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I watched one thousand-eight-hundred-twenty-seven (1827) movies this decade (starting in 2011 and posting to the site in 2014). Here are my top 21 picks for the decade in no particular order. I just couldn't trim it down any further. This is based simply on the movies I watched during the decade, not on what was released.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.
The Top 21 of 2010's:
The Godfather (1972)
Written by: Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay), Mario Puzo (novel)
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
Rated: R
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Plot
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) assumes control of his family's organized crime syndicate from his aging father Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the Godfather.
Verdict
Is this the greatest movie ever made? Yes.
It's the epitome of film. It does everything a movie should while exploring an unknown world. It's expansive & sprawling, creating riveting characters with a smart script, and the dialog is sharp.
We delve into this world of crime and it feels real because it focuses on the characters. It's a family drama with high stakes.
There's a reason it's become ingrained in popular culture. It presents some of the best anti-heroes ever to grace the screen and nearly all the lines of dialog are worth quoting.
From the story to the acting and directing, it doesn't miss a beat. It's incredible.
Full Review
Blade Runner (1982)
Written by: Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples (screenplay), Philip K. Dick (novel)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: S Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah
Rating: R
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Plot
A former L.A. cop takes on a job as a blade runner, pursuing and terminating four cybernetic replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.
Verdict
This is an undeniable classic. From it's portrayal of futuristic L.A. and noir style to the ultimate question of what it means to be human, the success of this sci-fi movie relies on all the parts coming together perfectly. The cast is excellent and the visuals remain striking. The question that remains, is Deckard a human or replicant?
Full Review
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Written by: Hampton Fancher and Michael Green (screenplay by), Hampton Fancher (story by), Philip K. Dick (based on characters from the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?")
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Robin Wright, Wood Harris, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: R
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Plot
A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.
Verdict
This an engrossing movie that builds upon every thing Blade Runner (1982) did. While it completely stands on it's own, seeing the original adds a lot of value. I like the way the mystery and revelations unfold better in this as it focuses on what purpose and meaning add to life. This isn't just asking what it means to be human, but what it means to be alive.
You could freeze any frame and have a gorgeous image. Care and detail is apparent in every aspect of this film, and the world just feels bigger as we explore outside of L.A. too. As I watched this I thought surely it can't be better than the original, but I have to conclude it is. I did just see the original too so this isn't recency bias. 2049 is a fantastic movie that manages to expand on the themes of the original while not being a copy. It's approach is completely engrossing and unique.
Full Review
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Written by: Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay by), George Lucas (story by)
Directed by: Irvin Kershner
Starring: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Frank Oz, Jeremy Bulloch
Rated: PG
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Plot
After the rebels are overpowered by the Empire on their newly established base, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training with Master Yoda. His friends accept shelter from a questionable ally as Darth Vader hunts them in a plan to capture Luke.
Verdict
Episode V is much darker than Episode IV, but it has a focus on action that keeps the pacing tight. I like it more than IV because it also firmly establishes the characters and their motivations while correcting some of the shortcomings. The characters have a real sense of fear and the tension remains high.
There are more than a few iconic scenes and lines of dialog. The creativity and craft of Star Wars is always impressive. The designs of the machines and characters endure as does the imprint of this series. This is the rare sequel that surpasses the original. It also looks good, the cinematography is a step above, and it should be. There are some great sets to see.
It's been many years since I've seen this, and I didn't realize just how good it is.
Full Review
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Written by: Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Timothy Dalton, Jim Broadbent, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Paddy Considine, Olivia Colman
Rated: R
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Plot
A skilled London police officer is assigned to a small town that 's harboring a dark secret.
Verdict
I love this comedy. It's clever, witty, and just fun. The humor is British, subtle, and multi layered while being endlessly quotable. It's a spoof of action movies that pokes fun at the usual tropes before embracing many of those same tropes. The detail is incredible. Almost all of the jokes have a pay off when they're made and later in the movie. If you haven't seen this, you should. For the greater good.
Full Review
The Matrix (1999)
Written by: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Directed by: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Gloria Foster
Rated: R
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Plot
Have you ever had a dream that you were so sure was real? What if you couldn't awaken? Computer hacker Neo dives into an underworld with a shocking truth. The life he knows is an elaborate deception.
Verdict
This is such an awesome movie. From the melding of sci-fi and action to the aesthetics and concepts. The movie has numerous iconic scenes from the dojo to the lobby, rooftop rescue, and the subway fight.
