Music & Films for
Common People
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100
THE BEGUILED
Dir. Sofia Coppola
United States, 2017
Mrs. Coppola is back in form, taking a step backwards to examine what set her apart as an artist by tackling the dark parts of repressed womanhood and recovering the beautiful aesthetics of her early films. A perversely delicious film charged with sensuality and darkness, but made with entire maturity and elegance.
99
WEEKEND
Dir. Andrew Haigh
United Kingdom, 2011
A brave and emotional work that deal with the brevity of love and the difficulties to say goodbye. With a realist style, Haigh introduces us to the lives of two guys who met in a bar to tell a bittersweet story about how sometimes the intensity of love has nothing to do wit the amount of time it lasts.
98
BACURAU
Dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles
Brazil, 2019
A social film that takes the whole town of Bacurau as its main character, it is insane and daring, and it's packed with a lot of action along with heavy social and political comments. The smartest part is how it slowly sets the ground of a dystopian tale for shocking revelations that are mordent criticism to supremacism.
97
ANOMALISA
Dir. Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson
United States, 2015
Charlie Kauffman gifted us with some of the most creative screenplays from the late 90's - early 00's, and now, taking the director chair, we are graced with a smart, yet very funny, animation for adults with a heavy dose of philosophical nihilism on its explorations of life absurds and finding "the one".
96
FOXTROT
Dir. Samuel Maoz
Israel, 2017
Maoz's second feature, is, above all, daring. He takes constant bold decisions that challenge conventions and offer beautiful images. It takes guts to use all those extreme close ups, adventurous camera angles and movements, non-linear narrative time, and style variations to separate and contrast its three parts.
95
HÆVNEN
(In a Better World) Dir. Susanne Bier
Denmark, 2010
Bier offers a film that makes a complex examination of moral ambiguity, putting her characters in strong predicaments to decide what is the righteous way to behave, and what should one do when faces injustice. Although it has visible tricks, there's a strong directorial hand that never lets the film stir out of direction.
94
HEARAT SHULAYIM
(Footnote) Dir. Joseph Cedar
Israel, 2011
Although it is quite an intelectual film both in its structure and its topic, there's so much to say about the emotional conflict between rivals father and son. An outstanding screenplay that deals with complex feelings like pride, loyalty and ambition, and goes deep in creating rich and fascinating characters.
93
ADIEU AU LANGAGE
(Goodbye to Language) Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Switzerland, 2014
If you're one of the most important names in cinema, after a career of 60 years and several masterpieces, you might be start questioning what is there beyond film language. Godard deconstructs narrative and conventions in quite a complex and nihilist films that explores the possibilities of the moving image.
92
TAKE SHELTER
Dir. Jeff Nichols
United States, 2011
Take Shelter takes apocalypse out of Hollywood and into author realms, with a deep psychological analysis of obsessions and descent to madness. A bit of Von Trier and a bit of Aronofsky, but much more contained than any of them, and navigating cleverly between thriller, sci-fi, and intimate drama.
91
HAPPY END
Dir. Michael Haneke
Austria 2017
Haneke hits again with yet another nihilist film that attacks the middle-upper class societies. Happy End explores the cold modern relationships between people that are supposed to care for each other, but who in reality are unable to hold significant connections, framed in Haneke's usual cold clinical long shots.
90
AQUARIUS
Dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho
Brazil, 2016
Aquarius works at two simultaneous levels: denouncing how corporations are destroying individual life, and exposing the rich complex history of a mature woman. Both layers connect in every possible way, so we end up with a brilliant film about personal integrity, a study of character in itself, and opposing it to social forces.
89
THE REVENANT
Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu
United States, 2015
Although all the elements of The Revenant have a good standard of filmmaking, there are two aspects that steal the show: Lubezki's wonderful cinematography of the cold tundra landscape, and the raw performance of Leonardo DiCaprio that finally gave him the elusive Academy Award that he deserved.
88
BOOKSMART
Dir. Olivia Wilde
United States, 2019
Olivia Wilde's first shot at directing is explosive, a hilarious unchain of absurd situations that kicks patriarchy in the balls while keeping us laughing at a sophisticated screenplay full of smart adult humor. Booksmart proves that comedy is not only compatible with woke culture, but it is highly improved by it.
