This year, four films seem locked for a mention come Tuesday morning: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, Turning Red, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish being those four. They’ve hit all the major precursors and have the wide support needed to be confidently nominated in this category.
In my mind, the last slot is between My Father’s Dragon, Inu-Oh, Wendell & Wild and The Sea Beast. As Inu-Oh has the best ratings of the three (highest IMDb and Metacritic scores) and has another nod in addition to just the Annie nomination, it may be my pick to take the fifth slot but watch out for the previously-mentioned films as well. My Father’s Dragon is a Cartoon Saloon film and the Academy has shown their love for the studio in the past as every single other Cartoon Saloon film (Secret of the Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, and Wolfwalkers) has been nominated in this category. However, all four of those films were nominated at either GG, CCA, or PGA or were critics’ favorites, none of which My Father’s Dragon has.
Another stat to consider is that in the last nine years, there has been at least one non-American made film nominated here. Of the films I have noted as contenders for that fifth spot, only My Father’s Dragon and Inu-Oh fit this mold. Between the two, I think the former better represents what the Academy usually nominates in this category and as much as I wnat them to, I doubt the Academy will ever nominate a Masaaki Yuasa film (sigh).
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – GG, CCA, Annie, BAFTA, PGA
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – GG, CCA, Annie (Indie), BAFTA, PGA
Turning Red – GG, CCA, Annie, BAFTA, PGA
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – GG, CCA, Annie, BAFTA, PGA
My Father’s Dragon – Annie (Indie)
Could Jump In: Inu-Oh – GG, Annie (Indie), Wendell & Wild – CCA, Annie, The Sea Beast – Annie
Like with the previous category, four films seem essentially locked here: All Quiet on the Western Front, Decision to Leave, Argentina, 1985, and Close (though I think Close is vulnerable for a surprise miss like A Hero last year).
This category is so unpredictable, there has been at least one massive shock nominee in the last three years. I would not be surprised if that happens again (even though there is a lower chance of that happening due to ANOTHER rule change which will allow all Academy members to opt in to voting in this category if they say they’ve seen all the shortlisted films), but I’m going to play it safe and go with The Quiet Girl, which I think will be a definite nominee if enough people see it, which if Academy members are honest about seeing all the shortlisted films, they will have.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
All Quiet on the Western Front – GG, CCA, BAFTA
Decision to Leave – GG, CCA, BAFTA
Argentina, 1985 – GG, CCA, BAFTA
Close – GG, CCA
The Quiet Girl – BAFTA
Could Jump In: EO, Bardo – CCA, Holy Spider, Return to Seoul, Corsage – BAFTA
Fire of Love has hit every precursor so far but it is a documentary built on mostly archival footage, which we see snubbed here time and time again. However, Critics Choice winner Good Night Oppy was already snubbed by not even being included in the longlists, so maybe the branch’s impulse to snub has already been exhausted.
One of the big four in this category (All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Fire of Love, Navalny, All That Breathes) will be snubbed, I just can’t decide on which one even though I can think of arguments for each. So essentially I really doubt that this is what the nominations look like, these are just the most likely nominees in my view.
Other than the four films with the most precursor nominations, Descendent is my pick the round out the top five. The Obamas’ production company Higher Ground has made two films eligible for the Oscar in this category, American Factory and Crip Camp, both of which were nominated (the former won). As a result, Descendent which is also critically-acclaimed and has both CCA and PGA nominations, seems pretty likely to continue this trend.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed – IDA, CEH, BAFTA
Fire of Love – CCA, IDA, CEH, PGA, BAFTA
Navalny – CCA, IDA, CEH, PGA, BAFTA
All that Breathes – IDA, CEH, PGA, BAFTA
Descendent – CCA, PGA
Could Jump In: The Territory – CEH, PGA, The Janes – IDA, Moonage Daydream – CCA, BAFTA, Bad Axe
Finally, the final 25. Here are my picks for the best 25 films of the decade.
Happy 2020s!
