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!

Top 10 of 2018

2018 had quite a few solid movies, but was nowhere near the quality of 2017. 2017 had an all-time great (Blade Runner 2049), excellent action (Baby Driver, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), dramas (Lady Bird, 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri), and some of my favorite comic book films ever made (Guardians, Logan, Thor:Ragnarok). 2018 had... Mission: Impossible and some good documentaries? While that's a bit of an exaggeration, 2018 just was not a strong movie year in my estimation, probably the weakest since 2013. Despite all that, I still had some of my more memorable theater experiences in a while. The big screen induced dread of the criminally underseen Annihilation. The weepy funeral recession feeling of A Star is Born. And A Quiet Place would not have been near the experience it was without the ominous quiet in a large movie theater. I've rated every movie I saw in 2018 on Letterboxd, but my thoughts on the top ten movies of the year are below!

1. Mission: Impossible - Fallout

A day will come when Tom Cruise running around like an action hero will seem silly. When Roger Moore got too old to play James Bond, those final couple of movies were campy and dumb. But Cruise is not there yet, and somehow, Fallout may very well be the best entry in the Mission Impossible franchise. The stunts and fight scenes are just plain awesome. Swapping Jeremy Renner with Henry Cavill somehow works. But it's Cruise and his ageless charisma and dedication to jaw dropping stunts that helps slot the sixth entry in the franchise as my favorite film of 2018. The much hyped bathroom fight and infamous halo drop scene are both impressive and vault Fallout into the discussion of the greatest action films of all time.

2. A Star is Born

When you hear the pitch for this movie, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. So many questions came to my mind after seeing the trailer. "Wait this is the third remake of this movie?" "Bradley Cooper has never directed a movie before?" "Lady Gaga is in it and took off all her make up?" Bradley Cooper is trying to sing?!" And to say that those fears were assuaged is a massive understatement. A Star is Born is an emotional punch with fantastic acting and even better music. When Ally, played by Lady Gaga, joins Jackson Maine, Cooper, on stage for the first time to sing the now mega hit "Shallow", it is an absolutely masterful movie moment. It felt like our theater was going to explode in applause when Gaga really lets it go. While there may be a corny line or two, this film is a powerhouse, and is easily my pick of this year's Best Picture nominees.

3. Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade may be the most accurate portrayal of middle school life ever put on film, sometimes painstakingly so. Given first-time director Bo Burnham's history as a YouTube star, it makes sense that he would be the one to most capably portray life as an 8th grader in 2018. Instead of taking the easy route and vilifying today's kids as self-important screen addicts, he takes a more sympathetic approach. Kids are as much the same now as they ever have been, they just have different outlets. In one interview I heard, Burnham points out that kids are going to be glued to their phones because parents gave them the most powerful tool in the history of mankind and just said "you figure it out". Eighth Grade will make you cringe, laugh, cry, and remember one of the most difficult years in everyone's childhood.

4. Bad Times at the El Royale

Director Drew Goddard is most certainly doing his best Tarantino impression in Bad Times at the El Royale, but I say that with the utmost respect. Bad Times is a twisting crime story with wonderful characters and abrupt reveals in the same vein as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth and more give excellent performances. This movie tanked at the box office, and I predict will have a strong following over the next few years as it gets discovered on streaming.

5. BlacKkKlansman

Not based on a Chappelle's show sketch, BlacKkKlansman is the incredible true story of a black police officer in Colorado infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan. John David Washington, Denzel's son, was the biggest snub of the Academy Award nominations as the star of the film. His conversations over the phone with KKK members posing as white man are darkly hilarious. Just as a pure thriller, this had me on the edge of my seat. I don't necessarily want to get into the politics of the film (that's been covered in every place imaginable on the internet), but I do think that director Spike Lee’s choice of using actual news footage at the end of the film was a bit too on the nose. The story from the late 1970's was very clear in its timeless message of the reality and evils of all types of racism. To add news footage from 2017 will unfortunately make the ending a prisoner of the moment, rather than something more timeless. I still loved the film and it didn't detract from my enjoyment, just something that I would have liked to have seen done differently. Adam Driver and John David Washington's budding friendship in the film is really the heart of it, and both actors really nailed it.

6. Incredibles 2

The Incredibles is my favorite animated movie of all time, and the sequel nearly reaches the same heights. All the same action, suspense, and comedy is just as charming the second time around. Pixar rarely misses and this is no exception.

7. Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I must admit that my love for this documentary is extremely clouded by nostalgia and sentimentality, but I think that was the point. Fred Rogers was one of my favorite TV personalities as a kid, and this was a loving tribute to the man that so many children adored. I wept in the theater while the film showed the countless times that Rogers loved his fellow man, all in the name of Jesus Christ. Your mileage may vary based on this one, dependent upon your love for Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, but I would still recommend it to anyone.

8. Three Identical Strangers

Some documentaries can reveal new information that was previously unknown to the public. Others are tributes to their subjects or attempt to record history. And then there are those stories that are so insane that you don’t quite believe what you’re watching. Three Identical Strangers is in that latter camp. I won’t spoil anything more than what the title tells you, but just imagine if on your first day of college you bump into your long lost twin. It only gets weirder from there.

