As the last few weeks of 2019 trickle down and we turn the page to a new decade, I think it’s worthwhile to take a look back on the past 10 years of cinema and re-evaluate the movies we saw.
A lot happened this decade that will change the medium of filmmaking forever. The advent of Netflix and the streaming wars has put the movie-making industry at a crossroads on how it will continue to do business. While big-money tentpole studio franchises — the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Fast & Furious — continue to set the box office on fire, mid-budget and independent film studios have struggled to find a consistent audience when releasing original IP.
Regardless of who will win the battle between film studios and streaming companies, it is undeniable that the way we consume film has changed forever. While many, including esteemed filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, have maligned this paradigm shift as the death of the theatre-going experience, I can concretely say that it has not impacted the actual quality of movies, and that this decade has been rife with astounding films.
Here were some of my favorites. Keep in mind this isn’t a list of what I consider to be the “best” movies in terms of technical achievement and spectacle, and I’m also not considering cultural impact or cinematic influence in this list. Instead, I picked the movies that resonated with my personal tastes and preferences the most.
10.) Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) – Dir. by Taika Waititi
A delightfully charming, wholesome, and funny coming-of-age story, this precious New Zealand movie tells the story of a 10-year-old foster kid as he wanders around the New Zealand bush with his gruff “Uncle.” The movie takes a turn when the Uncle soon becomes the target of an accidental manhunt. After watching this movie, it’s no surprise that Taika Waititi has become such a rising star and highly sought-after director in Hollywood. He has a real knack for creating lovable characters, and sprinkles his stories with just the right mix of humor and heartache.
9.) 13th (2016) – Dir. By Ava DuVernay
Ava Duvernay’s herculean documentary explores the history of the American prison-industrial complex, and makes the argument that slavery is still very much an integral part of America and its economic might. 13th is a meticulously researched, tear-inducing, all-encompassing, and essential look at race and discrimination in the United States. It should be mandatory viewing for all.
8.) Gisaengchung (Parasite) (2019) – Dir. By Bong Joon-Ho
Parasite only came out in November of this year. However, regardless of the amount of time, I think Parasite unquestionably deserves a spot on this list. This Korean drama/thriller is a tightly woven and exhilarating ride from start to finish that also provides a layered and acerbic analysis of class issues and socioeconomic background. The movie follows the members of a poor Korean family in Seoul who scheme to infiltrate another rich family.
However, they soon discover a shocking secret that threatens to undo everything. Rising star director Bong Joon Ho directs the film with sleek adroitness and dexterity, and has created a near-flawless film that succeeds at blending art-house sensibilities with Hollywood thrills and entertainment. This is one of the best movies of 2019; be sure not to miss it.
7.) The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) – Dir. by Joe Talbot
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is the second consecutive film from this list to have come out this year. While it’s only ranked at seven, I think it’s unquestionably the most creative and unique film on this entire list. This indie movie revolves around a young black man who tries to reclaim his childhood home, an ornate house in San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District. The movie is a timely and moving portrait of current issues, particularly the impacts of gentrification, social and racial identities, and family inheritance.
While the acting and story is exquisite, the movie’s true splendor lies in its absolutely stunning cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra, as well as first-time director Joe Talbot’s vibrant depiction of San Francisco. His film is very clearly a love letter to the city that’s moving and creative, absolutely warranting a watch.
6.) Moonlight (2016) – Dir. by Barry Jenkins
While Moonlight’s legacy and spot in the popular conscience will forever be connected to La La Land thanks to that infamous moment at the Oscars, Moonlight deserves all the accolades and that incident shouldn’t overshadow what a splendid movie it is in its own right. Think stellar cinematography, weighty performances, a screenplay that brings up powerful questions regarding blackness, masculinity, and sexual orientation, as well as a stunning orchestral soundtrack by Nicholas Britell.
Moonlight also represents various historical milestones for representation in the filmmaking industry. It’s the first movie with an all-black cast and the first LGBTQ+-related film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Its editor, Joi McMillon, also was the first black woman to be nominated for an editing Oscar, and star Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim to win in any acting category.
5.) Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) – Dir. by Alejandro Iñárritu.