25. The Master
‘The Master’ (The Weinstein Company)
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
The Master unfolds the journey of a Naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman). (The Weinstein Company)
24. The Tree of Life
‘The Tree of Life’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Terrence Malick
The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick’s signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life. (Fox Searchlight)
23. Shoplifters
‘Shoplifters’ (Magnolia Pictures)
Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu (Lily Franky) and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife (Sakura Ando) agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them. (Rotten Tomatoes)
22. Gravity
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney). But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone – tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. (Warner Bros.)
21. Dunkirk
‘Dunkirk’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Evacuation of Allied soldiers from the British Empire, and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German Army from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, between May 26- June 04, 1940, during Battle of France in World War II. (Warner Bros.)
After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing’s law enforcement is only exacerbated.
19. Inception
‘Inception’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible, inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea, but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. (Warner Bros.)
18. La La Land
‘La La Land’ (Lionsgate)
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
La La Land tells the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. (Rotten Tomatoes).
17. Room
‘Room’ (A24)
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother (Brie Larson). Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical–they are trapped–confined to a 10-by-10-foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack’s curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma’s resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world. (A24)
16. Moonlight
‘Moonlight’ (A24)
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality. ( Rotten Tomatoes).
15. Her
‘Her’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed By; Spike Jonze
In a near future, a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system (Scarlett Johansson) designed to meet his every need. (IMDb)
14. The Social Network
‘The Social Network’ (Columbia)
Directed by: David Fincher
As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins (Armie Hammer) who claimed he stole their idea, and by the co-founder ( who was later squeezed out of the business. (IMDb)
13. Before Midnight
‘Before Midnight’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
We meet Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna. (IMDb).
12. Call Me By Your Name
‘Call Me By Your Name’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio’s sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio’s father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever. (Sony Pictures Classics)
11. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (Sony)
Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities. (IMDb)
10. Amour
‘Amour’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Michael Haneke
Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter (Isabelle Huppert), who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested. (Sony Pictures Classics)
9. Spotlight
‘Spotlight’ (Open Road)
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. (Open Road Films)
8. Whiplash
‘Whiplash’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man’s life. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity. (Sony Pictures Classics)
7. Mad Max: Fury Road
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: George Miller
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman (Charlize Theron) rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper (Nicholas Hoult), and a drifter named Max (Tom Hardy).
6. 12 Years a Slave
’12 Years A Slave’ (Fox Searchlight)
Directed by: Steve McQueen
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner (Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life. (Fox Searchlight)
5. Toy Story 3
‘Toy Story 3’ (Disney/Pixar)
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back. As their owner Andy (John Morris) prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare where untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice. So, it’s all for one and one for all as they join Barbie’s (Jodi Benson) counterpart Ken (Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty) to plan their great escape. (Disney/Pixar)
4. Boyhood
‘Boyhood’ (IFC Films)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent… BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. (IFC Films)
3. Inside Out
‘Inside Out’ (Disney/Pixar)
Directed by: Pete Docter
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. (Disney/Pixar)
2. Parasite
‘Parasite’ (NEON Pictures)
Directed by: Bong Joon-Ho
A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure. (CJ Entertainment)
1. A Separation
‘A Separation’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Asghar Farhadi
Set in contemporary Iran, A Separation is a compelling drama about the dissolution of a marriage. Simin (Leila Hatami) wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader (Payman Maadi) and daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin returns to her parents’ home, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When Nader hires a young woman to assist with his father in his wife’s absence, he hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just his marriage. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Want to see any of these films? Go to Reelgood to see where they are available.
Let’s start off the new year by continuing the Greatest Films of the 2010s. Here’s to countless more amazing films in the decade to come!
50. The Martian
‘The Martian’ (20th Century Fox)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return. (20th Century Fox)
49. Zootopia
‘Zootopia’ (Disney)
Directed by: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush
In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop (Ginnifer Goodwin) and a cynical con artist fox (Jason Bateman) must work together to uncover a conspiracy. (IMDb)
48. The LEGO Movie
‘The LEGO Movie’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
“The LEGO (R) Movie” is the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO (R) adventure. The original 3D computer animated story follows Emmet (Chris Pratt) an ordinary, rules- following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. (Warner Bros)
47. The Big Sick
‘The Big Sick’ (Amazon Studios)
Directed by: Michael Showalter
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Kumail Nanjiani) and grad student Emily Gardner (Zoe Kazan) fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family’s expectations, and his true feelings. (IMDb)
46. Argo
‘Argo’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Based on true events, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis-the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. (Warner Bros.)
