10 Incredible Films Turning 10 in 2024: Part I
By Segun Ade-Martins
Typically, I hate ranking things, but in the list brought about by self-imposed blogging FOMO, I thought it might make sense to create a ranking of my favourite movies released ten years ago.
On this list, I’m mostly concerned about what I believe is great writing and directing. Of course, acting is also important, but at this point, good acting is a prerequisite for this list. Also, I believe good acting is enabled by good writing and directing.
Good directing comes not only from a critic’s perspective but also from a tempered opinion from someone who understands the compromise and sacrifice that it takes to make a film, let alone a good or great film.
10: Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 1
Back in 2014, this film didn’t seem like it was going anywhere (from a marketing viewpoint). You had Chris Pratt in the lead role as Starlord, fresh off playing a goofy side character in the long-running Parks and Recreation series. It was hard to see this film being any good, but it became a smash hit, joining the other Marvel hits, surprisingly.
It has eventually become one of the most loved series of the MCU, with Volume 3 paying off the story setup in this film. It is also one of the key movies that sets up the mystique of the ultimate finger-snapping villain, Thanos.
The writer-director James Gunn made magic with the cast, story, and, of course, visual effects. I rated this 8 out of 10 at the time. It would be nice to believe his work here helped him be a crucial voice in the MCU and guide the Avengers Infinity Gauntlet movies to success too.
Now that Gunn has defected to Warner Bros./DC to be the “Kevin Feige” of the DCU, we wish that he can replicate the success he enjoyed with Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket, and the other Guardians.
9: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
People will say that Captain America: Civil War is what started the run of seriously good movies that went all the way to Avengers: Endgame. However, I think it started with the Winter Soldier movie.
The first Captain America, the first two Iron Man movies, and the first two Thor movies built the core of the MCU, but not all of them were truly good movies. Memorable, but not all great. Then comes Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a spy thriller, action-drama, and superhero movie. The spy dimension is crucial here. Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff’s world brings incredible twists featuring death, ‘false doors’, and masks.
The fight scenes were more intense, and the villains seemed more tangible and plausible. Additionally, there were heartfelt moments not based on a love story.
This movie focuses on the counter to the underhandedness of spycraft, which is genuineness found in friendship through Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. Of course, we are left with the dangling story thread of what happens to Bucky Barnes.
Again, this movie is the one that starts the run of seriously good movies in the MCU. It can be seen as the cornerstone story for the events of Civil War, which set up key story elements of the Avengers finale as well as classic references.
The seeds for Falcon and the Winter Soldier started here. Essentially, I feel this is an underappreciated gem, which I rated 8 out of 10 from the Russo Brothers, writers, and directors: Anthony and Joe.
8: St. Vincent
This movie is probably remembered for Bill Murray’s brilliant performance and the on-screen chemistry with the young Jaeden Martell. However, there are brilliant performances littered across this movie written and directed by Theodore Melfi.
Performances from Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Terence Howard, and Chris O’Dowd, among others, really ground this film.
It’s a gem of a film—heartbreaking, heartwarming, and funny at the same time. Let’s take the elements of Vincent’s life, Bill Murray’s character.
Drunkenness, excessive gambling, having sex with a pregnant prostitute, and petty theft-you think it will be an unsavoury film.
No, it is one of the most wholesome films ever that simply shows the complex sides of misfits. I rated this 8 out of 10. It’s an easy watch with a great ending with the perfect amount of sweet and sour.
7: The Grand Budapest Hotel
I consider this Wes Anderson film to be his best film. It is delightfully funny (dry humour, of course). An enthralling performance from Ralph Fiennes. The rest of the ensemble contributes to the host of colourful characters.
And it has all the hallmarks of Wes Anderson movies: the use of two-dimensional framed shots (with three-dimensional nuance), witty characters, dead-pan delivery, and story frames upon story frames.
So what makes this film special? Wes Anderson’s worlds are surreal, magical, and extremely silly. And this film has a tone that feels unique to his other works.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou, and others, this seems to have a more mature but still fantastical (childlike) core.
There’s something about The Grand Budapest Hotel; maybe it’s the plot or Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave that gives it the magic. That magic made me rate it 9 out of 10. It truly is an enjoyable film and seems to have improved since watching it again in 2024.
6: Gone Girl
The result of putting Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, David Fincher, and the ‘poor’ Neil Patrick Harris’ character in this movie creates a fantastic film. I never read the novel, but the film is utterly masterful.
The story builds in a rather straightforward manner until the twist in the middle. The transitions are exquisite, giving us clues to the truth. Suspense takes over the mystery when it all unravels.
The casting is brilliant; Ben Affleck is the perfect actor for this role. He comes across as an intelligent simpleton who struggles to keep up culturally with Amy (Rosamund Pike), who is an elite. She gives an incredible performance, drawing us into Amy’s world and making the audience sympathise with her.
The ending is one for the ages. It’s so twisted and harrowing that I can only imagine the kind of imprisonment that the characters find themselves in.
In 2014, I rated it 9 out of 10, and I still stand by it. The movie pulls you in, despite knowing the ending.
5: The Monuments Men
When it comes to historical dramas, it’s difficult to know what is accurate. However, when you study Fine Arts at university, you have to pay attention to a World War II story that focuses on the great art of Europe.
The Monuments Men features the stories of real-life artists, critics, and art historians from the Allied forces who stormed Europe to recover the art that the Nazis stole.
Starring and directed by George Clooney, this movie is an important historical project. Although I have issues with fellow artists being snobs who think too highly of themselves, the work that they manage to channel or divine into existence is extremely crucial.
Why? Simply put, art is life encapsulated in objects or performances. This ‘life’ is the reason for living. And knowing that there were people who risked their lives to preserve this ‘life’ embodied in cultural artefacts is truly inspiring.
They became soldiers to save our history from the greed of Nazi war criminals. I recommend this film to anyone I can.
Admittedly, there’s copious amounts of jingoism on display, but if you can get past that, then you can truly absorb the gifts of the message in the film. Our humanity should come before anything else.
I didn’t give it a number rating back then, but now I would give it an 8 out of 10. The ensemble cast is brilliant. Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, George Clooney, and others. For me, it delivers in many ways that are underappreciated.
Leave some claps and comment on your standout movies released in 2014. Tomorrow, I will finish the countdown, in part II.
Originally published at http://thestrangejournal.wordpress.com on February 12, 2024.
