Reclaim Your Screen Time

Imagine that you’re sitting down in front of your TV on a Friday evening after a long week at work. Two options are presented to you: the 1954 Marlon Brando classic, On the Waterfront, or re-watching 5 episodes of The Office. Both are the exact same run time, but the old movie feels twice as long in your gut. Plus it’s in black and white? Hmm. After some deliberation, you land on The Office. You shut off your brain and enjoy some comfort food. You’ve heard that On the Waterfront is good, but maybe you’ll try it another time when you feel like it. But each time On the Waterfront comes up, you just can’t bring yourself to start it. 

This hypothetical is not to pick on The Office. I think it’s one of the funniest shows ever made. And it isn’t to necessarily denigrate the fact that after a hard day, engaging with something more meaningful on screen can feel like work instead of entertainment. Sometimes that can be useful. But when you realize that you never watch anything challenging, thoughtful, beautiful, or intellectually engaging, you may need to evaluate your screen time. 

We live in a time where we have access at any time to almost every movie and TV show that's ever existed. That is a blessing and a curse. While it's incredible freedom to be able to watch anything you could ever want, the sheer volume of options can paralyze and lead us back to something comfortable. Comfort is having a frozen pizza for dinner. Instead of the pizza, maybe we should reach for the carefully prepared ribeye. It may take more investment, but the satisfaction is much greater.

Movies and television are works of art. Art is supposed to challenge and inspire us, not numb us. It may require more effort, but things that require more effort generally yield greater results. Watching artistically significant films have inspired me, deepened my faith, helped me understand the world, and changed my perceptions. They have interested me in history, revealed my faults and foibles and given me a new appreciation for the beauty of God's creation. As much as I love The Office, my mind just isn't really enriched by the experience.

My hope with this post is not to sound elitist or judgmental, but to inspire. Generally, most people want to engage with the good stuff, but they have trouble getting started. Either it's difficult to choose, or difficult to take the leap and dive into something that feels more substantial. I have found that choosing a list with a finite number of movies can help. I've watched every Academy Award Best Picture winner, and almost all of the AFI top 100. These lists aren't perfect but they're a great starting point. Does that seem too daunting? Here are 5 films that I've watched recently that were thought provoking and challenging, but also entertaining. 

Ikiru (1952) - What if you knew your life was ending in 6 months? What would you think about how you've lived, and how you're going to finish your days? Ikiru is from master director Akira Kurosawa, and is one of the all time classics of Japanese cinema. Don't let the fact that this movei is subtitled and black and white scare you- it is incredibly relatable and inspiring.

Real Life (1979) - This Albert Brooks mockumentary is about the filming of a reality TV show and the affect the camera has on people living their lives. This movie critiques the reality show almost 20 years before it takes off. Albert Brooks is hilariously self-deprecating playing a version of himself that is eviscerates the typical Hollywood mindset.

The Bikeriders (2024) - This came out over the summer and went mostly overlooked, but it is worth seeking out. A tale about a motorcycle club that has their brotherhood co-opted before their very eyes. Incredibly insightful about male friendship in a way that is mostly absent in today's movies.

The Social Network (2010)- This is a film that becomes more important as the years go on and tech companies become more in control of our lives. This Aaron Sorkin written and David Fincher directed film is an incredible look at ambition without weighing the consequences. Plus, it has one of the most innovative musical scores ever!

The Thin Red Line (1998) - Terrance Malick takes on the internal side of war, in this gorgeously shot WW2 drama. Malick is not for everyone, but this is probably the easiest entry point into his movies. I find them to be beautifully contemplative, others think he’s a self indulgent hack.

Top 10 of 2021

 

The movies are BACK. Spider-Man: No Way Home made $1.8B worldwide, shattering all pandemic era records and along with some other box office hits, signified that the world is ready to go back to the movies. And because of the holdover from movies shelved for 2020, 2021 had so many great things to choose from. Streaming services still played a huge role this year- 3 of my top 10 (and 5 of the year's 10 Best Picture nominees) appeared on streaming services simultaneously with a theatrical release. With our daughter moving into the toddler phase, it's more and more difficult to get to the theater these days, but we still made quite a few trips because of all the compelling films to see. And while Spider-Man didn't make my top 10, it was still an awesome crowd experience on opening weekend and a reminder that there's a fun energy that goes with watching a movie with a hyped up crowd.

Of my top 10, 7 were nominated for Best Picture. I didn't feel that there were any real Academy snubs this year. That is, unless you want to have the Spider-Man conversation. No Way Home was an incredibly fun and satisfying Marvel film. It gave the audience everything it could want from the multiverse and left pretty much everyone feeling good leaving the theater. But as with all Marvel movies, it was still a bit basic in its storytelling and action, and adhered to the Marvel "good but never great" formula. The only real argument in my opinion to nominate it would be to get more interest in the Awards themselves, as many casual movie goers would tune in to root for Spider-Man way more than they would a 3 hour Japanese film (Drive My Car- this year's Roma, aka a well made film in a foreign language that is painfully boring). And of course there's always the argument that no one should care about the Academy Awards anyway because it's just a bunch of pretentious out of touch Hollywoodites sniffing their own farts for 3 hours. And I can't really refute that sentiment. But the Oscars do still serve as the "pencil sketch" of movies in our culture, and if it can help encourage people to see underseen but excellent films like Power of the Dog, Nightmare Alley, and Coda, the Awards can still have value.

Here are my top 10 of 2021! Another great thing about 2021 is that almost all of these are on streaming services, right now. It's a great time to be a moviegoer!

1. Dune (HBOMax)

Dune is one of the most beautiful epic's since 2015's Mad Max:Fury Road. Gorgeous alien worlds that slightly mirror our own create a visual and sound masterpiece. There's no one that makes movies that look as consistently good as Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario). While the movie is only half of the story (Part 2 coming in 2023!), I was still enthralled by the intricacies of the world. The true standout of the film is Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, punching up some of the more serious sections of the film with some movie-star charm. 

2. Power of the Dog (Netflix)

A methodical, contemplative Western that explodes in the last 30 minutes, Power of the Dog will entrance you in the world of rancher Phil Burbank. Director Jane Campion explores a ton of serious themes including friendship, manhood, sexuality and courage, but most go in ways you wouldn't expect. And by the end of the film, I left feeling ways that I'm sure the filmmakers did not intend. I'll leave you to watch and decide, but PotD has stuck in my brain since I watched.

3. Nightmare Alley (HBOMax/Hulu)

This was a theater experience I won't likely forget, the enrapturing world of a late 1930's con man is as beautiful as you'll see on film. Darkly beautiful, certainly, which has led a lot of people to be turned off by having to spend 150 minutes with antihero Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper). But if you can let yourself be sucked into the world, it will compel for all of those minutes.

