Favorite/Best Movies of the 2010 Decade

By all outward appearances, Short Term 12 is the type of movie that's always at risk of falling into heavily clichéd and overly dramatized traps, but the best revelation about it is that it always avoids becoming that type of film, and instead just offers such a real, captivating and honest experience. Seriously, there's not a single moment in this film that struck a wrong note for me. It's extremely well-written in how it takes characters and aspects of said characters' personalities and backgrounds and handles them in a way that never comes off as trying overly hard; writer/director Dustin Cretton had experience himself working in foster care facilities like this, and that knowledgeable background really comes through in every scene. The kids -- and care workers -- feel like real people instead of stock characters, and that coupled with the incredibly naturalistic way Cretton directs the whole film, makes this movie hypnotizing in its own way and very hard to look away from.

Then there are the performances, and this is another area in which Short Term 12 really shines. I already mentioned how the characters in this movie feel like real people and in addition to the strong writing, that's owed to just how authentic the acting is. Brie Larson especially is tremendous here. Again, this is an example of one of the ways in which this film could've gone down the path of being manipulative, but Larson sells every scene and every major moment for her character brilliantly. We're right there with her at every moment, and it all feels like we're in the movie with these characters instead of observing them through a screen, and I love when a movie does that. And because of that, every major emotional beat hits the mark.

I, like most others, deeply regret missing Silence in theaters because this film is a masterpiece. Director Martin Scorsese is usually known for his more flashy films (Goodfellas, The Departed, Casino, etc.), but it's also films like this that further emphasize just how much of a master storyteller he is. You can tell that Silence is a passion project for him, and that passion bleeds into every frame. This is at once a quiet, harrowing, meditative and deeply moving experience that raises lots of challenging questions about religion. The way Scorsese deals with those questions and the answers raised by the story and characters is deeply affecting, even if you don't consider yourself a very religious person to begin with. And they're also questions and answers that stick with you long after the film is over. Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson all give phenomenal performances in this and each does a hell of a job selling their characters' arcs and journeys. Scorsese himself directs the film masterfully and lets the material speak for itself and only employs some nifty touches in the right places so as not to distract from anything that's happening on-screen.

I mean, really, this film blew me away and could very well be considered among Scorsese's best.

Holy Mother of God, this movie was awesome! Now THIS is the Mad Max I've been expecting all along! Compared to the first two Mad Max films, George Miller has really stepped it up in the directing department, and it feels like he's finally managed to tap into the true potential in this universe. He makes this thing feel more grand and of course, he stages some really kick-ass and amazing action sequences, all of which deliver and then some. Miller creates real excitement and tension in these through excellent camerawork and cinematography, so kudos to John Seale as well. Also, there's a great amount of imagination on display in these action sequences -- where else are you going to see a guy playing an electric guitar that doubles as a flamethrower? The story and characters have just enough development to them to keep you invested, and yes, Charlize Theron steals this movie from Tom Hardy, who still does good with what he's given. The plot may be thin, but this was never meant to be a story-driven film, no pun intended. The score by Junkie XL is awesome, too. Mad Max: Fury Road is an old-school action flick in such a refreshing way, and it's what I've been wanting from the franchise all along.