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| Scene from 20th Century Women |
With 2019 marking the end of a decade, it's time to commemorate the past 10 years with the help of Listmania Decades. Over this year's 12 months, the series will look at a variety of different styles of film in order to highlight everything that made this period unique and exciting. While this isn't meant as a collection of the greatest films ever released, it's more meant as a highlight of films that I would consider to be among my favorite, or ones that are worth remembering in the future. So please feel free to join me every 19th of the month to highlight a new entry that will highlight 25 films that exemplified a certain field of cinema. There's a lot of great work out there, and this list barely captures the bulk of it. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments so that we can find more to appreciate before this year is through.
THIS MONTH: With 2019 marking the end of the decade, it's important to look back on the past 10 years and see what gifts have been given. However, it's also a chance to peruse the history books through the guise of period piece dramas. In order for clarity, this list is only including films from prior to 20 years or more, so sorry Lady Bird. The goal is not only to explore how these films have entertained but also informed how time has changed the conversation about history both recent and long ago. While there have been several period piece dramas worthy of making this list, these are 25 that managed to stand out in some capacity and managed to entertain as well as connect with me on a deeper level.
In a time where society struggles to maintain civility, it's hard to appreciate the purity and warmth of cinema. With director Todd Haynes' Carol, the film explores a story of love between two women in a time of hostility, where to be open would be to risk public reputations. Even then, it's a tender romance that shows actresses Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara at the top of their games, making an intimate relationship into one of the most perfect encapsulations of cinema this decade and possibly ever. It's in the way that the two stares at each other, knowing something deeper in their hearts will always keep them together. This is more than a story of two women in love, it's the story of what draws us to people in the first place. By the end of the film, it's hard to imagine a time before this meticulous, touching drama not filling our hearts with warmth and purpose. It's a masterpiece like no other, and all it takes is a little compassion.
There probably hasn't been bigger pressure on any filmmaker quite like there has been for Paul Thomas Anderson following There Will Be Blood. How do you follow up the film that's often considered the best of the century? The answer is to go into someplace stranger, more esoteric, and dreamlike. With Joaquin Phoenix giving the first of many phenomenal performances this decade, the film captures the feeling of being in a cult while never criticizing it too much. It's a blast to just watch Phoenix act opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman, often in long takes, as he's interrogated and forced to go long periods without blinking. It's all a bit insane, but it also reflects what makes these actors two of the best in their generation. It may have an anarchic streak, but it's also the most challenging, exciting film that Anderson has or likely ever will make.
The Coen Brothers are an embarrassment of riches. They can't seem to go long without producing another masterpiece. That's why this particular film feels even more exemplary of their talent. It isn't just a great film, but also one that finds the heart of the struggling artist and slowly assaults him as he sings his heart out. It's a film that predates Oscar Isaac's slow ascension in the actor world, and it's now easy to see why. He sings the songs with such heart, but it's also the weariness that he gives it. The way he moves through the film is exhausting as if he is moving just to avoid dying. The film is still wickedly funny in the ways that the Coens only know how to do, but it's also a reminder that no matter how talented you are, sometimes it takes something more to be noticed by a jaded public.
There's a mythology that formed around John F. Kennedy following his assassination. He became a figure of mystery that spawned a million conspiracy theories. However, director Pablo Larrain's interest in his wife and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy produces a fresh take on that moment in history when the world was filled with uncertainty. With another career-best performance from Natalie Portman, the film's solemn tone slowly creates mythology on what the Kennedy presidential administration means as the first family in the media landscape. To be so public in such a vulnerable time is difficult, and the film manages to capture it in such a way that's touching, tragic, and powerful. Few character studies have been this effective not only in capturing a moment but making a sympathetic supporting character feel so important to the bigger picture of American history.
Many films have been infatuated with the '80s. Many have used its music, neon lighting, and vapid culture to explore their own forms of style. However, director David Leitch is one of the few who actually have used it as something greater. With an amazing performance by Charlize Theron, the film is a brutal blast of energy that finds some of the decade's greatest action set pieces (the stairwell) often set to some of the strongest music choices. It may all seem like a brightly colored pastiche, but it manages to be so much more. It's an accomplished version of itself, managing to show that the best way to shoot action is to have a great choreographer. By getting physical, Theron elevates the film while in the process showing how sorely organic movement has been moved in contemporary blockbuster cinema.
