Decade in Review: 2020's
(THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS!) I used to make lists for each year, but in the last five or more years I have not been as active in my film watching, so I'm making a decade list instead. Movies are in order of favorite to least-favorite.
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- DirectorRobert EggersStarsAlexander SkarsgårdNicole KidmanClaes BangA young Viking prince is on a quest to avenge his father's murder.Robert Eggers is my favorite director, and this third film from him is what made up my mind. In my opinion, he has made three masterpieces in a row. The Northman is a wonderful, visceral film inspired by the Scandinavian legend of Amleth (which inspired Hamlet). It is visually beautiful, thanks to the cinematography by Egger's cohort Jarin Blaschke, who also did his other two films. There are images from this movie that are forever burned into my mind. The music is perfect and a huge help in establishing the tone of this film. There is expectedly a great deal of attention to detail to make the movie as historicaly accurate as possible. There are always mistakes and misconceptions with vikings and Norse mythology, but this film is mostly pretty accurate. I appreciated the way their religious customs were handled. The actors were all amazing, with each of the leads shining. Every single performance was just perfect. I loved this movie. Just thinking about it while writing this makes me incredibly happy.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsAnya Taylor-JoyChris HemsworthTom BurkeThe origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.As a HUGE Mad Max fan, as well as a pretty big Anya Taylor-Joy fan, I was extremely excited to finally see George Miller's next masterpiece. Going in to it I was sure I wouldn't like it more than Fury Road, but also sure I would enjoy it very much. Well, my final verdict is that I don't like it as much as Fury Road, but I still enjoyed it very much. It isn't as much of a spectacle, that's for sure, but it does still contain some really great action setpieces. Of course one of the biggest things about these movies that I love is the vehicles, and there are some pretty cool ones. Not as many that I really loved as in Fury Road or Road Warrior, but still some pretty sick ones. There are way more motorcycles in this film, which I am not as in to as I am cars and trucks. Still, there are some really sick bikes (That radial engine powered one that is the centerpiece of Dementus' chariot is sooooo cool). The War Rig is seen as a new, shiny beast, and Dementus has a really awesome truck that sounds beastly. My favorite car has to be the 1962 Plymouth Valiant with a turbo'd 225 slant six, because I'm a bit of a mopar nerd, even if the Ford XB Interceptor Max drives is my favorite movie car ever. Anyways... the movie itself was really cool. Chris Hemsworth, as I'm sure you've heard (or seen) is magnificent in the role of Dementus. Anya Taylor-Joy is great as always, and a very good younger version of the character originally played by Charlize Theron. I'm sure it will be hard for people to decide which Furiosa actress is their favorite. Also, I have to mention the performance of Ayla Browne, who plays the youngest iteration of Furiosa in this film, and is fantastic. I look forward to seeing more from her in the future. Now onto the things I didn't like, which seem to be the same as everybody else: the CG effects are not very good. Also, the sped up footage felt really off this time around. It sticks out in a ll of these movies, but usually it helps it feel more frantic, high octane, adreneline fueled. Here, to quote my wife, "it felt sloppy". I hate to agree, as George Miller is one of my favorite visionaries in film history, but I do. It took me out of the film every time in a way where I was offput by it rather thatn, say, the opening of fury road when Max is running through the Citadel trying to escape, where I was also taken out, but my thinking was more like "wow that's kinda neat for this sequence". Still, this is a fantastic movie that I highly recommend and enjoyed a whole heck of a bloody lot.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametZendayaRebecca FergusonPaul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.The second part had a lot to live up to, and in my opinion it delivered. The spectacle was even bigger in Part Two, with wonderful visuals and exciting action sequences. The music and the sound design were once again fantastic. The acting was also quite good, in particular Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, who were a delight to watch. This is a big movie. It's massive. I don't want to spoil too much from it, but the sandworm riding scene actually made my hair stand up. This is a masterclass in how to make a big, fun action-packed movie that is also incredibly artistic and well thought out in every department.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametRebecca FergusonZendayaA noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.Denis Villenueve finally makes his dream movie, and it's as good as you'd expect from such a great filmmaker. He is one of my very favorite directors, and this film furthers that opinion. The production design is fantastic, the sound design is very interesting, the performances are great, the cinematography (by Greig Fraser) is perfect. Everything you expect from one of his pictures. I have not personally read the books (I know, it's a sin), but I really loved this film nonetheless. I can't wait for part 2!
