Top 10 Films of 2010

(written in December)

2010 has been an extremely good year for film. If you did not like the bunch of films that stacked the Best Picture category and the performances and writing of many of the films this year, then you might as well quit watching them. It was the best year since at least 2007. I even included 3 films from my top 5 of the first half of the year list, suggesting that the return to 10 nominees in the Best Picture category really did cause the studios to let their films get an early-year release, which makes the first half not just a complete black hole of nothingness at the box office. It was also an extraordinary year for documentaries, an amazing year for foreign films, a very strong year for animated film, and it contained perhaps the best film of the last five years. It seemed like every film that had hype lived up to it. Some of them, such as Hereafter, did not do so well with critics or at the box office, but it was still a fascinating picture with some truly great things to say and some amazing achievements. There were a bunch of independent films that swept everyone off their feet, including Winter’s Bone and Blue Valentine. There were some really great comedies as well, none more satisfying and surprising than Easy A and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It was a year that was about as well-rounded as any, and I will remember it as being one of the better years of the new millennium. I can see a few of these films ending up in my end of decade top 10 for 2010-2019. Now, to the films:

Others receiving votes:

Blue Valentine

Get Low

Mercy

The Secret in Their Eyes

Shutter Island

10. The Fighter (directed by David O. Russell). This movie is one of immense passion and feeling. It is unlike any boxing movie that I have come across. Its gritty style suggests a Raging Bull aspect, yet the underdog story is almost a form of Rocky. This is a true story, however, and it is about so much more than just boxing. The stories of Mickey Ward and Dick Eklund are so rich and true, and they just come alive under the superb direction of David O. Russell. Each character is given its time to shine, yet each one has their own flaws that are sometimes excruciatingly exposed. You cannot look away, though. It is as inspiring as they come, and it is certainly the best ensemble cast of the year. It was the ultimate dark horse and the little film that seemingly could not get made. I am glad it did. It was as satisfying as any film-going experience I had in 2010.

9. Exit Through the Gift Shop (directed by Banksy). Is it a hoax? Is it real? Are they just playing with us? We do not really know, but we are willing to spend several viewings getting lost in whatever it is. The filming of this documentary about street art was started by Thierry Guetta, an eccentric French shoe keeper and amateur filmmaker. He filmed everything and met every major street artist, even the amazing, famously unseen Banksy. One thing led to another, and Banksy took over the filming after a dreadful attempt at editing by Guetta. This comedic and always strange documentary is as thought-provoking and crazy of an experience that could be had in 2010. It is so interesting, especially because they basically make their profession out to be a sham. Is it staged? I really do not care. This is a hilarious film that struck a chord with audiences and critics, and there are images that are forever engrained in my head. I loved this film.

8. Mother (directed by Joon-ho Bong). This is one of the craziest thrills I have had at the movies in the last couple years. It is about a mother, played with fierce brilliance by Hye-ja Kim, who searches for the murderer who framed her son of a horrible crime. The director, Joon-ho Bong, has made a couple films that unquestionable rank with the best foreign films of the past decade. He is the most interesting and creative auteur in Asia without a doubt. The film, while brutal, is also darkly comic and always intriguing. It is highly recommendable and appealing. The ending is as thought-provoking and haunting as any that I saw in 2010. It is a completely original crime thriller, unlike anything I have ever seen. More people have got to check this one out.

7. Cyrus (directed by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass). This was one of the stranger films that came out in 2010. It was marketed as a mainstream film, but it really wasn’t one, nor was it released as one. It has the A-list cast, but it was really still a mumblecore film, which almost makes it mainstream and to me made it feel like an instant classic. The Duplass brothers can to do so much with only casting themselves and their friends, but when they get Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, and John C. Reilly in the leads, it makes the film almost more credible. Jonah Hill is so nuanced and really has a creepily keen ear for mixing comedy and drama. His talent is shown here like it never has been before. The film is deeper than might be expected. It pulls its punches, while still being quite sensitive and realistic in its portrayal of relationships, which is the staple of the mumblecore subgenre. I cannot wait to see where the brilliant Duplass brothers go from here.

6. Restrepo (directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger). This documentary is a brilliant, breathtaking tribute to the men who so courageously defended one of the most strategically-crucial spots in Afghanistan. It says all that you need to know about the military soldiers without any politics or manipulation. It is just watching the soldiers in their daily routine. How do they spend their time? How do they stay motivated? There is one moment where they actually get into a group and basically get psyched-out to go to battle, not unlike a sports locker room. That is something that I have never seen in any war film or documentary, and it was really refreshing. This is a film of reality, and nothing in it felt staged. It is a deeply revealing film that is also flawlessly-edited. It is as inspirational as any film that I saw in 2010, but it is also quite poignant. It plays like a drama, and it is certainly the best documentary that I saw last year.

5. Black Swan (directed by Darren Aronofsky). I have yet to hear an opinion of Black Swan that sounded the same. Everyone thinks something different about it, yet very few people seriously dislike it (that moron guy on the new Ebert show is one). It has something in the film for everyone. The psychological drama-thriller elements are brilliantly realized. The tone of the film is one that only Aronofsky could create. The final dance sequences are breathtaking and unforgettable. It really does a fantastic job following up the other ballet classics The Red Shoes and Suspiria. In a way, it is a superb companion piece to The Wrestler. Both are remarkably deep, meaningful, and devastating views of a somewhat glamorized performing art that are really as physically and mentally demanding as any sport. Some of the images will be stuck with me forever. It is yet another masterpiece from the brilliant auteur Darren Aronofsky.

