Nathan's 50 Favorite Films of the Decade
by Nathan Robertson
My 50 favorite films of the decade (that I’ve seen).
50. The Guest (2014, Adam Wingard)
I can’t recall what brought me to The Guest, but whatever it was I’m very thankful for it. The Guest is cool. A slow burn thriller that makes you question its major character at every turn. Quite possibly my favorite Dan Stevens performance.
49. Upstream Color (2013, Shane Carruth)
You should definitely watch Shane Carruth’s first feature Primer first. Just to give you a taste of his style. Upstream Color is a complex film weaved together by seemingly unrelated scenes, but I promise, watch carefully and it will all make sense. Sort of.
48. Calvary (2014, John Michael McDonagh)
Another beautiful look at faith in the midst of hardship. Brendan Gleason is a force to be reckoned with as a priest who finds himself under attack at every turn.
47. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013, Jim Jarmusch)
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are eternal vampires. Need I say more?
46. The Invitation (2015, Karyn Kusama)
I can’t completely explain why but I love The Invitation. I particularly love showing it to large groups. It’s such an unsuspecting thriller with twists and turns that even when you see them coming, take you by surprise.
45. Game Night (2018, John Francis Daley/Jonathan Goldstein)
I went into this film expecting another raunchy, sub-average comedy, but what I got was a smartly crafted and perfectly cast hour and a half of pure hilarity. It has been a long time since I’ve laughed this hard at a movie. Bateman and McAdams are brilliant together as a hyper-competitive couple who have to learn they can’t be young forever. Gary is one of my favorite characters ever created in a comedy, Jesse Plemons is in peak form here. One of my favorite things about this film is that unlike most recent comedies, Game Night doesn’t rely on raunchy sexual humor to bring the laughs. Each character has their own style of humor and it all melds together perfectly.
44. Ad Astra (2019, James Gray)
A film that wrestles with the space (literally and metaphorically) between a lost father and his alienated son. James Gray’s followup to 2016’s Lost City of Z, finds Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) battling the toxicity left behind from an overly-ambitious absentee father whose professions of love had never been passed outside of a computer screen. How does a man who is constantly compared to his father’s legacy ever become their own person? How do you learn the importance of being present with those you love when all you’ve been shown is abandonment?
43. Arrival (2016, Denis Villeneuve)
Arrival has such a vast scope while occupying such a small space. Denis Villeneuve proved himself perfectly qualified to create a beautiful sci-fi film, which he later proved with his follow-up Bladerunner 2049.
42. Annihilation (2018, Alex Garland)
Annihilation caught me by surprise. The final 30 minutes is unnerving and gorgeous, and that bear scene makes my skin crawl every time.
41. Hell or Highwater (2016, David Mackenzie)
Matt Singer, a critic I follow put it best, “I needed this movie. A reminder thrillers don’t have to be dumb, and smart movies don’t have to be boring.”
40. The Act of Killing (2012, Joshua Oppenheimer)
I have never seen a documentary that quite hit me in the way that this one did. It’s so unorthodox and beyond what you would expect from the average documentary, that once it begins to take form you can’t look away.
39. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019, Quentin Tarantino)
I would watch Brad Pitt just eating breakfast. Everything about this movie has such a precise suave to it that I can't quite put it into words. As someone born in the late 90s there's certainly a lot here that is totally unfamiliar to me. That being said, the characters are so compelling and the scenes so well choreographed, that I couldn't take my eyes off of it.
38. Warrior (2011, Gavin O’Connor)
If you even kind of like sports movies, you have to watch Warrior. If you have a brother, you have to watch Warrior. Honestly if you aren’t doing something right now, you have to watch Warrior. You’ll want to watch a lot more Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton after this one.
37. Manchester by the Sea (2016, Kenneth Lonergan)
Manchester by the Sea is heartbreaking. With honest performances from Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, and newcomer Luke Hedges, Kenneth Lonergan’s precise script is brought to life. Few movies have so effectively dealt with the struggle of loss in such a palpable way.
36. Moneyball (2011, Bennett Miller)
Moneyball is so much more than your average sports movie. The cinematography is subtle and the script is the perfect pace to fit the fast pace of the behind the scenes world of professional baseball.
35. Inception (2010, Christopher Nolan)
Most of us have seen it, most of us had our minds blown by it. Christopher Nolan delivers an ambitious and boggling story of dream manipulation.
34. Drive (2011, Nicolas Winding Refn)
Drive is the story of a stunt man / driver for hire who gets himself involved with the wrong people. With some truly incredible sequences and on point performances from Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan, and Oscar Isaac, Drive is a film I show people often.
