Best Movie of the 2010s: Honorable Mentions
So, as you know, we went through a billion movies to narrow it down to our 64 entries. If you don’t know that by now, get out from under that rock, people! But what about the other hundred-plus movies that we watched and didn’t quite make it? Well, we decided to write about the ones that just missed the cut. Our process was to make a shortlist of about 100 movies and then narrow those down. We love to hear our own opinions on things, so now you unfortunately have to read them. Here are some brief comments on our honorable mentions.
The First Cut
1917 (2019): I recently wrote that I liked John Wick because it was an action movie that was a very simple story. I like 1917 for that same reason. War movies can be really confusing! And 1917 isn’t like that. It pretty much follows ONE GUY trying to find his brother on the battlefield of World War I. It’s based on a family story from Sam Mendes’s grandfather’s life, and the cinematography??? Can you say Big Deak Energy??? I also saw it in one of those big movie theaters where the seats shake at the explosions and there are huge screens, so that added to the epic nature of the film. (Erin)
A Monster Calls (2016): A Monster Calls (this illustrated edition specifically) is my favorite book of all time. The movie did an admirable job of adapting it for people who are less inclined to read books. Liam Neeson plays a monster who visits a young boy at night to tell him three folktales in order to help the boy deal with nightmares. It’s beautiful, tragic, and Irish as all hell. Watch the movie - but read the book first. It’s like 200 pages but written like a children’s book and heavily illustrated. I read it in an afternoon. It’s wonderful. (Tom)
A Quiet Place (2018): I missed this one in theaters but really loved it when I watched it a few months back. Starring real life married couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, this film about a family trying to survive in a world where they have to remain silent in order to avoid scary monsters has a cool premise, a tight script, and BONUS: it’s under two hours. Score! (Erin)
Beginners (2011): While this movie about a man who is coming to terms with his dad’s coming out at an elderly age can veer into “cutesy” territory here and there, it is beyond worth the watch for Christopher Plummer’s Oscar-winning performance. He is truly wonderful in this--funny and full of life and promise...it elevates the film into something really memorable. (Erin)
Blindspotting (2018): I am all for anything that gets Daveed Diggs onto my screen, and his chemistry with real life friend Rafael Casal bleeds through this movie about the dangers of police and the justice system in Oakland. It’s actually pretty funny at times too. It shows how people can cope with the heaviness of immense stress. (Tom)
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018): I could watch Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant act in every scene in every movie together until the end of time. This is a biopic of sorts about a woman who makes money forging letters written by famous people like Dorothy Parker. It’s also the only movie that Julianne Moore has ever been fired from (Can you even imagine?!) Still, it’s a great watch. (Erin)
Creed (2015): It’s rare that a series that has been going on five decades is able to reinvent itself, but that’s exactly what Creed accomplished for the Rocky series. Ryan Coogler, who has only directed movies starring Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther), knows exactly how to bring the best out of his star. Creed is super fun and the scene with the motorcycles is awesome. Also, Stallone should’ve gotten Supporting Actor that year. (Tom)
Django Unchained (2012): Ummmmm um um um okay so there is so much I like about this movie, sort of a spaghetti western about a former slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) who travels with a dentist/bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) in order to free his wife from slavery. Really great performances here, but I can’t help but agree with Spike Lee’s criticism that this felt a bit exploitative. I can tell you that I had a very different reaction to this movie than I did back in 2012. I guess that’s why we are doing this movie challenge, right? (Erin)
Dolemite is My Name (2019): This movie (a biopic that I didn’t know was a biopic!) is such a blast to watch, and is perfect for when you want to laugh and watch Eddie Murphy back in action. I loved the music and the storyline, and it seemed like everyone had fun working on it. (Erin)
Drive (2011): I was too cool for Ryan Gosling in 2011, so I never caught this one until this project. The movie is stylish and brutal and truly shocking at times. Man, that scene in the motel with Christina Hendricks. Yikes. Love it though. The movie is BEAUTIFUL - and I don’t just mean the stylish cinematography. I’m talking about you, Ryan Gosling, Christina Hendricks, and Oscar Isaac. (Tom)