4. A Prophet (directed by Jacques Audiard). Watching this film, I felt like I was watching an already accomplished crime masterpiece. Its tone alone makes the film feel like a classic in the vein of Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco. It is the best prison movie in ages. The lead actor, Tahar Rahim, gives an absolute breakthrough performance. Every bit of his performance suggests that he is a future star in Europe. The film itself has a somewhat classic storyline, but it is done with such brutality and intensity that it is impossible to not get immersed in it. The final hour or so is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. It could be considered this generation’s The Godfather if it had been more accessible. It is perhaps the quickest 150 minutes of 2010, which is not a back-handed compliment at all. Films that long come around more often than they should and can fail quite easily. This is one of the best ones in a while. Any fan of crime dramas should see it pronto.

3. Animal Kingdom (directed by David Michod). This was perhaps the biggest surprise addition to my list of any this year. I went in expecting a Jacki Weaver show, but everything else about it was completely astonishing as well. It is like a more polished Shane Meadows film. From the opening shot, I knew that this film was going to be loaded. It has a classic feel like The Lookout, yet it has an indie heart like A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. It is also like Saints in that the director and lead both made their debuts with this film, which only makes it that much more impressive. The story is a somewhat conventional one, which is a young man who is thrown into a life of crime due to circumstances beyond his control. That is actually a connection to A Prophet as well. As the film goes along, I felt more and more like this could actually be the best film of the year. Like La Haine, the film has so much passion, grittiness, and honesty that it thoroughly draws the audience in and blows them away. The tone and editing feel a bit like Clockers, but much more compelling, satisfying, and tighter (and congealed). So, yeah, put the best parts of those 6-7 mentioned movies together, and you get this stunning, incredible masterwork.

2. Toy Story 3 (directed by Lee Unkrich). What else is there to say about this movie? It is the best third leg of a trilogy maybe ever. It is a brilliant film about life, love, film, imagination, and family. There really are not enough positive words to say about it. I was so skeptical when I heard about a third film in this series, which was already flawless and seemed like it had closure. The first one was a film that basically defined my childhood and is an all-time favorite. This film was different, though. That is not just because it will make you cry, but also because the human characters are much more central. Andy becomes the one that the audience relates the most. Letting go of your childhood and imagination is something that we all have to do, and this shows in heartbreaking and humorous fashion how difficult that can be. Also, the main characters are still the toys, which are as appealing and brilliant as ever. How can Pixar keep spitting out these all-time great animated films year after year? It is an astonishing run that they have been on, and this ranks with their best films. I cannot be more enthusiastic about it.

1. The Social Network (directed by David Fincher). Now we go to the obvious choice for the number one film of the year. It is the consensus number one, and unlike so many times in the past, the best one is actually sweeping all of the awards and made a big box office statement. What is it that we love so much? There are too many aspects of this flawless work of art to count. It is like this generation’s All the President’s Men or Citizen Kane. It takes a total in-the-moment story and makes it undeniably timeless. There is not a wasted moment. The editing is some of the best I have ever come across. Every scene is so flawlessly-detailed and structured. The performances are top notch. Every artistic and technical aspect is as good as is possible, let alone for a movie made about Facebook. This is a film that I have discussed and analyzed with several people several times since the first time I saw it. I am always noticing something new and interesting, never feeling like I have come close to exhausting the scope of the film. There is so much going on in every scene that it is impossible to cover it. This is not only a testament to David Fincher’s career-best direction, but to Aaron Sorkin’s masterful script. In his speech at the Critics Choice Awards, he stated that he asked a lot of the audience. He had to convince the producers that the film’s audience was at least as intelligent as the people involved in making it. This is something that I greatly admire. Not since Sideways have I felt so intellectually-stimulated by a film. It challenges us in ways that we could never have expected. There is never a dull moment, and there never will be, even when the viewings approach double digits in number. This will be looked back on as the film that defines an entire generation of film and film-goers. There is nothing like it anywhere. Looking at the surface, it could be construed as a film about young people getting rich. It is so much deeper than that. Try to find a flaw in it. I dare you.

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Top 10 Movies - 2010

2010 turned out to be a marvelous year for movies. One thing I loved about the year in film is that the awards shows, for the most part, have rewarded the best movies of the year. Many times, they will ignore some amazing movies and instead reward films that are better in theory but not necessarily executed that well. Because of this, my top 10 list looks very similar to the Best Picture lineup. Without further ado, here they are!

Honorable Mention

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Get Low

True Grit

10. The Fighter

Dir. by David O. Russell

This film is the latest in the endless parade of great boxing movies. There always seems to be amazing stories ready to be told about the sport. This film explores the relationship between two brothers, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. Bale plays the washed-up has-been with a drug problem. Wahlberg plays the up-and-coming fighter looking to single-handedly bring redemption to his brother, his family, and his entire of Lowell, Massachusetts. This is possibly the best acted film of the year and one of the most appealing.