87
MANBIKI KAZOKU
(Shoplifters) Dir. Hirokazu Koreeda
Japan, 2018
At times charming and sweet, but at times bleak and heartbreaking, Koreeda make us face several moral dilemmas through well-rounded characters in his Palme d'Or winning study of what it means to be a family, digging as much in the psyche of the characters as he digs in the social structures of Japan.
86
PLEMYA
(The Tribe) Dir. Miroslav Slaboshpitsky
Ukraine, 2014
A complex and incredibly demanding film, Plemya is incredibly clever in finding visual ways in telling a story that completely lacks of dialogue, but without condescend at any point. Its triumph relies in the anxiety of not fully understanding that correlates on how deaf people experience the world on a normal basis.
85
KONA FER Í STRIÐ
(Woman at War) Dir. Benedikt Erlingsson
Iceland, 2018
A smart fable that is part comedy and part action film, Erlingsson's story is a call to action against climate change by starting a revolution on big corporations. The precious cinematography is crowned with a glorious final scene that works as a symbol of what is in store for new generations if we don't take immediate action.
84
DE ROUILLE ET D'OS
(Rust & Bone) Dir. Jacques Audiard
France, 2012
In a strict sense of words, this is a love story about overcoming difficulties, but those words won't make any justice to this existential film that is merciless in its portray of absurd in the quest of reasons to keep living. Audiard lives to the promise of Un Prophet, and Cotillard and Schoenaerts' performances are powerful.
83
DESPUÉS DE LUCÍA
(After Lucia) Dir. Michel Franco
Mexico, 2012
A raw naturalist film about school bullying taken to the extreme, Después de Lucía takes a cold distant approach to avoid sentimentalism and/or bleakness, but is steady and precise portraying the personal hell of being an outcast in your teenage years. A perfect balance between harsh and subtle images.
82
GIRL
Dir. Lukas Dhont
Belgium, 2018
A fantastic character study about the internal turmoil that a young transgender woman, slightly from a social perspective, but mostly about the psychological process. We get inside the character's world with a dynamic camera that at times observes and at times dances, and is able to create the full intimacy required.
81
INCENDIES
Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Canada, 2010
Based on an outstanding contemporary theatre play, Villeneuve shows a great understanding of cinematic narrative by setting the tone of a thriller and reaching the proportions of a greek tragedy, while giving way to deep thoughts about war, religion, immigration and family.
80
JUSTE LA FIN DU MONDE
(It's Only the End of the World) Dir. Xavier Dolan
Canada, 2016
Dolan gives another go at his obsession with unhealthy family relationships, and gets the most out of his cast with powerful dialogue and back stories. A great use of space, the house at times is huge, full of textures and ambients, but at times a claustrophobic hole that suffocates the characters and the audience.
79
LES MISÉRABLES
Dir. Tom Hooper
United Kingdom, 2012
Hooper manages to capture the spirit of the Broadway musical and the grandiosity of Victor Hugo's original material, and is able to take us in an emotional rollercoaster, from Anne Hathaway's tragedy to the comic interludes, from the sweet father-daughter story to the inspirational thirst for social justice.
78
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Dir. David Fincher
United States, 2010
Facebook and other social media apps were a fundamental part of the 10's, and right there at the beginning of it, David Fincher was making this film about the volatility and immediacy of contemporary human relationships and interactions by exploring the starts of Mark Zuckerberg. #QuiteRelevant
77
RELATOS SALVAJES
(Wild Tales) Dir. Damián Szifrón
Argentina, 2014
Most films composed by short-films fail because there is an unequal level among its parts, but Relatos Salvajes manages to get not only thematic cohesion, but also an even level of wit and inventiveness. These six dark comedies about violence are delirious and fascinating in their socio-psychological analysis.
76
SING STREET
Dir. John Carney
Ireland, 2016
It was very clear that Carney's passion beside films was music, but this time he swapped corny melodramas for an energetic comedy that brings back the spirit of 80s alternative music. With a hilarious screenplay and a fabulous soundtrack, Sing Street is a charming film about finding yourself, your crew, and your passion.