What is real? That's a question that pervades the movie and asks the audience to question their own perceptions. Real is just a feeling, something we tell ourselves.
You've probably seen this movie a few times, but there is a lot of foreshadowing. The movie follows the rule of cool, but in a construct that completely works. It's smart, the action is amazing, and it's still engaging.
Full Review
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Written by: Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay by). George Lucas and Philip Kaufman (story by)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Alfred Molina, Paul Freeman
Rated: PG [PG-13]
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Plot
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before Adolf Hitler's Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
Verdict
A grand adventure that excels in every facet. Indiana Jones became an iconic character because of this adventure. From the introduction to the final scene, this movie gets it right. While it's likely you've seen it, you've probably forgotten just how good it is.
Full Review
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Written by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, Garrett Hedlund
Rated: R
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Plot
A down and out musician attempts one last audition before giving up on his dream.
Verdict
This is simply an amazing film from the Coen brothers. Every part of it works in tandem. The cinematography, lighting, music, story, and acting are all superb. Oscar Isaac is one to watch. The soundtrack becomes the star of the film, and it is even more impressive that Isaac performed the music live during the scenes. The beginning and ending overlay and work well together. I thought about this movie for weeks after I saw it. If I saw it again, I would like it even more.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Rated: R
Plot:
Trapped in a cabin during a blizzard, bounty hunters, a bounty, a sheriff, a hangman, a rancher, and more must survive each other.
Verdict:
This movie is incredible. The script is amazing and the acting is sublime. It's such an incredibly well made movie where everything comes together so well. I regret I didn't see it in the theater. I want to rewatch immediately, but at nearly three hours that's not so easy. The last hour wasn't quite as good as the first, with a few decisions I found odd. It lost the momentum and tension the movie had been building.
Full Review
Fargo (1996)
Written by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Rated: R
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Plot
Jerry attempts to extort money from his father-in-law by hiring two men to kidnap his wife. What could go wrong? Everything.
Verdict
Very well written, with great dialog and a great story. It's no surprise the Coen brothers developed a cult classic. The setting makes this movie, acting as an independent character. It's a setting, including the snow and accents, that adds to the charm.
Full Review
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love aka Ningen no jôken (1959)
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity aka Ningen no jôken (1959)
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer aka Ningen no jôken (1961)
Written by: Zenzô Matsuyama & Masaki Kobayashi (screenplay), Jumpei Gomikawa (novel)
Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Chikage Awashima
Rated: Not Rated (PG-13)
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Plot
While Kaji is against the war, he is afraid to conscientiously object. He avoids being drafted initially, but then is forced into boot camp and then the travesties of war. In the field, Kaji leads a group of civilians and soldiers, eventually captured as a POW.
Verdict
The Human Condition is a trilogy totaling ten hours. It's a bit long for a movie, veering into mini-series territory. Yes this is in black and white, yes it has subtitles, with that said it's still very good, and it doesn't seem dated. Itfocuses on characters and the story. Kaji's morals get in the way and make life more difficult. It would be easy to give in, but Kaji doesn't. He wants to treat even his enemies like humans.
It probes some of the same questions as Full Metal Jacket, the duality of man, peace, war, love, and brutality. I prefer Part II over the first, and the third is just heartbreaking and much darker. The writing and story of the trilogy is amazing, creating a compelling experience.
Full Review
Whiplash (2014)
Written by: Damien Chazelle
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist
Rated: R
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Plot
An ambitious student set on becoming one of the greatest drummers collides with a professor determined to develop talent by pushing students beyond all reasonable measures.
Verdict
Engrossing from the start, with a blistering tempo before it lets up. JK Simmons is amazing. How far do you push yourself without breaking? The ending is a complete culmination of all the events leading up to it. Has Andrew lost it or has he finally impressed his teacher. It's a stunning ending.
Full Review
Boyhood (2014)
Written by: Richard Linklater
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
Rated: R
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Plot Over the course of twelve years, Mason grows up. The movie was filmed over twelve years to accurately capture the ages of the actors.
Verdict
The scope and scale of this movie is mesmerizing in of itself, twelve years in the making. The problem with movies that capture the passage of time is that actors look too old or too young and it's never authentic. This is authentic, touching, and real. It captures the ups and downs, and it's amazing to watch it unfold. It's a landmark production. From the first shot to the last, I can't imagine changing a single thing.