Director Mike Mills' parents are cooler than yours, and his two films prove it. Following the great coming-out drama Beginners about his father, he takes this chance to explore the quiet achievements that his mom gave him. As a man who grew up largely surrounded by women, he had a different path in learning how to become a man. Throughout the film, there's a shift between the masculine world outside the house and the women who teach him to be strong. With great central performances by Greta Gerwig, Annette Benning, and Elle Fanning, the film is a delightful ode to the late-70's and a time that seems just as odd and funny in hindsight. It's a film that will remind you of at least one woman in your life. If you're lucky, it'll remind you of more than that.
Few filmmakers have matched the winning streak that Paul Thomas Anderson has acquired since There Will Be Blood. While he's better known for his morose dramas of masculine frailty, this film holds a special yet odd place in his filmography. As the rare Thomas Pynchon adaptation, it feels novelty. Still, it's an ensemble drama full of comedy that mixes Joaquin Phoenix's stoned perfection with absurd characters that get weirder as the story lingers on and on. It's a crime story that may not always make sense but captures a vision of 1960's California that is unlike anything out there. It's the type of weird film that only a master filmmaker could make work without feeling flimsy. Thankfully, Anderson is up to the task and makes us wonder what it would be like if he just gave up working with Daniel Day-Lewis and did slapstick full time. It would probably still be a great time.
It may seem like the unlikely choice for remakes, but director Sofia Coppola's choice to update the Clint Eastwood drama worked out very well. With an all-star cast of female actors (lead by the always great Nicole Kidman), the story becomes a sadistic post-Civil War drama about how men corrupt the world. It's sleight in its humor and presents a tale that is winding with tense moments. Few directors have developed a reputation quite like Coppola at bringing the female ennui to its cinematic potential. This ranks among her best work and one of the best period pieces, if just for the gorgeous costume design and cinematography that elevates the story into the realm of wonderful southern gothic.
In some ways, this is director Martin Scorsese's biggest misfire of the century. It barely turned a profit and failed to make a big dent at the Oscars. However, it's the greatest exploration of faith that he's ever committed to film. As two priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) go searching for a captive partner (Liam Neeson), there's a series of tests that are both physical and spiritual, which helps to raise the question as to what value faith has in our very lives. Scorsese has claimed that he's been working on this film for decades, and it shows. Every second is filled with profound meaning and creates a provocative mix of religious symbolism and doubt. It manages to explore faith without resorting to the poor cliches that often inhabit this genre. It's a film that requires patience, but those who give it time will be greatly rewarded.
Having exhausted his reinvention of the modern era, director Quentin Tarantino has spent the past decade reinventing the past. More importantly, he uses it to better understand the contemporary social issue. While Django Unchained was flashier and messier, The Hateful Eight thrives in its self-indulgence as it gets to the heart of race relations in America. It's among the most tedious films that Tarantino has ever made and the most challenging in terms of compelling characters. Still, it's a perfect showcase for why he's an essential filmmaker. For all of the flashiness, he has created a tense, claustrophobic drama that isn't so much about recognizing pop culture references, but what makes us cruel to each other. It's a hard film to love, but it's hard to also deny how accomplished it is at capturing a difficult tone.
Few international filmmakers have had quite the decade that Yorgos Lanthimos had. His unique subversion of the Greek tragedy has slowly made him an essential filmmaker, often earning comparisons to Stanley Kubrick thanks to his droll sense of humor and ability to slowly immerse the audience in uncomfortable scenes. Still, his most accessible film so far is also another masterpiece that earned its lead, Olivia Colman, an Oscar. The film asks the question of what it means to be the favourite, and whether that is actually something to aspire to. As Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz compete for Colman's affection, the film becomes a beautifully anarchic vision of history that is gross, hilarious, and equally beautiful. Lanthimos has managed to turn the story of royalty into something new and exciting, and one can hope that he treats the next decade with as much creativity as he had over these past 10 years.
