Top 10 Action Movies that are Surprisingly Artistic
Action movies that through direction, cinematography and the work of the actors have been hailed as works of art. WatchMojo presents the top 10 Action movies that also work as art, but what will take the top spot on our list. Mad Max: Fury Road, Drive, of The Matrix? Watch to find out!
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#10: “Oldboy” (2003)
Becoming one of the most well-known and highly regarded films from South Korea is no easy feat. Being an action thriller that is also an award-winning art-house favorite is near impossible. The story of the poor, tortured Oh Dae-su, who’s finally released from captivity with no explanation, may be considered a mystery by many. But the action and thrills are what’s most memorable in this controversial and disturbing film. As he stabs, punches, and bleeds his way towards some answers, getting revenge along the way, we’re treated to some emotionally gritty violence, including the infamous and visually striking hallway attack, which took three days to shoot.
#9: “Sicario” (2015)
Until “Sicario” came along, director Denis Villeneuve was not known as an action director. He was a great director of intense drama; a brilliant voyeur into deeply emotional and private spaces. Well, by bringing that talent to a film about FBI agents and drug cartels fighting the unwinnable war on drugs, he gave us a tense action film that plays out like a stage play, including the beautifully choreographed ambush scene at the Mexican border. Meanwhile, the character study and dialogue hit us as hard as any gunfight or explosion, and the perfect acting properly portrays these characters as weak and flawed humans - not action heroes.
#8: “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000)
Ang Lee is yet another example where a great dramatic director can shine even more with the addition of some beautiful action set pieces. Nobody would’ve expected the director of “Sense and Sensibility” and “The Ice Storm” to make a martial arts film. But “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is unlike any martial arts film you’ll ever see. The action-fantasy, with its near perfect and balletic high-wire flying scenes, took the world by storm, becoming the highest-grossing foreign language film in America’s history, as well as the only martial arts film to have ever been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
#7: “Léon: The Professional” (1994)
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Now we turn to a director who’s known for his action films. However, as an artist, Luc Besson decides to choose stylistic compositions and raw emotion instead of over-the-top action and violence. In Besson’s hands, the story of a ruthless and unstoppable hitman who has to protect his neighbor from violent corrupt DEA agents becomes the story of a man who’s willing to do anything to help a victimized little girl. Thanks to “Léon: The Professional,” Jean Reno became a superstar playing the babysitting New York City hitman, and Besson’s impressive brand of humanistic and realistic action finally broke out in Hollywood.
#6: “Inception” (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is what happens when you take a mega-budget Hollywood special-effects-filled heist movie, and turn it into a smart film. It’s also the outcome when you give an already talented filmmaker the ability to make an action film about dream theory and philosophical investigations into existentialism and depression. Nolan was a director of dramatic thrillers who proved his worth as an action filmmaker when he brought comic-book films into the 21st century with his “Dark Knight” trilogy. “Inception” continued this upward trajectory, using awe-inspiring sequences and gorgeous slow-motion effects to inspire and excite audiences worldwide.
#5: “Run Lola Run” (1998)
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The little German film that could, “Run Lola Run” came outta nowhere and shocked the world, not with its content, but with its visual style. It used unique filmmaking techniques and unusual storytelling methods to tell a simple, yet white-knuckle, tale of a girl running around to save her criminal boyfriend from trouble. Needing to come up with the 100,000 Deutsche Marks he just lost to pay his boss, Manni tells Lola he needs to find the money in 20 minutes or he’ll rob a grocery store. The mind-bending alternate timelines and jump cut experimental editing allows this foreign film to become more of an experience than a simple action flick.
#4: “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003)
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Quentin Tarantino’s revenge thriller is an achievement in cinematic artistry because of its respect and tribute to the art of cinema. At the time, his “Kill Bill” movies were the culmination of Tarantino’s knowledge and love for film. Every single frame and aspect of this 2003 flick is a reference to film genres, film history, and cinematic storytelling. The scattered timeline offers a more literary experience, while the action sequences, including the gratuitous violence, are beautiful acrobatic choreographies. Watching “Kill Bill” is like visiting a film museum, with dedications to everything from anime, to kung fu, to horror, to Blaxploitation, to grindhouse cinema scattered throughout.
#3: “The Matrix” (1999)
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There’s no denying the influence this sci-fi thriller had on Hollywood and pop culture. Its enduring legacy is due to its groundbreaking special effects and beautiful choreography by Yuen Woo-ping, who also worked on “Kill Bill” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” as well as its dramatic and grim story. It takes the Bible-like tale about the search for a Messiah-figure to help save humanity and tells it with computers and kung fu, which can rival any classic mythology. But the Wachowskis not only used religious allegory, but were also inspired by great philosophical thinkers such as Plato, Baudrillard, and Descartes to tell their artistic story.
#2: “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
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Why it took George Miller thirty years to make another “Mad Max” film, let alone any action film, is a mystery. “Fury Road” blew audiences away and received practically unanimous acclaim, making many fans wonder angrily why he’d spent so much time on family films. While the previous “Mad Max” movies were great cult action films, “Fury Road” elevated the legend of Mad Max to a visually stunning masterpiece. With landscapes and scenery akin to beautiful paintings, and breathtaking practical stunts and effects that came straight out of a choreographed modern dance routine, “Fury Road” redefines what it means to be a Hollywood action blockbuster. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “A Better Tomorrow” (1986) - “John Wick” (2014) - “The Raid 2” (2014)
#1: “Drive” (2011)
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The style and atmosphere of “Drive” clearly stem from a modern pop culture aesthetic. Clearly inspired by great predecessors like “Thief” and “Two-Lane Blacktop,” the neon-drenched cinematography and synth-heavy soundtrack thankfully brought this film to the attention of the masses, and gave it the success and accolades it deserved. But behind the glitz and shiny exterior, the focus is drawn to director Nicolas Winding Refn’s post-modern take on classic heist films and the mythology of the hero-narrative. It’s storytelling that drags ugliness out of beauty, and tragedy out of a hyper-realistic world, thanks especially to Ryan Gosling’s haunting and nuanced performance.
