TYF Picks: Best Films of the Decade (So Far…)

I have an epic scaled argument in me (that plenty have heard bits and pieces of already) ready to be lobbed at any and all whom deem modern cinema to be any lesser than the classics. Halfway through the 2010’s (and what a scary, scary, thought) we over at TheYoungFolks.com have decided to mark the occasion by looking back at the last five years and picking out our favorite films. What ensued was a bit of madness as I asked my fellow writers to send me their personal top 15, ranked (these were all done by a point system) and needless to say there was a variety.  So much so in fact, that I’ve included everyone’s personal lists as well.

It’s there you’ll see more of the niche crowd, the foreign indie pleasers, and the anime (okay maybe just on my list for the last one). However, for some reason we seem to have largely forgotten about 2011 and 2012, which amuses me.

Our main list has a lot of love for the great’s, a lot of love for David Fincher and Edgar Wright (which pleased me). It’s an assortment of our favorites and what could be considered “the best,” but really, that’s up to personal opinion and with movies as far ranging as they are today, with fingers dipped in every genre, it’s an exciting time to be a film fan. Take a look through our Top 15 collective as well as our individual lists (which are strange, eclectic and fun and I love as much as our main list), where I’m sure you’ll spot some hidden gems worth looking into while I go and watch the only movie I haven’t seen on this list (which I won’t spoil but it’s in the number three spot and I’ve failed as a film critic I know).

15. The Avengers (2012) Directed By: Joss Whedon

The last five years have been big ones for superheros, with franchises being built, demolished (looking to you Fantastic Four) and reestablished. Some have been massive hits, some have merely tread water tying one film to a larger cinematic universe but it’s undoubtedly been the decade of superheroes and The Avengers success was as exciting as it was surprising. Joss Whedon and co. brought together these larger than life characters from their own separate stories and created a larger universe as well as crafting a movie that all other franchises would then try to emulate.

14. 12 Years A Slave (2013) Directed By: Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen has become one of the most exciting directors today with films such as Hunger and Shame but it’s 12 Years a Slave that is arguably his tour-de-force. Possessing a keen and artistic eye, he captures inhumane brutality in a manner in which you can’t peel your eyes away. It’s unforgiving in it’s depiction and the cinematography by Sean Bobbitt never shies away from the ugly nature of the films content, all the while composing picturesque shots with clarity. Hosting a revelatory turn from star Chiwetel Ejiofor and having the pleasure of introducing the world to Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave is a film wrought with emotion and likely one that will be definitive of all the careers involved.

13. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Directed By: George Miller

For audiences that have begun to feel oversaturated in remakes, sequels and bland, empty action flicks, Mad Max: Fury Road was like being electrocuted back to life. Unhinged with anarchistic energy and utilizing practical effects to dizzying results, the film was action packed while also telling a feminist friendly story about empowerment, with Charlize Theron’s Furiosa being the film’s real protagonist. The film is so good, so refreshing, that it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s essentially a two hour car chase. Inventive, and reminding viewers that cinema still has much to offer even in the familiar genres or stories, Mad Max: Fury Road has become an instant classic.

12. Ex Machina (2015) Directed By: Alex Garland

Alex Garland wrote and directed one of the best science fiction films not just of the last five years, but of all time with the quietly unsettling Ex Machina. Everything from the ground up of this production works, adding layers of intrigue. From the disconcerting, and gradually deafening music , to Rob Hardy’s eerily stark and clandestine compositions, and the contrast of the futuristic creations being set smack dab in the middle of overwhelming nature, to the three dynamic lead performances, Ex Machina clicks. It’s dialogue heavy without being overly verbose and keeps up a tension filled mood for the entirety of the running time. It isn’t reinventing the science fiction wheel, but it reestablished itself as a fresh look into the genre, with modern eyes, modern fears, and some excellent talents.