Full Review
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Written by: Annie Proulx (short story), Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana (screenplay)
Directed by: Ang Lee
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Anne Hathaway
Rated: R
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Plot
Two cowboys share a forbidden relationship over the years, only seeing each other at Brokeback Mountain where the first met.
Verdict
Brokeback Mountain is haunting and mesmerizing. This forbidden love between two men is all the more powerful due to the potential consequences, but what really propels it to greatness is the detail and nuance. Was it Jack's dreaming that annoyed Ennis or the fact that Jack proposed to take care of him financially. The spouses faced the stark reality that not only an affair occurred but not knowing if their relationships with their husbands were a complete sham. The question lingers throughout, what does it mean to be a man? Does a man have to act a certain way? Hide his feelings? Or hold his ground?
Full Review
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
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Written by: Stephen King (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), Frank Darabont (screenplay)
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown
Rated: R
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Plot
Andy Dufresne is imprisoned for murder. In prison he struggles, triumphs, and even makes a few friends, but Andy is patient, smart, and has lots of time.
Verdict
It's a great movie. The writing is very good, every scene leading to the climax, building the world and characters for a specific reason. This is less a prison break movie and more an examination into what a life sentence does to a person, how it institutionalizes him. It's also a story about two friends Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman).
Dufresne is a convicted murderer, who through sheer will accomplishes great feats even in prison. He ultimately experiences the ultimate triumph for a man in prison.
This is simply incredible and a movie that everyone needs to watch (or watch again). The music, cinematography, and acting is great, with everything working in tandem.
Full Review
No Country for Old Men (2007)
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Written by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (screenplay), Cormac McCarthy (novel)
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt
Rated: R
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Plot
A hunter stumbles across a drug deal gone wrong.
Verdict
This is a phenomenal movie. The characters are clever, the story engrossing, and the dialog, while sparse, is perfect. It's based on the McCarthy book and he is master at crafting stories. Combine that with the Coen brothers and you get a spectacular movie.
Full Review
Aliens (1986)
Written by: James Cameron and David Giler & Walter Hill (story), Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett (characters), James Cameron (screenplay)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton
Rated: R
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Plot
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is tasked with returning to the now colonized planet from the first movie with a team of marines after all contact is lost.
Verdict
Forging the blue print for action horror movies and sequels, a great script serves as the basis for an absolute thrill ride. Every scene builds plot or character all the way to the end, while constantly reminding you that survival is slim.
How do you make not just a good action movie, but a great film? Aliens holds the answers.
Full Review
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring [Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom] (2003)
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Written by: Ki-duk Kim
Directed by: Ki-duk Kim
Starring: Ki-duk Kim, Yeong-su Oh, Jong-ho Kim
Rated: R
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Plot
A boy is raised by a Buddhist monk on an isolated floating temple where the years pass like the seasons.
Verdict
It's a simple yet powerful movie. There is very little dialog, limited locations, limited actors but it's still a very engrossing film. A solemn tale exploring how adulthood reflects childhood, life marches on, our lives build upon themselves. Sometimes we are given the chance to make amends. I'm sure there is a lot of Buddhist symbolism i failed to see, but that doesn't stop this film from being great.
The Departed (2006)
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Written by: William Monahan (screenplay), Alan Mak and Felix Chong (2002 screenplay Mou gaan dou)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin, James Badge Dale
Rated: R
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Plot
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
Verdict
I've seen this movie so many times. It's got such great acting performances, though Farmiga is an exception. She just didn't work. It's such a departure from cliches. DiCaprio's character struggles internally as he infiltrates organized crime. His performance is standout as he wrestles with who he really is.
The Lives of Others [Das Leben der Anderen] (2006)
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Written by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch
Rated: R
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Plot
In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.
Verdict
It's a movie that needs a couple watches as I feel like I missed a bit from watching subtitles. A lot of the movie is visual. It's very subtle, but such great story. It's a really good movie even with just one watch, but it got even better in the days after as I just couldn't get it out of my head, such an awesome movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
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Written by: Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Arthur C. Clarke (screenplay)
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
Rated: G
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Plot
After discovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, mankind sets off on a quest to find its origins with help from intelligent supercomputer H.A.L. 9000.
Verdict
It's Kubrick. This is such a proficient film, every scene bolstering the plot and characters. It's expansive, cerebral, and just amazing charting man's exploration into the far reaches of space. It's a journey not without pitfalls.
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