4. No Time to Die

Daniel Craig's run as Bond has finally come to an end and Cary Joji Fukunaga's lone entry into the saga will be a standout. Bond has already gone through about as many character arcs as he can in the previous 4 film's starring Craig, so really all No Time to Die had to do was send things off right. There were some brilliant mirrors to the underrated 1960's Bond On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and a lot of satisfying James Bond flair. I'm excited to see where the character goes next, but I can safely say that Craig has been my favorite Bond!

5. Licorice Pizza

I was extremely wary of this film. Not because I thought the trailer looked bad or that the cast was lousy- in fact those were the things that intrigued me. It was solely because my two previous experiences with director Paul Thomas Anderson were There Will be Blood and Punch Drunk Love, two of the more mundane movies I've ever seen. But Licorice Pizza completely overcame all that as a sweet, funny and nostalgic coming of age film. I'm a sucker for the 1970's and Anderson clearly revisited his childhood in the San Fernando Valley to create a dreamy world of young love and frustration. Bradley Cooper steals the show in an insane bit part, and the soundtrack (The Doors, Paul McCartney, etc.) is exquisite. A wonderful hangout movie that I didn't want to leave!

6. West Side Story (HBOMax/Disney Plus)

Another movie I did not expect to love but I'm not really sure why I would ever doubt Steven Spielberg. I like the original West Side Story, but it had a fatal flaw- Natalie Wood. And this isn't even a complaint for the sake of political correctness, she's just completely wrong for the part of Maria. That is completely remedied in the 2021 remake, with Rachel Zegler performing the role perfectly. The film is vibrant and moves with the sweeping pace that only Spielberg can make effortless. Several of the songs standout, but the Anita led "America" is stunning.

7.  A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount Plus)

These films are the perfect example of the importance of great direction and editing. The world of the Quiet Place films start to break down if you think about them for more than 5 minutes. In fact, if you're doing it right now... (why don't they all live by waterfalls if the monsters can't hear over the sound? If you can't even whisper to each other, what happens when someone has a cough??) - stop it! These movies are about thrills and suspense and Part II is 97 minutes of just that. The opening scene alone showing how the world descended into madness is as enthralling as it gets. And the final 30 minutes of cross-cutting tension will have you wired until the end.

8. Coda (Apple Plus)

A wonderful family drama about a child of deaf parents that is a feel-good throwback. There's always room for movies about the power of love and family!

9. Belfast

Kenneth Branagh decided to make his version of Roma- a black and white drama about his time growing up in a tumultuous world. But where Roma bored, Belfast entertains with heart and humor. Like CODA, there's always room for a great family drama.

10. House of Gucci

Ridley Scott's Gucci family melodrama is one of the most hilariously over the top movies you'll ever see. Every actor in this film decides to turn into a delicious Christmas ham, but no one is more hammy than Jared Leto. I couldn't decide whether he was playing Paolo Gucci or a Super Mario brother. And yet, there's something entirely captivating about the commitment to the sensationalist source material. Plus, having been filmed on-location in Europe by one of the great director's of all time, it's a wonderful movie to look at. Your mileage may vary on this one, but I had a great time.

Top 10 of 2020 (ish)

 2019 was one of the best years for film in recent memory. It had everything you could have wanted: epic new films from masters like Tarantino and Scorsese, an endless parade of cool and inventive indie movies, sci-fi, epics, and many, many, many, more. I went to the theater tons of times and enjoyed every visit. 2020 promised a new Bond movie, Denis Villeneuve's Dune, a new Wes Anderson movie, and more. Culminating in February with Parasite's surprise Best Picture win at the Oscars, it felt like a great time for movies.

The part that came next, I don't really need to explain all that much here. Movie theaters shut down all but two (Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984) major releases and were either pushed back to 2021 or released on a streaming platform. Thankfully my local theater was mostly open, but with nothing to release, I saw a mixture of small new releases (The Midnight Sky, Freaky, Mank) and classic re-releases (Back to the Future, Psycho, The Muppet Christmas Carol). With Godzilla vs. Kong's promising opening weekend, there is hope for the future of movies in the cinemas. But before we get there, what is there to make of 2020? Streaming platforms took up almost all of the oxygen during the year for obvious reasons, but what did that mean for the quality of film? I'm still dubious of the long term prospects of technology companies handing out blank checks to filmmakers in order to bolster their catalog, but 2020 showed that in the short run this strategy can pay off for consumers.

So what did we get in 2020? Besides the two aforementioned "blockbusters" in Tenet and WW84, what we got was a lot of dramas. Some good dramas, some quiet dramas, some boring dramas. I suspect that 2020 will be remembered more as a curiosity rather than the year that proved streaming platforms can create the same magic as theaters. While I had no problem listing 15 great films in 2019, I struggled to get to 10 in 2020. So much that I sort of cheated- Judas and the Black Messiah technically came out in 2021, but is eligible for the 2020 Oscars so I'm listing it below. The good thing about 2020? You can watch every single movie below, right now, on a streaming service or VOD platform. 

1. Tenet

Ah, Tenet. Was it needlessly confusing? Probably. But I'm a sucker for Christopher Nolan's films and after my second viewing, I was a true believer in Tenet. There are about 8 incredibly memorable, sometimes jaw dropping action setpieces, all with fantastic special effects. The real shame of Tenet is that most people didn't see it on the big screen. When I saw it in IMAX, my ears were almost splitting, my eyes twitching from the complete sensory overload. John David Washington and Robert Pattinson having winning spy team chemistry, I'm hopeful for a Tenet sequel to get more of them. The opening opera house sequence is one of the best openings of any action movie, period, and almost worth the price of admission alone. One piece of advice I'll give while watching Tenet, and it just so happens to come directly from the film itself: "don't try to understand it, feel it."

2. Mank

I'm going to forewarn you, Mank is not for everyone. Most David Fincher films are propulsive and extremely accessible despite their dark tone (Gone Girl, Seven, The Social Network), but propulsive is probably the last word people would use to describe Mank. Well, unless you're a movie nerd like me. Fincher's 11th film tells the story of how the screenplay for one of the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane, was written. The screenplay (written by Fincher's father Jack) is fast paced and laden with 30's era slang, with dialogue that has a snappy pace that's difficult to get used to at first. On the second go round, a lot of the characters made more sense and the story had much more weight. I'm making no promises on this one, but if you love Gary Oldman, Citizen Kane, 30's Hollywood, or out of date American slang, check out Mank. 

3. Minari

A story about a young Korean family who immigrates to Northwest Arkansas, Minari is purely a family drama that is universal to all cultures. The film takes on the important things in life and family through the immigrant's lens, choosing to be less about the struggles of moving to a new land, but more about the question of what is important in life. I was absolutely charmed from start to finish by this film, and it being set in NWA helped it grow in my estimation. 

