Here you go Outpopsters, the final stretch of the Top 10 movies of the last several decades. This list takes us up to 2019 and on our current trajectory, in 6 years’ time, the Top 10 Movies of the ’20s is going to be a very depressing affair. Anyway…
2010 – Inception
Not to take anything away from Noaln’s Inception but 2010 wasn’t a particularly memorable year to start this decade. Inception was by far the standout and is still one of the most original concepts to come out of Hollywood in recent years.
Fast forward 13 years later and the theory that you can infiltrate people’s dreams and manipulate their minds seems to have been based on real science. Not long after Inception‘s release, a relatively attractive young woman called Ellen Page believed that by cutting off her breasts, she would instantly become a man and be happy about it. Obviously, she was wrong but the mind manipulation experiment continues to work a treat.
2011 – Drive
Come on, this is an easy decision and one that will give Shawn T a stiffy. Drive is one of those movies that you will never “tyre” (I’m here all week) of watching. With an absolute knockout cast (except for Ron Perlman), lead by Ryan Gosling in what was a great decade for him, Drive is a modern-day classic that will stand the test of time.
2012 – Skyfall
A really great year for movies, with Argo, Lawless, Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines, Django Unchained, and the highly underrated Dredd make this one of the most compelling years so far. I’ve had to put Skyfall at the top of this list but it was a really tough decision if I’m honest.
After the disappointment of Quantum Of Solace, James Bond came back to give everyone a good old-fashioned kick in the bollocks for ever doubting the franchise. Skyfall took Bond back to basics where his determination and professionalism replaced his need for silly gadgets and the usual elaborate plan for world domination was swapped for a simple revenge story led by the always impressive Javier Bardem.
2013 – Man Of Steel
This comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me. Man Of Steel is the greatest superhero movie of the last 20+ years. Deal with it.
2014 – Interstellar
Another Nolan masterpiece that is accompanied by yet another incredible score by Hans Zimmer. As well as Nolan, Hans was red hot this decade with his incredible work on Inception, Man Of Steel (Nolan produced), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
As detailed in my previous Top 10 Time Travel movies, scientists make a case that Interstellar is the most accurate depiction of time travel ever put on screen. As well as it’s stunning cinematography, pacing, and storytelling put Interstellar up there with sci-fi epics like 2001.
2015 – Sicario
Like the argument for who is the best footballer, Messi or Ronaldo (it’s Ronaldo) the same principles apply for who is the best working director today, Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve. I say we should put petty squabbles aside and just enjoy this period in time because both are masters of their craft.
This is the first Villeneuve movie to make my ’10s list but it’s not the last. Like Nolan, Zimmer, and Ryan Goslin, the ’10s was an absolutely spectacular decade for these chaps. Sicario is a tension-filled, slick piece of cinema written by Taylor Sheridan that keeps you fully engaged from the first second to the last. Villeneuve weaves multiple characters and varying story arcs into one seamless movie that gets better with every viewing.
2016 – Arrival
Denis is back again already with Arrival. A smart piece of sci-fi for the thinking man. No laser swords, or pew pews, and instead a story about the sad reality of how human beings would likely react to a truly world-changing scenario of aliens turning up on our doorstep.
Rather than work together, the powers that be spend their time mistrusting the aliens, and each other and arguing amongst themselves in a race to see who (politicians) can benefit the most from a monumental situation like this. Once again, a slick piece of work from Villeneuve.
Shout out and honourable mention to King Mel for Hacksaw Ridge.
2017 – Dunkirk
Yeah I know, you all thought it was going to be The Last Jedi. Seriously though, this was literally a toss-up between Dunkirk and Blade Runner 2049. And unashamedly, patriotism won because Dunkirk just hits me in the English feels which why it’s takes this spot.
However, if I could choose two movies for this year, then I would have had both in a heartbeat and this list, even though they are my personal choices, just shows that Nolan and Villeneuve are in a league of their own right now.
Honourable mentions to Baby Driver, Wind River, Darkest Hour, Molly’s Game, I, Tonya, and War For The Planet of the Apes.
2018 – Avengers: Infinity War
Bizarrely, or maybe a show of things to come, 2018 doesn’t have much to offer. Yeah, we had A Quiet Place, Mission Impossible: Fallout, and Sicario: Day of the Soldado but I have to give it to Marvel.
Regardless of rivalries, you have to give credit where credit is due. Avengers: Infinity War shows the sheer genius of Marvel and Fiege in particular, who managed to implement a plan that had so far spanned a decade, 18 movies, multiple shows, and numerous characters into this penultimate movie and arguably, the last great Marvel film. I salute you…
… It’s still not as good as Man Of Steel though. *wink.
2019 – 1917
I’ve struggled with this decision. I know many of you would have chosen Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Joker, or maybe The Rise Of Skywalker Palpatine, (only kidding) but like Dunkirk in 2017, it is my unapologetic patriotism that clinched it at the end.
I chose Dunkirk and 1917 for the very same reasons I chose Saving Private Ryan in the Top 10 ’90s, I cannot stress enough the importance of what our forefathers sacrificed in order to protect our way of life. And films like 1917 should be held up on a pedestal.
So there you have it Outposters. It’s been fun and I genuinely appreciate your participation in the comments as well as your alternative choices too. Let me know what you would have chosen for your Top 10 ’10s.
Also, if you have any suggestions for future Top 10 subjects, let me know. Alternatively, if you want to contribute one yourself, and send it to Stark, you’ll make him happier than a pig in shit.
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