Decade Film Parade: Places 60-35
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From Cast SS to Joker, from a movie about one day in Tehran to a movie about one night on the streets of Berlin, from the "Minions" to two of the scariest films of the last ten years - the first trimester of our decade film parade
Avner Shavit
19/12/2019How far has the film industry changed in the last decade? As of December 31, 2009, the hottest concept in the industry was "3D," Marvel's cinematic universe included only two films and no one talked about streaming. Today, of course, we live in a different world.
Better or worse? Probably not better. The fact is that summaries of the previous decade included a far more impressive amount of big and canonical films than the current decade. In fact, if we make a general summary of the last twenty years, most of the selections will be films made by 2010, and not from then on.
However, the past decade has opened the door to many more voices, both from Hollywood itself and around the world. The produce has become more diverse, if not enough, and therefore more interesting. With and without that, masses of worthy films have been produced in the last decade - much more than the followers of the "big screen dead" and "the state of cinema have never been worse" would like us to believe.
To illustrate, the original intent was to settle for a list of the 50 best films of the decade - but that wasn't enough. I had to increase the parade to sixty, and that too is a perfectly random amount, and it could easily have been rounded to a century, or even more. Among other things, I also had to give up the original intention of incorporating video clips into the list, simply because there was no room. The country-made works were also left out, as we dedicated them to a separate list on Rosh Hashanah.
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSMore than footnotes: The 25 greatest Israeli films of the decade
To the full articleBeyond that, I will not elaborate too much on the reasons behind the election and all the films left out, because we will never get away with it. I'll just state the obvious: it's a personal, non-state, and not even systemic choice, and it's as good or bad as any other list anyone or anyone else would make. It only includes films that I can wholeheartedly choose from, not necessarily those that "deserve to be" in it, and one thing is certain - when I read it again on December 31, 2029, I will regret what did not come in and who did enter and the games of the place Including. And if the last decade has taught us anything, you can also be sure that by then, the film world will look completely different.
60. Ceremonial. Jafar Panahi, 2015
The past decade has also been characterized by the fact that many filmmakers have found themselves persecuted by their governments. One of the most notable of them is Iranian Jafar Panahi, who could not leave the borders of his country to attend the international festivals that screened his films and gave them awards, and, worse, he was required to act underground. The "This Is Not a Film" staged from his house arrest, and the "Ceremonial" Golden Bear winner at the Berlin Festival staged from the front seat of a cab where he drives the streets of Tehran.
The limited means did not prevent "ceremonies" from turning into a wonderful film, which shows a sequence of human and fascinating encounters. In one of their thrills, the director meets human rights activist Nasrin Sutuda, who gives him and her camera a flower and dedicates it to "all moviegoers around the world that can always be trusted."
Since the film's release, Sutoda has been sentenced by the Iranian regime to a lengthy prison sentence and 148 lashes. "Ceremonies" were not screened in the country so as not to complicate the director further with the authorities in his country, the cultural dialogue between Iran and Israel has narrowed even further, and the next decade probably involves a military confrontation between the two countries. Flowers, unfortunately, are only in the cinema.
59. Winner. Josh Krigman, Alice Steinberg, 2016
In a parallel universe, promising Congressman Anthony Weiner would have fulfilled that promise and is now standing as a favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination. But like many public figures, his ideals were stopped whenever he communicated with women. Josh Krigman and Alice Steinberg's documentary, which preceded and produced even before MeToo, tracked in real time the rise and fall of the political meteor and described how the American Tooth Tower is fertile ground for toxic masculinity, as well as the way politics and local media work. The result is so fascinating that you can't take your eyes off it, and in the three years since it came out it has only become even more relevant.
58. Kikas. Matthew Vaughan, 2010.
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To the full articleMany Hollywood genres have been evaporating over the last decade - Western, romantic, and comedy in general, as well as dramas and comedies whose individual existence has become unnecessary because many comic book hits are actually maturing films - "The Breakfast Club" with cloak and superpowers. The most successful example came at the beginning of the decade with "Kick Ass," a movie that put a strong female hero at the center of it even before it became a trend, and was equally violent and stylish that turned out to be gentle and exciting. It's just a pity that his pledge has left such a bitter taste.