9. The King’s Speech

Dir. by Tom Hooper

This movie was just fun. Once again, it is beautifully acted in an ensemble of three Oscar nominees: Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, and Oscar favorite Colin Firth. This tells the story of a man forced into his ancestral duty of King of England while struggling through a speech impediment. A constant stutter makes public speaking a nightmare for him, and becoming king forces him into that situation often as World War II is about to start. He forms a bond with Rush’s character, an unorthodox speech therapist that becomes much more. He begins to make progress because the king realizes that this man genuinely cares for him. I loved this film. I’m not sure if it deserves to be the Oscar favorite, but it was one of the top films of the year.

8. The Town

Dir. by Ben Affleck

I was so disappointed this film missed the Best Picture lineup for this year. The Town is the second film directed by Ben Affleck, and it shows that he had no sophomore slump. This film is a crime drama following a group of bank robbers led by Affleck who wants out of the business. These thoughts started when he had to confront a blindfolded hostage from one of their jobs to make sure she did not recognize them. He ends up falling for this girl, wishing there was not the lie bringing them together. This film received an acting nomination for supporting character Jeremy Renner. It also validates Ben Affleck’s directing career as for real. I will definitely look forward to his next film.

7. The Secret in Their Eyes

Dir. by Juan Jose Campanella

This film was last year’s Best Foreign Film winner, which always seems to be an obscure film when crowned the winner, but becomes one of the best films of the first half the next year when it gets its American release. The Secret in Their Eyes fits this profile perfectly. It tells the story of a former detective haunted by a cold case that he encountered several years before. He relives the details of this case as he once again tries to silence the demons inside him regarding this case. The film is wonderfully made with an ending that will shock you.

6. 127 Hours

Dir. by Danny Boyle

No other film this year was more of a product of one man’s performance than this one. James Franco puts in a performance that takes over the movie simply because he is the only actor on the screen for most of the film. This film tells the story of the young man who went hiking alone, got his arm wedged and stuck in the middle of nowhere, and spent 127 hours trying to escape and survive. This film was engaging and surprisingly intense from start to finish. This is all due to the acting ability of James Franco. He deservedly was nominated for the Oscar, and if it were up to me he would win.

5. Toy Story 3

Dir. by Lee Unkrich

One of my favorite film franchises growing up concluded its masterful story in 2010 with this beautiful movie. Once again, we get to spend time with Andy’s favorite toys. This time, Andy is getting ready to go off to college and deciding what to do with his toys. They accidentally get placed in a box to be donated to a local daycare. From there Woody, Buzz, and the gang once again have to find their way back home to their rightful owner. From start to finish, it does what is so hard for sequels to do that come long after the last installment: it fits the feel and persona of the previous films. It did not skip a beat. It also does something else that is even harder for a sequel to do: it brings a perfect end to a remarkable franchise. They could not have put a better ending together for this story. Just amazing.

4. The Social Network

Dir. by David Fincher

I asked the same question I am sure everyone else asked when they heard about this film. How good can a movie about Facebook be? And why is David Fincher directing it? It turned out to be one of the best films of the year, and a film that could come to define a decade. The near perfect Aaron Sorkin screenplay is executed to perfection by Jesse Eisenberg as the conflicted founder, Andrew Garfield as the best friend business partner, and Justin Timberlake as the smooth-talking entrepreneur. This film tells what was a little known story of the founding of the groundbreaking website and several of the lawsuits that ensued. This film is intoxicating from start to finish, from litigation to code writing. This might be the most complete film of the year; from screenplay to acting to directing.

3. Shutter Island

Dir. by Martin Scorsese

I said The Social Network may have been the most complete film of the year. What makes these next three films better are amazing, original premises and three of the most shocking endings I have ever seen. Shutter Island is by far the most underrated and forgotten film of the year. Scorsese’s latest effort was supposed to be released in the middle of 2009’s awards season, but instead got pushed back to February of 2010 due to production cuts. What a shame. This latest adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel focuses on a detective (Leonardo DiCaprio) sent to a mental hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. While there, you begin to see some inner demons that he is trying to work through while also trying to solve the case. Perfect performances from the whole cast and the legendary trained eye of Martin Scorsese make this film unforgettable.

2. Black Swan

Dir. by Darren Aronofsky

The debate over which film would end up first and which would end up second was one of the greatest inner debates I have ever had with myself in regards to movies. These last two films are really more like numbers 1 and 1A. First, we have Black Swan. This is the story of a production of Swan Lake that is set to star Natalie Portman, who is forced to wage war inside herself in order to play both the innocent Swan Queen and the sensual Black Swan in the ballet. Portman gives the performance of her career as she fights with who she is, while supporting actors such as Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder enhance this incredible product constructed and pulled together by the genius that is Darren Aronofsky. This film takes on some aspects of a David Lynch-esque movie, as it seems to mess with the audience’s mind until the jaw-dropping final scene. It will leave you breathless and stick with you for days after viewing.

1. Inception

Dir. by Christopher Nolan

If we just forget that The Prestige was ever made (which I try to do every day), then Christopher Nolan might have the greatest filmography of any director ever. Every film seems to be groundbreaking in its own way as he constantly explores never-before-seen concepts. Coming off his record-breaking The Dark Knight, Nolan switches gears and constructs the most original idea in recent memory: the exploration and theft of subconscious thoughts found in dreams. Once again, Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a similar role to his Shutter Island role; a conflicted, tormented man trying to work through his inner demons enough to do his job. The performances are amazing, but what makes this film the best of the year is its originality and ability to sell the completely illogical concept as absolutely plausible in every aspect. The scope and scale are so breathtaking at times, as cities are folded on top of themselves and crumble into the ocean, it actually becomes hard to believe what you are watching isn’t actually happening. Christopher Nolan is by far the most creative and original filmmaking mind of our time. All we can ask is that he lives a long time never stops making movies.

