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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