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsRobert PattinsonZoë KravitzJeffrey WrightWhen a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, The Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.I really liked this movie. Robert Pattinson was once again great. I liked that Batman was more of a detective in this movie. The tone was very satisfying, helped very much by the music nd visual style, the cinematography being done by Greig Fraser, who also did Dune. Colin Farrell was fantastic as the Penguin. John Turturro was aslo very good. Paul Dano was at times good and at times not so good, as tends to happen with him sometimes. Overall I really liked this movie way more than I expected to.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsMargot RobbieRyan GoslingIssa RaeBarbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.The biggest surprise of Barbenheimer was Barbie being the one I enjoyed more. And I mean WAY more. This is a good fun movie. Way more adult in it's humor than I expected. Margot Robbie was fantastic. But Ryan Gosling absolutely stole the show. His performance was pitch-perfect. The set design was also incredible, with such great attention to detail that I didn't expect. I have seen it twice now and my initial feelings have only been strengthened. This movie is way better than it has any right to be. Wonderful.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsThomasin McKenzieAnya Taylor-JoyMatt SmithAspiring fashion designer Eloise is mysteriously able to return to 1960s London, where she encounters dazzling wannabe singer Sandie. But the glamour is not as it seems, and the dreams of the past crack and splinter into something darker.This was the least Edgar Wright movie Edgar Wright has made. It lacks his typical humor and editing. That being said, I loved it. It definitely went a darker, more horror route than I expected, and it was refreshing in a way. Thomasin McKenzie was fantastic, as was Anya Taylor-Joy, as usual. It's also nice to see Matt Smith in something good again since his time in Doctor Who. I had a lot of fun watching this and definitly would recommend it.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsMargot RobbieIdris ElbaJohn CenaSupervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.What a darkly pleasant surprise this was! The performances were all pretty good. While I didn't care for the 2016 Suicide Squad, I did like Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Harley is not all that great a character in most iterations, but nevertheless she managed to do a good job with the character. She's even better in the role here. As of this writing, I haven't seen the Birds of Prey movie as it looked like trash, but I may check it out just to see her in it. Margot Robbie has become one of my favorite actresses. John Cena was also pretty fun in his role, as well as David Dastmalchian. Overall a fun movie with good jokes and a lot of dark humor. The gore effects were also pretty good, even impressive in parts. I hope we get more of these hard-R Suicide Squad movies. This was a delight.
- DirectorMichael SarnoskiStarsNicolas CageAlex WolffAdam ArkinA truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregon wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.This may very well be my favorite Nicolas Cage performance and film. He was great in this role. This is just a fantastic slow-burn film.
- DirectorAdam RehmeierStarsKyle GallnerYancey FuquaJennifer KincerAn on-the-lam punk rocker and a young woman obsessed with his band unexpectedly fall in love and go on an epic journey together through America's decaying Midwestern suburbs.What a fun movie! Horribly crass and vulgar yet somehow sweet. Easily one of the very best punk rock movies I've seen. Both leads are perfect for their roles. The direction, editing, and cinematography were fantastic. The music, both the electronic score and punk rock, were perfect. I really enjoyed this movie!
- DirectorJoel CrawfordJanuel MercadoStarsAntonio BanderasSalma HayekHarvey GuillénWhen Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has burned through eight of his nine lives, he launches an epic journey to restore them by finding the mythical Last Wish.I really liked this movie. The visual style was great, the villain was actually pretty menacing, and it was a lot of fun. Easily the best movie in this franchise since Shrek 2.
- DirectorEric AppelStarsDiedrich BaderDaniel RadcliffeLin-Manuel MirandaExplores every facet of Yankovic's life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like 'Eat It' and 'Like a Surgeon' to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle.I love Weird Al. I have listened to his amazing parodies (and original work) since I was very young. It therefore came a s no surprise that this documentary was entirely fictional and a parody of the genre istelf. And I loved every minute of it.
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaKeke PalmerBrandon PereaThe residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.This could certainly have been better, but I really liked it overall. While I did like Steven Yeun's story, it was kind of weird and unnecessary. This was an interesting twist on a typical alien story, at the least. Again, it could have been a lot better, but it was still pretty good.