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2010 Awards

2010 was a year that reminded us the sequel to Wall Street sucked because the first one wasn’t all that good to begin with, the words “Facebook,” “Justin Timberlake,” and “Overwhelming Academy Award Favorite” now are seamlessly linked together, and It was also the last year we can say with complete confidence and gratitude that there hasn’t been a movie biopic of Justin Bieber ever made. Yet. 2011 is set for the release of Justin Bieber’s big-screen debut and the NFL lockout. And they said the apocalypse would happen in 2012 . . .

Here are the movie awards for 2010:

Queen Latifah in Stranger Than Fiction Award for “Most Completely Unnecessary Character in a Movie”

Nominees:
Michael Cera’s other half, Youth in Revolt (no one wants to see him smoking a cigar in a beret; the French already have it bad enough)
Yaya DaCosta, The Kids are All Right (Mark Ruffalo’s afro-spotting girlfriend; pretty much only there for her nude scene)
Catherine Keener, Cyrus (no one cares about John C. Reiley’s ex-wife)
Anna Kendrick, Twilight: Eclipse (the high school chick whose contract stipulates she needs five minutes of extra screen time after her Oscar-nominated performance in Up in the Air)

The Winner:
Every character not played by Annette Bening or Naomi Watts in Mother and Child. This includes Good Man, Jesus Freak Daughter, Sympathetic Nun, Sharp-Tonged Blind Girl, Mexican Maid, and Sassy Black Momma.

John Goodman in The Big Lebowski Award for “Character who’s so annoying it pretty much ruined the entire rest of the movie”

Nominees:
Joan Rivers, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (for the amount of money I spent on that movie ticket, I could have purchased dozens of pieces of her high-end TV jewelry)
The kid who plays Rowley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid (annoying, but only after everyone at school started liking him more than Greg)
Nate Torrance, She’s Out of My League (unfunny wannabe Apatow supporting player who shaves Jay Baruchel’s balls and watches Disney movies)
The entire cast of Twilight: Eclipse and anyone who actually saw it.

The Winner:
Ben Stiller as the title character in Greenberg. The entire movie is like sitting on a delayed flight to Rochester next to Larry David. Watching this character be annoying and a complete dickwad to the people around him makes oral surgery seem like a day at Wally World. Greenberg is appallingly egotistical, and I wish he had been shipped off to Australia with those other stupid chicks at the end of the film.

Tiger Woods in The Girlfriend Experience Award for “Most Eerily Appropriate Title of a 2010 Film for a 2010 Celebrity.”

Nominees:
Tom Brady: Furry Vengeance
The European Union: Get Him to the Greek
Brett Favre and Greg Oden: How to Train Your Dragon
The girls from Sex and the City 2: Predators
Randy Moss, Dinner for Schmucks

The Winner:
LeBron James, who had at least five movies come out that were about him: Devil, My Soul to Take, Jackass 3-D, The King’s Speech, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Cop Out. But at least all of those are better than the title for LeBron’s mom and Delonte West: Date Night.

The Steve Martin as Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr in The Man With Two Brains Award for “Best Movie Character Name in a 2010 Film.”

Nominees:
Cliff Curtis as Fire Lord Ozai, The Last Airbender
Derek Jacobi as Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, The King’s Speech
Donal Logue as Tink Weatherbee, Charlie St. Cloud
Kirsten Wiig as Vicki St. Elmo, MacGruber

The Winner: Craig Ferguson as Gobber the Belch in How to Train Your Dragon. Lots of good names to choose from in this film (including Stoick the Vast and Snotlout Jorgenson), but how could you possibly pass up on this gem? He also appears to be the best-looking Viking to sport a moustache since Brad Childress. On a related note, special recognition goes to Tink Weatherbee, which is now officially my gay porn star name.

The Tony Siragusa in 25^th Hour Award for “Random athlete, rapper, or reality TV star in a 2010 film role.”

Nominees:
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as Bosco Albert “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus, The A-Team
Warren Sapp as Wendell Boyd, Our Family Wedding
Slaine as Albert “Gloansy” Magloan, The Town
T.I. as the Ghost of Delonte Rivers, Takers

The Winner:
Lester “Rasta” Speight as Baphomet in Faster. This is the guy who played Terry Tate, Office Linebacker in the Reebock commercials from about seven years ago. Maybe this choice for the award is a little tainted since, according to his Wikipedia page, he has also had roles in Norbit, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (playing “a character who is interrogated using racist methods), and Bachelor Party Vegas (playing “a prison rapist.”) But he makes up for it by being, simultaneously, kind of a reality TV star and kind of an athlete.

The Kathleen Turner in Marley and Me Award for “Random Appearance in a Film by an Actor Who Was Popular 10-50 Years Ago and Most People Probably Thought Was Dead.”