While she has been around for 10 years, Saoirse Ronan marked her permanence with this romantic drama about an immigrant torn between her homeland in Ireland and her life in Brooklyn, New York. While a bit timid, Ronan brings a tenderness to the role that makes her a compelling force that is consistently entertaining. What's incredible is that in spite of its light tone, it hides something more complicated about living in a new land. It's a vision of America from the outside, where everything is just as romantic as her love story, but also feels a bit empty without her culture. Seeing as America is a land of mixed ideas, it's a beautiful celebration of what this country means not only to its citizens but to those who dream of going there for a better life. There's power in every small conversation that proves no matter who you are, you're welcome to make a difference here.
Following her hot button issue comedy Obvious Child, director Gillian Robespierre returns with another Jenny Slate vehicle that is far more charming and hilarious. What the film does best is not only recreate the 90's in a way that isn't hacky, but finds the heart of a central sister relationship as they deal with their parents' affairs. It's the type of film that works in the tradition of hangout indie comedies while telling a story with as many twists and turns as they could fit into an emotional tale. It's a story about relationships connecting and falling apart in the familiar yet awkward ways that people in love often have. It may not seem like a great film, but it's a special one that explores family in a way that is as heartwarming as it is unpleasant. Slate has rarely been better, and one can hope that she teams up with Robespierre more often in the future.
Director Barry Jenkins followed up his Oscar-winning drama Moonlight with another story that reflects the black culture in an empathetic life. What's incredible about the film isn't so much the plot, but the hospitality on screen as the film explores the life of a woman on the verge of motherhood. Yes, there's plenty of conflict filling these characters lives, but more importantly, there's a support system that has rarely been seen on screen. By simply staring into the camera, Jenkins allows his characters to be human, existing in a world where there's respect for each other. With an incredible score that's touching and instantly nostalgic, the film is almost like a flicker of a memory that barely exists. It's pure and beautiful and reflective of what cinema can be if audiences are capable of looking past their own cynicism and finding something more tangible in humanity.
There have been hundreds of films exploring teen angst, but there have been few American films that have been as frank about sexuality as this. With a great lead performance by Bel Powley, the story explores a teenage girl's exploration not only of herself but also of how she forms certain relationships in her life. While its comic book adaptation shines through in fantastic segments, the story is grounded in a wounded familiarity. As teenagers try to understand their place in the world, they have awkward tumbles that are unpleasant and maybe too edgy for conventional cinema. While this is a solid R-Rated film, it's a great learning curve for teenagers entering the scary world. It's a touching film that gets to the heart of why we pursue the relationships that we do and treats them with a sincerity not often seen.
1. Carol (2015)
In a time where society struggles to maintain civility, it's hard to appreciate the purity and warmth of cinema. With director Todd Haynes' Carol, the film explores a story of love between two women in a time of hostility, where to be open would be to risk public reputations. Even then, it's a tender romance that shows actresses Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara at the top of their games, making an intimate relationship into one of the most perfect encapsulations of cinema this decade and possibly ever. It's in the way that the two stares at each other, knowing something deeper in their hearts will always keep them together. This is more than a story of two women in love, it's the story of what draws us to people in the first place. By the end of the film, it's hard to imagine a time before this meticulous, touching drama not filling our hearts with warmth and purpose. It's a masterpiece like no other, and all it takes is a little compassion.
2. The Master (2012)
There probably hasn't been bigger pressure on any filmmaker quite like there has been for Paul Thomas Anderson following There Will Be Blood. How do you follow up the film that's often considered the best of the century? The answer is to go into someplace stranger, more esoteric, and dreamlike. With Joaquin Phoenix giving the first of many phenomenal performances this decade, the film captures the feeling of being in a cult while never criticizing it too much. It's a blast to just watch Phoenix act opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman, often in long takes, as he's interrogated and forced to go long periods without blinking. It's all a bit insane, but it also reflects what makes these actors two of the best in their generation. It may have an anarchic streak, but it's also the most challenging, exciting film that Anderson has or likely ever will make.