4. Judas and the Black Messiah

I knew little to nothing going into this film about the Black Panthers. Judas illuminates one of their leaders, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), in the tumultuous end of his life, and how it crosses paths with unwitting FBI informant William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield). Biopics have the tendency to meander through a person's entire life, but the best focus on key events that instruct us who they were. JatBM falls into that later category as we see the FBI trying to infiltrate the Black Panthers. The film has less moralizing than you might expect, and way more action and intensity. It is extremely well made, well acted, and has a real studio budget behind it. Judas covers some similar territory to another 2020 film, The Trial of  the Chicago 7, but does so in a much more cinematic and interesting way. 

5. Promising Young Woman

Just an absolutely nuclear indictment of rape culture, and a squirm filled good time to boot. Funny, hard to watch, provocative and totally unapologetic. 

6. Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed is one of the best working actors today (check out his incredible turn in the HBO limited series, The Night Of), and he does not disappoint in Sound of Metal. While the last 20 minutes suffer a bit, the journey Ahmed's character takes us on is nothing short of beautiful. 

7. Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a great riff on the Groundhog Day formula, carried by the charm of its two stars, Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. This came out at a particularly low point during the pandemic, and its light and whimsical style was a breath of fresh air.

8. The Gentlemen 

Guy Ritchie is back from making Disney movies to give us what he does best- fast talking British gangster flicks. The cast here is completely stacked, with Hugh Grant and Charlie Hunnam stealing the show.

9. The Midnight Sky

We may look back at this film and remember it as the first "old man Clooney" performance and he's certainly great. The Midnight Sky is a hodgepodge of space movies like Interstellar, Gravity, and Ad Astra, with just enough unique flourishes to make it a good time.

10. The King of Staten Island

I'm sure the Apatow schtick of a man-boy trying to grow up will get old at some point. This time the formula still feels funny and heartwarming enough to sneak into my top 10. Pete Davidson does a great job playing a version of himself but Bill Burr is the real standout.

I Watched Every Academy Awards Best Picture Winner (So You Don't Have To)

Even the most casual movie fan is intrigued by the Academy Awards. As humans we crave validation for our beliefs and it's natural to be curious about the highest award in a particular industry. I'm sure many have finished a film and thought "wow, that's one of the best movies I've ever seen! I wonder if it won any Academy Awards?" But the answer more often that not is "no it didn't, but this movie I've never heard of did." It was out of this curiosity that I decided I would watch every Best Picture winner in the history of the Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded in 1927. Initially a committee was formed to solve labor problems and image issues throughout Hollywood. By 1929 a group was formed to award motion pictures for the previous two years. By 1934 the awards happened every year to recognize films released in the prior calendar year, and has been that way ever since. Over the years the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, has seen significant change and controversy, but has handed out yearly awards for now 90+ years.

Sean Fennessey of the Ringer described the Oscars "as a sketch in pencil, not the blueprint, for movie history. If you think of them as the blueprint, you'll be infuriated and take away bad lessons... But what the Oscars does is create conversation about the value of art. And that is meaningful in our society." I think that's a fair summation of why the Academy Awards matters. It would be easy to say that the Oscars is a sham of a ceremony, a politically charged self-aggrandizing commemoration of the biggest egos in Hollywood. That's not necessarily an incorrect statement. But having an awards ceremony that is recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in an art form creates important discussion and debate, as well as highlighting less popular films to the public that deserve an audience. Parasite improbably won Best Picture for 2019 in a stunning upset. Because of that, many movie-goers that would have never even considered watching a foreign language film will now be checking it out to see what they are missing.

As Sean's quote describes above, there are many things with which to be frustrated about the Oscars. The Best Picture race is evidence A. Do you want to know what Back to the Future, Alien, Empire Strikes Back, Do the Right Thing and Rear Window all have in common? None were even nominated for Best Picture. Again, this is why the Oscars are a sketch and not a blueprint, as all of these films are timeless classics.

Watching all 92 Best Picture winners was a sometimes pleasantly surprising and sometimes completely frustrating process. While I had seen a lot of these just in the natural course of time, it took me almost a year to focus in and get them all done. The biggest thing I learned? Politics and narrative mean way more than quality when it comes to awarding a winner each year. But I also got to see a lot of great films, some I would have never seen otherwise. I've tried to group them all into categories that can give you a sketch (in pencil) of the important films in Oscar history. Some of these films are my favorites of all time, others I wanted to turn off halfway through (and a few I actually did). But at the very least, all of them give a window into a particular year in movie history. Because the Oscars don't have the benefit of hindsight, there are much better lists that encompass movie history as a whole, but overall I'm glad I watched them all.

There are 92 movies on this list, so to prove that I actually watched them all, I'm going to number them as I write them in with a [1-92] to the side. Some of these will show up in multiple categories.


THE APEX OF THE VORTEX OF MOVIE TECHNOLOGY

These are the films that have everything- the triumvirate of critical success, audience appeal, and innovation of the art form. Ideally, every Best Picture would have some of this, but alas, this group is surprisingly small. Some of my all-time favorites are here, and these represent the years where the Academy got it right. To their credit, it's difficult to identify what will be timeless while still in the moment.

[1] The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - The pinnacle of fantasy adventure
[2] Silence of the Lambs (1991) - The only horror film to win Best Picture
[3] Casablanca (1942) - The most quotable movie of all time
[4] Gone with the Wind (1939) - The grandest example of epic old Hollywood
[5] On the Waterfront (1954) - An all-star  cast full of powerful performances
[6] The Godfather (1972) - Do I need to explain?
[7] The Godfather Part II (1974) - The sequel that somehow got better
[8] Rocky (1976) - The sports film that launched a thousand sports films
[9] One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - The height of auteur driven 70's filmmaking
[10] Schindler's List (1993) - The pinnacle of holocaust films
[11] No Country for Old Men (2007) - One of the greatest movie villains of all-time
[12] It Happened One Night (1934) - The prototype for all rom coms
[13] Titanic (1997) - The ultimate spectacle love story
[14] Parasite (2019) - It's still early, but this will stand the test of time as a trailblazer for foreign films in the United States
[15] The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - The ultimate post WWII fallout film

[16] All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) - The anti-war film from which all others are based


THE CLASSICS

This group is excellent in its own right. While they may not have a groundbreaking quality that comprises the group above, there are still some incredible movies here. The key with this group is their watchability. All are extremely entertaining, and hold up well today. As we go through these categories, it will become apparent that will not be the case every year. This is what the Oscar's should strive for every year. An artful film that is thought provoking but is also a movie that people can actually watch and enjoy. There may be some other narratives at play, but as I went through watching this list, these were simply really good movies.