Boasting an absolutely all-star cast and a virtuoso lead performance by Michael Keaton — whose own acting career eerily mirrors that of the main character — Birdman tells the story of Riggan Thompson (Keaton), a washed-out former Hollywood star who scrambles to mount a Broadway play that he believes can be his ticket back to fame.
The real standouts of the film are its groundbreaking and gorgeous single-shot cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, who would go on to win an unprecedented three consecutive Cinematography awards at the Oscars this decade, as well as the stupendous script co-written by Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., and Armando Bo.
This is an outstanding film on all levels, and has one of the most interesting and thought-provoking endings of any movie to come out this decade.
4.) Cameraperson (2016) – Dir. by Kirsten Johnson
Cameraperson is an autobiographical documentary film in which Kirsten Johnson, who has spent most of her career working as a cinematographer and producer for documentaries — including Citizenfour, The Oath, and Farenheit: 9/11 — tells her life story using b-roll footage she has shot over numerous years for various projects. The movie is a shockingly intimate doorway into the psyche of a filmmaker. It also celebrates the friendships and people we meet throughout life and explores the impacts they have on shaping our personalities. It’s not only a wonderfully layered and constructed movie, but also a poignant ode to aging and the passage of time.
3.) The Social Network – (2010) Dir. By David Fincher
An enthralling re-telling of the creation of Facebook and the ensuing legal troubles that stemmed from it, The Social Network is director David Fincher at the top of his craft. Plus, he partners with Aaron Sorkin, one of the most acclaimed screenwriters of all time. Fincher’s sleek direction and Sorkin’s witty soliloquies find the perfect match in one another.
On top of that, the movie boasts exquisite all-around performances from the main cast, as well as an ebullient and ass-kicking soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (arguably the best movie soundtrack of the entire decade). The Social Network gets better with every watch, and with Facebook again making controversial headlines in the news, the film’s warnings and predictions about technology have taken on a whole new light.
2.) The Florida Project – (2017) Dir. By Sean Baker
The Florida Project is a hauntingly beautiful indie film starring Willem Dafoe that follows the lives of various residents at a shoddy motel located only 10 miles away from the “magical” Walt Disney World. Its main characters are a six-year old girl (played by the adorable Brooklyn Prince who delivers an incredibly nuanced and tender performance for a child actor), and her single mother.
Sean Baker’s film is an exquisite and extremely intelligent case study of class and socioeconomic status, and the film’s decision to tell the story through the eyes of a child allows him and his cinematographer, Alexis Zave, to sprinkle the movie with visually stunning images that recall the imagination and innocence of childhood.
1.) Roma – (2018) Dir. By Alfonso Cuaròn
Cuaròn’s colossal and breathtaking magnum opus is a cinematic experience for the ages. The film is a semi-autobiographical account of Cuaròn’s own childhood in Mexico City; however, it’s told through the viewpoint of “Cleo,” his family’s live-in housekeeper. The movie is an incredibly personal and absolutely heartbreaking rumination on love, the human spirit, compassion, race, and guilt.
Roma boasts a staggeringly poignant lead performance by Yalitza Aparicio (made even more impressive by the fact that she had no acting experience before taking on the role). Aparicio’s fearless presence is the heartbeat of the film, and she almost singlehandedly brings the movie to unprecedented emotional heights.
Roma’s black-and-white cinematography (done by Cuaròn himself), is absolutely gorgeous, and also features a couple of the most stunning and jaw-dropping scenes ever brought to the bring screen.
I want to also draw attention to some other tremendous films that didn’t quite make the cut, but that I think also deserve recognition, and you should absolutely watch if you haven’t already. In no particular order, these honorable mentions are: First Reformed, The Irishman, Jagten (The Hunt), Blackkkansman, Wind River, Lazzaro Felice (Happy as Lazzaro), Get Out, The Act of Killing, Una Mujer Fantastica (A Fantastic Woman), Arrival, La La Land The Death of Stalin, Jodaí-e Nadér az Simín (A Separation), Hereditary, Ida, Dunkirk, Amour, Inside Llewyn Davis, Kimi no Na wa (Your Name), Lady Bird, Mad Max: Fury Road, Coco, Icarus, Phantom Thread, If Beale Street Could Talk, Citizenfour, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Whiplash, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, The Master, Boyhood, La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty), and Zero Dark Thirty