 |
| Scene from American Hustle |
As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.
54. Argo (2012) – Dir. Ben Affleck
Despite not receiving a Best Director nomination, Affleck leads this film about the real-life rescue mission during The Iran Hostage Crisis to Oscar glory. It’s a film that fits perfectly in the political thrillers from the late-70’s mold, bringing a love of Hollywood with plenty of wit and charm as the impossible becomes realized, making filmmaking into a tool for greater potential. It even makes things as simple as boarding a plane into great dramatic tension, making this feel-good story into a satisfying look into history. It’s about more than the power of movies. It’s about the bravery and ingenuity of those willing to use it for greater causes.
53. Moneyball (2011) – Dir. Bennett Miller
Two unassuming worlds collide in this story as Billy Beane discovers that the way to improve baseball is to use a little math. Through a revolutionary plan, he performs a trial and error to determine ways to improve batting averages, making everything flow smoother and making the game into something more satisfying. Before Brad Pitt would go on to win Best Actor for Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, he proved his dramatic potential as a man so obsessed with sports that it isolated him from the people in his family. It’s a story of triumph, but also of personal mistakes, making for one of the most unique sports stories to ever grace the screen.
52. American Hustle (2013) – Dir. David O. Russell
Following the success of Silver Linings Playbook, Russell returned with a con artist movie that was high on spectacle wit whose only flaw was being released in the same year as a Martin Scorsese masterpiece. Because of this, there was constant criticism of it being a lesser film, mostly improvised and full of empty style (it was the first, but not last, time that Christian Bale would put on weight for an Oscar-nominated role this decade). While it’s a messy film that reflects the strange four year period where The Oscars were in love with Russell, it is a delightful collage of talent and moments that prove his capabilities to entertain the masses as a populist auteur.
51. Jojo Rabbit (2019) – Dir. Taika Waititi
There are few films that feel as miraculous as Waititi’s film about a boy and his imaginary friend Hitler. While he didn’t do any research for the role, he decided to use the chance to explore racism in all of its most hateful ways. Despite having broad comedy where characters are constantly injured, it works because it understands what causes racism at its core, reflecting the mob mentality and how youth can be corrupted by peer pressure. It’s a search for empathy and one that’s way more entertaining and complex than most would suspect a film like this to be. If any film has the chance to show how society can change for the better, it’s this.
50. Nebraska (2013) – Dir. Alexander Payne
To some extent, nothing of significance happens in this movie. It’s a story about an old man traveling to Nebraska to receive money that he won in a lottery. What ends up following is a journey into Midwest culture that is unmatched, reflecting the humbleness of age and the need to provide legacies for family. For anyone who has grown up with a father like Woody Grant, this film will feel too real, where significant family gatherings could be had in complete silence. It’s an endearing portrait and one about how the fading past creates this insecurity and a need for relevance. It isn’t the money itself that Woody Grant is getting that will solve his problems, but the possessions he can pass down to his son. It’s a form of pride, and something akin to starting new and meaningful traditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment