1. Win Win - (R) - It's a touching story of a good man who does a bad thing. Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan are brilliant, as are the rest of the cast. It's a feel good movie with smarts, and still my favorite movie of the year. It's on DVD now.
2. Another Earth - (PG-13) - I can tell you right now this is a love it or hate it kind of movie. I loved it. Everything was so creative, from the script to the cinematography to the score. And the last ten seconds blew my mind more than any film in a long time. It's on DVD now.
3. The Muppets - (PG) - Sure, the plot is paper thin and it's about a group of fabric figures, but no film exuded more joy and fun this year. It was one of those movies that I didn't want to end. The soundtrack is exceptional as well. In theaters now.
4. Source Code - (PG-13) One thing that I hate about certain thrillers is they often wrap themselves in a mystery so grand, the writers can't figure out how to end them so it ends up with either no ending or a stupid conclusion. This movie ends perfectly and kept me hooked the entire way. It's on DVD now.
5. Midnight in Paris - (PG) - Woody Allen and I haven't seen eye to eye on what a good movie was in a while, but finally he releases his best film since "Match Point". This is the very simple story of one man who is a romantic in a world (and time) where those around him are not. I loved it. On DVD 12/20.
6. 50/50 - (R) - A story about a twenty-something with cancer should not be a feel good film, but I left this movie feeling inspired. On DVD 1/24.
7. Hugo - (PG) - I had never read "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" before seeing this movie adaptation. Some have told me the movie is terrible compared to the book. While that often is the case, I really have a hard time believing it in this instance, as the story was so heartwarming that it would take a real scrooge not to like it. It is a little "artsy" for a family movie I guess, but I still found it very impressive. In theaters now.
8. The Beaver - (R) - Mel Gibson is one of the most hated people in Hollywood. But he still is a great actor. If you can separate the art from the artist, I would urge you to see this Jodie Foster directed (and costarring) film. When a man sinks so far into depression, his only hope for recovery is a discarded beaver puppet. It sounds absurd, but it's very well done, I assure you! On DVD now.
9. The Tree of Life - (PG-13) - This earns my honor as the film I 'appreciated' most. It's a work of art - a beautiful work of art. It's also really long, and with a piece of art, I am not the patient kind of person who can stand too long and look at anything, so this movie did take forever to finish. It's a real accomplishment though, and I'm very glad I saw it. On DVD now.
10. Fast Five - (PG-13) - The fourth sequel in a series I wasn't too fond of surprised me more than any other film this year in that I went in thinking I was going to hate it and instead had a blast! It's like an Ocean's movie with cars, and it's so much fun. On DVD now.
The Best Movies of 2010
The movie year is weird. Some 2010 movies haven’t even been released yet. They screen in New York, LA, or some other city to qualify for awards and it takes forever for them to be released near where I live. So that being said this list is subject to change as I see the last few movies of 2010 that I haven’t gotten to see yet. I am still eager to see Somewhere. As of right now though, the following movies are the best of the year in my movie-going opinion. Out of the 129 movies I’ve seen from 2010, these are the ones that 1) stuck with me, 2) entertained me, and 3) added something special to my movie year. They may not all go in the exact order to which I ranked them originally - but they are how I see them now. This is my list:
13) Catfish
I keep going back and forth for the tenth slot on this list. It’s a virtual tie between Catfish and Let Me In. Both movies are great in their own ways, but I give the edge to Catfish because it’s original, not a remake like the other. The filmmakers claim their documentary is true, but I have my strong doubts - no matter - it’s totally interesting and the ending is both shocking and satisfying.
12) Hereafter
Originally, this movie didn't rank on my list. But I was incredibly impressed with how much this movie has stuck with me, now months after I originally saw it. It has a powerful opening, drags just slightly in the middle, but has a powerhouse ending. It's a little sappy, but it's very satisfying.
11) Blue Valentine
This movie bothered me in the best possible way. I was impressed by both Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in their tale of a marriage headed for divorce. It's sad, but brilliant.
10) How to Train Your Dragon
It’s been a great year for animated movies, and in a year this wasn’t against such a great Pixar entry (Toy Story 3) it would be the best animated film. I love the simple storytelling, the well-drawn characters, and the colorful animation style which looked great in 3D.
9) Rabbit Hole
I never expected to like this movie, just because of the dark premise of the loss of a young child. I was taken aback by how raw the performances were - Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne Weist are excellent. The writing was equally impressive, and the final sequence will stick with you for a good long time.
8) Exit Through the Gift Shop
For documentaries, the topic of street art might not seem “important” in a sea of issue films. Who says documentaries HAVE to be important? They should tell a good true story, and this tells a great one. You won’t look at graffiti the same way ever again.
7) Black Swan
I didn’t expect to like this movie, but I found it completely riveting. Set in the world of ballet, this is suprisingly one of the most horrifying thrillers I’ve seen all year. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the movie, and while many portions were hard to watch, it told an original story with intelligence.
6) Inception
Christopher Nolan makes great movies, and this one is no exception. While in my opinion the ending faltered slightly, the twisty and original flick was completely absorbing. It’s hard to explain exactly what this one is about, but it has to do with a new king of terrorism - the theft of one’s thoughts and secrets. Most people have already seen it, but if you are one of the few who haven’t, I would suggest it highly.
5) The King’s Speech
Call me a sucker for overcoming adversity stories, but because this one is true, I feel no guilt whatsoever. Colin Firth plays the man who will be king, King George VI, who has a stuttering problem. Geoffrey Rush plays his speech therapist. Their interactions are some of the most entertaining of the year, and the story itself is fascinating.
4) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
photo © 2010 Sarah Williams | more info(via: Wylio)I have not read the popular book trilogy yet, but I did see the three movies. This, the first portion of the mystery saga, not only was made well, but stands alone as a film even if you don’t see the other two (which are also very very good!). Noomi Rapace deserves an Oscar for her portrayl of hacker Lisbeth Salander, and the supporting casting is also great. The movie is over the top brutal, which originally hurt it in my mind, but after seeing the entire trilogy, I understand the purpose (but still can’t help squinting during some of the most intense scenes.).
3) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
It might not be the traditional critic pick, but I am not a traditional critic. I go to the movies not just for Oscar bait, but also to have a heck of a good time. I cannot think of a more purely entertaining movie this year than SPVTW. Based on a set of equally crazy-amazing graphic novels, Michael Cera plays the title character facing a colorful cast of evil exes in his quest to win the girl of his dreams. I LOVED this movie.
2) 127 Hours
This movie connected with me on a level most movies don’t even come close to. I’ve seen it twice and will buy it when it’s released on DVD. There is something about the message - make the most of your life before it’s too late - that really hit home with me. James Franco gives a brilliant performance, and Danny Boyle’s direction is amazing considering this story is about a man stuck in a cavern. See it.
1) Toy Story 3
The year’s most emotionally driven film was one starring plastic play things. The story was original (especially for the third installment in the series!), the vocal talent was top-notch, and the pacing was perfect. The only people who don’t love this movie seem to complain that it’s too dark - but it needed the jolt to remain fresh and create an ending that is truly unforgettable. It’s great - and in my opinion - the very best movie of 2010.
photo © 2010 Steve Jurvetson | more info (via: Wylio)