9. Annihilation

Alex Garland's previous film, Ex Machina, was a sci-fi masterpiece. His follow up, Annihilation, was not quite up to that level, but was still an incredibly thought provoking work. Natalie Portman leads an almost all-female cast in a visually stunning and hauntingly scored brain buster. I think the strangeness of the film ultimately kept me from liking it more, but this is the type of big swing that I love to see filmmakers take. I’ve heard five or six interpretations of the end that all differ from my own, which is a truly rare feat.

10. Beirut

I have a rule- if your movie has Jon Hamm, I will like it by approximately 34.4% more. Hamm can play comedy, drama, or romance, and do it while looking more handsome than just about anyone else out there. Beirut benefits greatly from the Hamm rule. The political thriller set in the early 80’s hits a lot of great action notes and is engaging throughout. Perfect plane flight watch.

Honorable Mention: Ready Player One, A Quiet Place, Green Book, Deadpool 2, Creed II, Wreck It Ralph 2, Instant Family, Tag, Game Night

Overrated: Vice, Isle of Dogs, Black Panther, Roma

Movies so bad that they're worth mentioning specifically: The Predator, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 

The State of Movies in 2019

2018 was a transition year for movies. Netflix continues to make prestige plays (Roma) and meme plays (Bird Box) left and right. MoviePass tried to revive the movie theater but ended up dying an untimely death (RIP MoviePass- during my 11 month subscription I saw 25+ movies for an absurd $110). The comedy film is all but dead. Star Wars had a panic attack. Comic book films have replaced the Braveheart style epic. And TV shows, whether streaming or traditional, continue to steal the cultural spotlight that was normally reserved for the movie of the week.

As a traditionalist (translation: curmudgeon), I continue to prefer films to television shows. Don't get me wrong, I've sung the praises of recent prestige dramas (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Wire, etc.), rewatchable comedies (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Office, Seasons 1-10 of the Simpsons, etc.) and will continue my quest to finish all Star Trek episodes (currently watching the original series) with my wife. However, given the choice, I love the contained quality of a film. Annihilation was able to say more in its 2+ hours than any TV show could in 10+ through its visuals, high caliber acting, and incredible score. Every TV show is such an investment, with hours upon hours to invest in an endless list of quality programs. Not to mention the sinking feeling that you've just spent an hour on a filler episode (I'm looking at you Stranger Things and your "Eleven Joins the X-Men" episode that had no consequence to the plot). I feel like every time a friend recommends me a TV show I become more and more anxious with the list piling up. Meanwhile, I watched a random YouTube interview with Quentin Tarantino where he mentions this 80's movie called Blow Out starring a magnificent John Travolta. Instead of adding to my anxiety, I took 2 hours, enjoyed the ride, and went on with my life.

To even further bolster my case as an old man, I still generally prefer seeing films in the movie theater. Pop quiz: where can you go in 2019 to experience something with other people that captures their complete attention, and isn't being distracted by a smartphone? Dinner? No. Concerts? Annoyingly, no. I went to a basketball game last week and the person in front of me watched less than 5 minutes of the game and spent the rest of the time on an iPhone. The movie theater is one of the last shared experiences we have that is completely focused and uninterrupted (as long as everyone behaves). I think that's a good thing to hold on to, and I hope that the movie theater has a renaissance that bolsters my case. No matter how meme-worthy the Netflix movie of the week is, it can never, ever beat seeing a classic on opening night with an excited crowd. Seeing The Dark Knight at 11pm on opening night with some of my college buddies is something I will never forget. Half-watching a new Netflix original with my Nintendo Switch in one hand and iPhone in the other is something I've already forgotten 30 times.

And therein lies the hope for movies in 2019. TV at home is a distraction, something to occupy our minds while we unwind or do chores. Movies can still be an event to go appreciate a piece of art with others around us. It can be reflective and entertaining and carry the cultural conversation when something truly worthy comes alone. Look no further than the release of A Quiet Place earlier last year. Everyone that saw that in the theater had an incredible experience together, given the use of silence in the film. A Star is Born was similar- our theater was almost entirely in tears walking away. In a culture that values experience over materials, my hope is that the theater experience can be as special now as it has been in the past.

This year's Best Picture Oscar feels ABSURDLY wide open. Considering the "Popular Film Oscar" gaffe from earlier in the year and the truly abominable The Shape of Water winning and confusing just about everyone last year, I feel a safe pick coming. The Golden Globes chose Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody as their picks for Best Picture, ostensibly two crowd pleasers. Black Panther feels like a bridge too far for Academy voters to choose a comic book film (a film I felt was completely overhyped). Maybe Green Book will be the next Crash? Maybe Spike Lee gets his belated due with the excellent BlacKkKlansman? Who knows. While the Academy is bound to screw it up, my top 10 for 2018 is bound to be completely infallible. I still need to catch up on some of what 2018 had to offer, so check back as the Academy Awards get closer for my top 10 list!

