My Top 25 Favorite Films of the Decade

Scene from The Master (2012)

The following is an excerpt from my new e-book "A Decade Now Available for Streaming: Celebrating the Films That Helped Define the 2010's," which is currently available for $2 on Amazon. It's a celebration of the best films of the past decade, including these 25 films that stand out as something special to me personally. If you want to read more, the e-book goes into detail on 75 more films that defined the decade and made going to the cinema an exciting past time. 

1. Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine’s power comes from its ability to explore what it truly means to be in love. With career best performances by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, the film parallels their journey from innocent young couple to jaded and married. They’re hanging on by a string as everything they think of draws them apart. With excellent direction, the blue-and-red color motifs add to the amorous undertones that carry the film from its sweet beginnings of singing, somewhat in painful irony, “You Always Hurt the One You Love” to its conclusion of drunken fights at work. It’s one of the few powerhouses that warrants the term “emotional rollercoaster,” and it’s also a film that understands the biggest issue of divorce isn’t so much the here and now, but the feeling of having to start over when you’re past your prime. It’s scary to fall in love and open yourself to something that’s uncertain. Still, who wouldn’t want to be in love, if even for a few years? It’s far more rewarding than when you’re alone. 

2. Carol (2015)

There’s not a lot needed to make this masterpiece sizzle with passion as the greatest love story of the decade. As Therese eyes Carol from across the room, there is a deeper understanding of what’s coming next. It’s a romance that’s felt by sitting in diners, driving across country, or sitting in a hotel room with no deeper purpose. It’s the love of being with someone you love at all costs, knowing that there’s someone out there willing to accept you for your flaws and bring out the best in you. With gorgeous cinematography and a powerful score by Carter Burwell, the journey is one accentuated by small moments that understand why we fall in love in the first place, presenting career best performances by Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson as they navigate a world of judging eyes. The love story starts with a stare, longing for someone across the room. When it ends with a smile, it means more than any single piece of dialogue. It’s the ultimate form of acceptance.

3. The Master (2012)

To judge solely as an attack on Scientology would be doing it a great disservice. It’s a story about how religion is seen as a great unifier, even when described as the basis of a cult. Joaquin Phoenix has never been better than when trying to curb his demons and finding frustration eek out with involuntary spasms and fights. Does Lancaster Dodd’s (Phillip Seymour Hoffman in one of his most charismatic turns) actually cure him, or is he just another pawn in Freddie Quell’s (Phoenix) dive into madness? It’s a film full of mystery and mystical cinematography that kicked off Anderson’s most fruitful decade yet and found Phoenix proving that he was still here. He could still deliver a performance that was so damaged and yet so controlled that he became an enigma unto himself. Does it all make sense? Does it have to? Anderson has rarely been this cryptic and fun, and it’s hard to not get lost in the thoughts that this film brings about itself and those entranced by its magic.

4. Frances Ha (2013)

By the end of the decade, it’s easy to understand what made Greta Gerwig one of the most exciting voices in cinema. In this story of female friendship that blended New York cinema with French New Wave, Gerwig gives her most charming and memorable role. She plays Francis, a woman trying to find her place in the world only to find that she’s nothing without Sophie (Mickey Sumner). Sophie is the only one who understands her inside jokes or tolerates her countless awkward moments. It’s the perfect showcase for Gerwig’s gifts as a writer and actress; proving that she could tell jokes and dance with the best of them, making us feel the struggles of a generation no matter how minor. Her career only grew from here, but the zenith will always be dancing down the street to David Bowie’s “Modern Love,” spinning with joy the entire time. In the wrong hands it would be twee. In hers, it was the start of bigger things.

5. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

There has never been a character in The Coen Brothers’ filmography as downtrodden as Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac). He is a “folk singer with a cat” who played the clubs before Bob Dylan showed up, and left before he stood any chance of being taken seriously. His journey through the frostbitten America of the 1960’s presents nonstop torment as he beautifully sings to fans, recalling his deceased partner that would’ve made him twice as famous. Every character feels like they’re out to get Llewyn, whether for money or personal vindication, and Isaac plays the role with a career-making grace, capturing tiredness in his demeanor that makes the last half the most melancholic comedy of the decade. It’s a love letter to artists who struggle to make ends meet. Only those who have been rejected a few hundred times will be able to appreciate the painful hug that this film gives. There may be awful days, but it makes the small successes all the more sweet.

