I've been contemplating this post for a while as a sort of "Best of" of the last 10+ years of Rath's Reviews. Many times I get asked: "What are your favorite films?", "What do you recommend?", and "What films have stuck with you?".
It's that latter question that's so intriguing to me. It's not asking for which films I gave the highest ratings to, or which ones won all the Rath Awards. It's asking which ones are still fresh in my memory, even if I haven't seen it in a while and which ones are likely to stay in my memory 10, 20 more years from now.
My original list was massive, with nearly 30 films. Each of them are special and ones that I enjoyed (or I do by now) but I eventually narrowed it down to the list in this post, unranked, because A) that's not really the point and B) I'm a coward :-). Just know that each of these comes with the highest recommendation!
Some Notes:
- Only new reviews are eligible. So films that I Retro Reviewed (i.e. The Dark Knight) will not be here!
- Reviews will be linked in the scores
- None of the films pictured in the title image are on this list. I tricked you! For those interested, they are: Sicario, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Blade Runner 2049, The Greatest Showman, Whiplash, and It Follows
- The rest of the list that didn't make the main 10 are: Oblivion, The Place Beyond the Pines, Snowpiercer, Gone Girl, Gravity, John Wick, San Andreas, Rogue One, Blindspotting, Da 5 Bloods, Sound of Metal, and Promising Young Woman
- General "mild" spoiler alert!
- Films are in order of release date
Let's get to it!
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
I've already done an entire Rath Write-Up about how much I love the Mission Impossible series. It's currently the best - and most consistent - action series there is. Ghost Protocol was the film where I felt the jump from good/great to downright incredible. Ever since then, the following films have echoed this 4th installment's quality, entertainment value, and bonkers stunt work by Tom Cruise. And while they've each been heart-pounding, it's Ghost Protocol that ranks as my highest. Seeing the Dubai sequence in IMAX with my father is a vertigo-inducing segment of movie magic that I'll never forget. Released | 2011
The Grey
When The Grey first released, many might have written it off (or gotten excited) that it was marketed as Liam Neeson vs. wolves. Now in 2021, we know that The Grey was a particularly special movie, and Neeson's best actioner by a long shot. For me personally, I'd go so far as to say that it's perhaps one of the most stuck films (even within this Top 10) throughout all these years. It has an intense and breathtaking realism in its portrayal of death throughout, coupled with strong performances, a compelling narrative, stellar filmmaking and original score, and an emotional punch of an ending. I haven't seen it in years, but that I can remember so many emotions and scenes from it without constant viewings speaks to how powerful it is. If you missed this one all those years ago, rectify it quickly. Rath's Review Score | 9/10 Released | 2012
The Raid 2
Another film that I haven't seen in a while, this martial arts masterpiece is an epic, tour de force that took me by storm. The first Raid was an impressive film and had made a name for itself, but the sequel upped the stakes in nearly every single way. It's an exhausting film, but one that I couldn't believe half of what I was seeing. From the incredible choreography, memorable assassins, mud-pit brawl, kitchen clash, and a tightly filmed car chase, The Raid 2 sets a bar that I've not seen reached since. Throw in a operatic story and you've got a film that sears its bloody, violent, and unbelievable images right in your brain. Released | 2014
Interstellar
If there's a film on the list that earns the prize of "most stuck" on my mind, it's Interstellar. Originally a film that I didn't "get", it took several more viewings and reading "The Science of Interstellar" by Kip Thorne to allow me to fully appreciate this behemoth. Directed by Christopher Nolan - who, if you're new to the site, I admire completely - this is possibly one of the most "epic" films ever made. Perhaps not epic in the sense of grand battles or globe-trotting scope, but epic in the sense of how much it pushes your thinking to the brink, all with largely realistic and/or theoretical science. It's the most realistic depiction of a black hole we've ever seen, and the sensation you get from understanding how it plays with time, aliens, bulk space, and where humans are going next are enough to make you feel insignificant. It's a great source of inspiration for me and the stories I hope to tell someday. Released | 2014
Kingsman: The Secret Service
I'm a big fan of the "spy" genre. Bond, Hunt, Bourne...all do it for me (some more than others). There's enough passion there that I've even written & published two spy novels. So it should be no surprise that I adore the Kingsman series. Yes, including the sequel which is nearly as good as the first and y'all are crazy for disagreeing. But the first film holds a special place in my heart because of it's wonderful blend of humor, over the top violence (seriously...the church scene), engrossing plot and character development, and spot-on casting. It was also my first "press screening" out of pure luck, so that will always make it even more special. Rath's Review Score | 9/10 Released | 2015