First Reformed (2018): Paul Schrader is an abrasive filmmaker (and person), and First Reformed fits his modus operandi. But man, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried kill it in this quiet, tense drama about a pastor struggling with his religious beliefs in the face of a takeover by an evangelical megachurch. It’s hard to watch at times but it again shows why Ethan Hawke is one of his generation’s strongest performers and is criminally underrated. (Tom)
Ford v. Ferrari (2019): I went into this thinking that it was the ultimate dad movie. IT IS, don’t get me wrong, but get me a pair of bright white New Balance sneakers, because I really enjoyed it, especially Christian Bale. Oh wow, I accidentally said Christina Bale. Did anyone else not realize that Christian and Christina are only one tiny typing error away from each other? Okay, yes, cool movie, slightly too long, cool ending. (Erin)
Fruitvale Station (2013): I love Ryan Coogler, and his directorial debut is a really important and fantastic film about the last day of Oscar Grant’s life before he was killed by a police officer in a San Francisco subway station. I don’t think I have ever seen a movie like it before. It was really beautiful and horrifying--I highly recommend it. (Erin)
Good Time (2016): The Safdie Brothers’ first effort is an even rawer, less polished version of Uncut Gems. If you liked Gems AT ALL, you absolutely should watch it. Good Time has more heart and, like Sandler, Robert Pattinson gives an elite lead performance. It’s another heart attack for 90 minutes. (Tom)
Her (2013): I watched the first half of this movie on a plane but then turned it off when a certain scene happened and I was like, “Okay I can’t watch this on a plane.” Upon a full watch later on, this film is really interesting and asks the audience some fascinating questions about love, technology, and a mix of the two. Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely man who falls in love with an AI voice, played by Scarlett Johansson. It’s a quirky film that has a lot of heart. (Erin)
Hereditary (2018): This would have had a strong chance of making the bracket if it were up to me, but “for her mental health,” Erin chose to skip this one and watch Lilo & Stitch while I watched it. Ari Aster is a wild filmmaker and this one has a bunch of scenes that still stick out in my mind with only a couple of jump scares. Plus, Toni Colette and Ann Dowd rule. (Tom)
Hustlers (2019): The soundtrack to this movie is awesome! A film about a group of women working at a strip club looking to steal from their wealthy customers, Hustlers is a fun watch, but it is very much in the same spirit of Magic Mike because there is more than meets the eye in the movie. Jennifer Lopez is amazing in it, and I love movies that are about women and made by women. (Erin)
The Kids Are All Right (2010): Great performances all around in this dramedy (yuck to that term) about a lesbian couple who decide to meet the sperm donor for their children. The cast is stacked, with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and QUEEN ANNETTE BENING. If Annette Bening doesn’t get an Oscar soon...I mean, come on Academy. (Erin)
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019): Gentrification has seen some backlash particularly out west, and this is a heartfelt story of a man affected by it. Based partly on his own life, Jimmie Fails, in his first role ever, tries to regain the house built by his grandfather that is now in the hands of middle-class white people. It’s a personal, touching project and a joy to watch. (Tom)
Les Misérables (2012): I liked this movie WAY more than I thought I would. Critics thought Russell Crowe was terrible, but I loved him. Russell Crowe is camp. (Tom)
The Martian (2015): It’s Ridley Scott, it’s Matt Damon, and it’s a space survival movie. You pretty much know exactly what you’re getting, but The Martian exceeds expectations thanks to its deep, amazing cast, engaging ‘70s soundtrack, and strong source material. I respect botanists a whole lot more than I did before this movie. You all know how much I hated botanists. (Tom)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010): Another one I was too cool for when it came out because comic books were for kids and *I* was a couple of weeks away from being a *freshman in college*. I’m an idiot. This movie rocks and most of the cast became big stars later on. Sex Bob-Omb forever. (Tom)
