2010-2021, a gem of a period for films!

[zen007]

My recent trans-Atlantic flight from Paris to Toronto was delayed by almost 2 hours after boarding the plane due to a maintenance issue that took relatively more time to resolve as the passengers were already on the plane. This delay allowed me to browse the inflight entertainment, which I normally skip unless watching/catching up on TV shows, prompting me to think about recent films.

The 2010s (2010-2019) have been a gem of a period for films. I added 2020-21 to the mix as well as many films that were slated to release in 2019 were delayed due to the pandemic. Let's look at some of the memorable films from this period:

In 2010, we were astonished by Inception (2010), which had a mind-bending concept of planting or extracting information in dreams (a similar concept was seen in 2006's Paprika as well). The cinematography and the score elevated the experience to make this one of the best movie-watching experiences. The treatment of the story meant that many needed multiple viewings to get the finer points of the film.

Skyfall (2012) had eye-catching cinematography and a cool performance by Javier Bardem as the former 00 turned antagonist.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguka (2013) was another brilliant work by Studio Ghibli.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) combined elements from multiple genres to create a unique visually striking environment.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) , a superbly photographed action adventure.

The Shape of Water (2017), a different type of love story.

Joker (2019), a Taxi Driveresque take on Joker with memorable performances, cinematography, and score!

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) , a 4-hour superhero epic.

Dune (2021), a modern masterpiece.


Add to the above many critically acclaimed and/or popular films.


The 2000s had many memorable films such as Gladiator (2000), In the Mood for Love (2000), Amores Perros (2000), Memento (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003), Kill Bill (2003), Casino Royale (2006), Pan's Labrinth (2006), 300 (2007), Avatar (2009), ..., .... ...., therefore, where would you put 2010-2021 period esp. in relation to 2000s?

[RossyG]

I’d add…

The French Dispatch
Isle of Dogs
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Cloclo
Mission Impossible: Fallout
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Holy Motors
Apres Mai/Something in the Air
Kubo and the Two Strings
Song of the Sea
First Position

…and sod it… San Andreas.

[zen007]

Revisited Joker (2019) last night in 4K HDR (The last I watched it was when it was released in the cinema). What an experience -> phenomenal acting, brilliant cinematography esp. framing, lighting, & the use of understated color to make relatively dark and dull indoor environments stand out, and the score that suits the film.

Can't wait for Joker: Folie à Deux!


As mentioned in the OP, additionally there are many unique films such as Inception, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, etc. in this period

[spaceball-one]

I got my own list, but I'm only throwing one into the mix here.

This is a goddamn masterpiece:

[zen007]

To mention more films:

Django Unchained (2012)
Arrival (2016)
Logan (2017) - esp. as a neo-Western

[Just_Discovered_3D]

It was the Bronze Age for 3D films.

Other than that, I consider it the weakest decade for films, IMHO 2000 to 2010 was much stronger. Lots of lame sequels to 00s films in the 10s; 00s made Marvel a juggernaut, 10s laid them low.

(Granted, "James Bond does Home Alone" was much better than Casino Royale, but then NTtD was a worse Casino Royale so maybe it's a wash?)

Which is all too bad as the rise of 3D coincided with the decline of films, having me wonder how much bigger 3D could have been if the films had been better.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

Lots of lame sequels to 00s films in the 10s; 00s made Marvel a juggernaut, 10s laid them low.

Why not judge the period based on the quality (including the technical strengths, innovations, etc.) of its top films than quantity including Marvel and Star Wars stuff?

Better to focus on the strength of its top 10-20 films

[Just_Discovered_3D]

Originally Posted by zen007

Why not judge the period based on the quality (including the technical strengths, innovations, etc.) of its top films than quantity including Marvel and Star Wars stuff?

Better to focus on the strength of its top 10-20 films

Popular films declined bigly, and the artsy/critical darlings seemed dragged down by it too. That's my position.

(00s were also the last decade when a pop culture phenomenon film was also a critical darling, and when many Oscar films were films that Joe Public could've seen)

Can't say that I care too much about technical innovations when the movies aren't great, but even so I could see a case that CGI became worse during the 10s, and it's certainly really rougher still in the Disney flicks now in the 20s.

Though maybe there's some awesome innovation that is slipping my mind offhand, so I'm open to suggestions for innovations that I should consider from the 10s.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

Though maybe there's some awesome innovation that is slipping my mind offhand, so I'm open to suggestions for innovations that I should consider from the 10s.

I am not suggesting that 2010s + 2020 + 2021 is better than 2000s or vice versa. At this point, I am directing the discussion.

Talking about innovations, technical strengths, etc., examples include:

Inception (2010) - Brings in an innovative concept of planting or extracting info in dreams (though a similar concept is seen in Paprika as well), with great visuals and score.

Django Unchained (2012) - one of the most powerful westerns esp. through the environment created by an ensemble cast.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - a facetious adventure-comedy-crime film that creates a colorful fairy-tale environment that is rarely seen on screen. Visually a stunning film.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - a ground-breaking visually striking action film. An excellent score by Junkie XL. … Available in chrome edition as well.