6. Life of Pi (2012)

There have been few movies to explore the balance between spirituality and doubt quite like this masterful achievement. Beyond its story of a man facing doubt while stranded at sea, there is the added question of whether God is real and if miracles really do happen. Among those miracles is the way that Lee mixes realism with special effects, providing one of Rhythm & Hues’ finest achievements on film with the Bengal tiger Richard Parker (named as such due to a mix-up). Leading the show is Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel, whose name only adds to the strange balance between spirituality (he’s named for a French swimming pool) and logic (the shorter name has roots in math). It’s a story that grows impressive thanks to how it is a deeply religious film that never panders, instead asking secular audiences to consider the unknown for two hours. The results are breathtaking, capturing a level of technical achievement that Lee hasn’t been able to capture since with a story that is among his most emotionally resonant. It’s strange that in a CGI-obsessed era where advancements are made every week, no film has come close to matching the heart of what makes this movie powerful.

7. Girl Walk // All Day (2011)

Among this decade’s greatest achievements is the rise of independent cinema backed through websites like Kickstarter. While some celebrities (such as Spike Lee) have used it for passion projects, it’s more interesting to see starving artist use it to their advantage. Few have done so with such guerrilla-style brilliance as Krupnick’s loving homage to the Girl Talk album “All Day.” Lead by the magnetic Anne Marsen, the film goes through the wondrous, diverse landscapes of New York and finds a blending of dance styles. It’s a celebration of movement as well as life, proving that there’s no place that the joyful power of dance cannot be found. It even inspired Marsen’s brief work on the TV series The Good Wife. As long as there are inventive filmmakers out there willing to push boundaries of what a narrative can be, the next decade is sure to be better than the last. It’s going to be tough to top this adrenaline shot that you’ll want to keep on a loop, as the title suggests, all day every day.

8. Nebraska (2013)

In every person’s life, there is the dream of having a legacy to be remembered by. What happens when you get to be as old as Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) and you have nothing to show, save for cranky conversations with your wife (June Squibb)? With the simple premise of Woody following his dreams of winning the lottery to Nebraska, the film manages to get to the heart of a Midwest family with not a lot to show for itself. In the process, there’s bonding and a deeper understanding about why it’s important to dream big. As Woody drives his truck at the end of the film, there’s something endearing about his smile. He may still be Woody Grant to everyone, but he now has a legacy. This is among Dern’s best work, finding endearment in every aloof conversation as it tours Midwest America in beautiful black-and-white cinematography. It’s funny, but more importantly it feels real, even for those who have never been to Nebraska. The idea of family never changes, and this film proves that even the most mundane moments deserve to be cherished.

9. Black Swan (2010)

There have been few films this decade as psychologically horrifying as the tale of a woman trying to give a great performance in Swan Lake. Natalie Portman plays Nina with a vulnerability that is full of personal frustrations, constantly feeling stress to be the performer who can outdo everyone else. The melodrama kicks in beautifully as it mixes with the elegance of dance, finding the swirling camera only adding to the intoxication. It’s a film about the struggle of following your dreams in the middle of a mental breakdown, and it finds plenty of territory inside that may be difficult to stomach. Director Darren Aronofsky’s ode to perfectionism proves that even the best sacrifice something to reach their peak. It’s a career best performance for Portman, thanks to her commitment to every last movement and yell. This was the start to her phenomenal decade of challenging roles, though few were as demanding as this.

