The Best Films of the 2010 Decade Summarised with One Word Each

We've not only reached the end of a great year of film, but we've also reached the end of an astonishing decade of film, the first calendar decade I have lived through the entirety of - the 2010s. There has been a plethora of fantastic filmmaking over the last ten years and I thought I'd take this chance to look back on the best that I've seen in this time. As I'm sure you can imagine, a simple top ten is not nearly enough. So, here is my top FORTY films of the 2010 Decade.

Because we've got so many to make our way through, I thought I'd challenge myself and summarise what I like about each film with a single word. I have talked about many of these before, but there are some I haven't. Also, it was a pain to put this list together and I have never had it in a form that I am completely satisfied with, so it's more of just as a rundown of some of my personal favourite films of this decade in rough order of least best to the very best. Let's see what happens!

Tier 4: The Really Flippin' Good Movies 

40. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017, Jon Watts) - Neat 
39. Attack the Block (2011, Joe Cornish) - Madcap
38. Apollo 11 (2019, Todd Douglas Miller) - Extraordinary 
37. The Social Network (2010, David Fincher) - Insightful
36. The King's Speech (2010, Tom Hooper) - Charming 
35. Yesterday (2019, Danny Boyle) - Joyful 
34. War Horse (2011, Steven Spielberg) - Touching
33. A Monster Calls (2016, J.A. Bayona) - Riveting
32. Dunkirk (2017, Christopher Nolan) - Thrilling
31. Doctor Strange (2016, Scott Derrickson) - Fascinating

Tier 3: The Excellent Movies 

30. Tangled (2010, Nathan Greno / Byron Howard) - Refreshing
29. Inside Out (2015, Pete Doctor) - Beautiful
28. The Lego Batman Movie (2017, Chris McKay) - Bonkers
27. The Lego Movie 2 (2019, Mike Mitchell) - Clever
26. Captain America: Civil War (2016, Joe and Anthony Russo) - Gripping
25. Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010, Edgar Wright) - Exciting
24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019, Jon Watts) - Consistent
23. Jojo Rabbit (2019, Taika Waititi) - Sweet
22. Arthur Christmas (2011, Sarah Smith) - Cheerful
21. The Lego Movie (2014, Phil Lord / Chris Miller) - Magical

Tier 2: The Extremely Excellent Movies  

20. Inception (2010, Christopher Nolan) - Thought-Provoking
19. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, James Gunn) - Unique
18. The World's End (2013, Edgar Wright) - Chaotic
17. A Quiet Place (2018, John Krasinski) - Tense
16. Toy Story 3 (2010, Lee Unkrich) - Satisfying
15. Knives Out (2019, Rian Johnson) - Prime
14. 1917 (2019, Sam Mendes) - Breathtaking
13. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018, Peter Ramsey / Bob Persichetti) - Dazzling
12. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, Chris Sanders / Dean DeBlois) - Wondrous
11. Zootropolis (2016, Rich Moore / Jared Bush / Byron Howard) - Thoughtful

Tier 1: The Masterful and Utterly Brilliant Movies
 
10. La La Land (2016, Damien Chazelle) - Fabulous 
9. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016, Taika Waititi) - Endearing
8. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015, Matthew Vaughn) - Awesome
7. Avengers: Endgame (2019, Joe and Anthony Russo) - Spectacular
6. Thor Ragnarok (2017, Taika Waititi) - Wild 
5. Wreck-it Ralph (2012, Rich Moore) - Inventive
4. The Martian (2015, Ridley Scott) - Engrossing
3. Paddington (2014, Paul King) - Amiable
2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018, Joe and Anthony Russo) - Marvellous
1. Paddington 2 (2017, Paul King) - Pure 

The Personal History of David Copperfield - Movie Review - One of the best Dickens adaptations

This film is a PG, was released on January 24th, 2020, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

A Victorian man by the name of David Copperfield looks back on his life and all the things that happened as well as all the characters he encountered. I shamefully hadn't heard of David Copperfield until I saw the trailer for this film, considering it is the work of Charles Dickens. So, I wasn't going to see this because of any affection for the source material, but instead because it just looked funny. I laughed while watching the trailer and thought this would be a fun way to spend two hours, so I went in just hoping to have a good time. 