Nominees:
Ernest Borgnine as Henry, the Records Keeper, Red
Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants in Toy Story 3, and as Chief Inspector Jones in The Tourist
Patrick Duffy as Ritchie Phillips, You Again
Penelope Ann Miller as Mrs. Baker, Flipped

The Winner:
Paul Reubens as Andy in Life During Wartime. Actually, Reubens should probably get this award every time he makes a new movie. But this also represents a massive failure to capitalize on the seemingly obvious: This is Todd Solondz’s sequel to Happiness, profiling all the same characters roughly ten years after the first film took place, but played by different actors. So, it would be natural to assume that Pee-Wee plays the pedophile dad, right? Would that make a perfect kind of cosmic sense? I mean, I’d shell out money to see that! But, um, no. He plays Jon Lovitz’s character (the guy who breaks up with the youngest sister at the beginning of the first film). Come on, doesn’t Solondz have a sense of humor? So much potential. Wasted.

The Eugene Levy and Queen Latifah in Bringing Down the House Award for “Most Awkward Leading Romantic Couple.”

Nominees:
Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, I Love You Phillip Morris
Common and Queen Latifah, Just Wright
Rob Schneider and Joyce Van Patten, Grown Ups
Nev Schulman and Angela Pierce, Catfish

The Winner:
Joe Pesci and Helen Mirren as Charlie and Grace Bontempo in Love Ranch. They play the real-life married couple who opened the first legal brothel in Nevada. This was a film that was directed by Taylor Hackford (the director of An Officer and a Gentleman and Ray), and co-starred Gina Gershon, Bryan Cranston, and Bai Ling. There’s a reason you never heard of it.

Side Note: Helen Mirren deserves some sort of award for her 2010 film resume. Besides this film, she played a female version of Prospero in The Tempest, an aging assassin in Red, the voice of Nyra the Barn Owl in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, and her upcoming role is a Mossad secret agent on a secret mission to kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. And she’s like 85 and still hot.

The “In the Land of Women and There Will Be Blood” Award for “Film Titles That When Put Together Sound Funny and Immature.”

Nominees:
My Soul To Take and Babies.
Please Give and Love and Other Drugs.
Vampires Suck and Little Fockers.
What If... and I Spit on Your Grave.

The Winner:
Let Me In and The Other Guys. Couldn’t resist.

The Human Stain Award for “Film Titles That Should Be About Zombies But Aren’t For Some Reason.”

Nominees:
Eat Pray Love
It’s a Wonderful Afterlife
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead
Soul Kitchen

The Winner:
The Kids Are All Right. Adults taste better.

The Jude Law in 2004 Award for “We’re Tired of Seeing This Already.”

Nominees:
Films about Jack Abramoff named Casino Jack
Naked scenes of Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs
Horrible, godawful calls by NFL referee Gene Steratore (a proud Pittsburgh resident and obvious Steeler fan)
Movies where Leonardo DiCaprio is living in a mind-bending false reality

The Winner:
All feature films with M. Night Shyamalon’s creative influence. The Last Airbender and Devil were nails in the coffin. Oh wait, he’s actually been dead this entire time! (Token unfunny joke for this article. I’m allowed one.)

The “Sean Penn Defending Jude Law at the 2004 Oscars” Award for “Let’s Actually Be Serious For A Second and Name the Actual Best Performance in a 2010 film.”
Nominees:
George Clooney, The American
Andy Garcia, City Island
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

The Winner:
Chloe Grace Moretz, Let Me In. It was a great year for child performances (and a breakout year for the real-life Hit-Girl), but this one stood out. Moretz is absolutely spellbinding as the blood-sucking young vampire Abby, creating a complex, painfully real character, which could have been lampooned and turned into a Colt Ford music video. A truly great performance in one of 2010’s few truly great motion pictures.

Without further ado, here are my top ten films for 2010. There were other films that came out, but they generally sucked, especially if they involved vampires or 3-D.

10. True Grit (Joel and Ethan Coen). Excellent classical western, lacking the moral ambiguity of recent revisionist westerns, but more accessible for audiences as a result. Ripe with typically quirky Coen characters and dialogue, with terrific cinematography by Roger Deakins. Bridges, Damon, and Brolin solid, but all outshined by outstanding newcomer Hailee Steinfeld.

9. Restrepo (Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger) In April 2011, Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya while on a filming assignment. A real shame, because one of Restrepo’s strengths is the fearless willingness of the filmmakers to completely absorb themselves in the horrific, unpredictable violence of the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. Like The Hurt Locker, the movie illustrates that there is little time for long-winded, much-rehearsed political debates over military conflict in the heat of the battle. It ultimately comes down to camaraderie and the reliance of others for support – which, in the case of Restrepo, may actually be an impediment to keeping emotions off the battlefield. (Side note: Juan “Doc” Restrepo wins this year’s “Dick from High Fidelity” Award for Best Todd Look-alike.)

8. The American (Anton Corbijn). George Clooney has officially entered the realm of acceptable man-crushes as a badass assassin in this quiet, understated, but terrifically exciting thriller. BTW: Acceptable Man-Crushes include Bill Simmons, Tom Brady, Ed Norton, Clint Eastwood, the Dos Equis guy, Brian “The Beard” Wilson, Jack Bauer, Dr. McDreamy, Ed Harris at the History of Violence press junket, Peggy from the Discover Card commercials, Hilary Swank, the guy who invented the first down line in football, Bob Barker, ALF.