75
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Dir. Lisa Cholodenko
United States, 2010
A refined comedy about modern families that is incredibly woke and not losing an ounce of hilarity for that. Cholodenko is quite compromised with her queer discourse and delivers a screenplay at the height of the decade that was about to begin, and takes the most out of the brilliant cast fronted by Benning and Moore.
74
DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT
(Two Days, One Night) Dir. Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
Belgium, 2014
A solid and round screenplay with the trademark social consciousness of the Dardenne brothers, analyzing workers rights and social solidarity, while being harsh on social realities, it has a motivational core that brings hope on hard times. It might be Marion Cotillard's second best performance, right after La Môme.
73
THE WITCH
Dir. Robert Eggers
United States, 2015
An unusual horror film that takes folk myths as the core inspiration behind a dark tale about superstitions come true. Relying more in creating an uncanny atmosphere rather on cheap scary tricks, Eggers showed how much out of the box thinking can make immediate modern cult films that permeate pop culture.
72
AÑO BISIESTO
(Leap Year) Dir. Michael Rowe
Mexico, 2010
One of those little productions that prove that sometimes less is much more. Relying on a strong screenplay and two potent naturalist performances, we are facing a film that is brutal and explicit in its depiction of loneliness and lust but avoids being sordid by developing a strong psychological depth.
71
IDA
Dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
Poland, 2013
Ida has all the qualities of classic European cinema, there's a sense of sophistication and elegance that very few filmmakers achieved during this last decade. The exquisite black and white cinematography and the paused rhythm bring the best of this self-discovery film that makes a haunting exploration of faith.
70
COCO
Dir. Lee Unkrich & Adrián Molina
United States, 2017
For the first time, Disney got the use of foreign cultures right, since Coco is a carefully crafted hommage to Mexican culture and traditions. Capturing the full beauty, color and vibrancy of Día de los Muertos festivities, Coco is an emotional and heart-warming tale about family, memory and loss.
69
LAZZARO FELICE
(Happy as Lazzaro) Dir. Alice Rohrwacher
Italy, 2018
Part a neorrealist social film, part a tale of manners, and part magical realism, Lazzaro Felice dares to juggle with several concepts and styles, but finds a congruent communion among them in order to tell a refreshing story about innocence in harsh social realities, and with a huge influence of Classic Italian Cinema.
68
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Dir. Martin Scorsese
United States, 2013
This is Leondardo DiCaprio's show, the film that cemented his status as one of the most important American actors nowadays, with scenes and lines that went straight to the pop culture canon. But we also face Scorsese's most adventurous film in years, an intoxicating descent to the hells of American capitalist dream.
67
SOUND OF NOISE
Dir. Ola Simonsson & Johannes Stjärne Nilsson
Sweden, 2010
It's quite disappointing how this film went largely unnoticed, even when it's packed with great comedy (and even action) sequences. But anybody who managed to see it will attest that it is an exciting and hilarious hidden gem that questions what makes music an art, while making political and social satire.
66
TOMBOY
Dir. Céline Sciamma
France, 2011
Sciamma makes a frontal confrontation on gender identities on a film that is bittersweet as it deals in turn with the joy of a child finding their true self, and the pain when it doesn't aligns with social expectations. Early on the decade, Sciamma was spot on important topics of contemporary feminist and queer movements.
65
THE FAVOURITE
Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
United Kingdom, 2018
Lanthimos is ruthless in his depiction of Queen Anne of England. The most un-ceremonial film about the Royals you could find, and also one of the most politically incorrect takes on feminism, it is a dark comedy about power and seduction that benefits from the great dynamics between the three lead actresses.
64
GLORIA
Dir. Sebastián Lelio
Chile, 2013
Gloria dares to put the focus on a mature woman and manages to fully develop the complexities of a character that is rarely seen on leading parts. Lelio paints a very human portrait about the fear of growing old and being alone, and Paulina García shines in a delightful performance full of hues and tonalities.
63
ARRIVAL
Dir. Denis Villeneuve
United States, 2016
Like the best science fiction films, Arrival is not only about an alien invasion, but uses that plot to talk about something deeper, in this case the construction of languages as the bridge of mutual understanding. An interesting use of non-linear narrative that makes you rethink the full movie right at the end.