From the "Kick SS" (Photo: PR)
From the movie Kik SS (Photo: PR)
57. Something follows me. David Robert Mitchell, 2014
In the last decade, we have witnessed two opposite trends in the horror world: on the one hand, the flourishing of industrial mortgages, low-fat and, of course, non-frightening ones, intended primarily for classroom departures; On the other hand, the prosperity of premium horror with smart and profound pretensions, dubbed Elevated Horror, and you could simply call them "Hipster Horror Movies".
One of the best and most successful of them was "Something Follows" (It Follows), which deals with a group of boys and girls who find that whenever they have sex, they will haunt a mysterious entity. Supplemental enthusiasts can see in this story an AIDS allegory, or the economic crisis in the United States; Genre advocates, for their part, will enjoy the dialogue between him and the 1980s horror films, for example "Nightmare on Elm Street"; Music lovers will enjoy the soundtrack of e-artist Disasterpeace, who also communicates smartly, excitingly and effectively with the horror of the Eighties; And the harsh viewers will be drawn to his sex-appeal and sensuality.
But above all, the main virtue of "something that follows me" is far more basic: it's just plain scary. It has no irony, self-awareness, upside-down or anything in style. The director presents a serious work here that does not come to laugh at or with viewers, but to make them feel stress, fear and discomfort, and it meets all these goals. It's a shame, though, that the discovery of Ika Monroe, which she starred on, has not yet had the opportunity to fulfill the promise in the six years since.
From "Something Follows Me" (Photo: PR)
it follows (Photo: PR)
56. Capernaum. Nadine Lebaki, 2018
A much renewed and tougher roll of the "bike thieves" and the "400 lashes," following the travails of Lebanese street children. The lead role is played by Zayn al-Rafiah, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee, who presents one of the most impressive performances we have seen from any actor in recent years. It is impossible not to fall in love with him, and so his heart breaks as his character turns to someone who is willing to listen to her and screams - "This world is so bad that I am sorry I was born into it."
The movie was a favorite for the Golden Palm and didn't win; Was an Oscar nominee and did not win; And its distribution or even screening in Israel was not possible for political reasons. It had a far greater resonance with it than it honored, but those who saw it find it hard to stop thinking about the sequence of memorable and unbearable scenes.
From "Capernaum" (Photo: PR)
Capernaum (Photo: Cannes Film Festival, PR)
55. Lady Macbeth. William Oldroyd, 2016
A reincarnation of Nikolai Laskov's "Lady Macbeth of Masenskes County," this time in northern England in the mid-19th century. Florence Pio, who broke out here before continuing to shine in "Midsummer" and "Little Women" and became one of our thriving actresses of our generation, stars in the lead role as the wife of a wealthy landowner who refuses to follow her dictates. The film describes how she turns the bowl over, and does it as sharply and sharply as an English nobleman's sword. In short: a subversive masterpiece, stunning and filthy.
54. Impossible Mission: Crash. Christopher McVary, 2018
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWS"Impossible Mission: Crash" is one of the best action movies of the decade
To the full articleTwenty years after Brian De Palma made "Mission Impossible" one of the best action films of the 1990s, Christopher McVary repeated a similar feat in our generation, too, with the sixth installment of this uneven movie series. In all six, Tom Cruise starred, or should say Dorian Gray, who was in his mid-thirties when the first episode came out, and looked more energetic and ever-present as he kissed for his sixtieth birthday. Leading him, the film moves from one action scene to another, making good use of the spectacular scenery in which it takes place and producing an intense and melancholy tone, just like all the espionage / action classics it deserves to stand firm in one line.
From "Impossible Mission: Crash" (Photo: PR)
From the movie "Impossible Mission: Crash" (Photo: Film Forum, PR)
53. Victoria. Sebastian Schiffer, 2015
In the last decade, we have seen more and more movies in one whip - that is, without editing. The latest example would be "1917," which will be released in the United States at the end of the month and with us in early January, that is, as early as 2020, and the best example would be "Victoria," depicting no-one-night events on the streets of Berlin, where a young Spanish woman connects with some locals and gets involved in a robbery Bank. The film deserves its place in the parade because of its use of the camera and soundtrack of DJ Koze and Niles Farham; And mainly because he manages to capture the urban spirit and the nocturnal creature of the city that has become one of the great cultural symbols of the last decade.
