Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (330-321)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #51 – “Set It All Free,” from Sing
51. “Set It All Free,” from Sing
Right, though? Who saw this coming? This is a song, more than most, that kept rising and rising up this list every time I listened to it. I’m not a huge fan of the film outside of the general concept, but there’s no denying that this song and this moment in the film is the one true great moment in it (aside from Matthew McConaughey singing ‘Call Me Maybe’, of course). This song is awesome. (And yeah, sure, the guy who wrote this also wrote “Fight Song,” and it kinda shows. But I don’t care.) In a movie that’s basically American Idol with animals, and most songs being covers, this is the one original song they throw out during the climax of the film, and it really stands out as the moment it’s supposed to. I really like this song a lot.
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (340-331)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #52 – “Touch the Sky,” from Brave
52. “Touch the Sky,” from Brave
One thing Brave did very right are its song. I’m not crazy about Mom turning into a bear and completely shifting what is otherwise a beautiful narrative about a girl refusing to accept her lot in life and wanting to do her own thing. The mother/daughter angle was great for that, just… maybe not how they did it. However, this song is just beautiful. This is the opening credits song, as Merida rides through the forest and gets to be her truest self. It’s a beautiful moment that’s always stood out to me. Plus the song is just wonderful. Gaelic music is just amazing, so the incorporation of that sound into the music really just lifts it up to a whole other level.
Pic of the Day: “A world full of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.” (70th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (350-341)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #53 – “Alibi,” from A Star Is Born
53. “Alibi,” from A Star Is Born
Oh boy, do I like this song a hell of a lot. It’s the perfect rock tune. Cooper performs the hell out of it in the movie. It’s really just a kickass tune. The movie actually combines “Out of Time” and this together in one scene, showing him doing that solo as she travels to the venue and then has him finishing up the song as she gets to the backstage area for him to see her and have her come out and do “Shallow.” But to me, they’re separate songs, both great.
Pic of the Day: “George, you’ve heard about this virus?… Shall I cough on you, George?” (25th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (360-351)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #54 – “Never Forget,” from Murder on the Orient Express
54. “Never Forget,” from Murder on the Orient Express
I fell in love with this song immediately upon hearing it. Whoever’s decision it was to get Michelle Pfeiffer to sing this song is a genius. Because to have some random singer they hired wouldn’t give it the effect it has within the film, especially given her character and who she ends up being. Plus, you get to be reminded of her in The Fabulous Baker Boys, which… never a bad thing. But it’s just this beautiful little lullaby/eulogy that almost acts as a catharsis for the emotional pain all these people went through in the past. It’s really nice, and I think this song really slipped under the radar when the film came out.
Pic of the Day: “My name’s Lowry. Sam Lowry. I’ve been told to report to Mr. Warrenn.” “Thirtieth floor, sir. You’re expected.” “Um… don’t you want to search me?” “Information Retrieval: No sir.” “Do you want to see my ID?” “Information Retrieval: No need, sir.” “But I could be anybody.” “No you couldn’t sir. This is Information Retrieval.” (35th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (370-361)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #55 – “Look What I Found,” from A Star Is Born
55. “Look What I Found,” from A Star Is Born
Gaga’s vocals are really strong here, and I love the simple piano and snaps intro and the gradual increase of the instrumentation throughout. I also really love how the song is introduced in the movie. It’s just something she’s working on, and then later they have her doing it in the studio, and there’s that bit where she can’t do it properly without actually playing it, and then Cooper goes in there for moral support. It’s a really nice moment for the two of them and the cherry on top is that the song is actually really good. It’s also the perfect bridge song between her writing songs with him and the more ‘pop’ direction her career goes in.