- DirectorBrit McAdamsStarsOwen WilsonElisabeth HenryPaul KosopodCarl Nargle, Vermont's #1 public television painter, is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke - until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves.What a weird movie. I quiet enjoyed it. Owen Wilson was great.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanScarlett JohanssonTom HanksFollowing a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.It's a Wes Anderson movie through and through. If you like his filmaking style, you'll like this. I quite enjoyed it, though I can't say I loved it as much as some of his other work. Great acting.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsCillian MurphyEmily BluntMatt DamonThe story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.This was a fairly disappointing film for me. I love movies like this, usually. But this one just had me wishing for a better director to tell Oppenheimer's story. This movie mostly focused on courtroom drama about whether or not he was a communist, rather than the creation and impact of the atomic bomb. I'd heard this film described as emotionally devestating, thus making me think it would focus at least a bit on the aftermath of the bomb's detonation. Buuuuuuut instead it meanders on the least-interesting aspects of the man's life. Visually it was mostly stunning, with the odd shot that was out of focus for some reason. There was a lot of ramping things up only to have the movie suddenly fizzle out over and over again. It would seem Christopher Nolan once again went with a non-linear storytelling style to attempt to make his movie more interesting (like with Memento) after realizing it was not all that engaging as a typically structured story. However, that seems to have worked as a disadvantage this time, as it just makes a frustrating watch. It would certainly seem I am in a vast minority with my views, but that's okay. It's just my opinion. I'm glad to see a movie like this can still be very popular. The acting was also fantastic. Cillian Murphy nailed it, and Robert Downey Junior was amazing. Overall a good movie, just not as good as everyone says.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioRobert De NiroLily GladstoneWhen oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.I am a huge fan of Martin Scorsese. I also think this is an interesting story, the acting was fantastic, and it was visually very nice. However, I think reading about these events is somehow more interesting than watching this movie. Don't get me wrong, it is exceptionaly well-made, as you'd expect from a master filmmaker such as Scorsese, it's just not a particularly engaging story for me personally. Still, I'd very much recommend it.
- DirectorPierre PerifelStarsSam RockwellMarc MaronAwkwafinaTo avoid prison, a gang of notorious animal criminals pretends to seek being rehabilitated, only for their leader to realize that he genuinely wants to change his ways.I really liked the visual style of this movie. It's pretty decent.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSam WorthingtonZoe SaldanaSigourney WeaverJake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their home.I have a LOT of problems with this movie, but most of them would be spoilers so I wont mention them here. Still, the visuals are wonderful, even with the predictable and at time infuriating plot. Sigourney Weaver was pretty good as Kiri (who I thought they were calling Kitty the whole movie). It was alright, not amazing, with fantastic special effects. Hopefully the rest of this unoriginal series will have good stories to tell.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsTom HanksMariana TreviñoRachel KellerOtto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.A decent movie. Some pretty funny moments and surprising dark scenes.
- DirectorOlivia NewmanStarsDaisy Edgar-JonesTaylor John SmithHarris DickinsonA woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved.I can see this being better as a novel. Decent story but needs more time than the length of this movie.
- DirectorJoel CrawfordStarsNicolas CageEmma StoneRyan ReynoldsThe prehistoric family the Croods are challenged by a rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved.I actually like these movies. Nicolas Cage is actually a pretty good voice actor and I love hearing him. It's nothing special but inoffensive. I enjoyed it about as much as the first one.
- DirectorKyle BaldaBrad AblesonJonathan del ValStarsSteve CarellPierre CoffinAlan ArkinThe untold story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.Better than I expected.
- DirectorDaniel KwanDaniel ScheinertStarsMichelle YeohStephanie HsuJamie Lee CurtisA middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.A very strange movie. I love that A24 continues to put these kind of movies out there into the world. I can't say this particular film was for me, but it was certainly interesting and worth the watch.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsTom BatemanAnnette BeningKenneth BranaghWhile on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.This was the first movie I took my wife to see when we were dating. I knew who the murderer was pretty quick. It was fairly predictable. Nothing special, but nothing horrible either. It's a movie that exists, but with a good memory attached to it.