[17] Patton (1970)
[18] Gladiator (2000)
[19] Amadeus (1984)
[20] Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
[21] Platoon (1986)
[22] Braveheart (1995)
[23] The Apartment (1960)
[24] The Deer Hunter (1979)
[25] Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
[26] Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
[27] You Can't Take it With You (1938)
[28] All About Eve (1950)
[29] Ordinary People (1980)
[30] The Sting (1973)
[31] The Lost Weekend (1945)
[32] The French Connection (1971)
[33] A Man for All Seasons (1966)
[34] The Departed (2006)
[35] Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
[36] Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
[37] Mrs. Miniver (1942)
[38] Ben-Hur (1959)
[39]Gandhi (1982)

[40] Rebecca (1940)

[41] The Hurt Locker (2009)

[42] Marty (1955)

[43] Forrest Gump (1994)

[44] West Side Story (1961)

[45] The Sound of Music (1965)

[46] Argo (2012)

[47] Rain Man (1988)

[48] 12 Years a Slave (2013)

THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT PICKS

A classic Oscar move is to award a performer or an artist for a later work after criminally snubbing their earlier masterpiece. Look no further than Al Pacino winning Best Actor for Scent of a Woman instead of any of his classic performances in some of the greatest movies of all time. These movies are not necessarily bad per se; in fact, a few on this list are some of my absolute favorites. But the reason for their win is not that the movie was the best of the year, it was that the Academy realized their boneheaded mistake for not recognizing an earlier work. You'll see what I mean.

[49] The Last Emperor (1987)

The Earlier Snub: All of director Bernardo Bertolucci's previous films

The Departed (2006)

The Earlier Snub: Tons of incredible Martin Scorsese films, but I'm going to go with Goodfellas

[50] Unforgiven (1993)

The Earlier Snub: This may very well be Clint Eastwood's best film, but the win here was certainly a culmination of a great career (that continues to this day).

Rebecca (1940)

The Earlier Snub: OK I'll admit this one doesn't make sense. But Alfred Hitchcock later had countless classic films that did not go on to win Best Picture including Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, and Dial M for Murder just to name a few. The real travesty here is that his only win is like his 9th best movie.

The Hurt Locker (2009)

The Earlier Snub: Basically every movie ever made by a female. This was the first Best Picture for a film directed by a woman. It only took 82 years!

[51] The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

The Earlier Snub: Cecille B. DeMille was a titan of the industry in the 30's and 40's, so this award recognized  him belatedly. This was also a travesty. The Greatest Show on Earth is basically 2 and a half hours of just footage of the circus. I wish I were kidding. This is one of two Best Picture winners I turned off before finishing. 


THE SUBVERSIVE PICKS

Sometimes the Academy desperately wants to go against the grain. Whether it's a vocal minority or the feeling of a cultural wave, there are movies that seem to come out of left field to win Best Picture. The quality of this list varies. Some of them I really like (Marty), and others I despise (The Shape of Water).

[52] Moonlight (2016)

Favorite that was subverted: La La Land

[53] The Shape of Water (2017)

Favorite that was subverted: Get Out

[54] American Beauty (1999)

Favorite that was subverted: The Sixth Sense

Marty (1955)

Favorite that was subverted: Really nothing, this was just a very small, low budget movie that was a big surprise at the Awards.

[55] Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Favorite that was subverted: Saving Private Ryan

[56] Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Favorite that was subverted: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

THE SAFE PICKS

In contrast, some years the Academy will choose a very competent, if underwhelming movie as a sort of a truce with the movie going public when they don't want to step out on a limb. I found myself enjoying this group, but feeling underwhelmed. I was even more underwhelmed when I looked up some of the nominees that didn't win.

[57] Green Book (2018)

Actual Best Picture: A Star is Born 

[58] Dances with Wolves (1990)

Actual Best Picture: Goodfellas

[59] The King's Speech (2010)

Actual Best Picture: The Social Network

[60] Spotlight (2015)

Actual Best Picture: Mad Max: Fury Road

THE "NOT QUITE READY FOR WHAT'S AHEAD" PICKS

The Academy is typically last in line to see where the industry is moving, and recognize the true innovators in their prime. There are ground-breaking, legendary movies that did not win Best Picture, and looking back it's baffling to say the least.

[61] Annie Hall (1977)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The jaw dropping spectacle of Star Wars

[62] Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The Academy was not ready to reward: Comic book movies, and sensation of The Dark Knight

 Forrest Gump (1994)

The Academy was not ready to reward: Outsider weirdo Quentin Tarantino's landmark Pulp Fiction

[63] Chariots of Fire (1981)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The template for the modern adventure film, Raiders of the Lost Ark

[64] Chicago (2002)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (I suppose they only needed one more year)

[65] In the Heat of the Night (1967)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The hyper violence of Bonnie & Clyde, or the sensuality of The Graduate

[66] An American in Paris (1951)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The emotionally charged method acting of Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire

[67] Crash (2005)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The modern sexual politics of Brokeback Mountain

[68] How Green Was My Valley (1941)

The Academy was not ready to reward: The innovations of Citizen Kane

MOVIES THAT NEARLY GOT ELAINE BENES FIRED BY MR. PETERMAN

I'm not going to pretend that the classic Seinfeld episode "The English Patient" didn't color my viewing of this film. I'd seen that episode countless times before and can quote Elaine's frustrations by heart. However, I tried to go in with an open mind. Critics that I respect held it in very high regard, it has a great cast, and maybe I had a little more patience than Elaine. Maybe it wouldn't be that boring after all. Unfortunately, that was not the case. To quote Elaine: "Quit telling your stupid story about the stupid desert and just die already!"

[69] The English Patient (1996)

CLASSIC OSCAR BAIT

Oscar bait is a term that is thrown around quite often, but rarely defined. After watching all of these movies, I was able to pinpoint what Oscar Bait really means. Quintessential Oscar Bait is a movie that almost always highlights one of three things: 1. An important historical event 2. The life of an important historical person or 3. Preaches about some hot-button political issue in a very one-sided manner that panders to Hollywood. The following movies have these in spades. They are sometimes bad, lots of times decent, but almost rarely great.

[70] Out of Africa (1985)
[71] A Beautiful Mind (2001)
[72] The Artist (2011)
[73] From Here to Eternity (1953)
[74] Hamlet (1948)
The Last Emperor (1987)
The English Patient (1996)

THE TEN YEAR STRETCH WHERE MUSICALS TOOK OVER

From 1958-1968 a musical was chosen as Best Picture 5 times. Only 4 other musicals won in the other 84 Academy Awards combined. For whatever reason, the 60's were about musicals. And most of these are good! As a person that didn't really love musicals, it was a treat to be introduced to some of the best of all time, including several from the 1960's. Gigi is the only outlier here. There's no need for anyone to watch Gigi.

[75] Gigi (1958)
West Side Story (1961)
[76] My Fair Lady (1964)
The Sound of Music (1965)
[77] Oliver! (1968)

THE TRAVESTIES

The Academy has a much tougher time picking Best Picture than we'd like to admit. Most films don't enter the lexicon until a few years later, so there  has to be some prescience on the voters part in order to pick a Best Picture winner that will hold up. These are examples of travesties that were glaring even in the moment. This is the group of picks that make the moviegoing public tune out the Academy Awards completely.

