5 years ago (in a simpler time, when Brexit was just a madcap Farage fever dream, Donald Trump was merely a businessman/reality TV star, and the word Coronavirus meant little or nothing to anyone besides Microbiologists), I posted a rundown of my top movie picks from the first half of the 2010s. I ‘threatened’ at the close of that blog to post a Part II in 2020 – and, well, since I’ve had nothing better to do this morning, I’ve only gone and done just that.
FYI – my compilation list for this year (2020) has been rather skewed by the fact that (thanks to COVID’s massive impact on the film industry this year), I’ve only actually seen a total of 7 movies in cinemas over the past 12 months. Consequently, it sadly wasn’t the best of years for lovers of cinema (as my own list will attest).
Anyway – here we go again…
2016:
My Must Watch: “Captain America: Civil War” – simply an incredible ride from start to finish. The action sequences (especially the airport fight) are undeniably great, but it’s ultimately the emotional stakes that really hit home. Everyone gets a chance to shine, but special mention must go to the impressive debuts from Black Panther and the (then) new Spider-Man. Marvel very much proved here that they’re still the best in the superhero business.
Honourable Mentions:
- “Creed” – engaging, affecting, and brilliantly entertaining, “Creed” proved that there was life in the Rocky saga yet. Michael B Jordan is excellent as Adonis, with Stallone on top form too.
- “Deadpool” – wonderfully entertaining, hilarious, and action-packed, anchored by a brilliant turn from Reynolds (who’s clearly loving every minute). After Deadpool’s mishandled cinematic debut in the woeful “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, who knew that this spin-off would prove to be so good?
- “War Dogs” – think “Wolf Of Wall Street”, but with guns (in a good way). Both leads are perfectly cast, and the (real life) story grips you from start to finish. And you’ve gotta love Jonah Hills’ character’s bizarre laugh.
- “Arrival” – probably the best sci-fi film I’d seen since “The Martian”; original, heartfelt, suspenseful, and clever without ever being pretentious.
- “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” – a film that, in many ways, was more prepared to take risks than its immediate predecessor, “The Force Awakens” (impressive, especially given that we all know how this story ultimately ends). The new characters mostly work very well – especially K-2SO, Îmwe and Krennic. And it’s great to see Vader be badass again! I’m still undecided on the film’s use of CGI to bring back certain characters from “A New Hope” – it’s bold, but the technology’s still not quite there. Overall, though, I was very impressed (particularly given all the worrying talk of re-shoots), and it remains one of the best of the modern-era Star Wars films.
Avoid Like The Plague: “Independence Day: Resurgence” – as an unashamed fan of the cheesily entertaining original ID4, I really wanted to like this film. But, to be frank, it ain’t that great. It’s got some cool ideas, but the new characters make almost no impact, and the originals – bar Pullman and Spiner – are mostly wasted. Would it have been better if Smith were in it? Probably. Will there be an ID4: 3? Probably not – but on the basis of this film, I can’t say I’m all that disappointed.
2017:
My Must Watch: “La La Land” – a charming if bittersweet throwback to classics like “Singin’ In The Rain”, anchored by likeable central performances from Gosling and Stone, and an undeniably catchy score. It definitely proved Damien Chazelle (who also directed the fantastic “Whiplash”) as one to watch.
Honourable Mentions:
- “Logan” – a very curious beast, in that it actually feels more like a Western than a superhero movie, though it’s the best of the Wolverine trilogy by far. It’s hard-edged, uncompromising and surprisingly emotional. If this really is the end for Jackman and Stewart, it’s a great way to go out.
- “Spider-Man: Homecoming” – a fun and entertaining entry in a franchise that had long seemed devoid of fresh ideas. Holland is just a brilliant Spidey (possibly the best yet), and I loved his interplay with both Downey Jr. and (a very impressive) Michael Keaton.
- “Blade Runner 2049” – as someone who did not care for the original “Blade Runner” (which, especially as a sci-fi fan, I know is tantamount to heresy), I was incredibly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this sequel. An atmospheric, thought provoking, and visually stunning effort by Denis Villeneuve; Roger Deakin’s Oscar for cinematography could not have been more well-deserved.
