Quarantine Edition: Netflix

Netflix has been busy releasing new content over the past few months during quarantine and here are a few of the movies I caught during this time:

The Old Guard is an action, fantasy movie starring Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. It tells the story a group of centuries old warriors with regenerative powers and a newcomer who threatens to disrupt their entire existence. The action in the movie is well done and the story has plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged, but perhaps one turn too many. It is ambitious but does not necessarily have the budget or script to keep up with the ambition.

Score: 6/10

The Kissing Booth 2 is a romantic comedy starring Joey King, Joel Courtney, and Jacob Elordi. It continues the story of the first movie, as a new student in high school threatens Elle and Noah's long distance relationship. I hated this movie. So many of the problems the characters face could be solved with just a little honesty. The central through line feels so stupid and trite. And of course (no spoilers) she picks the wrong guy in the end.

Star Rating: 1/10

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a comedy starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. It tells the story of two Islandic singers getting to represent their country at the annual Eurovision Song Contest. This movie has some great shots and feels like the big budget comedies of the mid 2000s, yet misses on many of the jokes. Ferrell has had a string of misses for me of late and I wish he and McAdams both had a little more to work with.

Star Rating: 5/10

Da 5 Bloods is a new Spike Lee joint starring Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, and Chadwick Boseman. It tells the story of a group of aging Vietnam War veterans return to Vietnam in order to find the remains of their fallen leader, as well as uncover a hidden treasure. The quarantine period led me to deep dive Spike Lee's entire filmography. Da 5 Bloods helps to feel like Spike is back after a rough period prior to BlacKkKlansman. It features some great performances and set pieces, but slightly overlong and unpolished.

Star Rating: 7/10

Extraction is an action movie starring Chris Hemsworth. It tells the story of a black ops mercenary who must rescue an Indian drug lord's kidnapped son. The action in this movie is pretty great, with some incredible one take action sequences. However, it is almost all style and zero substance. I want to care about the people and situation in which action takes place and unfortunately this movie left me feeling cold.

Star Rating: 3/10

Quick Takes:

The Wrong Missy - 1/10

The Lovebirds - 5/10

The Half of It - 6/10

Eric Andre: Legalize Everything - 3/10

Middleditch & Schwartz - 7/10

Top 100 of the Decade: 1-10

The 2010s have produced some great films, excellent actors, and exciting directors. As the decade comes to a close, I find it fitting to take a look back at the best movies that have come out in the past 10 years. The best part about lists such as this is it provides a baseline for you to start thinking about how your list would differ and might just inspire you to check some of the movies out that I mention you may have never seen.

Today's post will focus on films ranked 1 to 10.

10. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

A great lesson in turning comic books turning into a movie without losing the style of an actual comic book. The soundtrack slaps and the humor hits.

9. Moneyball

As a big fan of baseball, this movie does a great job exploring what happens behind the scenes of the sporting world. A sneakily great cast helps to make the best sports movie of the decade.

8. Mad Max: Fury Road

Simplicity is sometimes best in action movies. Max says little as he slays his way across the hellish landscape beautifully brought to the screen by George Miller.

7. Blade Runner 2049

Beautifully crafted story. Enthralling mystery. I find this sequel to be incredibly more compelling than the original story.

6. The Lego Movie

What should have been the biggest cash grab of the decade turned into one of the decade's most thoughtful movies. Everything truly was awesome. Feels like a kid's toy box actually brought to life in the best way possible.

5. Inception

A dream within a dream. Miraculous that a movie like this can even exist. Tightly edited in order to ensure you can follow along with the story, no matter how complicated it gets.

4. Prisoners

How far would you go to save the ones you love? My introduction to Denis Villeneuve happens to be my favorite of his filmography. Dark and intense that I found compelling.

3. Drive

A hard boiled drama with spurts of intense violence. Showcases some impeccable performances and a soundtrack nearly impossible to beat.

2. Boyhood

A literal time capsule into the 2000s and an astonishing filmmaking feat. The movie plays as a memory.

1. The Social Network

The best writer-director pairing of the decade. The best performance of the decade. I can no longer think of Eisenberg or Zuckerberg without thinking of the other. It moves with incredible pace. There is not one false note the entire runtime.

Here's to the 2020s in film!

The "Stevies" Winners

It is the final time to look back at some of the best that happened in film during the year of 2019 and hand out some "Stevies"!

Best Fight

Winner: Avengers Assemble

Runner-up: Last 300 Yards

Most Surprising

Winner: The Two Popes

Runner-up: Doctor Sleep

Best Ensemble

Winner: Knives Out

Runner-up: Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

Best Looking

Winner: Toy Story 4

Runner-up: Waves

Best Special Effects

Winner: Avengers End Game

Runner-up: Terminator Dark Fate

Best Villain

Winner: The Tethered

Runner-up: Billy McFarland

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Winner: Florence Pugh

Runner-up: Kelvin Harrison Jr. 