[78] Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

The reason: Do the Right Thing

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

The Reason: This movie has aged horribly. I'm sure that documentary style depictions of the circus were much better received in 1952, but in 2020 it's excruciating. Plus, let's get real, Singin' in the Rain came out this year and wasn't nominated for Best Picture.

The Shape of Water (2017)

The Reason: Don't nobody wanna see a lady hooking up with a fish for 2 hours.

[79] Going My Way (1944)

The Reason: It's not that Going My Way is bad, it's that Double Indemnity is that good.

Gigi (1958)

The Reason: Gigi is not a great musical; there are no great singers, dancers, and the tunes just aren't catchy. The most recognizable song "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" is fantastically cringey when heard in 2020. But the real reason this was such a travesty is that Vertigo, one of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces came out this year.

[80] Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

The Reason: This film is a 3-hour long showcase for different locations around the world, but as for a compelling story or characters? You won't find that here.

THE BEST OF A WEAK YEAR

Sometimes a Best Picture winner is chosen because even though nothing stands out, something has to win. "Weak year" is a relative term. There are some good/great films that came out these years, but nothing in the Best Picture nomination pool that really jumps out at you. Looking at this group of Best Picture winners, these are all in the "pretty good" range. But of the other contenders, nothing else really stands out to warrant much second-guessing.

[81] Million Dollar Baby (2004)

The underwhelming Best Picture contenders: Finding Neverland, The Aviator, Ray, Sideways

Argo (2012)

The underwhelming contenders: Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty, Amour, Lincoln, Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Beasts of the Southern Wild

[82] Terms of Endearment (1983)

The underwhelming contenders: The Big Chill, Tender Mercies, The Right Stuff, The Dresser

Rain Main (1988)

The underwhelming contenders: Working Girl, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi Burning, The Accidental Tourist

[83] All the King's Men (1949)

The underwhelming contenders: A Letter to Three Wives, The Heiress, Battleground, Twelve O'Clock High

[84] Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

The underwhelming contenders: American Sniper, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

[85] Tom Jones (1963)

The underwhelming contenders: America America, Cleopatra, How the West Was Won, Lillies of the Field

OLD MOVIES THAT ARE BORING

Have you ever seen a movie from the 20's or the early 1930's? It's difficult to accurately judge them almost 100  years later. Some of the all time greats still hold up quite nicely (The General, It Happened One Night), but the sort of "middle ground" is tough to assess. This group of films were interesting cultural documents, but proved difficult to find entertainment value. It's almost as if the filmmakers just decided that since they had an interesting subject, a driving narrative was not necessary. That is decidedly NOT the case.

[86] Cavalcade (1933)
[87] Grand Hotel (1932)
[88] The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
[89] Cimarron (1931)

[90] The Broadway Melody (1929)

OLD MOVIES THAT STILL HOLD UP

This is a group of old movies that despite being released in the 20's and 30's still hold up under a modern lens. Whether it's the impressive silent film special effects of Wings, the blueprint for the romantic comedy in It Happened One Night, or the epic scope of Gone With the Wind, I would recommend giving these a shot.

[91] Wings (1927)
You Can't Take it With You (1938)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

[92] The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Best Decade: The 1970's

The 70's has so many amazing films and is only brought down by a couple of classics (Annie Hall and The French Connection) that most people love, I just didn't care for.

Worst Decade: The 1950's

While the 1950's has one of my favorite movies of all time (On the Waterfront), overall this collection of 10 is extremely lacking. 3 of my least favorites in Gigi, The Greatest Show on Earth, and Around the World in 80 Days really drag it down.

Best Surprise: It Happened One Night
Biggest Disappointment: Midnight Cowboy

Ultimate Best Picture Power Rankings:

Tier 1: Would recommend to anyone for any reason

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2. Gladiator
3. The Departed
4. The Godfather 
5. The Godfather Part II
6. On the Waterfront
7. No Country for Old Men
8. The Silence of the Lambs
9. The Apartment
10. The Hurt Locker
11. It Happened One Night
12. Schindler's List
13. Casablanca
14. The Best Years of Our Lives
15. The Sound of Music
16. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
17. The Bridge on the River Kwai
18. Braveheart
19. Parasite
20. Marty
21. The Sting
22. Kramer vs. Kramer
23. Amadeus
24. Rocky
25. Gone with the Wind
26. Rebecca
27. Forrest Gump
28. The Deer Hunter
29. Platoon
30. 12 Years a Slave
31. Ordinary People
32. Gentleman's Agreement
33. Argo
34. West Side Story
35. The Life of Emile Zola
    
    Tier 2: Would recommend to most people
    
    
36. Gandhi
37. All About Eve
38. All Quiet on the Western Front
39. Oliver!
40. The Lost Weekend
41. You Can't Take it With You
42. Spotlight
43. A Man For All Seasons
44. Mrs. Miniver
45. Mutiny on the Bounty
46. My Fair Lady
47. Rain Man
48. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
49. A Beautiful Mind
50. Titanic
51. Unforgiven
52. Patton
53. All the King's Men
54. Chicago
55. Ben-Hur
56. The King's Speech
57. Green Book
58. Wings
59. From Here to Eternity
60. In the Heat of the Night
61. Dances with Wolves
62. The Last Emperor
63. Terms of Endearment
64. Slumdog Millionaire
65. Million Dollar Baby
66. Lawrence of Arabia
    
    Tier 3: Would recommend to those interested in film history
    
    
67. An American in Paris
68. Moonlight
69. Shakespeare in Love
    
70. The Artist
71. How Green Was My Valley
72. The French Connection
73. Annie Hall
    
    Tier 4: Would recommend to Oscar completists only
    
    
74. Driving Miss Daisy
75. The Broadway Melody
76. Cimarron
77. Tom Jones
78. Going My Way
79. Midnight Cowboy
80. The English Patient
81. Hamlet
82. Chariots of Fire
83. Crash
84. Cavalcade
85. Gigi
86. Out of Africa
87. Around the World in 80 Days
88. Grand Hotel
89. American Beauty
90. The Shape of Water
    
    Tier 5: Would recommend to those looking to take a nice nap
    
    
91. The Great Ziegfeld
92. The Greatest Show on Earth

Top 15 Movies of 2019

In a normal year, I can sometimes struggle to reach 10 films to write about. In 2016 I ranked The Founder at #9, a movie I've almost completely forgotten. In 2018, I gave only one movie 4.5/5 stars, and that was Mission: Impossible- Fallout. Certain years are just weaker than others, with no real reason other than the calendar limits placed upon doing a year-end list.

2019, is absolutely not one of these years.

2019 is one of my favorite film years in recent history, so much so that I decided to bump out my normal top 10 to a top 15. It felt ridiculous to leave off some incredible films that wouldn't have made my top 10. This is also a year that I will not really be upset by any of the Best Picture Nominees taking home the top prize at the Academy Awards. Joker didn't completely work for me, but is still a well-made, provocative film. Besides that, the other 8 nominees will all be represented on my top 15 list, something very rare when it comes to my taste lining up with the Academy's. Normally I'll make some crack about how the Academy screwed up, but this year I don't have much to quibble with. Take a look at my top 15 for 2019!

