Top 50 Films
35. Presdestination
This rating is determined by an average of the Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and Google ratings
What the Internet Thinks: 7.7/10
At one stage in my top 3 films, Predestination is one of my favourite time travel / secret agent flicks and is very difficult to sell without divulging the key twist in the film. One of the things I noticed when watching Predestination was how instantly it captivated me with in the first several minutes; intentionally void of context and told in a classically (and ironically) linear fashion.
The film commences with an attempted bomb disarming interrupted by a one-on-one shootout resulting in the bomb then exploding and disfiguring our protagonist's identity. Upon reaching their time travel device and transporting to a safe location for medical attention, his face is reconstructed and is later sent on a recruitment mission disguised as a bartender. Upon meeting his target, we learn a great deal about their fascinating life and even more intriguing connection and involvement to our protagonist's life; the film unfolding into something reminiscent of an Ouroboros.
34. The Lobster
This rating is determined by an average of the Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and Google ratings
What the Internet Thinks: 7.7/10
To say The Lobster is unorthodox would be an understatement. From a unique cast, unique plot, and unique direction, The Lobster peaked my attention from the trailer as nothing short of weird... and I loved it. The cinematography blends very well with the instrumental sound track as an eerie and abrupt dystopian vibe, always giving the impression that something is just slightly askew.
Get this for a premise: Society is dominated by the concept of a couple. At a certain point in life, not being in a relationship seems to be illegal. To help the strugglers, there exists correctional resorts that aim to integrate cohorts men and women in numerous social activities. Now comes the catch. If a relationship isn't secured in a fixed period of time, the "failed" individual is transformed by medical procedure into an animal of their choice and released into the wild. Can you guess what our protagonist chose?
The film discusses the nuances of relationships and the true meaning of liberty.
33. About Time
This rating is determined by an average of the Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and Google ratings
What the Internet Thinks: 7.3/10
We aren't done with time travel yet! This film was a tight contender with The Time Traveller's Wife, but About Time just won me over with its slightly more comedic and slightly less haunting/tragic approach to the time travel romance. This charming film helps us start thinking about the value of moments (as all time travel romance films do), but what About Time does different is that it also discusses when to let go of a memory and the necessary sacrifices required of love, and how it can be healthy to do so.
In About Time, time travel is a hereditary gift along the male lineage for our lead role, allowing the ability to re-live any day with the effects of their choices rippling into the present day. With the interesting twist mechanic of not being able to warp back earlier than a time before the birth of the traveller's youngest child (just read it till you get it), the story is then able to help explain its hidden lessons.
32. Hacksaw Ridge
This rating is determined by an average of the Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and Google ratings
What the Internet Thinks: 8.2/10
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Hacksaw Ridge was a tough toss up between films like Saving Private Ryan, and despite my deep love for Tom Hanks I decided to go with the more feel-good option. Hacksaw Ridge explains the true story of a medal of honour recipient and pacifist, Desmond T. Doss refusing to bear arms during the second world war. Another film gravitating around the underdog trope, we can't help but root for our protagonist overcoming his military ostracism and blooming into a hero.
31. The Gentlemen
This rating is determined by an average of the Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and Google ratings
What the Internet Thinks: 7.3/10
Only just more visually enticing than his earlier Snatch, Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen charmed me with a similarly multi-threaded underworld storyline over a satisfying and witty chronology.
This is also a tough one to sell without giving too much of the plot away, but the core revolves around retiring cannabis drug-lord Mickey Pearson trying to sell his empire. Unfortunately for Mickey, numerous criminal groups see fit to intervene with ulterior motives or simply just for fun; stepping on each other's toes, we see discover which of our sly parties has thought the furthest ahead.