Favourite movies of the decade

~ wedgetaildkoptusnetcomau

For no other reason than because I can, a list of my favourite 48 movies I saw in the cinema this decade, highlighting some favourite stories and performances.

I’ve noted in brackets the year I saw them, and marked with an asterisk the movies I rated #1 on that year’s list.

48. Arrival (2016)

Sci-Fi done intelligently, with imaginative direction.
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  1. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

    Gritty, and more honest than most.
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  1. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The perfect blend of action and comedy.
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  1. Whiplash (2014)

A powerful two hander between Miles Teller and JK Simmons.
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  1. Contagion (2011)

    A great ensomble movie which plays its dark material absolutely straight.
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  1. Hugo (2011)

    Beautifully directed, and a love letter to early cinema, introducing me to Asa Butterfield, and starring Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jude Law….

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  1. Holding the Man (2015)

Just so sad, and so powerful.Image result for holding the man"

 

  1. God’s Own Country (2017)

The location and characters make this a very different take on the coming out story. (And yes, that is Prince Charles from The Crown).
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  1. Rocketman (2019)

Taron Edgerton is fabulous in this tale that lets you into the life of Elton John.Image result for rocketman taron egerton"

 

  1. Moonlight (2017)

One of the best directed films of the decade.
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  1. Paul (2011)

Such a wonderful homage to so many great sci-fi movies.
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  1. Room (2016)

Intense. Brie Larson is amazing.
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  1. Love and Mercy (2015)

Paul Dano and John Cusak tell the story of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and its quite wonderful.
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  1. The Muppets (2012)

A worthy revival of the Muppets.
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  1. Spotlight (2016)

Still troublingly relevant.
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  1. Kick Ass (2010)

In 2010 this was new and different and shocking. Perhaps the best Nicholas Cage performance, and also starring Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Chloe Grace Moretz, who I thought would do more this decade.
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  1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The culmination of many great films.
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  1. Joker (2019)

One of the best comic book movies of the decade, mostly because it really isn’t a comic book movie.
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  1. Boyhood (2014)

Audacious.
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  1. Detroit (2017)

Will Poulter and John Boyega star in a movie that deals with awful real world events with appropriate gravitas.
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  1. Saving Mr Banks (2014)

Charming. Lovely performances raise this above the obviousness of the story, along with some equally lovely moments.
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  1. Inside Out (2015)

The best Pixar of the decade. By a lot.
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  1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

This was just so totally unexpected and fresh at the time, and made an instant star of Taron Egerton.
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  1. The Way, Way Back* (2013)

Steve Carrell and Sam Rockwell in a delightful coming of age movie.
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  1. Chronicle (2012)

Dan DeHaan is the breakout star of his emotional and unusual sci-fi movie.
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  1. Star Wars: Force Awakens (2015)

Its fun! And Star Wars!
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  1. Tolkien (2019)

Lovely movie, starring Nicholas Hoult.
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  1. The Maze Runner (2014)

I love this cast. Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter… and its also a great action adventure.
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  1. Rogue One (2016)

In hindsight, the best of this decade’s Star Wars.
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  1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes* (2014)

One of the best action adventures, because of the human (and ape) aspects.
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  1. Three Billboards Outside Epping, Missouri (2018)

This story is so intense, but few movies have this great a cast: Francis McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage…
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  1. Judy (2019)

As fabulous as the lady its outside. Renée Zellweger  is outstanding.
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  1. Hotel Mumbai* (2019)

Incredibly powerful, scary, chilling, gripping
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  1. Jurassic World (2015)

It’s a big dinosaur movie, and I loved it.
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  1. The Big Short (2016)

Another movie I’ve watched many times since it was released, and enjoyed more each time. Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, and Christian Bale the stars for me.
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  1. Brooklyn (2016)

Another of the small and personal stories which make up a lot of this list. Saoirse Ronan, supported by Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson, set in 1950s Brooklyn and Ireland. Quite magical.
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  1. The Martian* (2015)

Some of the best work from Matt Damon, my favourite actor.
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  1. The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)

This is a beautiful movie, from the locations to the acting. Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Emory Cohen, and Dane DeHaan.
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  1. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Probably the best of the comic book movies which dominated the decade.
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  1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower* (2012)

Ezra Miller, Emma Watson, and Logan Lerman in a tale that’s whimsical yet powerful. A genuine coming of age.
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  1. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet give incredible performances, in a gorgeous northern Italian environment, all written and directed to perfection. Really enjoyed visiting the movie’s locations this year.
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  1. Sing Street* (2016)

A real hidden gem from the decade. Teens in 1980s Ireland start a band. Wonderful, and some great songs.
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  1. Love, Simon (2018)

Just a lovely story, led by Nick Robinson’s performance. I cry at least twice every time.
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  1. Argo (2012)

Every time I watch this, I enjoy it more, and the tension of the final escape continues to hold up. Great work.
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  1. Lady Bird* (2018)

Three of my favourite upcoming actors/actresses – Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Lucas Hedges – supported by Laurie Metcalf, and directed by Greta Gerwig. An incredible combination.
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  1. Manchester by the Sea* (2017)

Utterly gripping tale in a very small but lovely setting. Visited the town of Manchester later that year. Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Lucas Hedges.
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  1. We Need to Talk about Kevin* (2011)

The most emotionally shocking and gut wrenching film of the decade. Ezra Miller the star performance.
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  1. The Social Network* (2010)

SO well written and SO well performed, allowing me to watch it again, and again.
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