- “Thor: Ragnarok” – whilst its irreverent tone is initially a bit jarring after the self-important “The Dark World”, it absolutely works. I’m still not quite sure why Marvel gave Taika Waititi pretty much free reign with one of their superhero franchises, but am incredibly glad they did. It’s a very funny film that fully embraces its silliness, and Hemsworth, Ruffalo and Goldblum are all on great form.
- “The Disaster Artist” – hilarious and touching, with both Franco brothers (especially James) giving great performances that never descend into cliché. If you’ve ever seen (and appreciated) the bizarre cultural phenomenon that is “The Room”, Franco’s film is a must-see – with the attention to detail in its recreations of ‘classic’ scenes from Wiseau’s effort proving surprisingly (and admirably) on the nose.
Avoid Like The Plague: “Justice League” – frankly, it’s a mess. Whilst it was certainly no masterpiece, there was a lot I actually liked about “Batman Vs Superman” – for all its flaws, it felt like a singular vision; the same, sadly, can’t be said of “Justice League”, which is tonally all over the place. Whedon – of whom I’m normally a fan – made the mistake of essentially trying to make this “Avengers”-lite, with lighthearted sequences that just don’t work. Also, there’s no sense of occasion to this superhero team-up; unlike DC, Marvel had meticulously earned their big moment. The film has its moments, and the cast do an able job … but honestly? I kinda feel like the Snyder cut of this film probably would’ve been better; I guess we now don’t have too much longer to find out…
2018:
My Must Watch: “I, Tonya” – one of those rarest of beasts (at least for me) – a film experience where you go in with almost no prior knowledge and few expectations, and come away very impressed by what you’ve just seen. A fascinating story driven by excellent performances all round, and with a killer soundtrack to boot.
Honourable Mentions:
- “All The Money In The World” – a fascinating real-life story that’s expertly told, and anchored by great performances. Kudos (as if he needed any more) to Plummer for delivering such a fantastic turn as J. Paul Getty at such short notice (as a replacement for the disgraced Kevin Spacey).
- “Avengers: Infinity War” – whether you’re a MCU-phile or not, you can’t deny this film’s impressive scale, and the way it deftly balances possibly one of the largest big name casts ever assembled (DC – take note). The interplay between the characters – especially those who’ve never met on-screen before – is never less than entertaining; the Guardians Of The Galaxy, as usual, walk away with all the best lines. Most surprising of all is Thanos – kudos to Brolin for making him a villain that’s both interesting and multifaceted. Its bold ending will also surely be remembered as one of the most iconic of the decade.
- “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” – great fun, with some well-crafted moments of tension; in some respects, it almost feels more like a horror movie than an action film. The cast do solid work, though it’s a shame that Jeff Goldblum doesn’t have more screen time! The first half, whilst entertaining, replays many of the same beats as previous JP films. The second, however, does start opening up the franchise to some interesting new avenues, and provides a very intriguing set-up for 2022’s trilogy closer…
- “First Man” – a thoughtful, heartfelt, and beautifully shot portrayal of the story behind the iconic Apollo 11 mission. The big moments are handled with the epic scope they deserve, but what surprises most of all is the power that the film’s emotional beats deftly convey. Ryan Gosling is excellent as Armstrong – determined, brave, and yet fiercely private and withdrawn. The movie also does a great job of reminding you of the very human cost – and sacrifice – involved in sending man to the moon over 50 years ago.
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – it may play fast and loose with Queen’s history, but this remains an entertaining film, with some fantastic musical moments (especially its incredible recreation of the band’s famous Live Aid performance). What’s also undeniable is the power of Rami Malek’s tour-de-force (and Oscar winning) central performance – magnetically confident and flamboyant one moment, and heartbreakingly nuanced the next.