1. The Irishman

I had countless worries going into The Irishman. Is this going to be Goodfellas but everyone is old? Is the de-aging CGI going to be distracting? Will my enjoyment be diminished not being able to see this on the big screen? DOES IT REALLY HAVE TO BE 3 AND A HALF HOURS LONG?! The answer to all of these questions and more is: don't question Martin Scorsese. The Irishman is an incredible gangster epic, a perfect end to the unofficial DeNiro-Pesci-Scorsese trilogy alongside Goodfellas and Casino. But The Irishman shines in completely different ways than those two films. It is way more methodical and somber in its story, but still moves at Scorsese's signature lightning speed. The final shot of this film is heartbreaking and pays homage to one of the great gangster epics of all time, and I'd be remiss not to mention the "shorts meeting" scene. DeNiro has an understated but near perfect performance as a mob enforcer who may not have seen his life turn out exactly the way he wanted. The length may scare you off but my urge is that you'd carve out the time and give The Irishman a try. It's well worth the time.

2. Marriage Story

This was my first Noah Baumbach experience, and I can see why he's so well-regarded for his dialogue and realistic characters. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are both electric as a married couple going through a divorce. Marriage Story handles the awful reality of divorce in such a real and even-handed way. The complexities of the legal system and family ties breaking is a painful reality that is carefully depicted in a way that helps us study the characters and have empathy for all in this situation.

3. Parasite

This brilliant film from South Korea is a textbook example of how to make an entertaining film with deeper meaning. Parasite is an entertaining thriller from start to finish, kicked into high gear by its riveting midsection. But what really sets it apart is the deft way it handles messages of class, wealth, and prejudice without being too on the nose. A great film should keep you engaged from start to finish, then allow your mind to wander with deeper questions afterwards. Parasite has all of that and more.

4. Knives Out

Rian Johnson's Knives Out is really all I want a trip to the movie theater to be. It's clever, funny, and lets its stars shine as bright as possible. Rian Johnson is most certainly a "season pass director", meaning that I will look forward to and see any new movie he puts out.

5. Little Women

I'm not sure that I'm ever truly excited for a remake (well, besides Denis Villeneuve's Dune remake coming out later this year), so it was a welcome surprise that Greta Gerwig's Little Women worked so well and was such a delight. I am a fan of the 1994 version with Winona Ryder, and was not sure that a remake would have much left to say. But Gerwig's careful re-ordering of the story to highlight Jo's struggles in a different way was powerful and especially resonant in 2019. All of the acting performances were great, but Florence Pugh as Amy really stands out. Greta Gerwig, after 2017's fantastic Lady Bird, has now been added as a "season pass director"!

6. Jojo Rabbit

Maybe the reason 2019 was such a good year is that the movies were being made by tons of great filmmakers, old and new. Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) absolutely belongs on that list with another classic in Jojo Rabbit. Waititi's distinct Kiwi humor mixed with heartfelt performances by some talented kids and established veterans easily makes Jojo one of the best of 2019.

7. 1917

The "one take" gimmick has been done before, but 1917 pulls it off as well as it's ever been done with an intense WWI thriller. This was a great theater experience, I'm not sure how much I'd have liked this sitting at home. Roger Deakins cinematography is mindblowing, particularly the nighttime escape from the clock tower.

8. Ad Astra

Ad Astra combines an intimate character study with the sprawl of a giant space epic. Brad Pitt's role in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is getting all the notariety, but he is just as good here playing an astronaut searching for his father.

9. Toy Story 4

Ever wanted to contemplate what it's like to move into retirement and become and empty nester? Then a PG movie about children's toys is just the thing for you!

10. Uncut Gems

The Safdie brothers breakout movie is full on adrenaline from start to finish. I love movies where I'm transported to a world I know nothing about, and Uncut Gems setting in the New York diamond district is just that. Adam Sandler has the chops to be one of the great actors of his time, but I guess he's doing just fine making eleventy-billion dollars in Netflix schlock.

11. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

It really pains me to put Quentin Tarantino's latest film this low. Don't get me wrong, I really love it, but it shines as a collection of scenes more than a narrative movie. OUATIH is a "hang out" movie where we get to know washed up actor Rick Dalton (Leo DiCaprio) and stunt man Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). There are some all-time scenes in this film, particularly Leo on a TV show set with a child actress, and Pitt visiting Charles Manson's infamous Spahn ranch. But I couldn't quite connect like I wanted to due to the meandering pace of the film. Maybe this one will work better on re-watch, but I left the theater wanting more.

12. Yesterday

A sweet rom-com with the music of my favorite band of all time. What's not to love?

13. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The final chapter in the Skywalker saga is a series of incredible highs and baffling lows. I was not a fan of the plot reveals that completely walked back some of Star Wars: The Last Jedi's greatest moments. RoS felt like a million different things are going on at once, no time is given to new characters (did you know that Keri Russell is in this movie?) and certain old characters get ignominious ends (Hux, Rose). And yet, there are some really great moments that were incredibly exciting and satisfying that momentarily made me forget the missteps. By paying too much attention to vocally upset fans that hated The Last Jedi, I fear that this was a sanitized version of what could have been a great ending.

14. Ford v. Ferrari

A fast, loud action with movie stars doing their thing. Sports movies can still work on the big screen, and that's really good news.

15. The Farewell

A sweet and tender story by a promising new filmmaker (Lulu Wang) that really hits on the cultural divide between China and the United States. But despite the differences, The Farewell is ultimately a human story that cuts all cultures, and is beautiful throughout.

Honorable Mention: John Wick 3: Parabellum, Zombieland: Double-Tap, American Factory, FYRE

The 50 Best Movies of the Decade: 2010-2019

Here it is, my top 50 list for the 2010's! At the time of this post, I've watched 384 movies from the decade spanning 2010-2019. That's a lot of movies! Looking at this list of films, I really cherish a lot of the theater experiences I had. Despite the pervasive nature of lazy CGI in today's blockbusters, there were still an incredible amount of "wow" moments and films that absolutely required a trip to the theater. As we enter the 2020's, my hope is that the theater experience has a renaissance, because I still think it's the best way to experience the art form that I love the most. Cheers to the 2010's!

1. Inception (2010)

After two stellar Batman movies, Christopher Nolan had identified himself as the next great "event filmmaker", and Inception only cemented that status. Nolan is an expert at suspense, intensity, spectacle, and high emotions, and bringing an adrenaline rush to the theater that just can't be matched. After seeing Inception for the first time, my head was swimming with questions and wonder. Sure, some of the details of breaking into someone's mind via their dreams aren't completely logical. But if you're watching a movie about dream heists for completely infallible logic, I'm not sure you and I watch movies for the same reason. Inception is a pure thrill ride that will be difficult to ever replicate.