Searching (2018): A mystery thriller filmed almost entirely through phone and computer screens, Searching could have gotten really hokey really quickly, but it honestly doesn’t. John Cho plays a father -searching- for his missing daughter through her digital trail on apps, cell phones, and websites. It has lots of twists and turns, and the filming method adds to the suspense rather than hindering it. (Tom)
Us (2019): This movie is nothing if not ambitious, and Jordan Peele earned every bit of this leeway after smashing Get Out out of the park. I think Peele has so much to say in Us, and framing a horror movie around Hands Across America is a brilliant concept. It didn’t land quite as hard as Get Out did, but it’s still extremely memorable and ruined The Beach Boys for me forever. Lupita not getting a Best Actress nomination for this is insane. (Tom)
Widows (2018): Forget about Freddy Kreuger, Jason Voorhees, and all them, because Daniel Kaluuya in this movie has one of the scariest performances in recent memory. In a heist thriller movie starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Liam Neeson, Brian Tyree Henry, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, Cynthia Erivo and and and...it’s Kaluuya’s dead-behind-the-eyes gaze that I envision when I think about this movie. (Tom)
You Were Never Really Here (2018): Joaquin Phoenix had some Best Actor buzz coming out of this one, where he played a violent, troubled hitman, but he refused to do press for it. He ended up getting the nod for a movie with a similar tone, Joker, the following cycle. You should absolutely watch this. It’s way better than Joker. (Tom)
The Final Cut
22 Jump Street (2014): Yes, we almost ended up with both Jump Street movies in the bracket. I probably like this one more than the first, but the first is more ubiquitous and honestly, surprising. Wyatt Russell is the absolute best though. (Jeff Tom)
Argo (2012): So uh, this one actually made the bracket list at first, and then we realized days later that by some oversight it never actually made it into a matchup. But I guess that goes to show that it isn’t in our upper echelon anyway, so we decided to keep it out rather than amend the whole thing. Again, real scientific and precise stuff going on here at MPM. ANYWAY, the airport scene in this movie is incredible and you can think what you want about Ben Affleck, but he rules in this movie and did an excellent job directing as well. Plus, with Cranston, Arkin, and Goodman in the supporting cast, you can’t go wrong even though the movie itself might not be super historically accurate. (Tom)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Surprising an audience is hard. Surprising an audience in a trilogy is hard. Surprising an audience after ten years and fifteen movies is something else entirely. Whether you like the MCU movies or you don’t, what Avengers: Infinity War did to moviegoers with one single snap is nothing short of spectacular. It’s one of my favorite theater moments I’ve ever experienced. Oh, and the movie grossed $2 billion too. No big deal. (Tom)
Before Midnight (2013): RICHARD. LINKLATER. ROCKS. This is the third film (presumably the last??? I don’t know actually!) in the “Before” series, where a couple just like, lives life maaaaan. Ethan Hawke I swear just does whatever he wants at all times. At some point in the ‘90s he just decided he didn’t really care about being famous, I guess? But he is SO GOOD IN EVERYTHING so I feel like he should be in some blockbusters anyway in order to make them even better? Anyway, watch this one. (Erin)
Bernie (2012): Richard Linklater and Jack Black are just a slam dunk together. Their second collab, following School of Rock, and based on a true story, this dark comedy sees Black as a beloved mortician who befriends a crotchety old wealthy woman (Shirley MacLaine). The rest of the movie is about the investigation of her death by the district attorney (Matthew McConaughey). It’s a great movie that I think more people should see. (Tom)
Edge of Tomorrow (2014): I’ve seen this a few times and I am usually really sick of Groundhog Day-style movies (you know what I’m talking about) but this one is such a banger. I love Emily Blunt so much, and the other lead (who I refuse to praise) is also in it. I think this one is really solidly in the “cerebral sci-fi” genre that produced a bunch of really cool films in the mid 2010s (Arrival, Ex Machina, etc.) so if you like that, check this one out. (Erin)
The Gift (2015): This movie is just so cooooool and Hitchcockian and filled with twists and turns. Jason Bateman moved back to his hometown with his wife and keeps getting gifts from his weird old classmate Joel Edgerton (who also directed!) I usually think Jason Bateman is unlikable and smarmy (wow that was totally harsh...he’s not that bad at all) but it completely works in this movie. DEFINITELY WATCH IT IF YOU WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THRILLERS THAT ARE NOT WORTH IT. THIS ONE IS WORTH IT. (Erin)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): This is like a candy-coated Wes Anderson cake of goodness. I usually am NOT a Wes Anderson fan---he kills off dogs so much in his movies. Also...we get it, you’re *~*quirky*~* and also WHAT the heck was Moonrise Kingdom? But this one was really fun and Ralph Fiennes played against type and was truly masterful. Pure fun. (Erin)
