Top 10 Best Movie Scenes of The Last Decade
#10: French Market Dreaming
“Inception” (2010) It might be impossible to film an actual dream, but thanks to imaginative directors like Christopher Nolan, we can see dreams play out on the big screen. In this scene from Nolan’s mind-bending blockbuster, Leonardo DiCaprio’s extractor Dom Cobb gives Elliot Page's Ariadne a crash course in dream infiltration. At a Paris café, Dom explains the unlimited possibilities of dreams to the architecture student. Then, he breaks the incredible news: they're not in Paris; this is all a dream. Things literally get explosive and turned upside-down. This amazing sequence was accomplished with CGI and practical effects. Unsurprisingly, “Inception” took home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
#9: Thanos Erases Half the Universe
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“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) When supervillain Thanos gets all the stones for the Infinity Gauntlet, the universe is in an impossibly precarious situation. While Thor does his best to stop him, once Thanos snaps his fingers, it's all over. A quick flash of white and nothing will be the same again, as half of all living beings disintegrate, including Peter Parker, T'Challa, and Wanda Maximoff. The lack of music for this scene lets us sit with the quiet shock of it all, as difficult as that is. Things are set right in the follow-up, “Avengers: Endgame,” but this scene brilliantly portrays a devastating possibility: a world where not even superheroes can save us.
#8: Learning to Swim
“Moonlight” (2016) Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight" tells the story of Chiron and his tumultuous journey from boyhood to manhood in three parts. Along the way, he's influenced, positively and negatively, by different people, including Juan, a local drug dealer who becomes a father of sorts for Chiron, offering him guidance and encouragement he’s not receiving at home or school. In this wonderful moment, Juan teaches Chiron to swim in the Atlantic Ocean, the camera bobbing to make us feel like we're right in the water with them. Actor Alex Hibbert actually couldn't swim. That means Mahershala Ali was really teaching him while filming. It’s moments like this that make “Moonlight” feel less like a movie and more like a reminder of all the goodness in the world.
#7: Stairs Dance
“Joker” (2019) Some comic book movies need green screens to create moments that aren't even half as memorable as this one, which involves little more than a staircase. On his way to appear on Murray Franklin's talk show in full clown makeup, Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is overtaken by dance fever, busting some moves on some stairs while the soundtrack plays “Rock and Roll Part 2.” Soon, Arthur is approached by two detectives, and his celebration turns into an escape. But these stairs, located in the Bronx, have become stars, with many fans showing off their moves at the "Joker Stars." Cultural impact doesn’t get much more apparent than that.
#6: Window
“Birdman” (2014) On the surface, "Birdman" is about a former superhero star trying to reclaim his relevance by staging a Broadway play. But it's about so much more, like the uncertainty of existence. The best example of this comes at the very end. Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, is hospitalized after an accident at his play's opening night. Hearing the birds chirping outside of his window, Riggan climbs out, and what happens next is impossible to know. The only clue comes from his daughter, Sam, played by Emma Stone, who returns to find the empty room and open window. Her panic turns to nervous relief as she looks up. We don’t know whether to cry or smile at this scene, so we usefully do both.
#5: The Masked Ball
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“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) “The Dark Knight Rises” might not have been quite as good as its predecessor, but it was a more-than-satisfying ending to Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. The best moment of this superhero film involves a different kind of mask. When retired Batman Bruce Wayne tracks cat burglar Selina Kyle to a costume ball, he insists on a dance with the masked thief, which turns into a sharp discussion of the benefits of financial privilege, which the billionaire Bruce certainly has. The class commentary is still relevant as ever, and stars Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway have so much chemistry in this tense moment, we regret that they only had one "Batman" film together.
#4: Expired Medication
“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) Who would’ve expected the funniest movie scene of the decade to come from Martin Scorsese? In his uproarious biopic about Jordan Belfort, the stockbroker who used illegal tactics to steal millions from people, Scorsese shows how money is as addictive as any drug. But Belfort is no stranger to substances, as shown in this scene, which involves him ingesting some Quaaludes, which he learns are expired. However, that doesn't mean they're duds, and Belfort feels their effects during a crucial phone call. Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of the best physical comedy performances we've ever seen as he tries to make his way home. And Jonah Hill is just as hilarious as Belfort's colleague, who partakes in the pills with him.
#3: Evening Visit
“Parasite” (2019) If you haven’t seen “Parasite” and don’t want to be spoiled, you might want to skip ahead. Because this is a moment that completely alters the whole viewing experience. The struggling Kim family successfully con their way into working for the upper-class Park family and enjoy the Parks’ home while the family is away. But the fun is interrupted when a visitor arrives: the Parks' former housekeeper, who the Kims had fired under false pretenses. She leads them to the basement and reveals her husband has been living in a bunker for more than four years. Director Bong Joon-ho and his cast nail the terror and confusion of this rainy night. We can still feel our hearts racing from the first time we watched this.
#2: The Chase
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“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) To say this “Mad Max” reboot from series creator George Miller is intense is putting things mildly. No film this decade was more exhilarating from start to finish, and this sequence is the most thrilling of all. When villainous ruler Immortan Joe's wives escape his clutches with the help of Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa, he calls his troops to bring them back. This leads to the car chase to arguably end all chases, with Furiosa's "War Rig” pursued across the desert landscape by all kinds of vehicles. The spectacle of this scene blows our minds. Where else do you see a flamethrower guitar in a chase scene? Best of all, this was mostly filmed with practical effects, and they look far better than most CGI. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Messages, “Interstellar” (2014) Just Try Not Getting Choked Up by This Scene “Someone in the Crowd,” “La La Land” (2016) A Wonderful Musical Moment The Breakup, “The Social Network” (2010) Aaron Sorkin’s Incredible Dialogue Is On Full Display Here The Audition, “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013) A Heartbreaking Example of Showbiz Difficulties No Man’s Land, “Wonder Woman” (2017) It Takes a Woman to Make It Through No Man’s Land
#1: The Sunken Place
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“Get Out” (2017) With “Get Out,” the hilarious Jordan Peele quickly proved he was also a great director. When Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya, visits his girlfriend’s parents’ house for the weekend, it doesn’t take long for him to feel weird about what’s going on. In this scene, Catherine Keener’s Missy uses hypnotherapy, under the pretense of helping him quit smoking. But she’s actually bringing him to an abyss known as "The Sunken Place" and forces him to confront serious trauma. The sound of the spoon scraping against the cup and Kaluuya's pained expression are scarier than just about any slasher scene. We’ve already seen multiple horror movies trying to cash in on “Get Out’s” success, but none can compare to what Peele accomplished in this one moment.
