this movie strikes at the very core of both the positives and negatives of this type of relationship and how we view them in modern society. Some people are understanding, others are not, but neither are wrong for feeling this way. We all view emotions as strong as love in different ways, and that being the case, have different needs when it involves them. The lack of physical contact is evident, but the depth of Theodore and Samantha's relationship is more genuine than probably any I've ever seen in a movie before. This is a believable couple, and the love they share for one another is very real - and very painful during the moments when they are reminded that they can never truly be together.
Everything about this movie from a technical perspective is stunning: the music, cinematography, and editing are all fantastic. But above all else, where this movie succeeds in in its writing and two lead performances. Joaquin Phoenix, who is arguably the best actor currently working, gives the strongest performance of his career as Theodore; a difficult role fueled by complex emotions and sincerity. And equally impressive is Scarlett Johansson, who takes all these same complexities and conveys them flawlessly in what I would call the best voice-only performance ever in a film. Jonze's writing and direction takes us on an emotional journey from start to finish, demonstrating the ups and downs of this love story for the 21st century.
Her is the most emotionally resonant, beautiful, and heart-wrenching movie I have ever seen. An instant classic that deserves to be seen, and easily my #1 movie of the 2010s.
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