The Dark Knight: Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors and writers of all time; so, of course, three of his films would make my top 10. This is an obvious classic, but the way the plot is played out with the Joker (brilliantly taken on my favourite actor Heath Ledger), Batman and Two-Face/Harvey Dent is dynamic. Nolan’s approach to creating Gotham as real as possible with darker energy makes it all the more intriguing to watch. Fun fact: I watched this film five times in the theatre.
Interstellar: Anything that has to do with time and space, I am for it. Nolan does an excellent job bringing in our desire as humans to search outside of ourselves for ‘home’. From time, dimensions, black holes and so many tears, thanks to Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar-worthy scene, this film hits all the points.
Inception: Of course, yet another Nolan film and it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also one of my favourite actors. With an all-star cast, spectacular plot twists and digging into the subconscious mind, it is a film that you would have to watch over and over again, only to experience it as if it was the first time.
Edward Scissorhands: Filmmaker Tim Burton is another one of my all-time favourites and he creates a fantastical world that eerily feels all too familiar. With Edward being “othered” and equally “exotified”, anyone that’s ever felt like an outsider can heavily relate to this endearing film.
Split: James McAvoy’s ground-breaking performance to not play just one, but nine characters was, nonetheless, outstanding. M Night Shyamalan tapped into the human psyche and really showed us that we as humans are capable of being anyone we wanted to be, if we really took control over our minds.
Get Out: Every single detail, from music to the writing, cinematography, acting, race politics and historical references to the absolutely terrifying iconic running scene, makes Get Out the ultimate must-see film.
Us: Even though this film just came out, Jordan Peele gave us another classic psychological thriller playing on doppelgangers. Again, being known for his Easter Eggs, so many beautiful references are made in this film, which makes any viewer want to go in their own rabbit hole of research and dissecting each scene. And again, Lupita equals Oscar, for sure.
Pulp Fiction: Quentin Tarantino. That’s it. There isn’t anything more that needs to be said.
13 Going on 30: I have a real soft spot for romantic comedies and they are my go-to films to watch. Anything with role reversing is fun to watch. And, of course, nothing is cuter than watching Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner’s chemistry on screen together. Plus, this movie literally made me want to work in media.
Inside Out: One of my favourite animated films really gives a sense of what a young person’s mind feels like when they are dealing with depression. It truly is an incredible film for anyone at any age to watch and feel empathy for those who are struggling with their mental health.
Kiran Rai AKA Kay Ray is an actor, filmmaker and Influencer. She hosts the talk show Cha Da Cup on Rukus Avenue Radio on Tuesdays at 5pm PST, Wednesdays at 1pm GMT and 5:30pm IST.
www.rukusavenueradio.com and Instagram & Twitter: @Kay__Ray
