Top movies of the decade- A list by Antonis

Happy 2020 people! My wish is for this year to be an even better one for cinema! I am a bit late to the party, as I was a bit lazy and did not make my list on time. Apostolis, the working bee of the blog already published his list here. If you like cinema, you will be troubled by Apostolis’ list. If you love cinema, you will understand what a fiasco his list really is (*shots fired*). The true list for the true fans of the blog is this one and, my dear reader, you know it.

While I was writing a list for the best 20 movies of the decade, I stumbled upon the following problem: Is the end of the decade 2019 or 2020? Some argue in favour of the first (2010-2019), others of the second (2011-2020). Wikipedia says that: “There are two main methods of counting decades in recognition. The first method, counting ordinally, counts decades starting with the first year 1 CE (For example, the years 1981–1990 is referred to as the 199th decade or the 9th decade of the 20th century), while the other, counting cardinally, groups years based on having the same digits (For example, the years 1980–1989 is referred to as the 1980s, or commonly known as the eighties)”. To be on the safe side, I will publish a list next year too. That way everyone will be happy, or everyone will be mad.

20. Arrival (2016)

Number 20 was a close race between the Arrival and Interstellar, but the former won because of its creative and thought-provoking plot. Wittgenstein had said that “my language is the limits of my world”. What would an alien language look like then??

19. Florida Project (2017)

A gang of children living in misery under the shadow of Disney World. A drama with a social message that is worth watching.

18. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Among the most creative and beautifully animated films I have seen. Worth its Oscar. If you like Spiderman, you will love this.

17. Hereditary (2018)

Disturbing, horrifying, and more than your average Hollywood horror film. Watch it.

16. The wolf of wall street (2013)

Another film by Scorsese featuring DiCaprio this time as a wealthy stock-broker making money through crime and corruption. Based on real events, epic, comical and dramatic with great performances.

15. In the fade (2017)

As a Greek, I cannot help but love a film that shows the real face of Golden Dawn into the spotlight. The husband of a woman in Germany gets murdered by Nazis and she has to travel to Greece in order to seek revenge.

14. Parasite (2019)

The class drama I needed to watch but did not know it. The Parasite is another incredible film by Bong Joon Ho, following Snowpiercer and Okja. A film that constantly surprises with its plot and message.

13. Irishman (2019)

The successor to the Goodfellas and Scorsese’s most epic film of the decade. A glimpse into the corrupt system of the U.S. in the 70s’ and the events leading to the murder of Jimmy Hoffa. De Niro and Pacino in a phenomenal performance.

12. Dunkirk (2017)

I like history and Dunkirk is history depicted as it should be on the big screen. Who is the main character? Noone and everyone. Dunkirk is an epic, realistic and impressive large scale narration of the evacuation of the British army from France.

11. Lighthouse (2019)

I watched Lighthouse a day before writing this list. How am I sure that it deserves to be in the top 20 of the decade? I am not. Robert Pattinson and William Dafoe deliver some of their best performances in a film that is deeply disturbing. The Lighthouse is a glimpse into the thoughts of a madman. We will be soon releasing a detailed review-analysis of the film, so stay tuned people.

10. Get Out (2017)

Get out belongs in the ‘mindfuck’ type of films. In my opinion a successful mild horror blockbuster. The first part seems like a “black guy in a party full of rich white racists in the south” but this is a decoy. Things are even weirder than they seem.   

9. Gone Girl (2014)

It wasn’t long ago when I attended a lecture about modern adaptations of the Ancient Greek tragedy ‘Medea’. This is just one of the many interpretations of a controversial and deeply melodramatic film.

8. I, Daniel Blake (2016)

One of the rawest films of the decade. A punch in the stomach that forces us to take a hard look at those forgotten by the bureaucracy of a cruel system where justice has become a luxury.

7. Shutter Island (2010)

Scorsese created a world of insanity and Leonardo DiCaprio became its face. Shutter Island is an intense experience that makes us question memory and reality. A film that set the tone for many of the thriller and mystery films of the past years.

6. The Square (2017)

A powerful criticism of the role of contemporary art in modern society and the hypocrisy of its institutions. Comic and dramatic as well as absurdist and realistic elements meet in the Square.

5.  The lobster (2014)

A controversial film by Lanthimos and my personal Favorite (see what I did there?) of his work. A powerful allegory exploring love relationships in contemporary society. Also, great acting and screenplay.

4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

When I heard about a sequel to the Blade Runner, I was really not expecting much. Τhe result really proved that not all sequels suck. Blade Runner 2049 takes the existentialism and cyberpunk aesthetics of its predecessor a step further.

3. Whiplash (2014)

If perfection is possible, what does it take to reach it? Whiplash is an answer to the question. J.K. Simmons’ performance is half the film. The other half is an engaging drama full of jazz music, vanity and high aspirations. 

2. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

If it was a TV series, it would probably be BoJack Horseman. A middle-aged actor struggling to be taken seriously looks for an exit to his existential crisis. The subtle surrealism of Iñárritu and the illusion of the continuous shooting really takes the film to another level.

1. Roma (2018)

Though set in Mexico City of the 70s, Roma is a dialogue for the present. Cuaron depicts life and death on equal terms to sketch an image of the middle class. The film is an open question regarding the nature of inequality and the burden placed on the shoulders of the individual by the dual nature of life that is both beautiful and painful.