Best Movies of the DECADE - 2010s

2020 is here, and it's not just a new year, but a new decade. The 2010's are now officially in the history books, so it's that wonderful time to look back and gather our thoughts about what movies were truly the best of the decade. In a pop culture era dominated by Disney (including, and especially, Marvel), there were also some other wonderful smaller movies that were a cut above. I have difficulty narrowing this list down to any organized even number like "10" or even "20" so I just followed my heart about it. There were too many good ones to neglect. The chasm between smaller art films and giant tentpole blockbusters grew due to the evolving digital access to movies and the ever-evolving politics of Hollywood production.

Without further ado, The Buzz: movie reviews proudly presents: Best Movies of the Decade: 2010s (in chronological order)

The Social Network - 2010
Starting the decade off strong, The Social Network was released early in the decade in 2010. It combined the dynamite talents of writer Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher obviously in top form. It's a captivating and timely story about the creation of an ultra-powerful social media company, and speaks to the role that technology plays in our lives. The fact that it is at least partially based on real life makes it all that more delicious and fascinating. Little did they know (or maybe they did know), the filmmakers were part of a new conversation in America about how to grapple with the boundaries and inception of social media, to incredible effect.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 - 2010
No more chocolate frogs, silly jokes, or innocence childlike mischief in the Deathly Hallows. The kids are growing up, and the franchise waved goodbye to the 2000's and ushered in the beginning of the end with this thoroughly emotional and effective chapter.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 - 2011
This one has more adventure and action than part 1, but just as much (if not more) emotional punch. We finally get to see which characters succeed, and which ones either die or turn evil. It is truly the end of a gigantic era, and appropriately near the beginning of the decade.

Tree of Life - 2011
Before you jump to judgement about Tree of Life for being a self-indulgent and self-important chunk of schlock, give it a second look. I did. The first time I saw it, I barely made it through, and didn't much like what I saw. It felt too indulgent and long, with wandering scenes that began to bore me. However, a couple of years later, I watched it again and experienced feelings a movie has never made me feel. It is a gorgeous poem about the very nature of life, and our relationship to God. If you think these sound like lofty ideas for a movie you would see in the theater with a box of Vines and a soda, you're right. This isn't a movie you would take a date to or go see with a group of friends on a Friday night. It's more of a piece of art that belongs in a gallery. The stunning imagery seems unreal. The editing allows the scenes to linger, so you can soak in the surrounding, and the nature. It creates a rhythm that draws you in to a meditation about existence. It's definitely not for everyone, but it's a dazzling accomplishment. 

Argo - 2012
A thriller based on another true story. This time, it was set in 1979, and was about rescuing American hostages that were held captive in Tehran. Director Ben Affleck had also helmed The Town and Gone Baby Gone, which were both also fantastic. Argo, however, is my favorite of his directorial projects. It's the most focused, suspenseful, and layered. And, it has a fascinating look at the insider culture of Hollywood in the late 70's. I've watched it so many times, and I never get tired of it. The cast is fantastic. It's a classic in my eyes. 

 Silver Linings Playbook - 2012
A classic from writer/ director David O Russell explores the romance between Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). One of David O Russell's other movies, The Fighter (2010) very nearly made my list, too. His movies have a unique "art film" voice, but without feeling to self-important. The cast is unbelievably good in this, making me wonder what O Russell's secret is to getting such good performances out of all these actors. De Niro plays Pat's father, and has rarely been better. There are some schmaltzy moments, but this movie is an overall success with a sweet story and strong characters. 

Boyhood - 2014
Writer / director Art Linklater's masterpiece is a character study of childhood in America. He focuses on a family that grows up in the 2000's, and astonishingly films over the course of many years, allowing the characters to literally age right before our eyes. Every time I watch it, I get more depth from it. It's a beautiful thing that is deeply affecting and prompts reflection.