The Guard (2011): If you know me, two things are written on my resume: I’m proud to be Irish, and I love Paddington 2. This is a very Irish movie starring Paddington 2 scene stealer Brendan Gleeson. Plus Don Cheadle!! Bliss. Heaven. I ascended to a new plane of existence. (Erin)
Magic Mike (2012): Erin insisted we put this one on our shortlist back when we started this project and I’m glad we did. What I thought was a stupid stripper movie predicated on Channing Tatum’s abs was actually...well, somewhat that, but it had a lot of heart and was much more of a legitimate drama than expected. I should’ve known. Soderbergh is a good director. (Tom)
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019): God I wish Shia LaBeouf wasn’t such a horrible person, because I love this movie. It combines three of my favorite things: unlikely friendships, backwater professional wrestling, and Dakota Johnson. It’s a wonderful story, essentially a modern Huckleberry Finn, where a criminal and a kid with Down syndrome meet and join together for a journey to find themselves. It’s so, so good. (Tom)
The Sessions (2012): Okay so this movie was rated way lower than I thought it would be (or should be!) on Letterboxd. John Hawkes plays a quadriplegic man who signs up for sessions with a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt). This is a fascinating look at a topic that I never knew existed, and the performances were wonderful. Plus, it’s based on a true story! (Erin)
Straight Outta Compton (2015): This story of N.W.A. could have been too Hollywood for the group itself, but the authenticity and performances by the main cast elevated it to the level of a strong biopic. Plus Lakeith Stanfield played Snoop Dogg. (Tom)
Tangerine (2015): A movie about a pair of transgender sex workers in LA that was filmed on three iPhones by the director of The Florida Project. What else needs to be said? This film felt so authentic, was extremely funny, and although it’s definitely not a “watch with your family after Thanksgiving dinner” type of film, it is a worthwhile 90 minutes or so for sure. (Erin)
The Theory of Everything (2014): I’m not usually a biopic person, but this movie about Stephen Hawking and his first wife Jane was really well made. We got wonderful performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, and the score!! The score is the perfect studying soundtrack. Oh! And the poster was very memorable to me for some reason. *shrug* (Erin
True Grit (2010): True Grit is a great book and the movie is just as good. I think there’s something to be said for a movie that straight up adapts a book without adding any “creative flourishes,” and this one faithfully brings the text to life. Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin are obvious stars, but it takes a special talent like Hailee Steinfeld to carry a narrative on her back at 13 years old. She beat out fifteen thousand girls for this part. Unreal. (Tom)
The Way Way Back (2013): Mark this as a film that fits under my favorite category: No serious conflict or plot...just vibes. What’s cool about The Way Way Back is that there could be a lot of conflict--an introverted teenage boy finds a job at a water park to escape the daily problems of his family, but it’s not like that at all. We got to spend a little time immersed in this summer at a water park with a standout performance by Sam Rockwell that I just loved. (Erin)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014): This mockumentary starring like half of the cast of Flight of the Conchords is now a hit show on FX, and totally worth the watch. Taika Watiti knows what he's doing, and he is the perfect director and star for a silly movie about vampires living in present day New Zealand. (Erin)
Wind River (2017): Taylor Sheridan is one of my absolute favorite screenwriters, and this movie blew my mind open to the mistreatment of Native American women and the government’s failure to address it. Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch take their talents to Wyoming, and it’s a throwback mystery film for a new generation. (Tom)
X-Men: First Class (2011): Yes, I thought comic book movies were kinda dumb at this point, but I still couldn’t resist X-Men. Michael Fassbender’s performance in this movie makes me sad because he’s amazing but - with a couple of exceptions - he’s put out absolute crap ever since. Still, First Class has a special place in my movie-watching heart. (Tom)