Don't let the lackluster ho-hum holiday season cinema schlockfest fool you. 2010 was a stellar year for films. In a break from tradition, quality films did not only turn up during the Oscar-friendly month of December. On the flip side, many entertaining films and inspiring performances were seen in the first half of the year and fall -- so much so I think that's the reason December has been so blah humbug. Had films like The Town, Toy Story 3, or even Easy A opened in multiplexes in the height of the holiday season rather than The Tourist, Little Fockers, or Yogi Bear, it would've felt like a sweeter end to the 2010 film year. But, I'd prefer it this way. As an avid moviegoer, I'd much rather check out great flicks throughout the year rather than cramming as many as I could in a December to remember. Realizing you need another "best of" column from a blogger like you need another Focker sequel, I've kept my column short and to the point. Weigh in on yours!
My Ten Best
1. Black Swan: No film had a more lasting impression for me than Darren Aronofsky's suspenseful, deeply disturbing cinematic ballet. Natalie Portman delivers the performance of the year, while the supporting cast - notably Vincent Cassell, Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey deliver career best turns. Clint Mansell's score haunts.
2. The Social Network: Finally, a film that lives up to its buzz. Best writing of the year with a star-making turn by Jesse "Don't Call Me Michael Cera" Eisenberg.
3. The Town: I really hope Jeremy Renner isn't the lone Oscar nominee for this film. Ben Affleck is a proven director and storyteller who delivered a fine performance here as well. Easily the best crime film since Heat.
4. Toy Story 3: The best of the series, and that's saying something. If Pixar delivered a new Toy Story film every three years, I'd be slaphappy.
5. Inception: Sure, it's got a lot of WTF moments, but Chris Nolan proves he's the most interesting and talented filmmaker working today. Love the ending -- don't care what anyone says.
6. The Ghost Writer: Roman Polanski's grossly underrated film features the finest performance of Pierce Brosnan's career matched with killer suspense.
7. The King's Speech: Colin Firth is sensational, but Geoffrey Rush walks away with this delightful and inspiring British import with a less flashy turn.
8. Despicable Me: If not for Toy Story 3, I'd likely tell you this film is the best animated flick since the first Toy Story. Steve Carell guides this heartfelt and hilarious film with an offbeat Austrian accent.
9. 127 Hours: James Franco's star-making turn is what's getting all the press (and rightfully so) but the film really works thanks to Danny Boyle's skillful direction.
10. Machete: Yeah, I'm going with an offbeat pick here. Full disclosure -- I haven't seen Blue Valentine yet so until I do this over-the-top romp featuring Danny Trejo, Steven Seagal and Robert De Niro gets the honor. Coolest cast in a film since Pulp Fiction.
The Rest In Brief...
Five Movies That Not Many Liked But I Did
Alice in Wonderland
Hereafter
Greenberg
Knight and Day
The Switch
Five Worst of the Year
Grown Ups
Valentine's Day
Hot Tub Time Machine
The A-Team
You Will Meet A Tall, Dark Stranger
My 25 Best Performances of 2010
1. Natalie Portman - Black Swan
2. Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
3. Christian Bale - The Fighter
4. Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech
5. Matt Damon - Hereafter
6. Andrew Garfield - The Social Network
7. James Franco - 127 Hours
8. Mila Kunis - Black Swan
9. Jeff Bridges - True Grit
10. Leonardo DiCaprio - Shutter Island
11. Pierce Brosnan - The Ghost Writer
12. Ann Guilbert - Please Give
13. Colin Firth - The King's Speech
14. Helena Bonham Carter - Alice in Wonderland
15. Ben Affleck - The Town
16. Emma Stone - Easy A
17. Jeremy Renner - The Town
18. Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
19. Annette Benning - The Kids Are All Right
20. John C. Reilly - Cyrus
21. Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
22.Barbara Hershey - Black Swan
23. Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
24. Amy Adams - The Fighter*
25. Dolph Lundgren - The Expendables*
* Reserved for Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine
Follow Jon Chattman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thecheappop
Cathleen Falsani: 'True Grit'? True Grace.
Black Swan is just unforgettable.
It improves with a second viewing.
You are correct about True Grit.
The kid is great and Bridges is up to the challenge but the film itself is not one of the Coen Brothers best.