Best Actress

Winner: Lupita Nyong'o

Runner-up: Samara Weaving

Best Actor

Winner: Paul Walter Hauser

Runner-up: Adam Driver

Best Director

Winner: Greta Gerwig

Runner-up: Safdie Brothers

Best Movie

Winner: 1917

Runner-up: Avengers End Game

Top 100 of the Decade: 11-20

The 2010s have produced some great films, excellent actors, and exciting directors. As the decade comes to a close, I find it fitting to take a look back at the best movies that have come out in the past 10 years. The best part about lists such as this is it provides a baseline for you to start thinking about how your list would differ and might just inspire you to check some of the movies out that I mention you may have never seen.

Today's post will focus on films ranked 11 to 20.

20. Lady Bird

Great debut from Greta Gerwig and a fantastic cast.

19. Gone Girl

Twisty mystery flick that keeps you invested in a handful of characters whose stories are destined for tragedy.

18. Kick-Ass

A fun inversion on the genre that dominated this decade. 

17. Looper

Brings a surprising amount of emotion brought to a great science fiction tale.

16. Silence

A very compelling movie that asks questions about faith many have had but few movies ever explore.

15. Toy Story 3

Another trend that dominated this decade: the long awaited sequel. This one was well worth the wait.

14. La La Land

Some of the best songs of the decade that continue to live on in my mind.

13. John Wick

Sometimes simpler is better. Man kills John's dog. John kills men.

12. The Florida Project

Impressive camerawork, great performances, even the lighting were some of the best I have ever seen. Sean Baker is a talent to watch.

11. The Raid

Masterful choreography. Seems to put the art into martial arts.

Top 100 of the Decade: 21-30

The 2010s have produced some great films, excellent actors, and exciting directors. As the decade comes to a close, I find it fitting to take a look back at the best movies that have come out in the past 10 years. The best part about lists such as this is it provides a baseline for you to start thinking about how your list would differ and might just inspire you to check some of the movies out that I mention you may have never seen.

Today's post will focus on films ranked 21 to 30.

 30. Minding the Gap

Through the use of skateboarding, Bing Lui is able to provide an interesting look into the different forms of what it mean to be a father.

29. Hell or High Water

Modern day Cowboy tale revolving around the lives of two brothers stealing back what may have been stolen from them.

28. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Ultraviolent and hilarious send up of the spy genre that is also a very compelling spy thriller.

27. Whiplash

A relentless pursuit of perfection with two all time performances from J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller.

26. Predestination

The twistiest movie of the decade. I love rewatching it and finding something new every time.

25. Skyfall

James Bond came back in a big way with a story that is both huge in scope but also his most intimate moments to date.

24. Fast Five

This is the moment this franchise went from a story about small time crooks to an international spy thriller. The Rio sequence may be the most thrilling scene of the decade.

23. Creed

Rocky was able to stay relevant this decade by updating the story and focusing on the legacy of his greatest opponent. Michael B. Jordan is incredible in his role.

22. The World's End

Edgar Wright finished up the Cornetto trilogy in a very satisfying, thrilling, and hilarious science fiction epic.

21. Warrior

Brother versus brother makes for a heart wrenching family drama set against the back drop of mixed martial arts.

Top 100 of the Decade: 31-40

The 2010s have produced some great films, excellent actors, and exciting directors. As the decade comes to a close, I find it fitting to take a look back at the best movies that have come out in the past 10 years. The best part about lists such as this is it provides a baseline for you to start thinking about how your list would differ and might just inspire you to check some of the movies out that I mention you may have never seen.

Today's post will focus on films ranked 31 to 40.

40. Django Unchained

Fun revenge tale with the great writing of Tarantino.

39. Avengers: End Game

The perfect culmination to a series that began before the decade even began. Great individual story arcs for each character while also providing a satisfying conclusion for the group as a whole.

38. Ex Machina

A beautiful science fiction movie that asks and answers a lot of deep questions. Incredible special effects on a small budget.

37. 21 Jump Street

Encapsulates everything that went wrong this decade (the endless reboots) yet this one hit the nail right on the head. It rebooted a TV franchise by focusing on the absurdity of the situation and providing a commentary on what had become a stale genre.

36. The Cabin in the Woods
A great inversion of the classic horror story. The second half goes to places you would never expect.

35. The Dark Knight Rises
While the Joker took Batman to his mental limit, Bane pushed him to his physical breaking point - then forced him over the line. Maybe the best opening of any movie this decade along with all the great Chris Nolan practical effects.

34. Unsane
Intense beyond belief, I was engaged for the entire run time.

33. The VVitch
Very solid horror story. I am usually not a fan of period pieces but this one blew me away.

32. Get Out
Jordan Peele's jump from comedy to horror might be the most surprising development of the decade. Get Out was a stunning debut that hit on a lot of revenant social and horror themes.

31. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Brilliant finale that sticks the landing.