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
The Coen Brothers are an embarrassment of riches. They can't seem to go long without producing another masterpiece. That's why this particular film feels even more exemplary of their talent. It isn't just a great film, but also one that finds the heart of the struggling artist and slowly assaults him as he sings his heart out. It's a film that predates Oscar Isaac's slow ascension in the actor world, and it's now easy to see why. He sings the songs with such heart, but it's also the weariness that he gives it. The way he moves through the film is exhausting as if he is moving just to avoid dying. The film is still wickedly funny in the ways that the Coens only know how to do, but it's also a reminder that no matter how talented you are, sometimes it takes something more to be noticed by a jaded public.
4. Jackie (2016)
There's a mythology that formed around John F. Kennedy following his assassination. He became a figure of mystery that spawned a million conspiracy theories. However, director Pablo Larrain's interest in his wife and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy produces a fresh take on that moment in history when the world was filled with uncertainty. With another career-best performance from Natalie Portman, the film's solemn tone slowly creates mythology on what the Kennedy presidential administration means as the first family in the media landscape. To be so public in such a vulnerable time is difficult, and the film manages to capture it in such a way that's touching, tragic, and powerful. Few character studies have been this effective not only in capturing a moment but making a sympathetic supporting character feel so important to the bigger picture of American history.
5. Atomic Blonde (2017)
Many films have been infatuated with the '80s. Many have used its music, neon lighting, and vapid culture to explore their own forms of style. However, director David Leitch is one of the few who actually have used it as something greater. With an amazing performance by Charlize Theron, the film is a brutal blast of energy that finds some of the decade's greatest action set pieces (the stairwell) often set to some of the strongest music choices. It may all seem like a brightly colored pastiche, but it manages to be so much more. It's an accomplished version of itself, managing to show that the best way to shoot action is to have a great choreographer. By getting physical, Theron elevates the film while in the process showing how sorely organic movement has been moved in contemporary blockbuster cinema.
6. 20th Century Women (2016)
Director Mike Mills' parents are cooler than yours, and his two films prove it. Following the great coming-out drama Beginners about his father, he takes this chance to explore the quiet achievements that his mom gave him. As a man who grew up largely surrounded by women, he had a different path in learning how to become a man. Throughout the film, there's a shift between the masculine world outside the house and the women who teach him to be strong. With great central performances by Greta Gerwig, Annette Benning, and Elle Fanning, the film is a delightful ode to the late-70's and a time that seems just as odd and funny in hindsight. It's a film that will remind you of at least one woman in your life. If you're lucky, it'll remind you of more than that.
7. The Fighter (2010)
For a five year span, it did look like director David O. Russell was bound to become one of Oscar's biggest darlings. While most are likely to remember his later collaborations with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, it's the film that he kicked the decade off with that captures what makes him capable of being great. In the boxing drama, he finds an anorexic Christian Bale turning in one of his best performances as an addict barely holding onto his relevance in a dysfunctional family. The cast is stacked with amazing performances (most of them even nominated for Oscars) and the pathos of a man dealing with his poisonous family adds weight to the drama. This film joins Rocky and Million Dollar Baby as further evidence that some of the best sports stories take place in the ring, and often benefit from its underdog sensibility. Russell would go on to make more crowd pleasing movies, but none were as accomplished on every level as this.
8. Dunkirk (2017)
After reinventing the superhero genre with The Dark Knight trilogy, it seemed like director Christopher Nolan was out of tricks. This was far from the truth, as he came out swinging with a war film that reinvented the genre by not having any singular protagonist. With some incredible hat trick, he takes the story of Britain escaping the island of Dunkirk and finds a way to make it the most intense film of the decade. With his mending of time, he manages to make a story with a massive scale and several intimate moments that still hit hard. This is about the survival of a community, and thankfully Nolan knows how to create memorable montages of chaos that are pure cinema, reviving the 70 mm. format and making IMAX into an essential viewing format. More than being just another war film, it was a story that benefited from cinematic technique both visually and sonically (make sure to check out Hans Zimmer's incredible ticking score). He even manages to make fighter pilot shooting guns feel new. It takes a true master to make a film this visceral yet personal, and Nolan proves he's got even more to prove.
9. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
There's a certain charm in watching Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet slowly fall in love over the course of two hours. There's not much else to the story besides that, but director Luca Guadagnino still manages to make the most of everything by mixing in conversations of philosophy as characters have conversations in front of beautiful villas. By the end, it all depends on the central duo's chemistry, and it is something that is electric and captures the naivety of young love in a way that feels honest and at times raw. While some are likely to buy into the film's "controversy," the story is far more pure than that and feels familiar as it revels in dance scenes set to Psychedelic Furs. If you've been in love, there's something that will resonate here. If you've had a summer love, there's a good chance the ending will hit like a ton of bricks. Still, it's one of the best atmospheric films of the decade and features a great third act monologue from Michael Stuhlbarg. There's so much to love about the film, and the only way to do it justice is to give into its positive energy.
10. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
The impact of director Steve McQueen's third film is not something to take for granted. Based on a memoir by Solomon Northup, the story's exploration of slavery helped to reshape the conversation that America has about its own past. While this is far from the first sympathetic portrait of slavery, it's one that paints it in a painfully realistic manner, lead by powerful performances by Chiwetel Ejiofir and Lupita Nyong'o. The film searches for humanity in times of endless despair, and it manages to become one of the most singular cinematic statements of the decade. It's powerful in all of the right ways and creates images that will scar the viewer, forcing them to consider the pain faced by those who were mistreated for decades. It's a film that is capitol I Important from start to finish and shows how art can not only create deeply complex emotions, but also forward conversations in ways that matter.
11. Les Miserables (2012)
While one could argue that there have been better movie musicals released this decade, few have felt as bawdy, ambitious, strange, and sometimes missing the mark entirely. As flawed as director Tom Hooper's take of the Tony-winning musical is, it's still hard not to love on some strange level thanks to how it swings for the fences. Sure, Russell Crowe can't sing and the editing is at times a bit off, but there's still moments of sublime cinema such as Anne Hathaway singing a soul-crushing rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." Hooper got flack for his close-up camera work on a story that was expansive, but it helps to capture the deeper emotion of its characters. It's likely that the film's divisiveness will make many question why it's here, but for me it's an embodiment of what an epic musical could be. There's probably a more perfect version that could've been done, but it still packs a punch for me every time. If you can get on its wavelength, I'm sure you'll agree.
12. The Witch (2015)
The thing that makes director Robert Eggers' film so powerful is that it feels genuinely like an artifact pulled from centuries ago. There's so much to the film's atmosphere that is itself haunting with the murky weather drawing the viewer into a cold world of people excised from society for unknown reasons. What is known is that this is a breakout role for Anya-Taylor Joy as a woman accused of being a witch who finds the people in her life slowly falling into chaos. The film's use of religion and classic photography for visual references creates a story that is almost too convincing. It even makes the goat Black Phillip into one of the greatest villains of the decade. While audiences at the time complained about the film not being scary, it's a tonal nightmare that sneaks up on those willing to fall into the darkness and find themselves lost in one of the few theatrical releases also endorsed by Satanists. If that doesn't convince you that the film has a great depiction of witches, then nothing will.
13. The Artist (2011)
On its surface, the film is one of the most self-congratulatory Oscar winners ever. It's a film about how great Golden Age Hollywood was, where silent film was the standard. However, it's still one of the most delightful oddities to win in quite some time thanks to a charismatic lead performance by Jean Dujardin. As much as it's a celebration of the past, it's an example of how silent film still can be used in meaningful ways long after the form has been deemed obsolete by telling a story full of comedic charm and one of the greatest scores in Ludovic Bource. A story can be told through movement, finding drama in action that is just as searing as any monologue. It also helps that Uggie is the film's secret weapon, bringing some of the most charming and effective pet performances of the decade. While the film may feel rooted in the past, director Michel Hazanavicius brings enough ingenuity and heart into it to make it feel like more than novelty.
