20. Under the Skin – Whilst Scarlett Johansson gives one the best performances of her career, this film also serves as an intriguing look into what inherently makes us human, and our possibly innate ability to love and show compassion.
19. Toy Story 3 – The third film is quite possibly the most iconic animated series, “Toy Story 3” still manages to live up to the high standards set by the previous two entries with an array of fresh characters and a progressive story. Contrasting light and dark emotions so well, this Pixar film is already a classic in the animation industry.
18. Lost in Translation – Coming from the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, there was overwhelming hype surrounding this film, and it didn’t disappoint. Wonderfully quirky, relatable, and humorous, “Lost in Translation” is proof that genuine craftsmanship in cinema still goes a long way.
17. The Artist - In an age where technology has dwindled our attention span down to new lows, this silent, black and white film manages to recreate the magic of 1920s and 30s cinema in a way that is undeniably entertaining and enjoyable for all audiences of this century.
16. 12 Years a Slave - The "Schindler’s List" of slavery, this Steve McQueen directed film beautifully, yet gruesomely, captures the hardships of slavery and the feelings of desperation felt during that time period. It is not an easy film to watch by any means, but in some year’s time, it may well be necessary viewing.
15. WALL-E – The best Pixar film besides the Toy Story franchise due to its lovable characters and brilliant storytelling, this gorgeously animated futuristic adventure is entertainment at its purest with the timely subtext about the exponential effect we are having on the environment.
14. Spirited Away – The best film ever to come out of the Japanese animation industry, “Spirited Away” is an artfully crafted masterpiece that rivals the brilliance of classic Disney films, and in some respects, goes above and beyond that standard.
13. Children of Men – A film that never gets the respect it deserves, “Children of Men” takes its intriguing premise to the limit by combining good action sequences with interesting conversation on the frailty of humanity and the unknown nature of our future as a race.
12. The Departed - With one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, this intricate crime drama of cat and mouse between the Irish Mob and the New York Police Department is as brilliant as it is violent and contains all the classic Scorsese elements we have come to adore over the years.
11. City of God – This international masterpiece from Brazil is uncompromising in its violence and aggressive in its narrative nature, “City of God” is a harsh and demanding film that is brimming with inspiring characters and a layered storyline. It shows the ability of hope and inspiration to shine through even in a world where all that seems to be an irrelevant abstract of life.
10. Spotlight – Similar to “All the President’s Men” in its investigative structure, this film shines through with exceptional writing and it’s ability to portray the humanistic nature of its protagonists. By not creating heroes of the main characters, it solidifies the belief that the biggest contributions to society come from regular people; a crucial message from an industry currently dominated by superhero films.
9. Pan’s Labyrinth - A fairy tale for grown ups, this brilliantly crafted foreign language film portrays the horrors of war in such a way that you begin to question what is more terrifying: the little girl’s reality or what is ostensibly going on in her imagination.
8. No Country for Old Men - With the Coen Brothers’ at the peak of their powers, "No Country for Old Men" is a tense and darkly executed thriller with one of the most amazing villains ever conceived in Javier Bardem’s ruthless coin-flipping bounty hunter.
7. Birdman - A brilliant directorial feat, this film is a prime showcase of what can happen when every aspect of filmmaking is done right and sets new ground for creativity in camera movements while accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of reviving Michael Keaton from the dead.
6. Short Term 12 – “Short Term 12” is essential cinema and is so intimate in how relatable it is on an emotional level that it even gives Boyhood a run for it’s money. If this film doesn’t leave you emotionally torn, you should probably check your pulse.
5. Social Network - Finding a movie that perfectly defines a generation because of its themes, plot, and popularity is difficult, but with “The Social Network”, we may have just found that exact movie for this current generation of millennials.
4. The Dark Knight - Changing the definition of what a superhero movie could be, this Christopher Nolan epic improved upon the first by showing that superhero movies could be so much more than simple box office hits by creating a dark, chaotic, crime noir.
3. Boyhood - Epic in its run time and the fact that it was filmed over 12 years, this film would still be able to stand on its own due to its immense emotional depth and realism. Boyhood manages to accomplish one of the biggest goals of cinema: capture the definition of the human condition (and in a way that has never been done before).
2. Lord of the Rings- Return of the King - By combining the elegant storytelling of the first movie and the epic battles sequences of the second, the third installment of this Peter Jackson directed trilogy serves as the best of them all and garnered a record 11 Oscar wins.
1. There Will Be Blood - With heavy metaphors relating to religion and corruption, this film about a greedy and uncompromising oil tycoon is one of those deeply layered creations that only gets better the more you see it. The decent into insanity of the main character, Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day-Lewis in an Oscar winning performance, is followed perfectly by Paul Thomas Anderson as the film catapulted him into the history books.
What did you think of the list? Did I leave your favorite movie out? Let me know in the comments section below.
