The last five years have produced some great films, and these few were my personal favorites from each year (although it turns out most people didn’t see many of them).
2014: The Raid 2
I’m starting out this list with a movie that most people probably haven’t heard of. The Raid 2 is an Indonesian Martial Arts/Crime action thriller about an undercover cop stuck in the midst of a gang war that is jaw-droppingly phenomenal.
Why it’s so great:
The first Raid focused a lot on the action, using the simplistic story to progress to each action sequence (sort of like a Mortal Kombat campaign). The Raid 2, however, gave a bit more focus and depth to the story, and still delivered (and exceeded) on the hyper-violent action that the first Raid presented. The Raid 2 also contains, in my opinion, one of the best action sequences ever filmed. If you don’t mind subtitles (and please believe me when I say they’re worth trucking through if you hate them), this is a must watch for action fans.
Honorable Mentions: Whiplash/Grand Budapest Hotel
2015: Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: FR is probably the most straight forward story on this list, but it does everything with style, breathtaking visuals, and possibly the best score of the last 5 years,
Why it’s so great:
Mad Max: Fury Road is stylish, has breathtaking special effects, and overall encapsulates everything that moviegoers look for. Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are phenomenal leads, the music is grandiose and bold, the action is gorgeous and and there is no shortage of awe inspiring moments. There’s a reason this movie cleaned up at the Oscars.
Honorable Mentions: Room/Creed
2016: The Nice Guys
Here’s another movie that flew under most people’s radar, which is an absolute shame. Led by Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe, The Nice Guys, Set in the 1970s, revolves around a bumbling Private investigator and former muscle for hire who search for a missing girl.
Why it’s so great:
Crowe and Gosling have amazing chemistry and make for one of the best buddy comedies nobody knew they needed. A hilariously delivered script and a solid mystery with unexpected turns make The Nice Guys a great watch.
Honorable Mentions: Moonlight/Arrival
2017: Baby Driver
Baby Driver is my top movie of the last 5 years, directed by my personal favorite director, Edgar Wright. Baby Driver is a story of a young getaway driver trying to settle his debts and get out of a life of crime.
Why it’s so great:
The attention to detail that Edgar Wright has in all of his films shines particularly bright in Baby Driver. Each scene was shot to match the excellent soundtrack, and the final product is a unique and beautiful cohesion between what you see and what you hear. There is also a lot of detail in the background of each scene, which make it very rewatchable. The story has a huge amount of heart, and the driving sequences (also literally synced to music) rival that of classic car movies like Bullet.
Honorable Mentions: Get Out/The Shape of Water
2018: Upgrade
After speaking with some people, Upgrade is yet another phenomenal film that flew under the general public’s radar. Upgrade is a sci fi horror/thriller with some action set pieces and mystery. Upgrade is about a paraplegic who receives experimental surgery and an added A.I. to regain function of his body, and uses his “upgrade” to solve, and get revenge for, his wife’s murder.
Why it’s so great:
Upgrade perfectly blends sci-fi, horror, and action into its own unique universe. The futuristic environment feels truly original, and the duality between the main character (Gray) and his AI is perfectly executed and intriguing. The horror elements are well developed and shocking, action sequences flow with the story, and the ending is pretty disturbing on almost every level. Upgrade is a culmination of various genres that make it very original and unique.
Honorable Mentions: A Star is Born/Into the Spider-Verse
So there you have it, my favorite movies from 2014-2018. I strongly implore anyone and everyone to check them out!
FlickFix 