14. Inherent Vice (2014)
Few filmmakers have matched the winning streak that Paul Thomas Anderson has acquired since There Will Be Blood. While he's better known for his morose dramas of masculine frailty, this film holds a special yet odd place in his filmography. As the rare Thomas Pynchon adaptation, it feels novelty. Still, it's an ensemble drama full of comedy that mixes Joaquin Phoenix's stoned perfection with absurd characters that get weirder as the story lingers on and on. It's a crime story that may not always make sense but captures a vision of 1960's California that is unlike anything out there. It's the type of weird film that only a master filmmaker could make work without feeling flimsy. Thankfully, Anderson is up to the task and makes us wonder what it would be like if he just gave up working with Daniel Day-Lewis and did slapstick full time. It would probably still be a great time.
15. The Runaways (2010)
As far as overlooked movies go, director Floria Sigismondi's music biopic's tale of Joan Jett, Cherry Curie, and pals is near the top in terms of greatness. The Runaways remain one of the most groundbreaking rock bands of all time, in large part because of how it portrayed women not only as musicians, but as commodities. Sure, the film is heavy on the themes of exploitation by a scuzzy manager (in one of many great Michael Shannon performances of the decade), but it's also one of the sweetest tales of nuclear families this decade. Kristen Stewart is a spot on Jett and Dakota Fanning's Curie is one of the most charismatic heartbreaks. As a whole, it creates a portrait that goes above the cliches and understands how a band functions as more than a vehicle for reckless music. There's a need to have something deeper, and sometimes that involves helping friends avoid going crazy on tour.
16. The Shape of Water (2017)
It still seems bizarre to think of a film in which a deaf woman falls in love with an aquatic creature winning Best Picture. It's too esoteric of a concept, especially given how rarely fantasy cinema has won. With that said, director Guillermo del Toro's empathetic heart manages to raise the monster movie genre to a thing of prestige, capturing a vulnerability of its central cast that explores how we search for love in this cruel world. It's a contemporary fairy tale, albeit with more of an R-Rated sensibility, and one of the most touching love stories of modern years. It's a film that proves that there's room to question genre movies of the past and update them in a way that speaks to our modern sensibilities. Thankfully del Toro did it with one of the best set designs of the decade as well as a creature design that finally gives actor Doug Jones the credit he deserves. It's a thing of beauty and proves that cinema can be far more interesting than it currently is. All it takes is a little effort.
17. The Beguiled (2017)
It may seem like the unlikely choice for remakes, but director Sofia Coppola's choice to update the Clint Eastwood drama worked out very well. With an all-star cast of female actors (lead by the always great Nicole Kidman), the story becomes a sadistic post-Civil War drama about how men corrupt the world. It's sleight in its humor and presents a tale that is winding with tense moments. Few directors have developed a reputation quite like Coppola at bringing the female ennui to its cinematic potential. This ranks among her best work and one of the best period pieces, if just for the gorgeous costume design and cinematography that elevates the story into the realm of wonderful southern gothic.
18. Phantom Thread (2017)
While director Paul Thomas Anderson has continually produced great work, it's interesting to see The Academy fall in love with his most intimate film. With another great performance by Daniel Day Lewis, the film finds a way to explore the struggles of marriage through a costume designer and his assistant that is equally scathing and humorous. It's a patient film and one that rewards viewers willing to slowly get inside the mind of its characters, struggling to maintain their sanity amid feuding egos. The third act is a thing of beauty and features great role reversals that add a warmth to its perverse sensibility. Add in another career best score from Jonny Greenwood and you get a film that plays like an elegant (literal) costume drama but through the lens of a man coming to terms with the world outside of him. If this is Lewis' last movie, it's a pretty great way to go out, though one could hope he teams up with Anderson at some point down the line, if just for our cinematic sanity.
19. Silence (2016)
In some ways, this is director Martin Scorsese's biggest misfire of the century. It barely turned a profit and failed to make a big dent at the Oscars. However, it's the greatest exploration of faith that he's ever committed to film. As two priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) go searching for a captive partner (Liam Neeson), there's a series of tests that are both physical and spiritual, which helps to raise the question as to what value faith has in our very lives. Scorsese has claimed that he's been working on this film for decades, and it shows. Every second is filled with profound meaning and creates a provocative mix of religious symbolism and doubt. It manages to explore faith without resorting to the poor cliches that often inhabit this genre. It's a film that requires patience, but those who give it time will be greatly rewarded.
20. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Having exhausted his reinvention of the modern era, director Quentin Tarantino has spent the past decade reinventing the past. More importantly, he uses it to better understand the contemporary social issue. While Django Unchained was flashier and messier, The Hateful Eight thrives in its self-indulgence as it gets to the heart of race relations in America. It's among the most tedious films that Tarantino has ever made and the most challenging in terms of compelling characters. Still, it's a perfect showcase for why he's an essential filmmaker. For all of the flashiness, he has created a tense, claustrophobic drama that isn't so much about recognizing pop culture references, but what makes us cruel to each other. It's a hard film to love, but it's hard to also deny how accomplished it is at capturing a difficult tone.
21. The Favourite (2018)
Few international filmmakers have had quite the decade that Yorgos Lanthimos had. His unique subversion of the Greek tragedy has slowly made him an essential filmmaker, often earning comparisons to Stanley Kubrick thanks to his droll sense of humor and ability to slowly immerse the audience in uncomfortable scenes. Still, his most accessible film so far is also another masterpiece that earned its lead, Olivia Colman, an Oscar. The film asks the question of what it means to be the favourite, and whether that is actually something to aspire to. As Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz compete for Colman's affection, the film becomes a beautifully anarchic vision of history that is gross, hilarious, and equally beautiful. Lanthimos has managed to turn the story of royalty into something new and exciting, and one can hope that he treats the next decade with as much creativity as he had over these past 10 years.
22. Brooklyn (2014)
While she has been around for 10 years, Saoirse Ronan marked her permanence with this romantic drama about an immigrant torn between her homeland in Ireland and her life in Brooklyn, New York. While a bit timid, Ronan brings a tenderness to the role that makes her a compelling force that is consistently entertaining. What's incredible is that in spite of its light tone, it hides something more complicated about living in a new land. It's a vision of America from the outside, where everything is just as romantic as her love story, but also feels a bit empty without her culture. Seeing as America is a land of mixed ideas, it's a beautiful celebration of what this country means not only to its citizens but to those who dream of going there for a better life. There's power in every small conversation that proves no matter who you are, you're welcome to make a difference here.
23. Landline (2017)
Following her hot button issue comedy Obvious Child, director Gillian Robespierre returns with another Jenny Slate vehicle that is far more charming and hilarious. What the film does best is not only recreate the 90's in a way that isn't hacky, but finds the heart of a central sister relationship as they deal with their parents' affairs. It's the type of film that works in the tradition of hangout indie comedies while telling a story with as many twists and turns as they could fit into an emotional tale. It's a story about relationships connecting and falling apart in the familiar yet awkward ways that people in love often have. It may not seem like a great film, but it's a special one that explores family in a way that is as heartwarming as it is unpleasant. Slate has rarely been better, and one can hope that she teams up with Robespierre more often in the future.
24. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Director Barry Jenkins followed up his Oscar-winning drama Moonlight with another story that reflects the black culture in an empathetic life. What's incredible about the film isn't so much the plot, but the hospitality on screen as the film explores the life of a woman on the verge of motherhood. Yes, there's plenty of conflict filling these characters lives, but more importantly, there's a support system that has rarely been seen on screen. By simply staring into the camera, Jenkins allows his characters to be human, existing in a world where there's respect for each other. With an incredible score that's touching and instantly nostalgic, the film is almost like a flicker of a memory that barely exists. It's pure and beautiful and reflective of what cinema can be if audiences are capable of looking past their own cynicism and finding something more tangible in humanity.
25. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2016)
There have been hundreds of films exploring teen angst, but there have been few American films that have been as frank about sexuality as this. With a great lead performance by Bel Powley, the story explores a teenage girl's exploration not only of herself but also of how she forms certain relationships in her life. While its comic book adaptation shines through in fantastic segments, the story is grounded in a wounded familiarity. As teenagers try to understand their place in the world, they have awkward tumbles that are unpleasant and maybe too edgy for conventional cinema. While this is a solid R-Rated film, it's a great learning curve for teenagers entering the scary world. It's a touching film that gets to the heart of why we pursue the relationships that we do and treats them with a sincerity not often seen.
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