10. Atomic Blonde (2017)

Few filmmakers had as much impact on the action genre as Leitch. Starting with his John Wick series, he has proved that all it takes for a great scene is an actor willing to commit physically. For Charlize Theron, she not only accepted the task but surpassed expectations. In scene after scene, she proved her capabilities as a performer, mixing fashion with a nonstop beat down of spies in a Cold War film full of neon cinematography, catchy 80’s music, and a camera that’s always in the right place. In a decade full of memorable roles, Theron has rarely been better than when fighting in a now iconic stairwell fight scene of nonstop suspense. It’s everything that the genre needs to stay relevant in an era of special effects. There’s a brutality, but Theron knows to add vulnerability, giving empathy to relationships and finding something human inside. It will hopefully inspire another wave of great stylish films that don’t need more than a good choreographer to land a memorable punch.

11. I’m Still Here (2010)

In an era where every movie feels like it’s under constant scrutiny while being shot, there’s few that compare to the legendary prank that was Joaquin Phoenix’s retirement from acting to focus on his rap career. Anyone who has seen The Late Show with David Letterman clip will know how much people bought into the chaos, believing that Phoenix was having a mental breakdown. It was evidence of how unpredictable and exciting the next phase of his career would be. While walking around in a stoned haze, he invited the world into one of the most interesting explorations of celebrity culture and why we’re obsessed with people we don’t know spiraling out of control. Reality and fiction come together with a biting sense of humor that tears apart pretentiousness and finds the masterpiece that Andy Kaufman wished he could make. The only downside is that most audiences are in on the joke now. Even then, it’s fun to see just who got frustrated when they discovered where the punchline was. 

12. Jackie (2016)

For the latter half of the 21st century, no event in American politics has rattled as many as the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. While conspiracy theories have fueled most of the conversation since, few have given the recognition to First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She had the unfortunate circumstance of being in the public eye during a very personal time of grief. While the film focuses on the president’s funeral, it’s also about Jackie coming to terms with a legacy that is now defined. The film places the Kennedys into the prism of a Camelot-style paradise as Jackie walks down hallways, recognizing how everything came together. It’s another phenomenal performance from Natalie Portman, whose haggard voice reflects sadness underneath her strength. The definitive score by Mica Levi sounds like a classical record starting to melt, and it’s asking everyone to find joy inside. By the end, it’s not only an understanding of what the Kennedys meant to the United States, but also what John meant to Jackie.

13. Palo Alto (2013)

Few films have captured the aimless wonder of the teenage experience with as much profundity as Gia Coppola’s directorial debut. Characters exist in a nonstop whirl of trouble, even if they’re just sitting in a parking lot and questioning their future. It’s a film that feels more comfortable focusing on those in the back of the party, away from the noise, just talking about the mundane and acting like it all matters. With a career-best performance from Emma Roberts, the film allows these characters to exist on the same meditative wave-length. It may not directly say something important about growing up, but it realizes and cherishes the moments that come to build character, helping to define us. It’s not about winning Prom King, but instead sitting around while playing video games or attending art classes. It’s these moments that we all come to cherish and it’s what makes the film so exceptional.

14. Marriage Story (2019)

The typical divorce narrative pits two parties against each other, believing that one force is the cause of grievance. Baumbach, who has made a career out of perfectly capturing the internal struggle of relationships, has outdone himself with this one. It’s not a story of animosity, but of understanding in how a seemingly loving couple could fall apart. It’s as much about personal differences as it is career and where they are in life. Rarely has divorce been as understood as when Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are talking in courtrooms about private details. Their acting in those moments reflects regret, of realizing how ugly the situation is. Baumbach has created one of the most powerful screenplays of the decade, making monologues and arguments into densely layered exchanges of words. On the surface is animosity, but deep down is hurt and insecurity for a future without the other. In this story, divorce isn’t a simple answer. It’s a chance for everyone to reassess what’s important in their lives. 