Arrival (2016) - a quest for cooperation

Logan (2017) - brings a neo-western touch to the superhero genre.

Wonder Woman (2017) - explores the WW1 timeline.

The Shape of Water (2017) - a unique love story.

Joker (2019) - brings a TaxiDriverness approach to superhero films, while enhancing the film with breathtaking cinematography (framing, lighting, and an understated color that even make dull and dark indoors shine) and adequate score, along with phenomenal acting.

1917 (2019) - known for its one-shot sequences.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) - A 4-hour superhero epic.

Dune (2021) - an audio-visual powerhouse that brings a relatively darker version of Dune to the screen.

John Wick films (2014-19) - known for their innovative action sequences.

Add to that films such as The Black Swan (2010), The Tree of Life (2011), Hugo (2011), Life of Pi (2012), Skyfall (2012), Gravity (2013), Ex Machina (2014), Intersteller (2014), The Martian (2015), The Revenant (2015), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Phanton Thread (2017), Parasite (2019), etc.

[Bl@deRu>>er]

Funny, my take is the opposite. Its been years since I've seriously updated what I have in my home disc collection here on the site, but its mostly early 2010s at the latest and earlier. On the bright side it's saved me some money I guess.

Other than the CGI/super hero focus already mentioned, I'd add the rise of social media influence as to why its been mostly a bad decade. Virtue signaling and trying to avoid triggering a social media outrage mob have been terrible for real creativity, and pushing boundaries that are more than gender or skin color deep.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Bl@deRu>>er

Funny, my take is the opposite. Its been years since I've seriously updated what I have in my home disc collection here on the site, but its mostly early 2010s at the latest and earlier. On the bright side it's saved me some money I guess.

Some of the best-looking films are from the 2010-2021 period -> Skyfall, John Wick films, Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, Joker, 1917, No Time to Die, Dune, ..., ..., ...

[Britbuffguy]

Originally Posted by zen007

I am not suggesting that 2010s + 2020 + 2021 is better than 2000s or vice versa. At this point, I am directing the discussion.

Talking about innovations, technical strengths, etc., examples include:

Inception (2010) - Brings in an innovative concept of planting or extracting info in dreams (though a similar concept is seen in Paprika as well), with great visuals and score.

Django Unchained (2012) - one of the most powerful westerns esp. through the environment created by an ensemble cast.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - a facetious adventure-comedy-crime film that creates a colorful fairy-tale environment that is rarely seen on screen. Visually a stunning film.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - a ground-breaking visually striking action film. An excellent score by Junkie XL.

Arrival (2016) - a quest for cooperation

Logan (2017) - brings a neo-western touch to the superhero genre.

Wonder Woman (2017) - explores the WW1 timeline.

The Shape of Water (2017) - a unique love story.

Joker (2019) - brings a TaxiDriverness approach to superhero films, while enhancing the film with breathtaking cinematography (framing, lighting, and an understated color that even make dull and dark indoors shine) and adequate score, along with phenomenal acting.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) - A 4-hour superhero epic.

Dune (2021) - an audio-visual powerhouse that brings a relatively darker version of Dune to the screen.

John Wick films (2014-19) - known for their innovative action sequences.

Add to that films such as The Tree of Life (2011), Skyfall (2012), Ex Machina (2014), Intersteller (2014), The Revenant (2015), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Phanton Thread (2017), Parasite (2019), etc.

Inception and Arrival were solid, everything else on this list was overrated garbage.

[Bl@deRu>>er]

Some off beat personal standouts for me

The Perfect Host 2010
The Mill and the Cross 2011
The House that Jack Built 2018

[spaceball-one]

Originally Posted by Bl@deRu>>er

The Perfect Host 2010

[Just_Discovered_3D]

Originally Posted by zen007

I am not suggesting that 2010s + 2020 + 2021 is better than 2000s or vice versa. At this point, I am directing the discussion.

By the way you have phrased your title you are indeed comparing the 2010s to other periods. To jibe with that, I compared it to the period of the preceding decade and, to quote a rather renown movie from that (which borrowed from the Bible), it has been weighed, measured, and found wanting.

Thanks for the list, I'm not sure what you meant for some of the films in your list, so I have added some of my thoughts on the get some additional direction in this here discussion.

BTW, is Joker really a superhero film? Irrespective of that, why isn't taking Taxi Driver and replacing its characters with characters who share names with those in the Batman lore the opposite of innovation?

What makes Dune 2021 darker? If you're referring to the plot, it's much "brighter" than Dune 84 and the miniseries. If you're referring to the film itself, it is literally much brighter, the cuts from darkness to those bright, white Chani dream sequences were retina searing

[Show spoiler]

• Django Unchained? Is it more than a revisionist Western + blaxploitation?
  
• Mad Max: Furiosa Road? It was a deconstruction of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, and an ironic screed against modern philosophies, but I don't see how it did anything truly different/better/seminal vs the preceding 3 films in the franchise (or any film outside of the period).
  