2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

I don't think of "action" being my favorite genre, but I'm starting to see a pattern that maybe I'm not as artsy as I like to think. Mad Max: Fury Road is pure action, everything that movie magic is and ever should be. Seeing this in the theater was on par with seeing Star Wars, The Matrix, and The Lord of the Rings for the first time. Just moment after moment of "how the hell did they do that?!" Mad Max is essentially one big chase, buttressed by great characters and world-building. This still hits hard at home, but man, seeing it on the big screen was revelatory.

3. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Denis Villeneuve exits the 2010's as the filmmaker that made the biggest splash in the decade. While Christopher Nolan may have dominated on a big scale, Villeneuve still occupies 3 places on my top 50 list (Sicario, Arrival) and has ingrained himself as "must watch". Blade Runner 2049 is a decades overdue sequel that absolutely should not work, but it does. Somehow it honors and improves upon the originals themes and visuals while saying something new. The decade saw many overly belated sequels released to mixed results (Jurassic World, Dumb and Dumber To, Jason Bourne, The Predator, etc.), but Blade Runner is one of a few that nailed it.

4. The Social Network (2010)

How can a film be of a time (2010) and also ahead of its time? The Social Network is one of the worst movie pitches in the world ("ok guys, what if we made a movie about how some nerds started this social networking site that we all love to hate?") that is so much better than it ever should be. Maybe that's what happens when you pair David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin? The Social Network feels even more necessary now, what with Mark Zuckerberg in front of Congress every 6 months these days.

5. Silence (2017)

This should be a template for filmmakers who want to make spiritually resonant films. Silence is all about apostasy in the face of unspeakable persecution. It is gut-wrenching and not for the faint of heart, but undeniably beautiful and reverent. Most "Christian" films are bland morality plays about characters deciding to make the right decision (think Fireproof, Facing the Giants), but Silence actually urges you to explore your own faith, the Bible, and theology. There are no easy answers here, and director Martin Scorsese doesn't present the choices of the characters as Biblically or theologically sound. He wants you to consider them for yourself, and I would add prayer and reflection to that as well. The film is what Christian art should be, a deep exploration of the heart and soul. I may never watch this movie again, but I'll never forget its impact.

6. Skyfall (2012)

I am a massive James Bond fan (see here), and Skyfall not only hits every beat for James Bond people, but for anyone. Skyfall is somehow classic Bond but altogether fresh and invigorating for the franchise. Javier Bardem's Silva is one of the franchise's defining villains, and his opening monologue is all the evidence you need. Roger Deakins' beautiful cinematography is on full display, and his warm/cool color contrast employed here and in several other films he shot in the 2010's were decade defining. The James Bond franchise has a lot of good movies, several bad ones, and a handful that are truly transcendent; Skyfall is in the latter category.

7. OJ: Made in America (2016)

An expert documentary about one of the defining moments in American culture. Not only does this cover the O.J. Simpson case that is arguably the trial of the century, it details the history of black Americans' relationship with the police and the context in which the trial must be viewed. Even at 5 and 6 years old, I remember the trial being covered ad nauseam, but Made in America helps you understand just how pervasive this story was in American culture. This documentary perfectly blends what is important from this story including sports, race, politics, and history. A must watch.

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises is convoluted. There are cheesy moments. The jumps in logic sometimes make no sense. Did Bruce Wayne really have time to construct a Bat-logo in flames on the Gotham bridge while a nuclear device was on the brink of exploding? My answer to all these concerns is a resounding "WHO CARES". The Dark Knight Rises is not only a satisfying end to a trilogy, it is a breathtaking ride from start to finish. The Dark Knight trilogy is the high water mark for all comic book films, and in a decade that was defined by them, Batman still rises to the top. While not as effective as Heath Ledger's Joker, I still love Tom Hardy's Bane, and the many quotable lines that have come from his performance. Spare me the CinemaSins and Honest Trailers, your nit-picking cannot diminish my love for this film.

9. Interstellar (2014)

Obviously Christopher Nolan is my favorite filmmaker of the 2010's, given that 3 of his 4 directorial efforts show up in my top 10. Interstellar is a visual treat, but it excels with the best score of the decade, and one of the best of all time. Hans Zimmer's haunting church organs raise the emotional stakes in an already gripping film. Interstellar never gets too bogged down in the details of space travel, but instead focuses on the bigger questions of life- what is worth saving? Matthew McConaughey is brilliant as a dad in space just trying to get back to his daughter.

10. La La Land (2016)

When you get married, you and your spouse spend a lot of time introducing one another to the things you love. I've taken my wife to an extreme amount of sporting events, and she has shown me more musicals than I ever thought I'd watch in my lifetime. La La Land is my favorite of all musicals, mostly because of its jazzy soundtrack and the Emma Stone-Ryan Gosling pairing. There's about 100 years of movie musical history that is drawn upon here, but it is simultaneously built for 2016.

11. Toy Story 3 (2010)

The Toy Story franchise are my favorite animated films of all-time. The third installment is the best, hilarious and soulful for kids and adults alike. It's quite a feat that animated toys can move me so consistently to tears, just try tell me that the last 5 minutes of this movie don't make you get at least a little misty-eyed.

12. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
13. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

The 2010's will ultimately be remembered for the dominance of the franchise, and the return of Star Wars was one of the major developments for any movie fan. The Force Awakens was such a great recapturing of Star Wars magic. Seeing all of our beloved characters again warmed my heart, and each new character gave me hope for the franchise. Then in 2017, we were given the most divisive film of the decade, The Last Jedi. I'm on record as a Last Jedi defender, ultimately I loved its sense of possibility and sheer surprise. It's unfortunate that The Rise of Skywalker didn't stick the landing the way I wanted it to, but 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

14. Mission: Impossible- Fallout (2018)
15. Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol (2011)

Speaking of franchises, no franchise consistently ups its game quite like Mission: Impossible. The 4th and 6th installments are near perfection for the action-genre. I cannot understand how Cruise keeps raising the stakes as an action star well into his 50's but these movies are so daring and fun. Keep running Tom, I'll take as many Mission: Impossible movies as I can get.

16. Django Unchained (2012)

One of my favorite movie memories of all time came while watching Quentin Tarantino's incendiary Django Unchained. In a scene early in the film, some KKK members are planning a raid and discussing the questionable quality of the disguising bags on their heads. I saw this film with my dad (he sees about 1 movie in the theater per decade, so I cherish the moment), and he laughed harder in this scene than I've ever seen anyone laugh in their lives. Later in the movie, I caught him chuckling at completely inappropriate times. He would tell me later that he was just thinking of the bag scene again and it made him laugh. Django is full of great moments, but that will be one I remember forever.