Ex Machina & Annihilation
(aka Alex Garland mind f**ks)
Surprise! My list, my rules and I couldn't decide between these two incredible films from director Alex Garland. Ex Machina has stayed on my mind for years, consistently stressing the question "Ok, so once we have true AI...how will they react to basically being a slave?" Not to mention that the film - outside of concept - is a masterwork of tension, performances, and special effects. Annihilation is a very different film, but another sci-fi masterpiece that burrows deep into your psyche. Memorable and highly disturbing moments like the crocodile, screaming bear (seriously, this will never be forgotten), and fungus/flower overgrowth on people creates a wholly unique and very weird world. Then we have that ending, 10ish minutes of pure cinema perfection; one of those rare moments where the cinematography, concept, performances, and original score gel perfectly to create something that shook me to my core. Both films are some of the best science fiction Rath's Reviews has ever covered. Ex Machina
Released | 2015
Annihilation
Rath's Review Score | 9/10 Released | 2018
Mad Max: Fury Road
This one is pretty straight forward. Mad Max: Fury Road was perhaps the most incredible action/chase film of all time. It's an adrenaline shot in a way that few films are, and so many moments about it reached "classic" status almost the day it released. It's the best film in the series (by a considerable margin) and features eye-popping stunt work and practical effects. It never lets up as we follow Tom Hardy's Max and Charlize Theron's Furiousa. It's a mad, mad mixture of fire, sand, metal, blood, and speed (and Mother's Milk). Oh, and it has a blind, bungee-cord, electric guitar player who's mounted on a tower of speakers and his instrument of choice doubles as a flamethrower. So...yeah... Released | 2015
La La Land
Surprised? Don't be. La La Land is a film that fully captures the vision of its director, Damien Chazelle. It's light and airy, but has a deep story that can connect with almost anyone. The music is phenomenal, and is rivaled by the choreography and performances. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are a match made in movie-heaven and the whole film just sings, never losing the sparkle in it's eye. It also represents my favorite Denver Film Festival moment - and one of the few times the festival was able to book an actual star appearance with Emma Stone. In the simplest terms, La La Land is a film where everything works, the entire time. Released | 2016
Arrival
Noticing a theme here? I love sci-fi, and it sticks with me longer than most genres. It's a category of film that, when done right, it forces you to think in new, exciting, and sometimes frightening ways. Arrival, a product of the top-tier director, Denis Villeneuve, is that type of science fiction. It's a slow, creepy burn centered around a strong Amy Adams' performance. By the time it shows its final hand, you'll be blown away and unable to think of anything else for days. The suggestions and leaps it makes are exciting and when you couple it with a film that has a perfect original score and cinematography, it's unforgettable. Rath's Review Score | 9/10 Released | 2016
Avengers: Infinity War & Avengers: Endgame
Did you really expect this list to be void of any Marvel? The MCU is one of the most impressive feats in the history of cinema (yes, I will die on that hill!) and no matter where it goes from here, the culmination of 10+ years and over 20 films was nothing short of earth-shattering. I tend to view these films as one, grand, Shakespearean spectacle and they both shook audiences in separate ways. For Infinity War, it was the first time that so many Marvel heroes had come together and was redemption for the somewhat disappointing (and more generic) previous Avenger film. Plus, I'm not sure I'll ever forget the movie theater's reaction to the final few minutes and the ache, confusion, and "Did they just do that?" running through my mind. A year later, they capped off this crazy experiment with the biggest movie of all time. The result was a "best of" time travel "heist" that ended with a finale so rousing and crowd pleasing that it brought both tears of joy and sadness to nearly everyone in my theater. Think what you want about Marvel, but there's no denying they absolutely stuck the landing. Avengers: Infinity War
Released | 2018
Avengers: Endgame
Released | 2019
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Reading over this list, it reminds me how wonderful the best and most thought-provoking of films can be. It's impressive when a span of 2ish hours ends up sticking with you for a period of time much longer than that. What's even cooler? I'm sure that your list of "Stuck" films would look completely different from mine. Your Top 10 (okay, I did 12...so sue me!) would be a collection of the moments and films that have engrained themselves into your mind whether it be because of the experience itself, the humor, the "wow" factor, or the way they made you think and feel.
Let me know what yours would be in the comments below, on Facebook, or Instagram!
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