52. Side effects. Steven Soderberg, 2013
Since "Sex Lies and Videotape" in 1989, Stephen Soderberg has positioned himself as one of American society's sharpest diagnoses, with scripts honed as a knife and smooth cinematic act as butter. At the beginning of the last decade, he created a prolific film, only to announce the retirement of a cinematic act and move to the creation of television series, but then returned to another format, such as producing films primarily screened on Netflix.
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To the full articleOf his net cinematic era, Soderberg's best film and the one that most effectively showcased his talents was "Side Effects," a witty thriller that enjoys a perfect blend of top notch elements: the original and surprising script, Ronnie Mara's acting screenplay and Channing Tatum in roles The main ones, the music of Thomas Newman and of course the director's sleek filmmaking that shoots arrows in the American culture of depression exactly and in the nonchalance that has always characterized it.
From "side effects" (Photo: PR)
Side effects (Photo: PR)
51. Joker. Todd Phillips, 2019
Somehow, movies featured by Joker’s character almost always go into cinematic history. Tim Burton's "Batman" was one of the big hits of the 1980s and is considered a film that changed the face of the industry; Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" is glorified to this day as the best comic book hit of all time; And Todd Phillips's "Joker" was the first of its kind to win the first prize at one of the important European festivals, the Golden Lion at the Venice Festival, and became a cultural phenomenon.
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To the full articleWhether he stars in the upcoming Oscar or not, talk about "Joker" is likely to continue deep into the next decade - because of Joaquin Phoenix's rare acting show in the lead role; Because of the way it stretches the boundaries of discourse today; Because of the rare combination of a sensitive psychological portrait with a cynical social satire; And because of the way it has shown that cinema, even one that has no bombastic effects and does not rise directly to Netflix, can communicate with a wide audience, shake and resonate.
From "Joker" (Photo: PR)
Joker (Photo: Tulip Media, PR)
50. The Transparent Life of Auridissa Guzmau. Karim Ainoz, 2019
The story of two sisters in the 1950s Rio, who love and admire each other so much that they are convinced that nothing will ever separate them - but then comes destiny, and patriarchy. The saddest melodrama of the decade, about hard-to-find stinging, and about seemingly out-of-reach happiness, yet far away from the sky. An original, surprising, special and stunning movie - from the dream opening to the heartbreaking finale.
49. Sounds From The Neighborhood. Calver Mendoza Filo, 2012
Another Brazilian film that describes the present as scorched earth in the wake of past sins, and at the same time presents a panoramic and instructive picture of the society in his country. The director, who himself was a movie critic before his successful pass behind the camera, positioned the plot in Recife, one of the largest cities in his country, and presents to us a rich weave of characters living there - from humans to a dog constantly barking, and his barking emerges as a key element here.
Beyond the topical and relevant issues that arise, the film is also interesting because of its use of sound, and the way it uses the tension between sounds and imagery to illustrate what is hidden beneath the surface - a dark past that is violent and emerges all the way to the bleak future we now live in.
48. Break the ice. Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, 2013
Surely you wouldn't be surprised to hear that of the biggest blockbuster of the decade, only one wasn't a reworking of a previous cinematic hit, a comic book adaptation or the pledge. Of course, this is "breaking the ice", though it should be noted that he also drew inspiration from previous raw materials - a legend by Hans Christian Andersen, in this case.
Either way, "Breaking the Ice" has honestly earned the worship around it. Spectacular animation, "Let It Go" is the biggest musical hit of any movie in the last decade, Olaf Snowman is one of the most charming characters born on the big screen in this era, and above all stands the exciting and inspiring story, much of which was not seen in Hollywood before, about the two sisters Discovering that the love between them will forever be stronger than any man.