Avoid Like The Plague: “The Predator” – as a fan of Shane Black’s, it’s a real shame that “The Predator” turned out to be one of his lesser works. There are occasional flashes of Black’s trademark wit, but the thinly sketched characters and unmemorable action set pieces make the film a definite letdown.
2019:
My Must Watch: “Avengers: Endgame” – once again, the Russo brothers expertly crafted a thrilling, hugely entertaining and surprisingly emotional film of simply staggering scale. For those like me (who’ve followed the MCU since the start), it’s filled with incredibly rewarding callbacks and payoffs to earlier films. It’s not perfect (the plot ties itself up in some narrative knots, and its last act is far too reliant on CGI), but any such gripes are minor. You get the sense that there’ll never be another film quite like this, and what Marvel have accomplished leading up to this is nothing short of genius. It will, though, be genuinely sad not to see all these characters/actors together again in future – especially the incomparable RDJ.
Honourable Mentions:
- “Fighting With My Family” – an entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt effort from first time director Stephen Merchant. It manages to feel incredibly grounded (despite the outlandish wrestling story backdrop), and Florence Pugh is excellent in the lead.
- “Yesterday” – a fantastic ‘What if?’ concept cum love letter to the Beatles, brilliantly realised, and anchored by Himesh Patel’s engaging central performance. The emotional narrative twist in the third act most definitely leaves a lump in the throat come the end credits.
- “Spider-Man: Far From Home” – fun and breezy, with Holland (as ever) on fantastic form as Spidey, aided by a brilliant supporting cast. The relationship between Peter and MJ is genuine and sweet, and Gyllenhaal is excellent as Mysterio. The mid-credits teaser is a doozy of a set-up for whatever’s coming next.
- “Joker” – far from an easy watch, but still a fantastic film. A dark, uncompromising, nuanced and yet still fresh take on an iconic villain, with Phoenix on incredible form; his Oscar was absolutely well-deserved.
- “Knives Out” – a clever, fun and brilliantly written whodunnit, which almost feels like a film that belongs in a bygone cinematic era. The ensemble cast impresses, especially Craig and Evans, both of whom brilliantly play against type.
Avoid Like The Plague: “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” – this has its moments, but is ultimately a throwaway addition to a tired franchise whose best years are most definitely behind it.
2020:
My Must Watch: “Bombshell” – a thought provoking real life drama, which is also incredibly timely in the age of Me Too. The leads – especially Lithgow and (a near unrecognisable) Theron – are on great form.
Honourable Mentions:
- “Bad Boys For Life” – a fun actioner with (expectedly) charismatic leads, which also has something interesting to say about getting older. The serious stuff in the last 30 minutes doesn’t quite work – but the laughs generally all land.
- “Birds Of Prey” – a film that I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. More grounded than the (at times) ridiculously outlandish “Suicide Squad”, it’s fun, quirky, and features some great performances from both Robbie, and (an uncharacteristically sadistic) McGregor.
- “Unhinged” – a solid but unremarkable (and surprisingly short) action thriller, not to mention a fairly left-field choice for Russell Crowe. It’s basically a “Duel” redux for 2020, but sadly falls rather short of its inspiration.
- “Tenet” – an undeniable visual spectacle, but some genuinely fascinating ideas (and solid performances) are undone by a script that’s too smart for its own good, and an underlying sense of gimmickry. Not one of Nolan’s best, sadly.
- “Wonder Woman 1984” – not as good as the 2017 original, but WW84 is still a fun, 80s fuelled ride. Gadot continues to impress in the lead role, while Chris Pine (inarguably the heart of the film) is clearly having a blast. The plot may be outlandish, but Pascal and Wiig do at least make for interesting villains.
Avoid Like The Plague: “After We Collided” – the inevitable outcome of wanting to go to the cinema, but there being hardly anything new out (thanks to COVID). A mawkish, teen angst riddled mess of a movie, featuring an unlikeable male lead, and an uncomfortable 5 (yes, 5!) sex scenes. The fact that two sequels are on the way almost beggars belief.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to sound off below.
So – see you in 2025 for Part III?
Not a chance.
Ramy’s World 