In a purely cinematic sense, the 2010s mark a decade of incredible storytelling heft, an expansive, experimental, and exhilarating decade that saw pictures from every genre make an impact on audiences, be it the soaring box office success of superhero blockbusters or the instant cult classic reverence of horror hits and sci-fi stunners. However, for every landmark release that captures the attention of the masses, there are countless undiscovered gems that never get the acclaim they so thoroughly deserve.
To sing the praises of just 10 unsung pictures is, unfortunately, to overlook many hundreds of worthwhile films that remain criminally underrated, but this selection of moviesencompasses everything from international releases to indie triumphs, and from excruciating thrillers to devastating dramas. Defined by the mastery of their presentation and the impact their stories have on viewers, these 10 movies should be celebrated among the greatest of the 2010s.
10’Compliance' (2012)
Directed by Craig Zobel
As entrancing and perplexing as it is disturbing,Compliancethrives asa smart and snappy true story thriller anchored by emphatic performances and brilliant directionto be a truly engrossing spectacle. Sandra (Ann Dowd), the manager of a fast-food restaurant, is contacted by a police officer who insists on her help in apprehending one of her employees who has allegedly stolen from a customer. Under the instruction of the officer, Sandra and her other employees are coerced into carrying out invasive acts on the detained Becky (Dreama Walker), unaware that she is actually innocent.
A provocative and piercing picture,Complianceinspired no small amount of controversy upon release and was even met with walkouts and protesting audiences when it premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Such a response only proves how effective it is as a confronting commentary of how people can abandon all sense of reason and decency in the face of authority. Despite its inflammatory response,Compliancehas earned critical acclaim asa psychologically challenging and disconcerting film.
Compliance
9’The Mustang' (2019)
Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Breathing new life into prison-based redemption stories,The Mustangfinds tremendous depth in its understated and authentic look at remorse and rehabilitation. Handled with incredible grace byLaure de Clermont-Tonnerre, it follows antisocial and volatile inmate Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) as he finds connection and belonging when he participates in a program that sees prisoners train wild mustangs. As his relationship with a particularly unruly horse develops, Roman also finds himself becoming increasingly able to confront his past and address the heinous crime that saw him sentenced.
Anchored by beautifully tender performances from Schoenaerts andBruce Dern, and given a driving sensitivity from Clermont-Tonnerre’s delicate direction,The Mustangexcels as an immersive and deeply affecting character study. The emotional unfurling of a reclusive and conflicted man is hardly a new tale, but Roman’s journey is explored with such intimacy that it becomes a richly absorbing and heart-wrenching tragedy. It is one of the best prison movies of the 2010s.
The Mustang
8’Tale of Tales' (2015)
Directed by Matteo Garrone
One of the most daring fantasy pictures in recent decades, it is quite surprising thatTale of Taleshasn’t become even a cult hit given its genre roots, its winding and complicated narratives, and its impressive cast. Its three stories follow the Queen of Longtrellis (Salma Hayek) as her desire for a son leads to a magical union of violence and monsters, the queen of the lustful King of Strongcliff (Vincent Cassel) and her dark past of magic and beauty, and a princess whose father marries her off to a violent ogre.
Imbued with astonishing production design and gorgeous camera work,Tale of Talesexcelsas an interwoven collectionof adult fairy tales realized with an offbeat surrealism and a penchant for gothic horror. It is delightfully enigmatic yet clear and concentrated in its thematic might and should appeal to all lovers of twisted fables and high-concept dark fantasy as one of the most impressive and impressionable examples of the genre from the 2010s.
Tale of Tales
7’The Burial of Kojo' (2018)
Directed by Blitz Bazawule
Running for just 80 minutes, and making use of a tiny budget, local Ghanaian crew, and the talents of several first-time actors,The Burial of Kojois a true triumph of independent filmmaking. The contained family drama-thriller sees Esi (Cynthia Dankwa) recount a dark chapter from her childhood in which a vindictive uncle arrives at her family’s small-village home and traps her father in an illegal mining shaft. Embarking on a spiritual journey involving a sacred white bird and a predatory crow, Esi sets out to save her father before it is too late.
Realized with a stunning visual display courtesy ofMichael Fernandez’s mesmerizing cinematography and the stark natural beauty of the setting,The Burial of Kojois an arresting story of guilt, grief, and family tensions. It marks an exceptional feature film directorial debut fromBlitz Bazawule, one rich with magical surrealism, fantasy inflections, and atmospheric gravitas to be one of the most impressionable pictures of the decade.
6’These Final Hours' (2013)
Directed by Zak Hilditch
Be they zombie thrillers, environmentalist disasters, alien invasions, or any other form of Armageddon, apocalyptic stories underwent something of a phase throughout the 2010s. Among the best andmost underrated of them isThese Final Hours. It transpires in Australia as residents of Perth are informed they have 12 hours to live before the blast from an extinction-level meteorite will engulf them. James (Nathan Phillips) intends to spend his final moments partying, but his ambitions change when he rescues young Rose (Angourie Rice) from two men and agrees to help her reunite with her family.