Machete is fun but it should not be ranked higher than Winter's Bone or several other titles.
Christian Bale is sensational in The Fighter.
He's getting some flack from West Coast critics for being over the top but there are many people with that kind of out-sized personality around here.
I live only a half hour drive from Lowell.
These critics didn't like The Departed for the same reason and they are just wrong.
Melissa Leo who didn't even make your top 25 is second only to Portman for me.
Finally for someone who puts machete in their top 10 I don't understand why you didn't like Hot Tub Time Machine.
It's was a lot of fun.
1) The Kids Are All Right – The Joni Mitchell/dinner scene is one of cinema’s best. Cast was sensational. Story moved me deeply.
2) A Prophet – Gripping gangster story serves as allegory to French/Arab relations. Every second of this jailhouse-crime drama felt authentic.
3) The Ghost Writer – Roman Polanski channels Alfred Hitchcock in style, tone and suspense in a politically relevant thriller
4) True Grit – Smart Western with a grimy poetic feel. 13 year old lead delivered the true grit.
5) Kick Ass – the superhero of 2010 was an 11 year old foul-mouthed girl named Chloe Moretz
6) Inception – This year’s Avatar with originality and brains
7) Social Network – Aaron Sorkin, please write my Facebook Status
8) Shutter Island – Scorsese’s mesmerizing film is flawed but fascinating and offers the creepiest images of the year
9) Green Zone – This year’s The Hurt Locker but with political courage
10) Fair Game – The outing of CIA Agent Valarie Plame with Sean Penn, who else, as Joe Wilson.
"Kids" is kind of a silly script.
A long time lesbian in a committed relationship all of a sudden can't get enough sex with a man.
I'm not gay but I would be insulted by that premise if I was.
In fact I'm insulted by it anyway.
DID see The Tourist since Burlesque had come and gone. My friend and I wanted a cheapy $7.00 early show so that's what we saw (she doesn't like dark movies). It was so so, which is what I expected. Jolie is just gorgeous to watch as was Venice, so $7 I can live with. Saw Black Swan on Monday and thought it beautifully done. My 'date' was confused and I think just liked the short lesbian scene :-)..that is NOT a spoiler. I saw it all as metaphor for the ballet itself and enjoyed it for that reason (and Portman,Cassel and Hershey). Saw True Grit yesterday and LOVE the dialogue! (I guess taken right from the novel). And Texas is also a star in this film, money well spent on shooting real scenes!(also love Bridges AND Damon).
Next I want to see Country Strong. Didn't see it here Jon, did you not like it? (LOVE Toy #3!)
We'll be seeing the Black Swan tomorrow. Can't wait!
I haven't seen Black Swan yet but cannot wait to! It looks so haunting from the previews and Natalie is a true class act!
I agree that Despicable Me was just great! I laughed through pretty much the whole thing, my boyfriend even enjoyed it and he is not a fan of animated movies. I still haven't seen Toy Story though, which is making me crazy! LOL!
Also, I liked Alice too! But I'm just a total sucker for Tim Burton movies. And bravo on Machete - totally did not see that one coming. LOL!
Thank you for the "actress" nod on your list, but the movie itself should be on it!
I wasn't expecting much, but I was blown away.
I am born, raised and now, again, live in inner-city Detroit - and I related, deeply, to this "rural" movie. Inner-city and rural low-income people SHARE so much. It's a shame that basically, racism, has been used, historically & today, to keep rural & city poor from coming together to solve their mutual problems.
The many different cultures in both settings are parallel is so many ways:
the isolation (physical and interpersonal), the lack of good choices (choose the "least worst"), the "enforcement" of the "code" of that community, the claustrophobia of feeling trapped with time running out, the Underground economies, the love of family, the trauma all experience that settles into an unspoken and untreated community-wide PTSD, scenes of beauty amongst the destruction, "Hard/Cold" people - who can & will extend kindness in their own way, young people taking on adult responsibilities with all its consequences, the sexism, "trying" and getting "slapped down, hard"(better not try again), the deep appreciation & healing power of Music, the Violence, a certain form a Fearlessness, the "relief" of Simple survival....
This movie "got" All of that in there.
Intense & Powerful stuff.
Folks, don't miss out on seeing this on NetFlix or streaming!