7. City Island (Raymond De Felitta). Easily the funniest movie of the year, even though the title sounds like a futuristic sci-fi thriller. Andy Garcia plays a corrections officer with a penchant for acting who keeps a secret from his family - while they keep secrets from him. Great Italian-American humor with some truly hilarious dinner scenes, and a final city block confrontation that brings down the house. Did anyone know Andy Garcia was this funny? Maybe not a truly great movie, but it’s hard making an intentionally funny movie nowadays. "OOHH!"

6. Blue Valentine (Derek Cianfrance). Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play a married couple who are completely wrong for each other. It soon turns into Buddy Ryan and Kevin Gilbride and the ’93 Oilers coaching staff kind of situation, and remind happy couples seeing the movie everywhere that marriage is a bad idea. Already rough news in a year where boyfriends everywhere were dragged to the Twilight movie and Life as We Know It.

5. The Social Network (David Fincher). It’s the cultural zeitgeist of the 21^st Century, a film illustrating Enough has already been written about the strengths of this once-laughable concept so here are my two flaws: The Zuckerberg character is a little inconsistent, and Sorkin's script examines the cultural ramifications of social networking rather superficially. But otherwise a terrifically engaging film, undoubtedly one of this generation's most definitive. You already know that.

4. The Tillman Story (Amir Bar-Lev). Eye-opening documentary that not only reveals the massive and appalling military cover-up of the football star-turned-military hero’s death, but also a doc that asks questions about what it means to truly sacrifice for one’s country and be patriotic. What emerges is that Pat Tillman was a hero not because he loved his country, but because even when he began to question the motives behind the war in Afghanistan, he continued his obligation to military service over a high-paying football career. He was a hero not because he made inspirational speeches, but because he was vulgar, crass, and didn’t take himself seriously. It will take decades to get over all the Effed-up BS pulled by the Bush administration (see below).

3. Inside Job (Charles Ferguson). This is one of the most engaging, unbiased, and informative documentaries ever made about the American financial system, and specifically the economic breakdown of 2008. At times harrowing, infuriating, and always riveting, the film argues the collapse wasn't a single event, but the product of larger negligance and corruption. Like Ferguson’s previous feature, No End in Sight, the doc very clearly and concisely puts together information and cogently makes arguments. And yes, it’s mostly Republicans’ fault, although Obama and others are not completely clear of fault. Every American under the age of 30 should see this movie.

2. Inception (Christopher Nolan). A rare big-budget action thriller with a brain. The plot isn't as confounding as everyone says, and the jargon is minimal. Superb and memorable visuals, most notably Paris folding up like a book, another steel-clan Han Zimmer score, and a great performance from Leo. After you see it for the first time, you can't wait to see it again. Although two questions remain: How come Cillian Murphy didn’t recognize Ken Wantanabe on the plane, and how come Leo couldn’t just move his kids to France?

1. Let Me In (Matt Reeves). Yes, it’s a movie about first love and vampires. Yes, it’s a remake of a supposedly more sophisticated European film. Get over it; it’s also unquestionably the best film of the year. For a film about a blood-thirsty vampire who appears in the form of a 12-year-old girl, the film is remarkably finely tuned to the realities of puberty and first love. It perfectly captures the fine balance of the awkwardness between boys and girls, and the moments of pure exhilaration and ecstasy. Visually, its wonderfully drab color scheme accentuates the trepidation and fear of the unknown, which is amusingly reiterated through the film’s use of Reagan-era political rhetoric. It also has the best musical score of any film released this year, and its two young leads, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Grace Moretz, are revelations. There is a scene that takes place in a moving vehicle that is beautifully Hitchcockian (you’ll know the one), and From start to finish, there is not a single wrong note, a dull moment, or Is it better than Let the Right One In? Is that question really relevant? When you instantly love a film the way this film snuck up on me, the heart does not lie.

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Power Rankings: Performances of 2010

Looking at last year’s top performances, one thing I noticed immediately is that the awards shows got the majority of it right this year. Sometimes there may be a questionable performance that is universally praised, but not in 2010. All the top awarded performances really were the best performances of the year. That makes this list a little boring with not many surprises, but that is okay. The important part is getting it right.

Others Receiving Votes

Robert Duvall – Get Low

Matt Damon – Hereafter

Jonah Hill – Cyrus

Amy Adams – The Fighter

Michael Shannon – The Runaways

10. Leonardo DiCaprio: Inception/Shutter Island

They were pretty much the same role so I thought I would combine them on my list as well. However, just because he played the same character twice, it does not cheapen the quality of either performance. They were both incredibly moving performances that carried their movies to heights few films can reach. Both characters were extremely flawed people that were forced to work through their own personal demons while also trying to solve the greater mystery before them. Both of these films could have simply been averages thrillers, but with one of the most gifted actors behind the lead characters both films became two of the year’s best.

9. Michael Cera: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

In one of my personal favorite films of the year, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tells the story of a young man fighting off his newfound girlfriend’s seven evil exes. With this crazy premise, and the crazy mind of Edgar Wright behind the camera, Michael Cera is thrown in as the title character. As always, Cera brings his innocent, awkward charm to the role, but also a little bit of action star. He is the perfect actor to play this character that is half confused kid, half video game character.

