Cinema 2010-2019: Best Films of the Decade–Alone/Together in the Dark

Movie Culture is Well, Alive, Only Different

Watching Together While Apart

Alone/Together in the Dark

I had an interesting argument a couple of weeks ago with a cherished colleague and friend, who’s also a critic. He claimed, based on his common sense, that during the Coronovirus pandemic, viewers wish to see escapist entertainment, sort of fluffy undemanding fare, such as broad comedies, dazzling musicals, fast-paced actioners and adventures.

I have never fully subscribed to the escapist theory–in essence-, that in dreary times, audiences would opt for everything and anything that would let them forget for a few hours the surrounding grim reality.

When an international magazine asked for my choices of the great films of the past decade, I began to construct lists of films that have impressed me at their initial release, and have continued to linger in my memory in terms of ideas, motifs, characters, images, sounds.

For purposes of simplicity, my list 30 great movies of the past decade is presented alphabetically. Obviously, the films reflect my taste as I look back and revisit them from a distance. As such, they are inevitably singular and biased. No need to agree with my filmic hierarchy, but as a critic it’s my duty and privilege to expose readers to films they might not have seen upon initial release, or wish to revisit from a different viewpoint, and with the perspective of time.

All the films are available on DVD and/or via streaming.

30. A Separation (Iran, 2011)

29. Amour (France, 2012)

28. Beasts of the Southern Wild (U.S., 2012).

27. Boyhood (U.S. Indie, 2014)

26. Burning (South Korea, 2018)