62
DOLOR Y GLORIA
(Pain and Glory) Dir. Pedro Almodóvar
Spain, 2019
The most autobiographic film from the whole Almodovar's filmography, Dolor y Gloria proudly displays the unique visual style that the director has developed for decades, in a beautiful poem to himself that shares the moments that have shaped his identities, both as a filmmaker and as a human being.
61
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Dir. Benh Zeitlin
United States, 2012
A coming of age fantasy tale that is full of tenderness and imagination. One of the most exciting directorial debuts of the decade, Zeitlin approaches magical realism and leaves a deep mark with this unusual and heart warming story that also displays a great technical and stylistic ability.
60
MARRIAGE STORY
Dir. Noah Baumbach
United States, 2019
A brilliant dual character study that opposes a husband and a wife's versions of a separation and how the process brings out the worst of both. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are exceptional and offer the performances of their careers, taking advantage of the long dramatic dialogues to show all their acting skills
59
BLUE JASMINE
Dir. Woody Allen
United States, 2013
Blue Jasmine is the film that includes Woody Allen in the selected group of directors that have made at least one great film in five different decades. A modern Blanche du Bois, Cate Blanchett deserves all the praises in the world for her performance in this bitter comedy of the downfall of a socialite.
58
JAGTEN
(The Hunt) Dir. Thomas Vinterberg
Denmark, 2012
If slightly controversial when it was released, Jagten is a film that will spark heavy discussions in the age of Me Too. Leaving aside the content, Vinterberg is extremely good at aiming for suffocation and individual hell, and Mad Mikkelsen proved with this performance that he is among the top actors worldwide
57
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen
United States, 2013
A rich and bittersweet representation of human comedy, the Coen brothers offer a modern Ulysses that navigates different ports in a journey of self discovery. A smart screenplay with great comedic moments but a general sense of sadness, with a beautiful cinematography that enhances the emotional effect.
56
VO BA
(The Third Wife) Dir. Ashleigh Mayfair
Vietnam, 2018
A sad tale that exposes the urgent needs of intersectional feminism, approaching its characters with full empathy, from sorority as a balm against oppression. Vo Ba is powerful, beautiful and delicate, with a pastel-colored cinematography and a slow contemplative rhythm that brings Sofia Coppola's films to mind.
55
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
United Kingdom, 2017
Lanthimos contrasts the clinical hyper-realism in his directorial approach with a magical conflict, worthy of a Greek tragedy, that pushes the characters to their most animal side, but in such a contained way that aligns with the tone of the overall film, a psychological thriller that give us the creeps thanks to its ambiguity.
54
LE GAMIN AU VÉLO
(The Kid with a Bike) Dir. Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
Belgium, 2011
Although this is unequivocally a social realism film by the Dardenne brothers, Le Gamin au Vélo might be very well their more tender approach to how the social structures crush the weakest members. The emotional effect is achieved by keeping cheap sentimentalism at bay and focusing on honest character development.
53
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Dir. Martin McDonagh
United Kingdom, 2017
What sets this film apart from other revenge-seeking movies is the smart approach it has and its complex and well-written characters to expose a system that allows unpunished rapes and murders.. A black comedy that is extremely politically incorrect, but in a way that questions and exhibits the vices of Deep America.
52
PÁJAROS DE VERANO
(Birds of Passage) Dir. Ciro Guerra & Cristina Gallegos
Colombia, 2018
A modern tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions, not quite a western or a thriller, but with heavy influences of both, that ties the pride in the indigenous groups in Colombia with the suffocating narco culture, Pájaros de Verano is unique in its portrayal of how the vortex of western society is destroying ancestral groups.
51
VI ÄR BÄST!
(We are the Best!) Dir. Lukas Moodysson
Sweden, 2013
An electrifying coming of age trip that explores the rebel spirit of youth and the close bonds of friendship that outcasts need to form to navigate teenage years. It has the full spirit of punk elevating this small scale indie film to one of the most underrated films of the decade; it has guts and it has a charming soul.