15. The Ides of March (2011)

It only took five years for Clooney’s best work as a director to feel quaint in the realm of American politics. There’s no denying that this is one of the most engaging political dramas of the decade. With a screenplay that delves into the toxic scandals that could sink a presidency, the film finds characters losing their morality, or doing their best not to let others know about it. These characters are “married to the campaign,” and anything that reflects poorly on them will sink Clooney’s chances. It’s an update of the Julius Caesar mythology, and it’s a nonstop thrill to watch an all-star cast bring such a complicated story to life. By the end, it’s not clear if Ryan Gosling should be redeemed for his actions, even if post-2016 politics would probably just give him a slap on the wrist. It’s amazing how things have changed between the start and end of this decade, and this film feels like the perfect middle-ground for that.

16. Inside Out (2015)

While the awards and box office will suggest otherwise, the decade has been difficult for Pixar. Following a phenomenal decade of movies, their masterpieces came every few films, if not longer. Then there was Inside Out, which created one of the studio’s most unique and thought-provoking stories yet. The story focuses on how characters control the emotions of a girl trying to adjust to a new environment. It may as well be a commentary on how Pixar manipulates their audiences’ brains by determining when to be happy, sad, angry, nervous, or disgusted. It’s also a film that creates a new understanding of psychology that made the abstract seem real. The story hits all of the right beats, creating a world that only grows more interesting the closer you look. It’s funny, sad, and most of all it will help you understand your emotions better. It’s the thing that Pixar has explored elsewhere, but never with such clarity as it is here.

17. Lady Bird (2017)

With her directorial debut, Greta Gerwig completed her rise to indie cinema royalty with help Saoirse Ronan. The story of bored teenagers in Sacramento, CA lead to one of the wittiest scripts of the decade with performances rich in Catholic guilt, War on Terror dread, and the struggles of coming from a middle-class family. The relationship between Ronan and co-star Laurie Metcalf as her mother creates one of the most powerful duos in cinema, finding a teenager wanting to live outside her means and the mother too concerned to let that happen. It’s the push and pull of youth, but with a deeper understanding of how tough it is for parents who can’t always be there mentally to the rebellious teenager. It’s a fun movie that turns teen angst into an entertaining story of finding identity and accepting family. Not bad for a kid who wants to go to Yale. 

18. Manchester by the Sea (2016)

When discussing death in film, there’s often a sense that everyone needs to be moody, stuck in a perpetual state of grief. There’s no humor in anything. What made Lonergan’s meticulous screenplay something special was how it subverted the expectations, finding a realism that is often more painful. Casey Affleck plays a man burdened with a tortured past, constantly moping as he is forced to take care of his nephew (Lucas Hedges). The constant butting of heads leads to comedic joy, reflecting a sense of coping shown through harsh comments and jokes that distract from the deeper feeling. It’s a powerhouse of acting, managing to be one of the most honest depictions of loss without having to sacrifice a sense of humor. Few screenplays feel this bold, this important at finding what makes us human, and luckily Affleck is capable of making it land all the more with his bruising performance. Death will haunt us all one day, but not usually on the same one. This is a great example of how the world will treat that feeling.

19. Get Out (2017)

If anyone was to bet that the comedian behind Key & Peele and Keanu would become one of the decade’s most important filmmakers, they would be laughed at. Peele fooled us all by finding a way to turn America’s long history of problematic race relations into one of the most original horror movies of the decade. Every scene is packed with symbolism, pulling from cinema and actual history. There have been college courses created to study the endless meanings, which enriches those willing to revisit the film and notice every last subtlety. It’s an intense film for an intense time, managing to be scary both for the direct story it’s telling, and what is found underneath. Its history and entertainment rolled into one, legitimizing horror as a serious genre. Then again, no other genre could discuss things with as much clarity as this.

20. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

In the 18 years since September 11, 2001 reshaped the American discourse, cinema’s attempt to explore the subject has been, at best, disappointing. No film has been able to make sense of such a controversial piece of history, though the film criticized most for inaccuracy likely paints the best picture. With a career best performance by Jessica Chastain, she tries to hunt down the terrorist who ruined everyone’s lives: Osama Bin Laden. It’s more than an action movie. It’s one of endless dread of stops and starts where success comes at a frustrating price. For whatever the film gets wrong, it makes up for in the atmosphere. The era has been defined by trying to seek revenge in any horrible way. Once it’s gotten, there’s a sense of inconclusiveness that nothing has really changed. The loss is still there. It serves as the most honest depiction of the War on Terror because of its hopeless cat and mouse game. It’s a cold film with a cold finale, but few films have earned it as well as this one. There is no satisfying conclusion, just a chance to turn focus to another festering problem. 