• Logan? Does deconstructing Wolverine + Professor X count as innovation? I suppose its true that Wolverine and Professor X had really only been lionized before, perhaps First Class sullied X a bit, but that all strikes me as negative innovation. Is that an oxymoron?
  
• John Wick? Stunts do not seem materially better than what came before, they're corny films with good stuntwork. I think you could find examples of that from decades prior, though in those perhaps the corniness was not intentional? I want to give Keanu kudos for bringing stuntwork back, but I have to acknowledge that John Wick wasn't as good with the fights IMO as were older films.
  
• 1917 - "Subvert your expectations" film known for a gimmick that wasn't really true. The idea of films subverting expectations might be a 2010s innovation though?

TL;DR: Are "deconstructions" and "subversion of your expectations" truly innovations?

[Poya]

Shrek Forever After: the first third sequel to really be the true second sequel in the series.

[unberechenbar]

Nice to see that decade getting some recognition. There seems to be a lot of people who automatically discount modern movies.

[Star Lord]

You Were Never Really Here >>>> Joker

2014 was was the best year, from CBMs like Winter Soldier, Guardians of The Galaxy and X-Men: DoFP to good acton movies like Edge of Tomorrow, John Wick and Fury. Not to forget all the amazing indies/critically acclaimed films like Nightcrawler, Boyhood, Whiplash, Birdman, Ex Machina, Predestination, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Under the Skin and Snowpiercer. What a time to be a film fan!

[spaceball-one]

Originally Posted by Star Lord

You Were Never Really Here >>>> Joker

This x a f***in' MILLION

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

By the way you have phrased your title you are indeed comparing the 2010s to other periods. To jibe with that, I compared it to the period of the preceding decade and, to quote a rather renown movie from that (which borrowed from the Bible), it has been weighed, measured, and found wanting.

Yes, it is for posters to compare esp. with the 2000s if they wish as mentioned in the OP - "The 2000s had many memorable films such as Gladiator (2000), In the Mood for Love (2000), Amores Perros (2000), Memento (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003), Kill Bill (2003), Casino Royale (2006), Pan's Labrinth (2006), 300 (2007), Avatar (2009), ..., .... ...., therefore, where would you put 2010-2021 period esp. in relation to 2000s?"

As the thread starter, I am driving (or attempting to drive ) the discussion.

Thanks for the list, I'm not sure what you meant for some of the films in your list, so I have added some of my thoughts on the get some additional direction in this here discussion.

BTW, is Joker really a superhero film? Irrespective of that, why isn't taking Taxi Driver and replacing its characters with characters who share names with those in the Batman lore the opposite of innovation?

It can be considered an innovation for the type of films of the genre (superhero films which encompass various characters including supervillains). The acting level itself is outstanding.

What makes Dune 2021 darker? If you're referring to the plot, it's much "brighter" than Dune 84 and the miniseries. If you're referring to the film itself, it is literally much brighter, the cuts from darkness to those bright, white Chani dream sequences were retina searing

[Show spoiler]

The tone of the film is dark (and serious) relative to the 1984 version.

• Django Unchained? Is it more than a revisionist Western + blaxploitation?

• Those ingredients make it one of the better westerns.
  
  

  Mad Max: Furiosa Road? It was a deconstruction of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, and an ironic screed against modern philosophies, but I don't see how it did anything truly different/better/seminal vs the preceding 3 films in the franchise (or any film outside of the period).

  The film ups the ante for action films. Unlike other Mad Max films, it is rated as the best to among the best action films of all time. The cinematography and its score too are simply superb.
  
  
  

  Logan? Does deconstructing Wolverine + Professor X count as innovation? I suppose its true that Wolverine and Professor X had really only been lionized before, perhaps First Class sullied X a bit, but that all strikes me as negative innovation. Is that an oxymoron?

  The point is on its presentation as a neo-western. It has a different tone from most X-men films.
  
  

  John Wick? Stunts do not seem materially better than what came before, they're corny films with good stuntwork. I think you could find examples of that from decades prior, though in those perhaps the corniness was not intentional? I want to give Keanu kudos for bringing stuntwork back, but I have to acknowledge that John Wick wasn't as good with the fights IMO as were older films.

  Those marginal differences helped to elevate John Wick to cult status. I am not too much into JW films but will not miss out on its new installment due to expectations of innovative stunts.
  
  

  1917 - "Subvert your expectations" film known for a gimmick that wasn't really true. The idea of films subverting expectations might be a 2010s innovation though?

As they say "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration" - the merit of the film is in its execution where it received its praise.

TL;DR: Are "deconstructions" and "subversion of your expectations" truly innovations?

Yes, depending on their respective execution. For e.g. Metropolis is said to have laid the visual grammar for Sci-Fi films, but that does not mean that films inspired by Metropolis' visual template stop being innovative! Innovation can come from anywhere as a film is made up of multiple elements and then the execution.