45. Nebraska
‘Nebraska’ (Paramount Pictures)
Directed by: Alexander Payne
An aging, booze-addled father (Bruce Dern) makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son (Will Forte) in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize. (IMDb)
44. Hell or High Water
‘Hell or High Water’ (Film 44)
Directed by: David Mackenzie
Texas brothers–Toby (Chris Pine), and Tanner (Ben Foster), come together after years divided to rob branches of the bank threatening to foreclose on their family land. For them, the hold-ups are just part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that seemed to have been stolen from under them. Justice seems to be theirs, until they find themselves on the radar of Texas Ranger, Marcus (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last grand pursuit on the eve of his retirement, and his half-Comanche partner, Alberto (Gil Birmingham). As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their scheme, and with the Rangers on their heels, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the values of the Old and New West murderously collide. (Rotten Tomatoes)
43. Arrival
‘Arrival’ (21 Laps Entertainment)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team–lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams)–are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers–and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. (Rotten Tomatoes)
42. Moonrise Kingdom
‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (Focus Features)
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds (Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman) who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore — and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. (Focus Features)
41. Lady Bird
‘Lady Bird’ (A24)
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home. (Rotten Tomatoes)
40. Paddington 2
‘Paddington 2’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Paul King
Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, where he has become a popular member of the community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s (Imelda Staunton’s) 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief. (StudioCanal)
39. Short Term 12
‘Short Term 12’ (Cinedigm)
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
A 20-something supervising staff member (Brie Larson) of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.). (IMDb)
38. The Florida Project
‘The Florida Project’ (A24)
Directed by: Sean Baker
Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother (Bria Vinaite), all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World. (A24)
37. The Irishman
‘The Irishman’ (Netflix)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
This biographical crime thriller follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) as he recalls his past years working for the Bufalino crime family. Now older, the WWII veteran once again reflects on his most prolific hits and, in particular, considers his involvement with his good friend Jimmy Hoffa’s (Al Pacino) disappearance in 1975. (Rotten Tomatoes)
36. Get Out
‘Get Out’ (Universal Pictures)
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean (Bradley Whitford). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. (Rotten Tomatoes)
35. The King’s Speech
‘The King’s Speech’ (The Weinstein Company)
Directed by: Tom Hooper
After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. (The Weinstein Company)
34. Coco
‘Coco’ (Disney/Pixar)
Directed by: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. (Disney/Pixar)
33. The Handmaiden
‘The Handmaiden’ (CJ Entertainment)
Directed by: Park Chan-Wook
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee (Kim Tae-Ri), is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko (Kim Min-Hee), who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Cho Jin-Woong). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions. (CJ Entertainment)
32. Django Unchained
‘Django Unchained’ (The Weinstein Company)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. (The Weinstein Company)
31. Roma
‘Roma’ (Netflix)
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
A year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid (Yalitza Aparicio) in Mexico City in the early 1970s. (IMDb)
ROMA is Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical take on life in 1970s Mexico in the midst of political and domestic upheaval.
30. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: David Yates
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) search for Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts. (IMDb)
29. A Prophet
‘A Prophet’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Jacques Audiard
Condemned to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), part Arab, part Corsican, cannot read or write. Arriving at the jail entirely alone, he appears younger and more fragile than the other convicts. He is 19 years old. Cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang (Niels Arestrup) currently ruling the prison, he is given a number of “missions” to carry out, toughening him up and gaining the gang leader’s confidence in the process. Malik is a fast learner and rises up the prison ranks, all the while secretly devising his own plans. (Rotten Tomatoes)
28. The Grand Budapest Hotel
‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Wes Anderson
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent. (Fox Searchlight)
27. The Artist
‘The Artist’ (The Weinstein Company)
Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky’s the limit – major movie stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their interlinked destinies. (The Weinstein Company)
26. Under the Skin
‘Under the Skin’ (A24)
Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
A woman of unknown origin (Scarlett Johansson) combs the highways in search of isolated or forsaken men, luring a succession of lost souls into an otherworldly lair. They are seduced, stripped of their humanity, and never heard from again. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Brash adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits-Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon, Groot (Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand-with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. (Walt Disney)
74. Blue is the Warmest Color
‘Blue is the Warmest Color’ (IFC Films)
Directed by: Abdellatif Kechiche
Adèle’s (Adele Exarc life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire and to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adèle grows, seeks herself, loses herself, and ultimately finds herself through love and loss. (IMDb)
73. Avengers: Endgame
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (Marvel Studios)
Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe. (IMDb)
72. Incendies
‘Incendies’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Twin siblings uncover a shocking family secret after they agree to their mother’s dying wish: to locate the father they thought was dead, and a brother they never knew existed. (Amazon)
71. Inside Llewyn Davis
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ (CBS Films)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles-some of them of his own making. (CBS)
70. Blade Runner 2049
‘Blade Runner 2049’ (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. (Warner Bros.)
69. Captain Phillips
‘Captain Phillips’ (Sony Pictures)
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. (Sony Pictures)
68. Gone Girl
‘Gone Girl’ (20th Century Fox)
Directed by: David Fincher
On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife? (20th Century Fox)
67. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
‘Once Upon a Time in Anatolia’ (The Cinema Guild)
Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
In the dead of night, a group of men – including a police commissioner, a prosecutor, a doctor and a murder suspect – drive through the tenebrous Anatolian countryside, the serpentine roads and rolling hills lit only by the headlights of their cars. They are searching for a corpse, the victim of a brutal murder. The suspect, who claims he was drunk, can’t remember where he buried the body. As the night draws on, details about the murder emerge and the investigators’ own secrets and hypocrisies come to light. In the Anatolian steppes, nothing is what it seems; and when the body is found, the real questions begin. (The Cinema Guild)
66. Logan
‘Logan’ (20th Century Fox)
Directed by: James Mangold
In a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) leads a quiet life. But when Laura (Dafne Keen), a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety. (IMDb)
65. Birdman
‘Birdman’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Alejandro G. Inarritu
BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. (Fox Searchlight)
64. Dallas Buyers Club
‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (Focus Features)
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee
Matthew McConaughey stars in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB as real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose free-wheeling life was overturned in 1985 when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. These were the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and the U.S. was divided over how to combat the virus. Ron, now shunned and ostracized by many of his old friends, and bereft of government-approved effective medicines, decided to take matters in his own hands, tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Bypassing the establishment, the entrepreneurial Woodroof joined forces with an unlikely band of renegades and outcasts – who he once would have shunned – and established a hugely successful “buyers’ club.” Their shared struggle for dignity and acceptance is a uniquely American story of the transformative power of resilience. (Focus Features)
63. Gangs of Wasseypur
‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ (Studio 18)
Directed by: Anurag Kashyap
Towards the end of colonial India, Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) loots the British trains, impersonating the legendary Sultana Daku. Now outcast, Shahid becomes a worker at Ramadhir Singh’s colliery, only to spur a revenge battle that passes on to generations. At the turn of the decade, Shahid’s son, the philandering Sardar Khan (Manoj Bajpayee) vows to get his father’s honor back, becoming the most feared man of Wasseypur. (Studio 18)
62. Moneyball
‘Moneyball’ (Sony Pictures)
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball’s conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. It’s more than baseball, it’s a revolution – one that challenges old school traditions and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he’s tearing out the heart and soul of the game. (Sony Pictures)
The film boasts a magnificent screenplay from a dream duo of Steven Zaillan (Schindler’s List, The Irishman) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Steve Jobs), and for any lover of sports analysis and statistics, this is the movie for you.