Thankfully, the film is very entertaining. This wasn't surprising considering that the film is helmed by Armando Iannucci who is a comedic genius, but what did surprise me was the cast being as funny as they were. Of course, I know people like Peter Capaldi and Benedict Wong can deliver a cracking joke, but I hadn't seen Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton or Hugh Laurie in comedic roles like this before. So, it was very pleasant to have them all induce many smiles and laughs upon me as I sat through this. Beyond the humour, the characters are excellently executed. Dev Patel beings so much to the central role, he has so much charm and wit about him and is also extremely likeable. Peter Capaldi and Hugh Laurie don't just play similar-looking characters, but they're also equally enjoyable to watch, with Capaldi's Mr Micawber being appropriately over-the-top and Laurie's Mr Dick being cheerful yet mysterious. Everyone else does a great job too, and it is wonderful to see such a diverse cast in a film set in Victorian England. The other thing that is so wonderful about the film is that it is also very inspiring. As someone who writes their own stories, it was really fascinating to see the central character's really clever methods of writing, such as always thinking about how things are and jotting any thoughts down in the moment. I also admired how the film was structured like a book, with chapter headings and occasional narration. So, I got so much out of watching this film beyond just entertainment. 

The only issue with the film is that it is a bit flippant in terms of tone. It goes back and forth between being dramatic and comedic quite often. It makes sense within the story and isn't a huge problem, but it is a little distracting, especially with certain moments that feel particularly out of place in the landscape of the rest of the film. 

I wanted a good time, and I had a delightful time. The Personal History of David Copperfield has some terrific performances of very well executed characters in a story that, while it does have minor tonal issues, is enormously endearing and even inspiring at times. I think it's impossible to watch this without having the slightest smile on your face as it's just enjoyable from start to finish. 

I'm going to give The Personal History of David Copperfield an 8.5/10 

Top 10 Films of 2019

It's the end of the year which means it is time to round up all the films I've seen and rank the best of them. Unlike last year, I'm going to do my Top 10 favourite because I've seen so many more great movies this year and my 10 favourite are all great at the very least. Also, I'm still not going to do a worst of the year list because I don't see the value in complaining about the films I didn't like and I've only seen 2 films this year that I feel I could label as bad in any way, even though neither of them are. So, let's get started!

Before we get into the Top 10, here are some honourable mentions:

- Joker - A very haunting and unnerving experience that I was thoroughly engaged in but didn't leave me with the urge to revisit.

- A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - A delightful return with more top-notch jokes and beautiful animation. 
- Fighting with My Family - A surprise I only just saw recently that really inspired and entertained me consistently from start to finish.

10. Rocketman

Upon rewatching, this film grew on me hugely. Rocketman is a fabulous film with an excellent lead performance from Taron Egerton, who is becoming one of my favourite actors, and was disgracefully snubbed at the Oscars this year. It also features some wonderful musical sequences that keep it exciting as well as some genuine heart from a lot of its great performances. I really enjoy this one and I can only see myself loving it more and more with time. 

9. Le Mans '66

I really like it when a film takes a fun and enjoyable approach to a story that could otherwise be really dramatic and dull. Thankfully, that's what happened here. Le Mans '66 has two great performances from Matt Damon and Christian Bale as well as some really exhilerating and thrilling race sequences. It frequently had me laughing as well as gripping the side of my seat. The drama is also not neglected as there is a suitable amount in the film but the it all feels very tonally balanced and it enhanced the tension as the film went on. This is definitely a film I'll be revisiting as it was just a ton of fun to sit through.

8. Apollo 11

The most overlooked film of the year, and perhaps the most tragic snub at the Oscars in the Documentary category. I have heard hardly any people discussing Apollo 11, and wrongly so. This masterfully crafted work of art uses amazingly captured footage of the iconic mission to the moon and has you thoroughly engaged and astonished the whole time. The footage can be a bit blurry at times and the dialogue can be difficult to decipher, but the film deserves massive praise for what it was able to do, so those are just tiny nitpicks. I have this on DVD and can't wait to revisit it. You should certainly watch it too as it needs all the attention it can get.

7. Yesterday

This is the most underrated film of the year. I can understand why people were somewhat Marmite-y on Yesterday as it may not utilise the genius concept in the best possible way for some people nor does it have too much originality, but I love it nonetheless. The film just has me laughing consistently, smiling frequently, and feeling the urge to stand up and sing and dance. The two leads are also very likeable and the comedy is great. As I said, I wish the film focused more on Jack, the main character, having the intention to show the world how significant The Beatles were instead of gaining his own popularity, but that doesn't scream huge missed potential as what the film does do is more than fine by me.  

6. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Of course this had to sneak a spot onto the list! The Lego Movie 2 brings more of the same great humour, character, spectacle, and general madness that the previous installments have had, but it also thrives on elements that make it stand out from what has already been in this series with catchy and funny songs, as well as a more complex narrative that particularly struck a chord with me. The only issue is that the film is a bit illogical at times, but not enough to be distracting. So, I love this one and it's a shame that we probably won't see any more from this series, and its even more of a shame that none of the great work in this franchise was rewarded with an Oscar.

5. Spider-Man: Far From Home

It's difficult to make a terrific sequel, but it is even more difficult to make a sequel that follows on from the biggest film of all time, and that's why Spider-Man: Far From Home is as amazing as it is. The characters are more endearing, the action is much more inventive and fun to watch, the story has a lot more meaning and relatability to it, and overall it's just another great entry into the Marvel Universe. For a character as frequently seen as Spider-Man to still be the star of brilliant films like this is simply terrific, and I hope this only goes on and on. 

4. Jojo Rabbit

A very recent entry into the list, but a very deserving one. Taika Waititi, one of my favourite directors, helms this charming film that has a ton of clever jokes, really smart writing, brilliant performances, and a sweet story that does make light of some dark aspects of World War II, but in a way that is completely justified due to the great protagonist. Not much else to say other than it's absolutely wonderful! Can't wait to check it out again.

3. Knives Out 

The best writing of the year accompanied by some of the funniest and most engaging performances of the year in a film filled with some of the best cinematography, direction, music, set design, colour palette, editing, and basically everything else of the year. I find it very difficult to fault this film aside from a portion that drags compared to the pace of the rest of the film. But, honestly, that can so easily be overlooked that I might as well ignore it altogether. The fact that this is also an original work makes it even better. I love this film so much and I can only see myself loving it more and more once I rewatch it. 

2. 1917 

If there's one film that took my breath away in terms of being a stunning and gripping piece of cinema, it has to be this. 1917 is a masterful work of art. Roger Deakins' impeccable cinematography, Sam Mendes' excellent direction and writing, the remarkable score, sound, acting, aesthetic and, once again, essentially everything else just impressed me to a very high degree. It has truly used every filmmaking component to its advantage, and it has resulted in a fairly surface-level plot being turned into one of the most engaging, enjoyable, emotional, and generally phenomenal films of not just the year, but the entire decade. I think you can see why I waited until I'd seen this film before I made this list. 

1. Avengers: Endgame 

Yeah, you knew this from the start, one may say it was inevitable. Truth be told, I could easily put Knives Out or 1917 at the top spot, but there's only one film that came out this year that truly reached me on an emotional level. One film that has me grinning and cheering like an idiot at certain points. One film that gives me a rush of excitement that I doubt I could get from anywhere else. And one film that is unbelievably satisfying for the entirety of its three-hour runtime. And that film, is of course Endgame. The mere thought of this film makes me smile, I have such fond memories attached to this film, and it serves as a strong reason why I'm glad I was born when I was. Too late to experience the original Star Wars trilogy, too late to witness the Live Aid concert and the prime time for some of my favourite artists, too late to live through the Disney Renaissance, and too late and too soon to around at the turn of a milennium, but I was born just in time to experience the climax of the infinity saga at a crucial moment in my life... and that makes me feel extremely lucky indeed. Also, in case you haven't had enough of me having a go at the Academy this year, HOW ON EARTH DID STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, WHICH HAS PERHAPS THE MOST UNORIGINAL SCORE EVER, GET OSCAR NOMINATED FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCORE WHEN AVENGERS: ENDGAME, WHICH IS SUPERIOR IN EVERY SENSE, DIDN'T?!?!? This may be the year when I just lose all respect for the Oscars.

So, those were my Top 10 films of the year, and what a year it was. Unfortunately, 2020 doesn't have a great deal of things to look forward too. I won't bother doing a post dedicated to what films I'm excited for, but I will highlight some here:

- A Quiet Place Part 2 - Loved the first and this looks even better

- The King's Man - Massive fan of the first two and this looks just as good

- No Time to Die - Really enjoy these newer Bond movies and look forward to this finale

- Tenet - Love a bit of Nolan and this looks very intriguing and equally mind-bending

- Black Widow - Long overdue, but glad to see it finally happening

Also, I'm going to do a massive ranking of my favourite films of the decade soon, and there will be a lot of films on there, around 30-40! Don't expect it too soon as it has been very difficult to piece together.  