33. Paddington 2 (2017, Paul King)
If you’ve talked to me at all about movies I love, you’ll have no doubt heard about my strong love of Paddington. Paul King achieves the impossible here. He puts a CGI BEAR, into the real world, gives him a passion for marmalade, sends him to prison, AND YET SOMEHOW YOU CARE ABOUT THIS BEAR LIKE HE’S A REAL PERSON. Hugh Grant should’ve been given a supporting Oscar for this one. Paddington 2 was one of the best theater-going experiences I’ve had in my life. It was myself and about 20 adults with special needs who were on a field trip with their day program. It still brings me to tears thinking about the joy and the laughter that was exuding from the theater that day. It was a beautiful reminder that film has the power to transcend all kinds of barriers, and that the simple story of a Peruvian bear could bring myself and twenty other people I’d never met, together for a couple of hours on a Saturday.
32. Ida (2013, Pawel Pawlikowski)
This is such a beautiful film. Ida follows a novice nun who uncovers a family secret just before taking her vows. The gorgeous cinematography and powerful performances make this a must watch.
31. Clouds of SIls Maria (2014, Olivier Assayas)
Kristen Stewart is a good actress and I will stand by that till I die. If you’ve only seen her in Twilight you really should see some of her other work (not Charlie’s Angles though). Clouds of Sils Maria pairs her with all-time great Juliette Binoche as they explore the existential crisis that comes with aging fame.
30. Lady Bird (2017, Greta Gerwig)
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut was a hit, introducing us to her voice that could become one of the most important voices in the film business. Lady Bird is her story put on screen and is an important exploration for mothers and daughters everywhere. Also Saoirse Ronan is so good and I cannot wait to see Little Women.
29. The Florida Project (2017, Sean Baker)
This is a film that exposes a harsh reality, that hundreds of homeless children are living in cheap motels on the major highway leading to Disney World. I can’t say enough about the child actors in this film. They along with Willem Dafoe are stellar.
28. Roma (2018, Alfonso Cuarón)
So so so so beautifully poignant and precise. I found myself along with Pepe, seeing myself as someone I was not, becoming apart of the world unfolding before me on my screen. Yalitza Aparicio is magnificent. I can't believe she decided to do this movie just because she'd finished school to be a teacher and "had nothing better to do" while she waited for her results. Cuaron is unlike anyone else when it comes to his dyadic pairing of symbolism and technical precision. You’ll want Kleenex close by.
27. 12 Years a Slave (2013, Steve McQueen)
Saying anything about this film doesn’t feel like enough. Steve McQueen creates a historical drama that is so brutal and raw that it’s difficult to sit through. This film is vital and should be put up with the likes of Schindler’s List as historical films that should be seen by everyone.
26. It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012) / World of Tomorrow (2015, Don Hertzfeldt)
I’ll just go ahead and say that these aren’t for everybody. Hertzfeldt manages to effectively pose massive existential questions through the use of pencil drawn animation and projected photographs. However, if you’re in the mood to think, these are a great option.
25. Burning (2018, Chang-dong Lee)
Steven Yeun is scary good in this. This film is a slow burn (no pun intended). The longer it goes the more you begin to question what’s really happening, all up to the explosive conclusion.
24. Parasite (2019, Bong Joon Ho)
Bong Joon Ho is one of the greatest working directors. Here he creates a masterclass showcase of the struggles of class division and what happens when a deceptive family from the bottom infiltrates those who live on the top of the hill.
23. Get Out (2017, Jordan Peele)
No one saw this coming from half of the Key & Peele comedy duo, Jordan Peele. However, he defied all expectations by creating a film that forces viewers outside of their comfort zone to embrace humor, politics, and horror all in one sitting.
22. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013, Ethan and Joel Coen)
One of Oscar Isaac’s finest performances. The Coen Brothers create the world of the 1970’s folk scene in NYC with a spot on precision and humor that only they can.
21. A Hidden Life - (2019, Terrence Malick)
“It is better to suffer injustice than to inflict it.” A Hidden Life was a return to form for Malick. It echoes many of the themes from Tree of Life but is much more overtly Christian in its perspective and approach to questions surrounding faith and suffering. This is a must watch.
20. Before Midnight (2013, Richard Linklater)
The Before Trilogy are some of my all-time favorite movies. Before Midnight gives a fitting end to the journey of Jesse and Celine that started 18 years before. The conversations they have are so real and honest that it feels as if you’re watching a real couple attempt to solve their ailing relationship.
19. Certified Copy (2010, Abbas Kiarostami)
If you asked me to explain this film to you, I’m not sure that I could. But what I do know is that by making the audience question the reality of the situation, it gives a freedom to just listen to words. There are many poignant moments in this, all stemming from pressing questions of love and art and authenticity.
18. A Ghost Story (2017, David Lowery)
Who knew we needed a five minute scene of Rooney Mara eating pie? This is such a beautifully and carefully crafted film that deals with the question of time, love, and loss.