Despite its low-budget confines,These Final Hoursdeliversa believable and bleak yet contemplative idea of humanity facing damnation while realizing a surprisingly powerful storyof redemption and humanity. It is grim without being nihilistic, a doomed look at the human condition that revels in immorality yet remains hopeful. As such, it is a delicately balanced apocalypse tale that stands among the finest examples of the subgenre, one that deserves to become a true cult classic of Australian cinema.
These Final Hours
5’November' (2017)
Directed by Rainer Sarnet
A joint production between Holland, Estonia, and Poland, and based onAndrus Kivirähk’s 2000 novel ‘Rehepapp ehk November,’Novemberis a brilliantly eerie and entirely bewitching fantasy horror. Set in the 19th century, it transpires as a harsh winter befalls a poor Estonian village plagued by all manner of dark mythical beasts. As the villagers resort to the use of magic to survive the brutal conditions, a young woman betrothed to a repulsive farmer strives to be united with her true love.
Ceaselessly unnerving,NovemberutilizesMart Taniel’s gorgeous yet disconcerting black-and-white cinematography to conjure upan imposing and restless atmosphere of damnation and unholiness that is completely ensnaring. While its story is perhaps too lean,Novembersoars as an arresting foreign horror that realizes the psychological dread of dark fantasy with such gravitas that it can only be revered as one of the most confounding pictures of the decade.
4’Girlhood' (2014)
Directed by Céline Sciamma
A bleak story propped up bya searing sense of authenticity and an intriguing focus on female relationships and povertyin France,Girlhoodis a brilliant coming-of-age drama that is intrinsically connected with the issues that befall modern youths. It focuses on teenager Marieme (Karidja Touré) who yearns to escape the confines of her dreary family life and the damning nature of her future prospects. She undergoes a drastic personality change when she joins an all-girl gang in the housing projects.
Through its story of identity and poverty,Girlhoodtackles issues of racism, gender, and class disparity with a lens that is raw and often confronting. However,Céline Sciamma also remains investedin the friendship that builds between Marieme and the girls, the camaraderie, humor, and hope they find in one another as they navigate a social environment bereft of opportunities and possibility. As scathing as it is enlightening and moving,Girlhoodis another hidden gem of international cinema that should have gained more traction upon release.
3’I, Daniel Blake' (2016)
Directed by Ken Loach
A striking story of social injustice and an unlikely friendship,I, Daniel Blakeis loaded with all the political ferocity and scorching criticism one may expect from aKen Loachmovie. It follows Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), a widowed 59-year-old woodworker who is declared unfit to work by his doctor following a heart attack, only to be denied Employment and Support Allowance. As he undertakes the agonizing process to launch an appeal, he befriends Katie (Hayley Squires), a struggling single mother of two.
The film is primarily an indictment of social services, a snatching condemnation of the ineffectiveness of such allowances that, despite being essential, are often painstaking and distressing to secure. Buoyed by sensitive yet strong performances and Loach’s commanding eye for political and societal injustices,I, Daniel Blakeis one of the most piercing films of the decade, one that should have reached a far greater audience than it ever did.
I, Daniel Blake
2’Mustang' (2015)
Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven
A rebellious tale of feminism, childhood, and the damning restraints of unfiltered conservatism,Mustangis a triumph of Turkish and French cinema that should have become a far more prominent release following its nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. It follows five orphaned sisters whose carers place harsh confines upon them after they are seen playing an innocent game with their male classmates. With forced marriages being arranged, the girls seek out fun and adventure anywhere they can, but the imposing order of their guardians makes circumstances difficult.
Bolstered by outstanding performances from all involved,Mustangthrives asan evocative tale of sisterhood and camaraderieas well as a deeply affecting and even frustrating indictment of overly strict parenting and the injustice of childhood fervor being cut short by overbearing restrictions. It balances heartbreak with hope, tragedy with triumph, to both sting and stir asa profoundly powerful yet delicate observation of the victims of intensely patriarchal societiesand the ideologies they impose.
1’Blindspotting' (2018)
Directed by Carlos López Estrada
Directed byCarlos López Estrada, who would later become an integral creative member of several animated Disney films includingFrozen IIandEncanto, 2018’s thought-provoking comedy-crime dramaBlindspottingis a pointed and powerful examination of one of the ugliest facets of modern society. Collin (Daveed Diggs) is a former felon with just three days left of probation who finds his life uprooted when he witnesses a racially motivated police shooting. His trauma in the aftermath of the shooting places a strain on his friendship with Miles (Rafael Casal), a short-tempered a volatile white man experiencing an identity crisis in the face of gentrification.
Striking a precise and majestic balance between buddy comedy and socially-loaded drama,Blindspottingisa deft and lively picture that manages to wield an almighty thematic heft while still being thoroughly entertaining. Propelled by Diggs’ phenomenal lead performance, it should be considered among the best comedies of the decade as well as one of the sharpest dramas released in recent years.
Blindspotting
NEXT:Essential Movies of the 2010s, Ranked