8. Geoffrey Rush: The King’s Speech

Geoffrey Rush has become one of those actors you can always count on to be a bright spot in any film he appears, especially when he is playing the quirky supporting character. This performance is no different. This time around he plays the unorthodox speech therapist that helps British royalty with a speech impediment. He brings his quirky charisma that he always brings to his roles, however he also possesses something deeper as he becomes the King’s employee, friend, and most trusted confidant.

7. Andrew Garfield: The Social Network

Rarely does someone come out of nowhere quite like Andrew Garfield did in 2010. Few people knew who he was a year ago. Now he has had two big movies, was robbed of an Oscar nomination, and will soon be playing Spider-Man. In this performance, he plays the betrayed friend of Mark Zuckerberg and displays an undeniable magnetism on screen. He has that draw that forces you to pay attention to him when he is on screen. I cannot wait to continue to see him grow into the superstar he is bound to become.

6. Hailee Steinfeld: True Grit

Star-studded cast. Two Oscars winners. Another nominee. Oscar winning directors. And a 14 year old girl steals the show and carries the movie to greatness. She is the focal point of the movie and even with this star-studded cast, everyone else plays off the standard and tone she sets for the movie. This is one of the greatest child performances I have ever seen. Can’t wait to see her in something else.

5. Jesse Eisenberg: The Social Network

You take Jesse Eisenberg’s fast-talking, awkward nature and channel it into an overly confident and cocky SOB, and you have the tour de force that is Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. From the start of the movie, Eisenberg completely embodies this character in a way I don’t think anyone else could. It is the best casting move of the year. A great actor with a perfect character in an incredible movie equals perfection.

4. Colin Firth: The King’s Speech

Colin Firth has been a well-respected actor for quite awhile now, but I had no idea how good he actually was before this film. If I didn’t know better, I would say his speech impediment is natural throughout the film. You know an actor is on top of his game when he is able to make the unnatural seem natural. On top of this obvious piece of his character, he shows great emotion in his subtlety which is really hard to do. He gives a very restrained performance in many ways which breaks in a most natural way in several outbursts of pure emotion throughout the film. He is completely deserving of his Oscar.

3. James Franco: 127 Hours

Few roles require a wider range of pure unbridled emotion than that of the lead character played by James Franco in 127 Hours. He starts the movie as a care-free risk-taker with a scary infectious energy that can best be described as cartoonish. Then he gets stuck. In the 127 hours he is stuck he goes from his joyful self to anger to rage to depression to denial to contentment to acceptance to creativity and back again several times. He owns this movie in a Cast Away type of role as he is the only one on screen for most of the film, and it is endlessly fascinating and engaging from start to finish.

2. Natalie Portman: Black Swan

This performance was the “drop-my-jaw-blow-me-away” performance of the year. I honestly didn’t know she had that in her. As the movie begins, Natalie Portman plays the sweet, innocent picture of perfection. Once she is cast in her dream role, she has to embody both the bright and dark sides of her personality. Her slow and steady transformation from the Swan Queen to the Black Swan is an acting master class. Portman absolutely deserved her Oscar.

1. Christian Bale: The Fighter

He’s one of the best actors we have, and he finally got the perfect role for him to show us all everything he is capable of on a stage where he can get all the recognition he has deserved for years. In The Fighter, Christian Bale becomes Dickie Eklund, a washed-up doped-up ex-boxer trying to get his kid brother to the top. Bale has always been able to completely throw himself 100% into every role sent his way, and this is no different. The only difference between this role and his past roles that puts this one over the top is he has more to work with in Dickie than he has ever had. It is the best character he has created, and the best platform to let that character shine. All this together makes this the best performance of the year.

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Power Rankings: Most Quotable Movies

Counting down the most quotable movies of all time is a difficult task. There are several factors that have to be taken into account including common everyday use, amount of instantly classic quotes, and use of quotes in other mediums. Narrowing down this list was very difficult, but I think I came up with the most objective list as possible for me, along with a few strictly personal choices. Here is what I came up with:

Others receiving votes: The Breakfast Club, Clerks, Fight Club, The Godfather, Top Gun

10. Casablanca

The reason that this is included on the list is almost solely for the last ten minutes of quotes. Each line is a classic, and it features six on AFI’s list, the most of any movie. It is just an extraordinarily well-written movie with lines that will forever be engrained in the head of anyone who watches it.

Best quote: “Alright, I'll make it easier for you… go ahead and shoot. You'll be doing me a favor.” (Rick; Humphrey Bogart)

Most quoted line: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

9. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

“It’s called sex panther. It’s got bits of real panthers in it, so you know it’s good!” “I love scotch… scotchy scotch scotch.” I am not even the biggest fan of this movie, but there are a ton of quotes in this movie that are used everywhere. It is the kind of movie that you will quote randomly and not even realize you were quoting a movie. The random things that Ron and company say immediately feel like they are everyday sayings, and there are also the lines that will undeniably take you back to the movie and make you laugh. It is a great mix of wacky humor, as well as perceptive spoofs. It is by far the most quoted comedy of this generation.

Best quote: “(putting mayonnaise in a toaster) I'm Brick Tamland. People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks. Years later, a doctor will tell me that I have an I.Q. of 48 and am what some people call mentally retarded.” (Brick; Steve Carell)

Most quoted line: “You stay classy, San Diego.”