17. Whiplash (2014, Damien Chazelle)
Perhaps the most stressed out I have ever been while watching something. Damien Chazelle’s short film turned feature is an incredible feat of precision filmmaking and powerful performances. Anyone who has seen this has seen JK Simmons screaming at them in their dreams.
16. Phantom Thread (2017, Paul Thomas Anderson)
Daniel Day-Lewis’s last performance (so he says) is one of his finest. His turn as a self-engrossed fashion designer who finds himself up against a force to be reckoned with in his latest muse, is one that few other actors could pull off convincingly. Jonny Greenwood’s gorgeous score is often played in my house.
15. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, Wes Anderson)
I’m a sucker for a great Ralph Fiennes performance. Wes Anderson has proven himself as a director who knows his style and continually finds ways to create worlds that audiences love.
14. Columbus (2017, Kogonada)
Perhaps the greatest combination of simplicity and beauty that 2017 had to offer. John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson offer up two intimate and heartfelt performances that take this from being an interesting film about architecture in a small city, to a powerful lens into the lives of two delicate souls lost in the pain of past traumas.
13. Paterson (2016, Jim Jarmusch)
If there was ever a film that was made to be watched on a rainy day by someone who really needed a pick-me-up, this would be it. Adam Driver plays a poetry writing bus driver named Paterson, who drives the Paterson bus, in Paterson, New Jersey. And yes, it’s as delightful as it sounds.
12. Frances Ha (2012, Noah Baumbach)
This was my introduction to Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver. The partnership of Gerwig and Noah Baumbach is one that feels so wholly unique which allows Frances Ha to march to the beat of its own drum. With countless memorable one-liners, this is a film I will never stop watching.
11. Short Term 12 (2013, Destin Daniel Cretton)
This film has so much heart. Anytime the opportunity presents itself I try to show this to people. There are so many beautiful moments that will stick with me forever.
10. Marriage Story (2019, Noah Baumbach)
Its ugliness is it’s beauty. This film will stand as an achievement in acting, writing, and an all-around wonderful piece of filmmaking. Marriage Story features Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in what could end up being their career-best performances.
9. First Reformed (2017, Paul Schrader)
“Despair is a development of pride so great that it chooses someone’s certitude rather than admit that God is more creative than we are.”
-Thomas Merton
Reverend Toller often quotes Thomas Merton, battling between this seemingly contradictory struggle of hope vs despair. "First Reformed" is visually mesmerizing, forcing the viewer to soak in everything on screen. Hawke is a subtle but powerful force to be reckoned with, giving a performance that will surely be remembered. But more than that, "First Reformed" is a carefully weaved warning for Christians to stop trying to create their own form of convenient Christianity. One cannot pick and choose the commands of God they wish to follow.
8. Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018, Morgan Neville)
A heartfelt look at the life of a man who truly sought to bring good into a world that often seems to be absent of it.
7. Her (2013, Spike Jonze)
No, this is not the story of some dude that falls in love with a computer. This is a story about loneliness, loss, and a yearning to feel something through connection with others. The combination of Spike Jonze’s writing and directing, and Jaoquin Phoenix’s performance are a delight to watch.
6. Little Women (2019, Greta Gerwig)
With Lady Bird Greta Gerwig stepped into the throne room, with Little Women she took her place on the throne.
5. Boyhood (2014, Richard Linklater)
You’re telling me Richard Linklater spent twelve years making a movie with all of the same actors? Yes, yes he did. This incredible feat of filmmaking payed off in a big way.
4. Moonlight (2016, Barry Jenkins)
Ladies and gentlemen please give a warm welcome to Barry Jenkins. The surprise best picture Oscar was well deserved for this indie darling that tells the story of a boy in three different stages of life as he struggles with understanding who people tell him he is, and who he actually is.
3. The Social Network (2010, David Fincher)
A generation defining movie. With a laser focused script from Aaron Sorkin and a fantastic ensemble performance, The Social Network made everyone take a moment to think about the origins of that thing they get on every single day.
2. Tree of Life (2011, Terrence Malick)
How do we have faith in the Creator of the universe in the midst of losing a child? Terrence Malick gives us one of the greatest explorations of faith in cinema history. With stellar performances from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Sean Penn, Malick weaves together the story of creation with the interpersonal struggles of a 1950’s family. I would encourage every Christian who enjoys movies to watch Tree of Life.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, George Miller)
I love this movie. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve watched this. Every aspect is firing on all cylinders: the cinematography, acting, music, sound design, writing, everything. The practical effects here make a world of difference, making an impossible world seem perfectly plausible. It’s a beautiful and brutal story of redemption, and one that I will never stop watching.