17. The Other Guys (2010)

The 2010's were not kind to the comedy genre. The 00's had all-time classics such as Anchorman, Napoleon Dynamite, Old School, Wedding Crashers, Nacho Libre, The Hangover, Pineapple Express and many many more. The 2010's saw comedy move away from the cineplex into YouTube and Netflix. The Other Guys just barely makes it into the decade being a 2010 film, but it is absolutely worthy of a top 20 spot. Ferrell and Wahlberg have incredible chemistry and there are endless quotable lines. My adult league basketball team was called "Dirty Mike and the Boys" for several years and I am not ashamed about it.

18. Sicario (2015)

Another Villeneuve film, another masterpiece. Sicario is punishing and brutal but at the same time delicate with its characters and subject matter. Emily Blunt is fantastic as the lone female FBI agent tasked with defending the US-Mexico border. Blunt gives her best performance of her career. Not only does this film tackle the thorny politics of the war against drugs and border policy, but femininity and loyalty.

19. Looper (2012)

Rian Johnson is another defining voice for the 2010's, a fresh storyteller in many different genres. Looper is a thrilling time-travel sci-fi tour de force. A mind-bending and emotional plot will have you watching this one over and over.

20. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

After some deep thinking, I've decided that Grand Budapest Hotel is my favorite Wes Anderson movie. It is heartfelt, hilarious, and beautiful.

21. Ex Machina (2014)

Ex Machina is sci-fi at its best, but it also gave us the movie gif of the decade:

22. Gravity (2013)
23. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Special shout out to this movie, as I think it's the most underrated film of the decade. My sense of wonder and hope is always stoked while watching this movie, and isn't it the point of movies to stir your emotions?

24. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
25. Knives Out (2019)
26. The Irishman (2019)
27. History of the Eagles (2013)

If you ever wondered where every rock band cliche was born, look no further than The Eagles.

28. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
29. A Star is Born (2018)
30. Eighth Grade (2018)
31. The Hateful Eight (2015)
32. Midnight in Paris (2011)
33. X-Men: First Class (2011)
34. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
35. Bridge of Spies (2015)
36. Creed (2015)
37. Hell or High Water (2016)
38. Arrival (2016)
39. Her (2013)
40. Baby Driver (2017)
41. Gone Girl (2014)
42. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
43. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
44. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

The Apes franchise is one of the most underrated franchises of all time, and had 3 of the better action/sci-fi entries this decade. The apes in these movies are such deep characters, captured so well by motion capture technology.

45. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
46. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

You'll notice that these are my only two Marvel Cinematic Universe films that made my top 50, in a decade that was defined by them. I appreciate the MCU for what it is and how well it is planned, it's just not for me. Believe me, I've tried to get into it. Over and over again. To me, there's just no stakes and no characters (quippiness does not a character make) and little story.

AND YET... The Guardians films are wonderful. Maybe that's because they're more of a mix of Star Wars and Indiana Jones rather than comic book films. There are great characters that I actually do care about, and the 70's pop soundtrack gives it a style that helps the films breeze along. If only all MCU movies were like this...

47. Lady Bird (2017)

If you had told me that a movie about the coming of age of a Sacramento teenage girl would make my top 50, I'd have laughed at you. But here we are. Greta Gerwig is one of the most exciting new directors out there, I can't wait to see where she goes from here.

48. Marriage Story (2019)
49. Logan (2017)
50. The Town (2010)

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Ad Astra (2019)
Prometheus (2012)
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Inside Out (2015)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Won't You Be My Neighbor (2018)
JoJo Rabbit (2019)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
John Wick 1/2/3 (2014/2017/2019)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1/2 (2010/2011)
Whiplash (2014)
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019)
Catching Hell (2011)
Four Days in October (2010)
Uncut Gems (2019)
May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers (2017)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)
End of Watch (2012)
Little Women (2019)
The Big Sick (2017)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Spielberg (2017)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
The Man from UNCLE (2015)
Fury (2014)
Incredibles 2 (2018)
The Muppets (2011)

The Movie Hasn't Changed... But I've Changed

It's a Saturday night and my wife and I are starting the needlessly arduous task of selecting a movie to watch. While I keep a running list of what I want to see on Letterboxd, my wife was not necessarily wanting to watch something horrifically dark. So reluctantly, we started "the scroll". Everyone in the age of streaming has started "the scroll", clicking through title after title of movies and shows, only to never feel good about your choice. We first head to Hulu. Nothing doing. Then it's HBOGo. "You scroll so fast that it hurts my eyeballs," my wife says. My eyeballs have been warped long ago, so she turns away as I scan each title for 0.1 millisecond. Again, nothing doing. On to Netflix. A few titles into the scroll my wife mercifully tells me to stop. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind! I love that movie! We should watch that." I hesitate. "I watched Eternal Sunshine in college and I don't remember really liking it. I think I was somewhat confused." But in my attempt to be a good husband (and bank a later Saturday night to force my wife to watch a Denis Villenueve movie), I relent. Eternal Sunshine it is.

Fast forward 120 minutes later. I'm in tears. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an absolute masterpiece. There's so many hauntingly beautiful visuals and devastating reveals. The acting is incredible. Why didn't I like this movie when I first watched it? Was an idiot? Was I not paying attention? I started thinking about this phenomenon a little more in depth. One of my favorite parts about film is that we as viewers get to bring our viewpoints into the experience and make our interpretation through our own lens. When my wife and I saw Annihilation last year, we both walked away with different conclusions. I'm a much different person now than I was when I saw Eternal Sunshine in 2010ish. Maybe I wasn't ready for it back then. Maybe having some more life experience has allowed me to feel for the characters sense of loss in a relationship. Whatever it was, I'm glad I watched it again and had the experience.

This isn't the first time that I've changed my opinion on a film. Swingers is my most notable example. Swingers is the quintessential break-up/post-college guy movie. My first watch was when I was in college and had basically no dating experience. I thought it was unfunny and dull. Fast forward to my second year of law school. By that time I've had some dating experience, some heartbreak. I'm trying to find my place in the professional world. After reading a great oral history on Grantland, I decide to give it another shot. This time, the movie is a revelation. Every pain that Mike (Jon Favreau) is feeling, I can now identify with. I see Trent, Sue, and Rob in several of my friends. The humor and the banter is now making me crack up. Swingers came out in 1996 and didn't change. But now this movie that I had written off as "boring" is one of my favorite films of all time. 

I think this is why I love movies so much. When done well, they are a piece of art to engage and move the viewer, just like any painting hanging in The Met. Fight Club, (500) Days of Summer, Blade Runner, and The Boondock Saints are all movies that I had a materially different experience upon subsequent viewings. Some I just enjoyed more (Blade Runner). Others I came to a different conclusion as to their themes and interpretations (Fight Club, (500) Days of Summer). And finally, there are some that I at one time loved, but now scratch my head as to why I ever did (Boondock Saints). 

So what's the lesson? If there's a movie that you didn't like on your first try, but someone you know is a big fan, don't be afraid to give it another shot. The movie certainly hasn't changed, but maybe you did!