From "Breaking the Ice" (Photo: PR)
Breaking the ice (Photo: PR)
47. Another year. Mike Lee, 2010.
As its name implies, the film takes place over one year and spans four episodes, one for each season of the year. He accompanies an aging British couple and his relatives and acquaintances, most notably a peculiar figure, Eleanor Rigby, who takes care of them in the summer, fall, winter and spring. It is a story about the economic-social crisis in the country, the renewed low-middle-class sunset and the death of entire field cities, and it is also a story about the demise of companies and the decline of a person. All of this builds the veteran screenwriter-director meticulously and broadly, with subtle nuances, wit and emotion, and with superb acting plays by Jim Broadbent, Ruth Shane and especially Leslie Manville, which went on to improve and, over the decade, also received praise for her appearance in "Hidden Wires" .
From "Another Year" (Photo: PR)
From the movie "Another Year" (Photo: imdb)
46. The war was declared. Valerie Donzley, 2011
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To the full articleThe war in its name is called the movie not between two armies, but of a couple of parents struggling to save the life of their toddler son, who became cancerous. Based on her personal story, French screenwriter-director Valerie Donzley, along with her former partner Jeremy Alkim, created one of the most exciting and inspiring films of the decade - a drama that grabs the viewer by the throat and doesn't let go until the war ends.
45. A fantastic woman. Sebastian Lillo, 2017
One of the most thriving, thriving, and high-quality film industries of the past decade has been the Chilean. The top ten of this parade will feature a Chilean movie, and the 45th star also stars a movie from the South American state. Daniel Vega, who became an international name following the Oscar-winning first transgender movie, embodies a woman who is fighting for her rights and, above all, her right to self-determination and self-realization, despite attempts by the establishment and the high and liberal society to only seem to reduce it and cancel it.
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSFantastic: Interview with Daniela Vega, the first transgender to submit an Academy Award
To the full articleDirector Sebastian Lalio here mentions Almodovar in his prime, and is not ashamed to use the variety of expressions available to make this story a celebration of colors, sounds and imagery. Taste lovers may bend their faces in the face of what they see as overpowering, but the Chilean director is able to create high-quality art here that will also be accessible and exciting.
From "Fantastic Woman" (Photo: PR)
Fantastic woman (Photo: Lev Cinema, PR)
44. The Babadok. Jennifer Kent, 2014
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSOur interview with the director
To the full articleJennifer Kent Australia's first feature length film is about a single mother whose son begins to fear the presence of a fictional monster - but is she really fictional? Like many great horror films, this too is actually a story about the inability to cope with grief and trauma, and it's also a story about parenting and motherhood and an illustration of how exemplary directorial work can get the most out of minimal resources, and perhaps above all, it's one of the scary and effective films of The decade.
43. A girl walks home alone at night. Anna Lily Amirpur, 2014
If there is a competition for the title of "the best black and white feminist Persian vampire western of the decade", this movie takes it easy. And even if not, he deserves a place in the general parade. In her first feature length film, American-Iranian director Anna Lily Aminapur succeeded in playing with all the Western clichés and expectations of Muslim veils, vampires, and a perfect harmonious combination of colorful photography and styling, acting and soundtrack. The moment the heroes dance to White Lies' "Death" sounds is not only one of the great musical-cinematic sections of the decade, but also has enough depth and layers to support a host of seminar work.
42. After Lucia. Michelle Franco, 2012
One of the first films to address one of the most dangerous social phenomena of our generation - school bullying and viral shaming. Mexican screenwriter Michelle Franco has done so through a story about a girl coming to a new school and falling victim to the cruelty of the obese children in the classroom. These have grown in indulgence and disconnection so much that everything seems like a game to them, and they do not consider what results might be entertaining in human life.
Much like Michael Hanka in "Amusement Games," a film whose impact is evident throughout and has been really screaming in the last scene, Franco is filming it all with static and coolness, very wisely and especially clearly. He is not tempted by unbelievable provocations, but he also refuses to pity the characters or the viewers, and describes exactly how today the world experiences violence with ease and peace of mind.
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To the full article"After Lucia" does not take advantage of his violence for his needs, but seeks to prove us about our apathy towards her and to inspire us. At the end of the tacit silence in which he manages, a deafening "cry" cries out. Unfortunately, perhaps because there is never the courage to look at the mirror, the film received far less resonance and exposure than it deserved, and its outcry fell on deaf ears.