1917 - Movie Review - One wonderful shot

This film is a 15, was released on January 10th, 2020, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

What I have always liked about film are the stories that are told and all the wonder and magic they hold. However, one other aspect of film that has my intrigue is the technical side - it's always amazing to see a film that pushes the boundaries of how a film can be made and how this can make it even better. This was one of the things that drove me to see 1917.

Thoughts Going In 

I wasn't interested in 1917 at first, but then I saw a trailer that explained the film was made to look as if it was all one continuous tracking shot, in the same style as the terrific opening to Sam Mendes' last film, Spectre. This took my interest as I felt this could result in a fascinating experience, especially in a cinema. After hearing the excellent reviews and seeing all of the awards/nominations, I thought it'd certainly be worth a look. 

The Story 

Two young British soldiers, Blake and Schofield, are instructed to leave their battalion and travel to another across various dangerous landscapes in order to call off an attack that, if carried out, will result in tons of major losses, including Blake's brother. 

What I Liked 

It goes without saying that the star of the show in this film is the cinematography. The choice to edit the film as if it is one continuous shot makes it feel like more of a genuinely engaging experience as everything happens in real-time, and it makes you feel as if you are right at the moment. The way the shots move also makes it more exciting, it never feels like there is a lack of life, even if it is slowly panning over a landscape or following slower movements. One-shot involves one of the two protagonists running along the rim of a trench as all the other soldiers run into the battlefield and various explosions occur, and it was extremely well choreographed and felt so epic and heroic. The way shots are lit adds an extra layer of wonder, one-shot following the same soldier as he runs through a town with the only casting light going on and off and the sun coming up in the distance really stuck in my head and just had me mesmerised. Basically, Roger Deakins is a genius and if he doesn't get an Oscar for his contributions here, the Academy is really overlooking masterful work.

The cinematography manages to make many other aspects in the film better than they probably would've been in a regularly edited movie. The story is nothing special, it's very much just a here to there story, and the characters are, on the surface, quite generic; just two young guys, one of which has a brother to save as a basic motivation, so overall, it's not too exciting. But, firstly, it doesn't matter because the emphasis is on the how not the why, and we've already established that the how is very well executed. Secondly, the real-time aspect as a result of the singular continuous shot heightens the tension. You feel every ounce of struggle that these characters go through, and you feel all the fear that they do. As a result, you naturally want to see them succeed in their goal after seeing all the hell they've endured to do so that you have essentially experienced alongside them, resulting in a satisfying story you're engaged in. Also, the film isn't just a thrilling journey from beginning to end, it balances a lot of different emotions when necessary. There's a really heartfelt scene where one of the soldiers finds a young woman hiding while caring for an abandoned baby, and it contrasts so greatly to the action from before that it feels a lot more tender in the landscape of the film. A similar scene involves a song being sung to an entire fleet of soldiers about to enter a fight, which was a real emotional punch considering the context of where it was occurring. There was also a healthy dose of comedy in the film - not to a distracting extent, but enough to make the characters feel more believable and the film a tad more entertaining. On top of this, the performances are tip-top. The two leads were fantastic and had a great dynamic, and the others such as Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Richard Madden all used their somewhat limited time wonderfully. All of this is further proof of why this film is so thoroughly engaging.

Aside from the magical camerawork, other filmmaking aspects were just brilliant. The sound design and mixing were very well done and furthered the stress of the situation, with explosions and gunfire being made all the more alarming. The set design and aesthetic also captured the feeling of World War 1 and No Man's Land so expertly, adding to believability. Best of all, the score by Thomas Newman was on another level. The only works of his I'd known before this film were Finding Nemo and Wall-E, but this score was completely different - it was pulse-pounding, emotionally powerful, and just pleasure for my ears. It hit all the right notes at all the right moments, once again, adding to the tension in the film. This is an example of a motion picture that has examined every aspect of the filmmaking process and found ways to use them to its advantage, and it is commendable to a staggering degree.

The last thing I'd like to mention is the director, Sam Mendes. I was lucky enough to see this film at the Odeon in Leicester Square before it was released and with a Q&A with Mendes and the two leads. Hearing a filmmaker talk so passionately about their work in the way that he did just put it into a whole new perspective. He didn't talk down to the audience so we knew what he was on about, he spoke with such sophistication about all the technicalities of making this film. This alone had me convinced that he is someone who both knows what he's doing and enjoys what he's doing - hence why the films we get from him, such as this, are as good as they are. I tip my hat the Mendes, and I have further respect after finding out that this film was inspired by stories his grandfather told him. He was knighted for a very clear reason. 