8. Sideways

This is a very personal inclusion for me. Anyone who knows me is already aware of my ridiculous love for this movie. I quote the movie basically everyday because, let’s face it, Sideways is life. There is no movie that is more representative of relationships and critiques on everything like this movie. It is hilarious, heartbreaking, and always intelligent. I quote the movie to everyone, whether they have seen it or not, and yet, it never sounds or seems out of place. There is room for Sideways in every conversation.

Best quote: "It's a hard grape to grow. As you know. Right? It's, uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and thrive even when it's neglected. No, pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And, in fact, it can only grow in these really specific, little tucked-away corners of the world. And only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression." (Miles; Paul Giamatti)

Most quoted line: “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!”

7. Forrest Gump

There are as many classic quotes in this movie as any movie in the last 20 years. People use quotes like “Stupid is as stupid does” who may not have even seen the movie, or may not even be aware that they are quoting something. It is a movie that is filled with so many of these types of lines that it would be a joke not to include it on this list.

Best quote: “He was from a long great military tradition. Somebody from his family had fought and died in every single American war. I guess you could say he had a lot to live up to.” (Forrest; Tom Hanks)

Most quoted line: “Life is like a box of chocolates.”

6. Superbad

It is no real surprise that comedies seemed to dominate this list. This is a movie that is filled with those lines that every teenager has thought or said at some point, but never have they been put to use with such effortlessness as they were in this movie. There are so many great quotes in this movie, but none of them really are punch lines. They are all in-the-moment passing statements that are hilarious due to the context. So the quotes may not be as accessible as other movie quotes, but they are just as good.

Best quote: “You know how many foods are shaped like dicks? The best kinds!” (Seth; Jonah Hill)

Most quoted line: “I am McLovin!”

5. Dumb and Dumber

It is ridiculous how many recognizable quotes there are from this movie. Hanging out with friends, it is like a thing with us where a quote from this movie will be used at some point. Most of the time, it is not even forced. It just comes out. And we haven’t run out of quotes yet. This is the kind of stupid comedy that has a punch line seemingly every ten seconds, but no matter how many tens of times you see the movie, they will still be funny. And that is saying something.

Best quote: “Yeah I called her up. She gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something. I don't know; I wasn't really paying attention.” (Harry; Jeff Daniels)

Most quoted line: “Austria! Well, then. G'day mate! Let's put another shrimp on the barbie!”

4. The Usual Suspects

This is the kind of movie that is included simply because it is just so well-written and filled with lines and moments that are immediately unforgettable. They are brilliant lines that can be taken out of context and still be just as meaningful and shrewd. It seems to be the norm in movies that one or two characters are given all the good lines, but in this movie, the entire cast has at least a handful of lines that I can never forget. That is really rare.

Best quote: “How do you shoot the devil in the back? What if you miss?” (Verbal; Kevin Spacey)

Most quoted line: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.”

3. Office Space

The top comedy on this list is a no-brainer. Office Space is a movie that can never run out quotable lines. They are just as useful in every day conversation as Sideways, but a lot more widespread and popular. Every word Lumberg speaks, ever mumbling moment from Milton, and every sarcastic rant by Michael all rank with some of the best lines in movies in the last 15 years. It is a movie whose quote mill will never run dry as long as there are still bad bosses and boring jobs.

Best quote: “I can't believe what a bunch of nerds we are. We're looking up ‘money laundering’ in a dictionary.” (Michael; David Herman)

Most quoted line: “Looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.”

2. Star Wars trilogy

I cannot think of a movie with more recognizable quotes than Star Wars and its two immediate sequels. The ridiculous writing by George Lucas and crew is so corny, but somehow all of that is so endearing that nerds like me get completely wrapped up in the crazy lingo and intensely serious series of lame, on-the-surface quotes. Let me be clear that I am not criticizing the movies. I love every moment of all three of them, but the quotes that are most often used are such bad lines, but they always relay back to those movies, which by association makes them absolutely brilliant. Never has a movie series been so in touch with its tone and so in tune with its created universe. Every character has a million punch lines, and they are all immediately identifiable, even if someone has not seen the movies. It is an unstoppable, amazing phenomenon, and the quoting of these movies will go on forever.

Best quote: “Had a slight weapons malfunction, but everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine, we're all fine, here, now, thank you. How are you?” (Han; Harrison Ford)

Most quoted line: “May the force be with you.”

1. Scarface

When I first came up with the idea for this list, there was no other movie that could possibly have been named number one other than Scarface. It is a movie that many people would not immediately think of as being super quotable, but upon a rewatch or two, it is obvious. Each and every line that Tony Montana says seems like a punch line. It is almost like Oliver Stone thought that since he wasn’t going to be able to speak English all that well that he needed to pack all of his brilliant and hilarious lines into a lot smaller volume. There really is nothing like the world that Brian de Palma creates in this movie. It is one of the few times that after the movie the audience will want to start talking like the main character. You will want to throw the movie back in just to live in it a bit longer. There are so many passing lines that are amazing that one will not catch on one single viewing. I also realize that Scarface is definitely an acquired taste, but when that taste is developed, there is no greater three-hour series of quotes than this screenplay contains.

Best quote: "All I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I don't break them for no one." (Tony; Al Pacino)

Most quoted line: “Say hello to my little friend!”

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