41. Grandpa shit. Jeff Tremaine, 2013
A story of a grandfather's journey and grandson across the United States has been turned into a beautiful and quirky film by the Jax gang, which answers questions we didn't think anyone would ever bother to ask - what would "bike thieves" look like if Yehuda Barkan directed it and what it would look like to "meet in the round" for him Made by David Lynch. The result includes a laughing teasing sequence, but more importantly - lots of poetic and exciting sections.
40. Love is strange. Ira Sachs, 2014
The love in her name is called the movie is that between two young and straight men, played by Alfred Molina and John Lithgow, whose long-standing romantic relationship stands the test of its history. It is a story about homophobia and also a hymn to love, and its ability to transcend all the potholes that life prepares us, including death. Ira Sachs, as he will later prove to be in "Little People," is one of the most talented American filmmakers of our generation, and with the help of the wonderful cast and photographer Christos Vodoris created an unusually beautiful film here.
From "Love is Strange" (Photo: PR)
Love is strange (Photo: PR)
39. Drive. Nicholas Winding Rapan, 2011
As befits a robbery movie, "Drive" is what one would call "a happy accident" - a case where all the pieces of the puzzle fell in the right place at the right time: a refreshing star (Ryan Gosling) in his breakout role; A phenomenal soundtrack, perhaps the best of the decade; And virtuoso using the editing, camera, color and so on, of a director that all he did afterwards was a big disappointment.
From "Drive" (Photo: PR)
Drive (Photo: Shapiro Movies 2)
38. The Minions. Pierre Coffin and Kyle Ballad, 2015
After first being revealed in "Stolen on the World" films, the yellow creatures have earned their own movie, which has become a huge blockbuster around the world and in Israel especially. Economic success was justified, as it was a witty and anarchic masterpiece that even the great French surrealist artists of the last century would have appreciated - and as a gem for the heroes who speak gibberish, every other word would be unnecessary.
From the "Minions" (Photo: PR)
Minions (Photo: PR)
37. Melancholy. Lars van Trier, 2011
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To the full articleThroughout his career, Lars von Trier has moved between provocation and emotion. In this film, for the last time in the last ten years, he has been closer to the emotional end - though he made sure to balance it at the press conference after his premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where he proudly declared "I am a Nazi." "Melancholy," aptly named, is probably the most melancholy cinematic work of the decade, ending with the most beautiful scene of destruction seen - an operatic scene, with Wagner's bombastic music, a boon to an era of unprecedented climate crisis, prepares us not only for separation from the decade Current, but from the entire planet.
From "Melancholy" (Photo: PR)
Melancholy (Photo: PR)
36. I saw the devil. Kim Ji Wen, 2010
A Korean revenge thriller whose 142 minutes are not boring for a moment, but only raises the bar again about violence, virtuosic use of cinematic expressions and the ability to sweep and stun the viewer. Talk about American Raimik started even before the middle of the decade, and fortunately, did not materialize. By the way, it's one of two South Korean films to star in the parade, and it's easy to guess who's next.
35. Fatima. Philip Pucon, 2015
Freely adapted to the writings of Fatima al-Ayubi, a North African immigrant who for many years worked in France as a cleaner, and only in her days of finding her way to express her voice did she publish two poetry books. Her image here is played by Syria Zaruel, an unprofessional actress whose life trajectory is similar to her own, and only at a later age was able to break through and carry a full-length film on her back - something she does exceptionally well.
The film is exceptional in the French cinema landscape in several ways: also because it describes the experience of immigration through the immigrant's point of view, and not when he arrived in the country but years later; Due to the fact that it takes place in France, most of it speaks Arabic; And because of his preoccupation with Fatima's relations with her - she speaks with them in Arabic and they answer her in French, and each presents a different model in relation to French society and Muslim tradition.
"Fatima" lasts a total of 75 minutes, but during this time he manages to deal with a variety of issues: the gaps of the generations, the centrality of French society, the possibility of winning redemption through art and other issues of identity and gender, and all this he does with gentle, sensitive and extraordinary humanity.