11.Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) Directed By: The Coen Brothers

You need to look no further than the clip of Oscar Isaac’s Llewyn performing “The Death of Queen Jane” for F. Murray Abraham’s disinterested and jaded booking agent to understand the depth of greatness and sadness that runs through the course of Inside Llewyn Davis. Anchored by a soulful, star making performance from Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis is a masterclass in quiet storytelling as we follow the titular Llewyn through his own, personal odyssey. Watching Inside Llewyn Davis is like looking at an old photograph with it’s subdued beauty, worn corners, and forlorn faces looking back at you. Composed of a series of moments, the film’s heart is secured with Llewyn’s own feelings of dejected self-worth and it’s immediate success in the face of a cat’s reflection on a moving train. Watch the clip.

10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) Directed By: Edgar Wright

Everyone has their own favorite Edgar Wright movie (which is made more apparent by him showing up twice on our list). Most fans would agree that the controlled, visual chaos of his third feature film, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is his most fun. It’s pure, heightened aesthetic and the kind of rebellious filmmaking I always hope to see more of. Every frame is eye candy, lending itself to the cartoonish narrative the story takes while never talking down to it’s viewers. Wright has created great films before (and ones many would argue are better) but this is when his style became not only distinct, but definitive.

9. Short Term 12 (2013) Directed By: Destin Cretton

Poignant, emotionally laid bare, and honest in it’s depiction of young people reclaiming their agency, Short Term 12 was one of the more surprising films on this list. This isn’t because it’s not worthy of love from fans and/or critics alike, but because I thought it would be eaten up by some of the larger titles. It speaks to how hard this film hit and Brie Larsons gut wrenching performance that it ended up being so high.

8. The World’s End (2013) Directed By: Edgar Wright

I will make the bold statement and say that this is Edgar Wright’s best film, as well as the best performances Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have ever given. It’s a confident, genre cocktail of a film, one that uses alien invasion as a trojan horse for a story about depression, getting older and growing apart. The soundtrack is remarkably fitting to the content, the fight scenes riveting and choreographed similarly to an old school martial arts film, and has a stinging third act that never loses the momentum of the wittier and action heavy prior two. There’s always been a meticulous nature to Wright’s filmmaking and it’s demonstrated best here as every frame could be a still, and every scene has a hint as to what’s to come. Despite it’s frantic energy and blue blooded aliens, there’s times where his film is like a book, one where you pick up on something detailed and new with each watch. It’s a culmination of both the style and substance Wright had demonstrated in his previous films, and it should have gotten more love than it did initially.

7. Toy Story 3 (2010) Directed By: Lee Unkrich

“So long, partner.”

Nostalgia has never worked better as a marketing tool than it did for Toy Story 3. With many of the viewers of the first film being the same age as Andy in the third, the idea of leaving home and cutting ties with childhood hit hard. Couple that with the emotional final scene, and a film that never rests on the laurels of its previous successes, the film was the perfect finale to the trilogy while also being a strong standalone.

6. Gone Girl (2015) Directed By: David Fincher

It’s hard for me to write about any David Fincher film without fangirling. Fincher is one of my all-time favorite directors, and his latest film, Gone Girl, has quickly become one of my favorites of his.

Rosamund Pike is a tour-de-force; this is her movie. The places she takes “Amazing Amy” will have your spine shivering in a good (or maybe bad?) way. Fincher adds his almost trademark menacing quality to Gone Girl, which makes it both unsettling and mesmerizing. He satirically takes on the media, making a statement of how much of a sideshow it all truly is. All the while, the film touches on marriage, adultery, socio-economic status, and family. Author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn crafts a solid and unrelenting screenplay that makes for a deviously entertaining film.- Gaby

5. Whiplash (2014) Directed By: Damien Chazelle

A monster movie disguised as a psychological drama, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash was a taut, edge of your seat thriller. Blending jazz music with bloody, and self-destructive madness, it pulled impressive turns out of Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons while also managing to turn the story of teacher and student on it’s head. 

4. Her (2013) Directed By: Spike Jonze

Her is the movie set in the not so distant future we never knew we wanted until we got it and the success of the film far outreaches the love story-which itself is extraordinary. The color palette is soft but vibrant, the characters facing normal, personal connection issues without it being hindered by technology, but rather enhanced. The music is stirring, fitting seamlessly with the meditative and melancholy atmosphere, and an overall hopeful message about being happy and content in life even when it get’s tough. It’s uplifting without being maudlin, and sweet without being cutesy, and leaves on a note where we feel hopeful for our characters. Spike Jonze has such an affection for his characters in this film, there is a deep understanding he has of their inherent loneliness and missteps along the way, and it is with that care and attention to detail that makes these characters so wonderful to watch.

Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson are all tremendous, all sharing a palpable chemistry as Her became a definitive film for 2013.

3. Drive (2011) Directed By: Nicolas Winding Refn

A sparse story that doesn’t work the mystery angle is a rare one. Even rarer is when it’s a good one. In Drive, Ryan Gosling plays the nameless Driver, a mechanic by day and getaway driver by night. He falls for his neighbor (Carey Mulligan), who is married to an ex-felon (Oscar Isaac). When Isaac’s character gets into trouble, Driver takes things into his own hands to protect them.

Drive is neo-noir at its finest. Director Nicholas Winding Refn’s distinct style creates a dark yet bright visual landscape, while also establishing fast and tense action and ultra-violent sequences. The performances are subtle yet great, and Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan have amazing chemistry.

However, one of the most striking things about Drive is the music. Cliff Martinez composes an electronic-pop score that fits into the style and tone of the film so well, making Drive feel much more unique than it already is. Let’s add bonus points for incorporating songs like Kavinsky’s “Nightcall,” Chromatics “Tick of the Clock,” and College’s “A Real Hero” impeccably into the film.

Watching Drive feels less like watching a movie, but more like an experience. It pulls you into Driver’s world and totally hypnotizes you. –Gaby 

2. The Social Network (2010) Directed By: David Fincher

When I first picked up Aaron Sorkin’s script for The Social Network months before the film’s release, I was not prepared for a shrewd take on class, technology, and ethics. This is a story about Facebook of all things; who knew that its start was so Shakespearean, full of betrayals and triumphs? It’s hard to mess up a movie with such a cohesive and stunning script, and director David Fincher took it to the next level.

Fincher, at the time, was known for films like Fight Club, Zodiac, and Seven, all dark and menacing films. His transition to something different like The Social Network was interesting because Fincher doesn’t quite lose his malevolent edge in this film. There is a cunning darkness or meanness to Mark Zuckerberg laced throughout; it’s not so much that he’s made to be a villain, rather he’s an innovative hero who took someone’s idea, did something with it, and suffered a number of personal losses because of it. He’s an incredibly jaded character.

Whether or not The Social Network is a true portrayal of Zuckerberg’s character, it really doesn’t matter. Sorkin and Fincher turned Zuckerberg into a symbol of today’s modern youth, where relationships are so tangibly dependable on clicks of a few buttons, where ethics are constantly being reformed for convenience, and where the need for attention and response has become so obviously desperate and reassuring.

I sound pessimistic when talking about the themes of the film, but oddly enough, the movie itself isn’t that much of a downer. On a technical level, The Social Network is seriously entertaining, brilliantly written, exceptionally acted, and directed with careful precision. This film scores on every level and automatically became a classic once it hit theaters. – Gaby 

1. Inception (2010) Directed By: Christopher Nolan

There’s something to be said about the timing of when a movie comes along.  For the writers of this site, Inception came along just at the cusp of superhero domination, blockbuster reboot, sequel and misstep overhaul. Inception was one of the last intelligent, non-superhero, blockbusters that also understood the audiences want and need for escapism. 

With an all star ensemble, some gravity defying set pieces (that hallway fight scene will go down as one of the single best fight scenes ever) and a heart at the center of the film, Inception had everything we want when we go and sit down in a dark theater, ready to be transplanted somewhere else. The visuals are still mind-blowing, with Christopher Nolan’s big, conceptual ideas paying off. Inception was creative, seemed daring for any other standard blockbuster paper cut out, and had performers who worked effortlessly with one another, creating a team we could actively root for.

Inception continues to impress because by the time the film ended, not only were we (relatively depending on your opinion) satisfied with the ending, we were also so attached and intrigued by the characters we’d met that we could have spent another two hours with them. Now, 2015, and about a thousand (for better or worse) superhero films to go, Inception is the the type of film we crave.

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