21. Stoker (2013)

In a decade that saw several international filmmakers jump to the English language, Park may be the most interesting. It isn’t just in the story, which finds the Stoker family coming to terms with a dark family past. It’s how the film is shot, managing to turn the simple act of playing piano into a tense and sensual exchange. The film is rich with melodrama as the story involves affairs and deaths that become more shocking with each passing minute. At the center is the excellent Mia Wasikowska, who turns this coming of age story into the great gothic drama that Tim Burton never got to make. It’s a haunting story whose transition shots are just as unnerving as any plot detail, allowing the audience to wallow in this phenomenal use of tone. It’s a film that finds everyone working at the top of their game and elevating trashy material into pure art. It’s a miracle that this film is such a beautiful, demented achievement. 

22. Dear White People (2014)

With the election of President Barrack Obama, the conversation around race relations changed. Many wondered if we were living in a post-racial world. Even before the 2016 presidential election proved otherwise, there were filmmakers like Justin Simien who chose to answer with an eye-roll. The film was sold as being about a “black face in a white place,” and sought to use a comedic and academic approach to how young black people cope with identity, which covers a wide spectrum of topics. At the center was Tessa Thompson in a breakout role as radio DJ Sam, whose talk show hopes to enlighten white people to their secretly problematic social cues. Little does she know that she has some biases as well. It’s one of the most enjoyable dissertations about a difficult subject, and it proves that Obama’s election didn’t solve things; it just allowed the conversation to evolve into something more interesting.

23. The Act of Killing / The Look of Silence (2012, 2014)

The first film in director Joshua Oppenheimer’s look at Anwar Congo’s Indonesian war crimes had one of the best documentary gimmicks in over a century: have said war criminals recreate their atrocities into the type of American cinema they adore. As much as it’s an ode to how Congo loves the art of movie making, it’s an attempt to have him come to terms with his awful past. It’s a masterpiece that ends on one of the most powerful moments in any film (nonfiction or otherwise). However, to exclude its companion piece The Look of Silence would be wrong. It complements and expands on the victim’s perspective, forcing the war criminals to discuss the atrocities with them. It’s even more painful, but all the more poignant. Together they make the greatest, most essential documentary of the decade that serves as a reminder of what’s the best and worst that humanity can do, and how we can cope with the aftermath.

24. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Nothing speaks for how vast the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become than this space drama that is a quasi-musical with a third act of ambitious insanity. The color pallet has grown as every shot breaks new ground in the cinematic rainbow. The cast gels better than the first time around. The outcasts have adopted each other as a family in order to survive. With Kurt Russell playing a deadbeat dad named Ego, the film’s choice to explore the value of family (natural or otherwise) gives the film more of a heart and makes the themes resonate better. The ending is among the most poignant that the MCU has ever produced, and the set pieces are even bolder. This is a film that couldn’t be made even a decade before, or at least not with as much success and cultural cache. It’s a crazy world where talking trees and homicidal raccoons can steal your heart, and we’re all the better for it.

25. Before Midnight (2013)

In a decade where every week has a new sequel in theaters, director Richard Linklater produced the unlikeliest. The Before Trilogy has long been an exercise not only in how we view time, but the evolution of love throughout the decades. In the third film, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are parents doing their best to accept their fate. They are older, growing more stubborn in their ways as their looks fade. Even then, its raw and honest depiction of love’s many frustrations reflects how aging impacts all forms of judgment. It’s one of the best scripted dramas not only for how it continues these characters’ narrative, but for what it has to say about marriage in general. It’s funny, sweet, and among the greatest work in Linklater’s already stellar career. This completes one of the best trilogies in cinematic history, and all it took was two people walking around aimlessly deep in thought.