Edge of Tomorrow - 2014 
Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are wonderfully entertaining in this fast paced, explosive, and fun action blockbuster. It's a criminally underrated popcorn movie that showcases the full appeal of 2010s Tom Cruise. He plays Major William Gage. Gage is dropped into a combat zone, even though he has no battle experience, as a way to essentially kill him as a punishment. Instead of dying, though, he ends up living the same day over and over like Groundhog Day. I'm a sucker for almost any movie that takes place in the future (bonus if it involves time travel), and this one delivers. It's fun, action-packed, and truly unpredictable. 

Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - 2014
When I was a kid, Tim Burton's 1989 Batman shook the world. I was young and already a comic book fan, so this movie changed my life. I saw Batman in the theater multiple times in summer '89 by coaxing various friends and family into taking me over and over. 2014's Birdman is a meta take on the impact Hollywood has had on an aging movie star (played by Michael Keaton, who was Batman, and has claimed that his parallels with this character are coincidental, lol) who has starred in "Birdman" (aka - "Not Batman"), and how he is struggling to reclaim his place in pop culture. It is such an odd take on what could have been a dry or conventional story. Writer / director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu injected this piece with an electric sort of energy that drives the narrative forward with long, uncut shots. There is a quirkiness in the approach, but in my opinion, that's what makes this movie so magnetic. It's a cinematic poetry slam, and scenes are punctuated with jazz drums in the background (and that actually make it into one cut on the streets of New York, thus making a transition of the drums into the story literal). Birdman is not for everybody. The jokes and comedy are very dark. However, I'm always drawn to stories about performing, acting, or Hollywood in general.


Whiplash - 2014
Yet another smash hit from a writer/ director. JK Simmons and Miles Teller are dazzling in their performances. Miles Teller plays a young college aged jazz musician who is in a (fictitious) prestigious New York music school following in the footsteps of his jazz idols. Jk Simmons is a brutal, ruthless, and abusive music instructor. On the surface, it sounds like a strange premise, but it is absolutely riveting. Damien Chazelle, the writer and director of Whiplash, will be on this list again.

X-Men: Days of Future Past - 2014
The X-Men franchise has been going strong since the year 2000, with very mixed results. Some X-Men movies are hammy and silly, while others get closer to their ambitious visions. Days of Future Past strikes the perfect balance. Days of Future Past is a comic book movie masterpiece in my opinion. Not only does it make the best use of character Wolverine, but it also involves time travel, so I'm a sucker for it. The cast is all in top form, and Peter Dinklage definitely shines as a villain named Trask. I've seen this one multiple times, and it never fails to entertain!

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - 2015
Even just the title of this movie is exciting to me. I sat in the IMAX theater in December 2015 with my family, being whisked away to a galaxy far far away. Detractors complain about this trilogy, and I will save most of my thoughts about it for another blog entry (Trust me, I could literally write a book with all my thoughts and feelings on the subject, as a lifelong Star Wars fan.) But, I'll just leave it at this: The Force Awakens accomplished its missions. It brought Princess Leigha and Han Solo back to the big screen after thirty plus years. It felt like a cleansing experience. It was hitting the reset button on those mostly dreadful prequel movies, and ushered in a new era of Star Wars. This new trilogy even led to a new park in Disney called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. I've been there, and it was an incredible experience. (I just ignore the bitter detractors.) The Force Awakens was an absolute joy for me. I still love watching it. It's full of optimism, energy, and that old Star Wars spark that made the original trilogy so magical.

La La Land - 2016
This is another winner from writer / director Damien Chazelle. This time, he delves into vintage style Hollywood musicals, and modernizes it. It's not a perfect movie, but I love how it romanticizes the struggle of being an artist, the Hollywood lifestyle, and creates a fantasy world in which people are actually trying to make it big in the world of jazz. I love that it's a musical, and that it was an Oscar darling. I've done a fair bit of musical theater over the years, and also some other acting. I can relate to the awkward auditions, and painful struggles of someone trying to achieve. This is a wonderful, romantic, captivating, and creative movie.

