My 10 Best Films of the Decade

Happy New Year! I hope you all have a great 2020, and what better way to usher in the new year than by reading about my top 10 favourite films of the past decade! It was an absolute chore writing up my ten least favourite, which I posted yesterday, but I wanted to start thee new year with a bit more positivity. I don't think any of the films that appear on this list will be all that surprising to see. i should also say that these are not what I think are the 'best' in terms of all round filmic terms, but are my favourites from the best decade.

#10: Roma (2018)

Starting off the list is a film that I completely bought into the hype around. This film was a beautiful watch, both visually and narratively. It is not a big action based film filled with set pieces and explosions, but it feels all the more visceral and intense when the violence does start due to the subtle nature of its storytelling. It may seem odd to see a black and white film in 2018, but the lack of colour allows for the focus to remain on the characters and adds another layer of beauty to the cinematography, which is already visually stunning. I know a lot of people who felt this film was a little overrated, but I loved it and feel like it was robbed of the Best Picture award at last years Oscars.

#9: Blackfish (2013)

Our first and only documentary to make this list, 'Blackfish' is a film that i consistently advise people to watch. It is not an easy watch, in fact it can be quite upsetting at times, but I think that makes it all the more important. It was a controversial film upon its release and received backlash from Sea World, which should say all you need to know about the subject matter it is dealing with. It is an extremely interesting and engrossing documentary which is way worth a watch for everyone. However, as with all documentaries, it is important to read up on both sides, no matter how convincing the argument this film makes.

#8: The Conjuring (2013)

Out of all the films on this list this is probably the one that sticks out as an odd choice the most. This film is not a masterpiece of filmmaking, and it has led to the creation of a cinematic universe with more dud films than good ones, but the first 'The Conjuring' is still one of my favourite films of the past decade. I went to see it when it came out in the cinema and right from that first viewing it just really connected with me. From the outside it is just another jump scare fest, but it is expertly made with some great performances and this takes it to another level above the rest of the shit that was being pumped out of the genre at the time. It is eerie and keeps you on edge throughout and has some genuinely brilliant scares. Definitely the most 'controversial' on this list, but definitely deserving of its place in my eyes.

#7: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Is it blasphemous to say that this film is better than the first 'Blade Runner'? Possibly. But the fact that I am even asking the question should say all you need to know about the quality of this film. Huge credit needs to go to Denis Villeneuve and Roger Deakins for making this film one of the most incredible visual spectacles I have ever seen. they build on the cyberpunk style visuals that were set in the first film and turn them up to a million, making this film an absolute treat for the eyes. Match that with an outstanding script and superb performances and you have a film that is undeniably one the greatest sequels ever made, as well as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.

#6: La La Land (2016)

I bloody love a good musical, and 'La La Land' is a en excellent musical. Not only is it a film that I will happily sit down and listen to the soundtrack for, but it is also just an exceptionally well made film which would have probably worked without the musical aspects thrown in. It is a beautiful blend of golden age musicals as well and modern filmmaking techniques. The costumes and the sets are all gorgeous, making the film a visually intriguing piece of work as well as having a narrative with some emotional depth and humour. I remember thinking after my first viewing of the film that it had been overhyped, but I continuously found myself going back to the film for a rewatch and enjoyed it even more every single time.

#5: Your Name (2016)

This film came as quite a surprise when I put it on a whim. I happened to see it on Amazon Prime and remembered having heard about how popular it had been in Japan upon its release. After seeing it I was under no illusions as to why it had broke so many box office records. It is a beautiful film in both its storytelling and animation. I love Japanese style animation anyway, but the animation in this film is absolutely stunning. But it is the narrative of the film which made me love it. Charming, devastating, intriguing and funny, it has a bit of everything and kept me completely engrossed and emotionally invested from start to finish. Just writing about it now make me want to watch it again and get sucked back into the beauty of it. A truly stunning film all round.

#4: Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Oh boy, 'Manchester by the Sea'. You want to talk about a film that leaves you emotionally devastated look no further than this absolute beauty of a film. Walking home from seeing this film I felt completely drained. The film is heartbreaking, but is also real. It feels like you are watching real people go through real human interactions and not all of them are nice. The films quality lies in its performances, with Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges all absolutely fucking nailing it. You completely forget they are actors and you buy into every emotion that they portray. This film is a very hard watch, but is also a beautiful character study on loss and grief that is worth the devastation that the film provides.

#3: Hereditary (2018)

Horror films, when they get it right, are fucking brilliant. This film knock the genre out the park. It isn't often that I see a horror film in the cinema which grips me in sheer terror as much as this film did. But what makes this film such an effective horror film is that most of the horror doesn't come fro man unseen force or pure evil, it comes from the interactions of the characters and how they treat each other. It never lets up. From the first minute nothing seems completely right. There is always something that feels off. It is brilliant in keeping you on edge from start to finish, and the final twenty minutes are genuinely terrifying. It also has a performance by Toni Collette that is absolutely brilliant and was criminally overlooked come award season. She is superb in the film and is the absolute driving force behind its quality.

#2: Ladybird (2017)

I had very little expectation of this film when I went to the cinema to see it. I was working at the cinema at the time and, seeing as I got free tickets, thought I'd go and see all the films that were nominated for Best Picture that year. 'Ladybird' caught me completely by surprise in how just how much I loved it. It is a film that is endlessly charming, funny, heartfelt, heartbreaking and uplifting. A truly superb coming of age story from a perspective that isn't shown nearly enough in film. It is a film that is built on brilliant performances and a brilliant script rather than breathtaking visuals or stunning filmic techniques. I just smile whenever I think about it, it is one of those films. A brilliant story with brilliant actors giving life to brilliant characters, pretty much what you want from a film like this.

#1: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

This one was a no brainer. This film finds itself in my top ten films of all time, so it was clearly going to make to the top of this list. It is just so much fun. It is a film that is endlessly watchable and forever entertaining. People could argue that I am blinded by nostalgia when talking about this film, and I know plenty of people who do not hold it in as high regard as I do, but I think that that argument truly doesn't give enough credit to a film that is exquisitely made. It is an Edgar Wright film,so if you like him you'll probably like this film. As for me, I fucking love it. The style of comedy, the editing, the writing, the action. It is just so much bloody fun, and yes i know I've said that already but its worth reiterating. It is a film full of wit and charm, and is an indie kid dream. That may be why I love it so much, it definitely doesn't hurt. Out of all of the films on this list this is the on I can just watch repeatedly and never see myself getting bored. 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' is quite easily my favourite film of this past decade.