Here are my top 5 films of the decade.
Here’s a list to cinefixes top movies of the year.
Looking back over the decade it has been a great time for film. It feels like we are in the middle of some kind of resurgence. While the gulf between big-budget and lower budgets seems more extensive than ever. The accessibility to film making equipment means more and more voices speaking out.
This has been a great decade, and I look forward to the coming one. I believe my own voice will be joining the chorus of filmmakers and storytellers in the 2020s.
Briefly on the criteria for Top 5 films of the decade:
First of all, these aren’t necessarily the “best” films of the decade. These are films that I love, have watched more than once or stuck in my memory over the years. These are films I find myself coming back to again and again.
These films hold a deep emotional connection for me. I don’t expect them to click with you, but I thought I’d share them anyway.
Honourable mentions:
Before I tell you my top 5 films of the decade first a few honourable mentions. The following list is in no particular order. If the list feels like it’s missing a few you’re probably right. There are many films that I haven’t seen. It feels like Nocturnal Animals is something that I should have seen by now but haven’t got round to it. There aren’t many foreign-language films on the list either. Again another oversight on my part.
All these films are worth checking out at some point.
- Dredd
- Drive
- Arrival
- Train to Busan
- Snowpiercer
- Annihilation
- Hail Caeser!
- The Nice Guys
- Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
- It Follows
- Nightcrawler
- Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow
- Jack Reacher
- The Grey
- Morning Glory
- The Artist
- Wolf of Wall Street
- Grand Budapest Hotel
- Moonrise Kingdom
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- The Dark Knight Rises
- The Lego Movie
- We Need to Talk About Kevin
- Hereditary
- Senna
- Amy
- Joy
- A Star is Born
- The Social Network
- True Grit
- Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Joker
- Bait
Top 5 films of the decade
5: American Honey (2016)
I went to see this with a friend and to be honest, I had zero expectations. It came out during peak sticking the word “American” on the front of titles. It turned out that I was more than pleasantly surprised.
A homeless girl joins a group of magazine sellers as they make their way across America. Amateur and professionals mix into the ensemble cast. They hustle during the day and party at night. We follow the group as they live hand to mouth. It’s a hangout film, but it’s very well done capturing the transition from youth to adulthood.
4: La La Land (2016)
I saw this film a few days after coming out of a long relationship. For the most part, I was going along with it but to be honest with you, the last section broke me down. When they do the road not taken part. The what could have been. In the end, though I left feeling like I had a kind of release. The film had drawn out the poison, and I felt much better afterwards.
This is a musical for the “self-love”, “put yourself first” generation. Two ambitious souls come together for a little while, pick each other up and go on to find success. Is it downbeat? Is it depressing, or is it a mature look at modern relationships? How you view the ending reveals your mindset.
3: Gone Girl (2014)
It was a toss-up between this and The Social Network. They are both equally fantastic. Truth be told I have watched Gone Girl more often than Social Network.
The first time it was a taught thriller.
The second time it was a spiritual successor to Basic Instinct.
Third time it felt like a metaphor for all relationships.
The fourth time it became a comedy. Gone Girl is hilarious with some great lines in the second half, “You…fucking…bitch”.
What I like too is it’s equal opportunities when it comes to offence. All are punished. Women are mentalists, men are dumb, point to the lie.
Fincher is one of the top directors working at the moment. He’s moved over to Netflix working on House of Cards and Mindhunter. I hope he returns to film soon.
2: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
I am so thankful for Sony Pictures. For every Ghostbusters 2016, they give us this. This bombed and I can see why. The first scene has our hero breaking into a farmers house and killing him. No wonder people stayed away. At almost three hours it takes its sweet time, and I love it.
The soundtrack is excellent, a perfect complement to the Vangelis original, it’s my go-to writing music. Gosling is on the top stoic form. The look of the film is beautiful. Having Joi as his holographic partner is a fantastic device so that K can deliver exposition. Some of my favourite shots of the decade are in here. A transition from a fire to a dystopic cityscape gives me goosebumps every time I see it. It has been a great decade for director Denis Villeneuve.
I’m looking forward to Dune next year. It will bomb, but it’ll be beautiful.
I saw this on opening night (a rarity for me) with two friends. It was my treat, and for that reason, it holds a special place in my memory.
Blade Runner 2049 is more of a mood than a movie, but it’s my kind of mood.
1: Killing Them Softly (2012)
I might be the only person in the world who loves this film. Like really loves it. I’ve never seen a movie that so accurately depicts how men talk in the absence of women. I have this film to thank for turning me onto the works of George V. Higgins. Which put me onto the idea that in a novel, you can tell a story through dialogue.
If the film Drive is ’80s cool then Killing them Softly is 70’s grit. The violence is grim, a guy gets beaten till he pukes. Hitmen are boring, insecure drunks. Enforcers are indecisive and don’t want to get their hands dirty. This is the polar opposite of Scorcese’s gangster romances. For that and many other reasons, I love this film. I understand if you don’t, but for my money, this is my film of the decade.