*Side note: you can see my ratings for every movie released in 2018 on Letterboxd. I discovered this app earlier in the year and it is a perfect way to catalogue quick thoughts and rankings for everything you've ever seen. I nearly went insane trying to remember and log each movie I've seen from birth until now. When you find yourself thinking the phrase, "I know I've seen Air Bud, but did I ever see any of the sequels?" you've probably gone too far.

The Cult of Fight Club and Liking Something for the "Wrong" Reasons

When Fight Club was released in 1999, there was a strange marketing plan to promote the film. Most advertising largely relied on Brad Pitt's sex appeal and macho action scenes. Pitt was at the height of his heartthrob status, and his marriage to Jennifer Aniston made him a part of the hottest couple in Hollywood. Aniston even hosted SNL and there were quite a few references made to the film.  Moviegoers that were looking for Pitt to be some action hero were disappointed as they watched Fight Club. David's Fincher's masterpiece is about the dangers of consumerism, modern masculinity, and spiritual bankruptcy. Book author Chuck Palahniuk was even quoted as saying that he liked the film's ending more than the one he wrote. But despite the themes and messages that Fincher and Palahniuk were trying to convey, the film was widely misunderstood, and created a strange culture of fans that loved the movie for all the wrong reasons.

I saw Fight Club around 2004 or 2005, when I was in high school. There's a continuum that goes along with your understanding of this film, based upon the age you first see it (disclaimer, this pertains to men only; women do like Fight Club but for different reasons than men):

10-14: Any kid that sees the movie during these ages probably has parents that don't care whether or not their son grows up to be a psychopath.

15-24: Violence=cool. "Dude we should totally start a Fight Club" has been uttered thousands of times by idiotic young men. A much smaller number actually started a Fight Club, and an even smaller amount got smacked in the face and realized that underground bare-knuckle boxing is kind of stupid.

25-40: This is the sweet spot where you actually pick up on the themes of the film. Recommended.

41+: Why does Brad Pitt have to remind me that he is chiseled from stone and I can't throw a football without my arm falling off the next day? (Come on, you know I jest!)

Luckily for me, despite seeing the movie for the first time in the dangerous 16-24 range, I never started a Fight Club. I did however, totally miss the point until I got a bit older. Unfortunately this range of men has created a sort of macho bro'ed out vibe around this film. And shocked critics seeing the movie in 1999 didn't do it any favors either. They focused on the ultra-violent fight scenes and the characters seemingly cathartic association with violence. But like countless songs, movies and literature that has come before, this totally misses the point.

In the trailer for the 2012 film Project X, we see flashes of a giant party and one high schooler's quest to destroy his parents home. The trailer makes the movie look like one huge party scene, making kids everywhere think "why couldn't I be there"? Prominently playing over the trailer is Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness". This song is decidedly not about how "cool" partying is. It's a very tongue in cheek song about the emptiness of the party lifestyle. Yet the producers of the film just grabbed it anyway and put it in the trailer without any sense of irony. Same goes for those Wrangler commercials  that played Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" as they flashed close ups of Real American Men wearing Real American Jeans. Never mind the fact that "Fortunate Son" is an anti-war song that is anything but a Patriot's anthem.

Why do I mention these examples? Because of misappropriation, people now associate these songs with the complete opposite sentiment that their artist tried to convey. Fight Club has been met with a similar fate. Because of the critics initial shock at the violence, as well as the 15-24 year old boys that all stupidly tried to start a fight club, a large number of people think it glorifies violence. But it's the exact opposite. Edward Norton's character (the unnamed "Narrator") seeks any sort of emotion in his life after years of being beaten into submission by corporate and consumer life. His (spoilers ahead!) alter-ego Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) uses fighting to elicit this response, giving the Narrator a rush that he's been so desperately seeking. However, by the end of the film, he realizes that all of this senseless violence wasn't what brought him back from the dead- it was a real, emotional connection with similarly lost soul Marla (Helena Bonham Carter). Durden's methods were wrong, but his message was right: give up your pretension, give up your hopeless attachment to material goods, and just let go. The Fight Club aspect of the plan ultimately balloon's out of control on the narrator. The film leaves you with the message that your spiritual bankruptcy cannot be solved by materialism, a good job, or on the opposite end, going to extremes to "feel alive". The message is that real, human interaction is the ultimate high for humankind. (As a side note- the message here is partly right. Materialism and extremism won't bring you fulfillment, and human connection does play a large role in spiritual health. However, the ultimate healer, Jesus Christ, is the missing ingredient that the film goes nowhere near. Not that I expected this, but it's interesting that Christianity and Fight Club share common beliefs when it comes to material wealth).

It's unfortunate that this wrongful aura exists around Fight Club, because it's an absolute classic. It is thought provoking, visually compelling, and has one of the biggest twist endings in film history. It has a firm position in my top 10 films of all time. I may get some unfair judgments for placing it this high, because there are plenty of  dude-bro's that have it in their top 10 as well. It's just for vastly different reasons.