61. The Hunt
‘The Hunt’ (Magnolia Pictures)
Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg
Mads Mikkelsen won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his penetrating portrayal of Lucas, a former school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. As the lie spreads, Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity. (Magnolia)
60. Nightcrawler
‘Nightcrawler’ (Open Road Films)
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story. (Open Road)
59. Selma
‘Selma’ (Paramount Pictures)
Directed by: Ava DuVernay
SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. (Paramount)
58. Eighth Grade
‘Eighth Grade’ (A24)
Directed by: Bo Burnham
Thirteen-year-old Kayla (Elsie Fisher) endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school—the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year—before she begins high school. (A24)
57. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (Disney)
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Three decades after the Empire’s defeat, a new threat arises in the militant First Order. Defected stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) and the scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) are caught up in the Resistance’s search for the missing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). (IMDb)
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) chooses to save his team over completing a mission, allowing stolen plutonium to fall into the wrong hands. Now, he must partner with a hard-hitting CIA agent (Henry Cavill) in a race against time to stop a nuclear threat. (Amazon)
55. The Favourite
‘The Favourite’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. (Rotten Tomatoes)
54. Sing Street
‘Sing Street’ (Likely Story)
Directed by: John Carney
SING STREET takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees, and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock music trends of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos. (Likely Story)
53. A Star is Born
‘A Star is Born’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Bradley Cooper
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer – until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. (Warner Bros.)
52. Burning
‘Burning’ (Well Go USA)
Directed by: Chang-Dong Lee
Jong-su (Ah-in Yoo) bumps into a girl (Jong-Seo Jun) who used to live in the same neighborhood, who asks him to look after her cat while she’s on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben (Steven Yeun), a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby. (
51. The Wolf of Wall Street
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (Paramount Studios)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
From the American dream to corporate greed, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title “The Wolf of Wall Street.” (Paramount)
As the decade draws to a close, I want to look back at the most critically-acclaimed and most-loved films of the decade. (Note: Even though there were some spectacular documentaries and shorts released this decade, I am limiting this list to feature-length narrative films.)
100. Kubo and the Two Strings
‘Kubo and the Two Strings’
Directed by: Travis Knight
In a small village in an ancient mythical Japan, Kubo (Art Parkinson) and his magic shamisen unwittingly summon vengeful spirits who wish to harm him and his ailing mother. While on the run, he encounters magical creatures, and learns the truth of his earthly family’s connection to the heaven and stars. (LAIKA)
99. 127 Hours
‘127 Hours’ (Fox Searchlight)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston (James Franco) examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he can be rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? (Fox Searc
98. Hugo
‘Hugo’ (Paramount)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Hugo is the astonishing adventure of a wily and resourceful boy (Asa Butterfield) whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him, and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home. (Paramount Pictures)
97. Silver Linings Playbook
‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (TWC)
Directed by: David O. Russell
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything – his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet – and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives. (The Weinstein Company)
96. Lincoln
‘Lincoln’ (Dreamworks)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come. (Disney)
95. Winter’s Bone
‘Winter’s Bone’ (Roadside Attractions)
Directed by: Debra Granik
In this unflinching noir drama, a resilient teen (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing, drug-dealing father when his absence threatens the family’s safety. (Netflix)
94. Midnight in Paris
‘Midnight in Paris’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Woody Allen
This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. (Sony Classics)
93. Ex Machina
‘Ex Machina’ (A24)
Directed by: Alex Garland
Caleb Smith (Domnhall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company’s brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test-charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated–and more deceptive–than the two men could have imagined. (A24)
92. Baby Driver
‘Baby Driver’ (Sony Pictures)
Directed by: Edgar Wright
A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom. (Rotten Tomatoes)
91. Black Swan
‘Black Swan’ (Fox Searchlight)
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
90. Ida
‘Ida’ (Music Box Films)
Directed by: Pawel Pawlikowski