Captain America: Civil War - 2016
Civil War brings all the Marvel cinematic characters together and forces them to choose sides. It stands out because it brings the Marvel storyline to the next step, and does it impressively. There's plenty of action to satisfy any action-hungry summer blockbuster movie attendee.

Wonder Woman - 2017
Wonder Woman contains more grace, charm, and drama than is normally allowed in comic book movies. Maybe Wonder Woman is exactly the hero we need in this day and age, almost more than any other superhero. I love that this is a period piece, and the exciting stakes don't feel wasted or cheesy.

Thor: Ragnarok - 2017
The Thor movies struggled to find their tone in the first two, but thanks largely to star Chris Hemsworth for pushing in a more comedic direction, Ragnarok hits the perfect tone of comedy and action. Fun from beginning to end, Ragnarok stands out for its vision and sense of humor.

Logan - 2017
In Logan, we get to see a broken down Wolverine and a barely functioning Prof. Xavier in the desolate mutant future. Logan is gritty, violent, and his actions are sometimes shocking. Even though it's grim, this movie holds a tight grip over the audience, and boldly takes you on its journey without asking permission. We see Logan frazzled, desperate, and losing, even more than usual. It's a somewhat brave direction to take a comic book franchise that normally caters to younger viewers by making it for adults only. But, it pays off in big ways.

Spiderman: Homecoming - 2017
Homecoming is a wonderful acton comedy in the middle of the Marvel cinematic universe. It introduces us to Tom Holland as Peter Parker (I don't even remember life before Tom Holland as Spiderman, even though it was only a couple of years ago.) And, even though he was briefly in Captain America: Civil War mostly as a teaser, we really get to explore his character here. The producers definitely went in the right direction with Peter Parker and friends by making them awkward bumbling teenagers. It's just what the doctor ordered in the world of all-too-serious comic book movies. This new Peter Parker really proves his mettle and shows Tony Stark that he deserves to be part of the team.

The Greatest Showman - 2017
Seen as too over-the-top by many, I loved the extraordinary and wonderful messages put forward by it. Inclusion, not judging people, and embracing your talents. Hugh Jackman is a national treasure.

Ready Player One - 2018
I know this is a controversial pick, and many fans are upset at the ways this movie didn't adhere to the source material. But, as a cinematic experience, I found it totally exciting and refreshing. I loved the fantasy aspect of people escaping to a virtual world, and how beautiful the filmmakers created that. I'm also in love with the depth and number of pop culture references made throughout. That's always been a strong suit of director Steven Spielberg. While I wouldn't necessarily call Ready Player One a masterpiece, it is a very effective and mostly fun-loving popcorn flick that should be remembered as one of the best of the decade.

Avengers: Infinity War - 2018
By this point in the decade, it's a miracle that moviegoers hadn't completely revolted against Marvel movies in a malaise of overwrought blockbuster exhaustion. After all, Infinity War is the 19th (that's not a typo...19th!!!) in the Marvel series. By this point, Marvel movies were just a reality of our summer blockbuster existence in the 2010s. Like the Super Bowl, or Christmas Day, it was just a thing that happened every single year. With that in mind, it's appropriate that Infinity War came out one decade after the first Iron Man movie (2008). One of the most satisfying things about Infinity War is that it plays to the strengths of its qualities rather than dragging us through already treaded ground. I think that's one of the reasons it works so well. For example, they cram an awful lot of characters into its running time, without feeling rushed or forced. That's quite a feat. And, it ushers in the era of the end in a two part series, similarly to the way Harry Potter did with the Deathly Hallows films. It's a surprisingly smooth and slickly edited movie, with no sidetracks or wasted time. It's an extremely satisfying chapter in the Marvel series without feeling desperate for you to like it. It's a big of a cinema miracle, honestly. It's easy to take it for granted because the Marvel series has been consistently good. But, I appreciate it. Also, the visual effects and fantastic performance of Thanos by Josh Brolin help, too.