Pic of the Day: “In the old days, if someone had a secret they didn’t want to share… you know what they did?” “Have no idea.” “They went up a mountain, found a tree, carved a hole in it, and whispered the secret into the hole. Then they covered it with mud. And leave the secret there forever.” (20th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (380-371)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #56 – “Never Let Me Go,” from Never Let Me Go
56. “Never Let Me Go,” from Never Let Me Go
I love this song. I’ve been listening to it for a decade. It’s the title track from the film. It’s meant to be a song from the 50s that Carey Mulligan’s character buys on cassette and listens to over and over. And man, did they get that right. You could swear this is a song that was from the 50s. It’s a beautiful love ballad with just achingly poignant lyrics, especially given the unrequited love her character feels for Andrew Garfield. It’s a really terrific song, one that’s gone very much ignored in the decade since it came out. I think because the movie is so underrated and because people just kind of assume the song actually did exist in the 50s and they just repurposed it for the movie.
Pic of the Day: “So I jump ship in Hong Kong and I make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas.” “A looper?” “A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I’m a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald, striking. So, I’m on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one – big hitter, the Lama – long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga… gunga, gunga-lagunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he’s gonna stiff me. And I say, ‘Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know’. And he says, ‘Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness’. So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.” (40th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (390-381)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #57 – “Hearts Beat Loud,” from Hearts Beat Loud
57. “Hearts Beat Loud,” from Hearts Beat Loud
In the movie, this is the first song the band (brilliantly titled “We Are Not a Band”) plays, and it becomes sort of the perfect theme for the film. It’s a beautiful song that has shades of the major emotional themes of the film while also just being a really nice moment where a father and daughter make music together.
Pic of the Day: “Where life had no value, death, sometimes, had its price. That is why the bounty killers appeared.” (55th Anniversary)
Mike’s Top Films of the Decade (400-391)
And here we are. The big list. Theoretically the one we’ve been building toward. But really anticlimactic when you get down to it. You think the list of my ‘favorite’ films of an entire decade would be the thing you want. But really it’s just me going back over a lot of the stuff I covered on the other lists and a broad regurgitation of my top ten lists from the ten years. So, rather than treat this like some big holy set of rankings, I’m just gonna do what I did with all the other lists – try to get you to see some of these you haven’t seen before and maybe introduce you to some cool movies.
It’s important to note, as it’s important to note with all my lists – the rankings don’t really matter. The number is only a function of the day I put it together. The only way to truly get a real ranking of my favorite films of the decade is for me to take the pool of films I used and make up this list from scratch at least ten different times and then use some sort of formula to figure out the average position of each movie and then create a ranking. And that’s not the goal here. I don’t care about the numbers. I care about talking up the films I like and trying to get people to see some of them.
So, if you feel like you want to get upset about where something is ranked, know that it’s a broad ranking. For the most part, films are in the general range of the 25-50 where I’d generally rate them next to everything else. Things will change as I revisit stuff and as time goes on. Like I said, this is really just about telling you what I enjoyed most in the hopes that it gets you to check out some of the stuff you either didn’t know about before or never bothered to see (or maybe saw and didn’t fully appreciate at the time). That’s it. It’s really just about celebrating movies. Don’t get so hung up on the numbers.
So, here are my 500 favorite films of 2010-2019: (more…)
Mike’s Favorite Original Songs of the Decade: #58 – “From Now On,” from The Greatest Showman
58. “From Now On,” from The Greatest Showman
I love this song for a lot of reasons. The least of which is that it’s the big song where he realizes, “I’ve been an asshole, and I need to change, and now I’m gonna be better!” And you realize, this dude did some fucked up things in real life. The movie portrays him as a dreamer, but his famous quote is basically how stupid the public is and how willing they are to be conned. So it’s funny to hear this song as some triumphant moment where he finally changes. But anyway, the song is really good. It’s big, it’s catchy, and it’s uplifting. Everyone’s dancing, you get your big finale. It fits the part of the movie it’s meant to be in very well. Plus I love that, in the movie, the song just kind of peters out because everyone got shitfaced and gradually dozed off while singing. That’s pretty awesome.
