Thursday, April 18, 2013

Best Dramas of the Decade, So Far



While I was hoping to publish my friend, Greg Rouleau's, list of the Best Dramas so far this decade (2010-2019) later in the week, some complications are making me announce it earlier than I wanted to. Greg studied Film and Media Arts at Temple University and currently owns the video production company, Reel True. Greg combines his passion for film with an extremely knowledgeable background that makes anyone who talks to him about movies truly value his opinion. Therefore, I handed Greg the difficult task of ranking the Best Dramas since 2010 and here is what he had to say:


For me, a quality drama always begins with the characters. While the goal of a comedy is to make one laugh, the auteurs on the other side of the aisle wish to evoke empathy; caring and investing in the lives of those on screen. Blue Valentine and The Perks of Being a Wallflower both exemplify films with a firm grasp on character. The same can be said for A Separation, one of the more enthralling foreign films in years. On the other hand, Drive shows us that not all drama has to be dripping with sentiment, as it delivers some ultra-chic, neo-noir mixture of style and action. In the case of The Artist, an Oscar-Winning throwback to silent films, we’re reminded about the pure magic of cinema.

Next, 127 Hours and Moneyball are bolstered by top-notch performances from their protagonists (James Franco and Brad Pitt), which, once again, illustrate the power of character. As a result, both Oscar-Nominated films are clearly elevated to an elite class by the work of their leading men. Then, how could anyone argue against a drama blended perfectly with some thrills and laughs, such as last year’s Best Picture Winner Argo?

Finally, my top 2 picks for the Best of Drama were both over-looked during the Oscar season for the big prize but, perhaps with time, we’ll remember The Social Network and Zero Dark Thirty as two of the great movies of the early 2010s. With each film, directors Fincher and Bigelow, respectively, are in command of all their pitches, displaying a deft hand in bringing their visions to life. It’s really a coin-flip between the two, The Social Network could take the honor for sheer entertainment value and re-watch-ability, but I’ve given the nod to Zero Dark Thirty for its fantastic finale and brilliant leading lady, Jessica Chastain.

Once again, here’s my Top Ten Dramas since 2010 in order:


8 – A Separation (2011)


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