What I Didn't Like 

My only issue is that the singular shot does create some distractions that may not seem obvious at first. Once you clock on to the fact that there won't be any cuts (which I knew about before seeing the film) you do find yourself trying to pay attention to where it may have been cut, and when you've noticed something, it can be a bit of an irritant. But, that is so ridiculously minor because I've already praised the cinematography endlessly and I don't think that tiny problems should distract from the excellence that has been achieved.

Conclusion 

1917 is modern filmmaking at its finest. Sam Mendes had an idea and has executed it in winning fashion. It takes a slightly straightforward narrative and makes it the most tense and most spectacular it can be with its off the charts cinematography, strong emotions, convincing performances, and generally remarkable filmmaking. There is so little to fault about this film and even after rewatching it once, I just want to go back and see it over and over again because I was engaged in every sense. 

I'm going to give 1917 a 9.5/10

Jojo Rabbit - Movie Review - Has Taika done it again?

This film is a 12A, was released on January 1st 2020, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Happy New Year! A young boy named Jojo growing up in Nazi Germany begins to learn the ways of the Nazis until he meets a Jewish girl living in one of his walls which causes him to question whether their ideologies are worth standing by. Taika Waititi is one of my favourite directors working today. Of course, I think Thor Ragnarok is one of the best MCU movies, but one of the films that put him on the map, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is also one of my favourite films of the decade. His comedy has a real charm to it and it makes his films really heartfelt and hugely entertaining. When I heard his next film would be a satirical take on Nazi Germany in which he'd play an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, I was excited on another level. He seemed like a great choice as his seamless mix of comedy and heart would be perfect for a comedic take on a serious topic. So, I couldn't wait and I was annoyed I had to wait until the new year for it.

Like his other films, this is enormously entertaining. Almost every joke lands and none feel half-hearted or perfunctory efforts at getting a laugh. What allows the film to be as funny as it is and get away with it in a somewhat serious landscape is that it is coming from the view of a naive child. They obviously won't have a detailed knowledge of the prejudice towards Jews or the status of Germany towards other countries, so the film is able to deliver loads of potentially offensive jokes without actually coming off as offensive because they're justified in the context of the film. This is the main reason why Waititi's performance as imaginary Hitler is as great as it is. He doesn't act like a cruel dictator, because Jojo wouldn't know about that given how everyone around him acts as if he's a God-like figure, so instead he's goofy and exaggerated in terms of things he says and does, which is what makes it so much fun to watch. Also, the other performances were great, Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo was the other stand out. He brings a lot of wit and sweetness to the character which makes him a likeable and funny protagonist - he's definitely a young talent to keep an eye on. Thomasin McKenzie, who played the Jewish girl, also gave a really charming performance and the bond between them felt genuine as what Jojo goes through feels natural. Scarlett Johansson also gave a sweet and endearing performance as Jojo's mother, and them bond between the two of them also came off as really genuine. Everyone else was likeable and funny too, although the German accents seemed a bit wobbly as the film progressed, especially for Waititi with his Kiwi accent beginning to become more prevalent towards the end. The story as a whole felt very well rounded and it has an important message about questioning popular beliefs instead of blindly accepting them, particularly relevant for children of Jojo's age. There was also an abundance of heart which kept the film feeling like more than just a typical comedy, which was much appreciated. 

The only issue I had with this film is that the film isn't that impressive from a filmmaking perspective. Waititi's style feels very reminiscent of Wes Anderson at times however the colour palette wasn't very striking and instead felt quite dull and the cinematography wasn't as sharp and instead was slightly unremarkable. That is only a minor complaint as the film is still enormously watchable, but I wish it had a bit more flair from behind the camera.

Jojo Rabbit is another excellent entry into Taika Waititi's filmography. It has a really well executed story that allows for tons of laugh-out-loud jokes as well as an important message and plenty of heart due to some brilliant performances. Aside from a slight lack of a distinct filmmaking style this is one of the best films of 2019. It's not quite as good as Hunt for the Wilderpeople or Thor Ragnarok, but those films did take multiple viewings for me to come to love them as much as I do now so I can only see this getting better and better with time. But, as it is, it serves as more evidence as to why Waititi is one of the best directors currently in the filmmaking industry and maybe even my favourite. 

I'm going to give Jojo Rabbit a 9.0/10