“What are some of the movies you must see before you die?” Wait! Let me guess some of the titles that probably popped into your head while I write this intro.
So I asked this question to a lot of people I know and the answers are always fairly similar. Carrie. The Godfather. Scarface. Pulp Fiction. But we already know those ones, so how about we be more specific. What are the must watch movies of this millennium? Those must see movies that are 21 years old or younger. The movies that deserve to be considered alongside the cult classics and the likes of Casablanca and Taxi Driver. Did I miss the one you were thinking of? Don’t worry it’s probably on a list somewhere.
Well I’m here with a few suggestions for you to consider that sometimes might get overlooked. So, Lights. Camera. Action!
Wall-E (2008)
Wall-E is a Pixar love story between robots while also being a commentary on the devastating impact humans have had on the planet and how our dependency on technology will eventually make us high functioning blobs. It’s adorable and, considering the main character doesn’t even speak properly, you can’t help but fall in love with the junk hoarding robot that is Wall-E.
Room (2015)
The bond between a parent and child is unbreakable, even in the worst circumstances. Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay act out this story beautifully and the drama of this story, huge as it is, all starts in one little room. It really shows that a mother is willing to do anything for her child and a child will do anything to get back to their mother.
The Prestige (2006)
If you’ve seen this movie, you already know why it’s here. The Prestige is a movie where, once you figure out the facts of the story, you want to go back and re-watch it and see all the subtle hints hidden in plain sight. The story of friends becoming rivals is nothing new but the cast and nuances of the movies make it spectacular.
The Revenant (2015)
By no means overlooked by the Academy and other awarding bodies, this film is too new to be a classic just yet but it’s a real must see and a master class in acting. When you want to talk about getting into a role and immersing yourself in a character, this is the movie to reference. Leonardo Di Caprio slept inside an animal carcass for this role so you show him the recognition he deserves.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger’s Joker was the iconic DC villain of our era. Sure there have been plenty of Jokers over the years but, even now, people still mention Heath Ledger’s Joker as some of the best acting in a role. To top it all off, the fact that Ledger’s Joker was so good meant that the entire cast upped their game making this, by far, the best of Nolan’s Batman movies with Christian Bale really being so perfect for showing the stark contrast between Bruce Wayne, the rich socialite, and Batman, Gotham’s crime fighting vigilante.
Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (2004 – 2013)
No one said classic movies have to be serious and these three are about as unserious as you can get. With Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End making up the trilogy, the whole series is chaotic hilarity provided by Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright and if you think beating a zombie with pool cues to Queen isn’t funny: you’re wrong.
Get Out (2017)
For a directorial debut, Jordan Peele really went all out. Get Out is a brutal psychological thriller that also looks at the themes of race and benevolent racism. It avoids the typical horror/thriller clichés and utilizes all the best aspects of the genre to create something really amazing. And, to top it all off, I’m fairly certain that somewhere, someone is willing to throw a lot of money at Jordan Peele to make a sequel but this is the kind of thing that you just can’t replicate.
Joker (2019)
Oh, you want some more crazy on your list? Okay. Come back to me after watching this movie and tell me, with 100% certainty, what parts of Joker were reality and what was fiction. So the idea was a new take on an old DC villain that was not a copy and paste of the acclaimed performance by Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix nailed it, giving us the origins of the world renowned Joker.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Who knew that breaking a lamp could cause so much tension? In a world where silence is the key to survival and the slightest noise could get you killed, you try explain to your young children why their toys can’t have batteries. This movie should be called Tension: The Movie because, honestly, I found myself trying to be as quiet as the characters.
Iron Man (2008)
The comeback of a lifetime started right here and brought about a huge franchise with it. Admit it: right now you can barely tell where Robert Downey Jr. ends and Tony Stark begins. Who else could deliver the iconic line “I am Iron Man” as an ad lib with all the swagger and confidence of Tony Stark only to have that moment come full circle at the end of his character arc? RDJ, man. RDJ.
And to anyone who says superhero movies can’t be classic movies, tell that to the people who grew up watching them because they’re the ones who’ll decide what the classics are in the future.
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