18-year old Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska), a sheltered orphan raised in a convent, is preparing to become a nun when the Mother Superior insists she first visit her sole living relative. Naïve, innocent Anna soon finds herself in the presence of her aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza), a worldly and cynical Communist Party insider, who shocks her with the declaration that her real name is Ida and her Jewish parents were murdered during the Nazi occupation. This revelation triggers a heart-wrenching journey into the countryside, to the family house and into the secrets of the repressed past, evoking the haunting legacy of the Holocaust and the realities of postwar Communism. (Amazon)
89. Phantom Thread
‘Phantom Thread’ (Focus Features)
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Set in the glamour of 1950s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants, and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. (Focus Features)
88. True Grit
‘True Grit’ (Paramount Pictures)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit,” Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). (Amazon)
87. The Great Beauty
‘The Great Beauty’ (Janus Films)
Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino
Journalist Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) has charmed and seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades. Since the legendary success of his one and only novel, he has been a permanent fixture in the city’s literary and social circles, but when his sixty-fifth birthday coincides with a shock from the past, Jep finds himself unexpectedly taking stock of his life, turning his cutting wit on himself and his contemporaries, and looking past the extravagant nightclubs, parties, and cafés to find Rome in all its glory: a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty. (Janus)
86. Son of Saul
‘Son of Saul’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed by: Lazslo Nemes
In 1944 Auschwitz-Berkenau, Saul (Geza Rohrig) decides to carry out an impossible task: offer a proper burial for the body of a boy he takes for his son. (Amazon)
85. Carol
‘Carol’ (The Weinstein Company)
Directed by: Todd Haynes
In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light. (The Weinstein Company)
84. The Fighter
‘The Fighter’ (Paramount Pictures)
Directed by: David O. Russell
Mark Wahlberg stars in Paramount Pictures’ inspirational docudrama exploring the remarkable rise of Massachusetts-born lightweight title winner “Irish” Micky Ward. A determined pugilist whose career in the ring was shepherded by his loyal half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale) – a hard-living boxer-turned-trainer whose own career in the ring was nearly sent down for the count due to drugs and crime. (Amazon)
83. Creed
‘Creed’ (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Once in a City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky down and asks him to be his trainer.
82. Paterson
‘Paterson’ (Amazon Studios)
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
A quiet observation of the triumphs and defeats of daily life, along with the poetry evident in its smallest details.
81. Black Panther
‘Black Panther’ (Marvel Studios)
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
When young King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is drawn into conflict with an old foe that puts his homeland Wakanda and the entire world at risk, he must release Black Panther’s full power to save them. (Amazon)
80. Drive
‘Drive’ (FilmDistrict)
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Ryan Gosling stars as a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband Standard (Oscar Isaac). After a heist intended to pay off Standard’s protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash in his trunk-that they’re coming straight for Irene and her son-Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense. (FilmDistrict)
79. Toni Erdmann
‘Toni Erdmann’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Maren Ade
Winfried doesn’t see much of his working daughter Ines (Sandra Huller). He pays her a surprise visit in Bucharest, where she’s busy as a corporate strategist. The geographical change doesn’t help them to see more eye to eye. Practical joker Winfried annoys his daughter with corny pranks and jabs at her routine lifestyle of meetings and paperwork. Father and daughter reach an impasse, and Winfried agrees to go home to Germany. Enter Toni Erdmann: Winfried’s flashy alter ego. Disguised in a tacky suit, weird wig and fake teeth, Toni barges into Ines’ work circle, claiming to be her CEO’s life coach. As Toni, Winfried doesn’t hold back, and Ines meets the challenge. The harder they push, the closer they become. In all the madness, Ines begins to see that her eccentric father deserves a place in her life. (Fox Searchlight)
78. Zero Dark Thirty
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (Columbia Pictures)
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the CIA began interrogating suspected Al-Qaeda agents across the globe in a bid to locate the elusive bin Laden. Upon arriving at a CIA black site and witnessing the brutal interrogation tactics firsthand, driven CIA operative Maya (Chastain) aids her unpredictable colleague Dan (Jason Clarke) in gathering the intelligence that will help bring bin Laden to justice. Over the course of the next decade, numerous false leads and dead ends make the search seem more futile than ever. Meanwhile, numerous suicide bombings all across the Middle East and Europe hint that Al Qaeda won’t go down without a fight. Then, just when it seemed as if the trail of clues had finally dried up, an old piece of evidence leads Maya to a suspect who may work directly for the man charged with planning the worst act of terrorism ever committed on American soil. (Columbia)
77. Brooklyn
‘Brooklyn’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: John Crowley
BROOKLYN tells the profoundly moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
76. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ (Piki Films)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle (Sam Neill) in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together.
