Few
films are as terrifying as The Act of
Killing. Having only seen the film
once, I still recall whole sections with frightening clarity. Seeing this documentary about the Indonesian
Mass Killings of 1965 – 1966 is to see the face of evil. That evil that sits
there and as it breaks down and vomits in the face of what it has done and refusing
to accept responsibility. Joshua Oppenheimer’s film isn’t just vital cinema it
should be required viewing.
3. Dogtooth/The Lobster/The Killing of a Sacred Deer/The Favorite – Yorgos Lanthimos
Okay, yeah. I cheated on this one. I basically selected the filmography of Yorgos Lanthimos in the 2010s. I also cheated because Dogtooth was released in 2009 in Europe but in 2010 in the US. So, ha to you and yes. But there is a reason. Lanthimos’ work feels like a whole piece. Each directed with the sort of distance but humanity that feels Kubrickian in execution but Wilder-esque in presentation. Beginning with his debut the dark comedy Dogtooth about a family closed off to the world to The Lobster’s take on modern-day romance to The Killing of a Sacred Deer’s amazing devil’s choice narrative to The Favourite’s tale of empowerment and its cost. Lanthimos’ films are both highly entertaining and subversively pointed and very much the best of 2010s.
2. Parasite – Bong Joon-ho
Marie says it may be too early. I don’t think so. Parasite is a masterwork by a filmmaker at the apex of his powers and prowess as a filmmaker. Bong Joon-ho’s ode to family, capitalism, and South Korea is wholly original. What begins as one thing and transmorphs into something entirely different by its end is not only able to be bold intelligent filmmaking but is one of the most entertaining films of the last twenty years. It’s still in theaters now. Go see it. You don’t need a ton of Oscar Nominations to know this one is the real deal.
4. The Act of Killing – Joshua Oppenheimer
Few films are as terrifying as The Act of Killing. Having only seen the film once, I still recall whole sections with frightening clarity. Seeing this documentary about the Indonesian Mass Killings of 1965 – 1966 is to see the face of evil. That evil that sits there and as it breaks down and vomits in the face of what it has done and refusing to accept responsibility. Joshua Oppenheimer’s film isn’t just vital cinema it should be required viewing.
3. Dogtooth/The Lobster/The Killing of a Sacred Deer/The Favorite – Yorgos Lanthimos
Okay, yeah. I cheated on this one. I basically selected the filmography of Yorgos Lanthimos in the 2010s. I also cheated because Dogtooth was released in 2009 in Europe but in 2010 in the US. So, ha to you and yes. But there is a reason. Lanthimos’ work feels like a whole piece. Each directed with the sort of distance but humanity that feels Kubrickian in execution but Wilder-esque in presentation. Beginning with his debut the dark comedy Dogtooth about a family closed off to the world to The Lobster’s take on modern-day romance to The Killing of a Sacred Deer’s amazing devil’s choice narrative to The Favourite’s tale of empowerment and its cost. Lanthimos’ films are both highly entertaining and subversively pointed and very much the best of 2010s.
2. Parasite – Bong Joon-ho
Marie says it may be too early. I don’t think so. Parasite is a masterwork by a filmmaker at the apex of his powers and prowess as a filmmaker. Bong Joon-ho’s ode to family, capitalism, and South Korea is wholly original. What begins as one thing and transmorphs into something entirely different by its end is not only able to be bold intelligent filmmaking but is one of the most entertaining films of the last twenty years. It’s still in theaters now. Go see it. You don’t need a ton of Oscar Nominations to know this one is the real deal.
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