Eighth Grade - 2018
This is a sweet and reflective art film about negotiating the awkwardness of eighth grade by writer / director Bo Burnham. Kayla (Elsie Fisher) just rips your heart out with her innocence and struggle to befriend the "cool kids." It's all too relatable, and brought back lots of forgotten memories from my own eighth grade experience. I suspect many adult viewers will have the same nostalgia. We've all known, or been, a Gabe, the dorky kid she befriends at a pool party. Give it a watch if you've never seen it, and you'll have more compassion for the plight of middle schoolers.

Spiderman: Far From Home - 2019
Far From Home exists under the looming shadow of the Avengers conclusion to the 2010s Marvel era. However, with humor and witty writing, Far From Home really finds its rhythm with Spiderman. I loved it far more than I thought I would, and the break from the ultra melodramatic world of the Avengers was refreshing.


Avengers: End Game - 2019
Presented at the end of the decade, Avengers: Endgame is more of a cutural event than a popcorn movie. Making nearly one billion dollars in America alone, and 2.8 billion dollars worldwide, those numbers speak for themselves. This is one of those rare movies that would defy any other metric of judgement typically used on movie success. Neither critical scorn or Hollywood expectations can hold this one back. It's all about creating a large piece of art that is a love letter to loyal Marvel fans. It's a final bow on a cultural institution that we've all lived with for the past 11 years. It seems so bittersweet now, looking back at dozens of Marvel movies over the past ten years. I always think about where I was in my life when they came out. Who I saw them with. Which theater I was at. And, the experience of the movies themselves. I've spent countless time discussing and debating the merits of various Marvel movies over the years. Endgame successfully brings it all to a close, and that in and of itself is very emotional. We're waving goodbye to the 2010s and embarking on new territory in the 2020s. Bye, 2010s.

Peanut Butter Falcon - 2019
This movie is a wonderful, charming, and heartwarming tale of a young man names Zak trying to accomplish his life goal of attending a wrestling school. Shia LaBeouf plays Tyler, a rough fisherman who is running from some bad people. Tyler and Zak meet up and join forces to get where they're going. It has some Mark Twain overtones, and some buddy comedy elements. I love that its an art film that doesn't seem to have a gigantic overbearing budget. If you haven't seen it, you should see it. It's worth a watch, and one of my favorites of the decade.

Judy - 2019
Many will say Judy is just too depressing to be on the best-of-the-decade list. However, it was so darn refreshing to me that there were no super villains, giant explosions, or inter-dimensional aliens that it scored lots of points with me on those virtues alone. Again, I'm a sucker for movies about Hollywood and/or being a performer, so Judy was extra fascinating to me. It's true that Judy Garland's final years were agonizingly depressing. However, I learned so much about her by watching this that I can readily forgive how sad the whole affair was. She was super talented, and the weight of years of abuse took their toll. Renee Zelwegger should win an Oscar for this one because she totally disappears into the role.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - 2019
This movie carries on my love of Hollywood and acting. Quentin Tarantino has matured into a Hollywood legend, and this movie accentuates his strengths as a writer and director. His casts have rarely ever been this stellar, and his passion oozes out of the screen in strong vibes of vintage Hollywood. This is not really a plot driven movie, but an examination of semi-washed up tv star Rick Dalton (Leo DiCaprio) and the events surrounding a couple of days in his life. NO SPOILERS, but the ending is not what I expected and made it that much more fascinating.




Honorable Mentions:
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
The Hunger Games series
Coco
The Florida Project
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Dark Knight Rises
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Captain America: The Winter Solider 
The Big Short  
Arrival  
Zero Dark Thirty
Lady Bird
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker
Frozen
Ant-Man
Iron Man 2
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy 2

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