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This wasn't a great year for movies, but it also wasn't nearly as terrible as it was shaping up to be in the first six months of the year. In looking over my list of the best movies of the year, what strikes me are the things I never thought I’d see on one of my Top Ten lists: A teen comedy, a Joan Rivers movie, a ballet movie and a British period piece are far from sure-things, and yet each was, as all films on my Top Ten list were, masterfully crafted and incredibly engaging. Here are the ten best movies of 2010:
10. Blue Valentine
Relationships go awry for a number of reasons, but in “Blue Valentine” it implodes from within. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star as an unhappily married couple that constantly bickers, but the great part of director Derek Cianfrance’s film is that he also shows the two meeting, falling in love and the circumstances that led to their marriage. As one part of the movie begins to inform the other, and the fantastic performances from the two leads keep you hooked into the brutally honest story, you know you’re watching something special. “Blue Valentine” opens in January.
9. The Kids Are All Right
We’ve seen plenty of domestic family dramas, but few like “The Kids Are All Right.” Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are fantastic as a lesbian couple whose lives unravel after their teenage children seek out their sperm donor father, played with childish likeability by Mark Ruffalo. Writer/director Lisa Cholodenko’s film is progressive and smart, and Bening should earn a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. “The Kids Are All Right” is available on home video.
Numbers 8-1, and my list of honorable mentions, after the jump.
8. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
I know what you’re thinking: How could a documentary about Joan Rivers be good enough for a Top Ten list? While I understand your reservations, you’ll probably understand my reasoning after seeing “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” which chronicles a year in the life of the comedian. If you think she’s just a plastic surgery red carpet joke, you’ll be shocked to see the sacrifices she makes, the struggles she’s had and continues to have, and how hard she continues to work in her mid-70s. It’s inspiring, revelatory and stunning, and not to be missed. “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” is available on home video.
7. Easy A
Teen comedies often resort to crass sex jokes and gross-out gags for a laugh, but “Easy A” managed to avoid that trap while still being absolutely hysterical. Yes, the knowing references to John Hughes’ great ‘80s teen comedies warmed my heart, but the real highlight is Emma Stone’s pitch-perfect performance as a girl who pretends to be slutty in order to get attention, then can’t stop the gossip train once it starts rolling. We can expect many more great things from Stone in the years to come, and this one is a gem that you’ll treasure for a long time. "Easy A” is available on home video.
6. The King’s Speech
I guarantee that the acting categories at his year’s Academy Awards will include the names Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, both of whom help make “The King’s Speech” as good as it is. Firth plays King George VI, who throughout his life and especially in the 1930s as he was about to become king faced a terrible stutter that limited his social engagements and made him very self-conscious. Enter Rush’s speech therapist, who is always respectful of His Majesty but knows the only way to make a difference is to speak very frankly with the king. “The King’s Speech” is in theaters Christmas Day.
5. Tangled
Disney got back to its fairy tale roots with “Tangled,” an update on the story of Rapunzel, and the results could not have been better. The animation, including the stunning 3-D, the story, the characters voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, the villains, everything about the movie worked and warmed the heart, and it was wonderful to see Disney back in top form. “Tangled” is in theaters now.
4. Kick-Ass
I know it’s my job to use words to describe movies, but no words describe this film better than the title itself, “Kick-Ass.” The premise is ingenious: Why haven’t more comic book geeks tried to become superheroes themselves? When Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) tries it the results are hyper-violent and hysterically funny, especially when you throw in comic book references and a little girl (Chloe Moretz) who’s more destructive and violent than Rambo and the Terminator put together. “Kick-Ass” is available on home video.
3. The Social Network
What started out as “that Facebook movie” has become a cultural phenomenon, and I suspect anyone following the early critics’ choice awards will not be surprised to see “The Social Network” on my list. Not only is it about the founding of one of the most popular web sites in the world, it also in a way documents the moments in American culture that led to our collective infatuation with online social media. Throw in perfect pacing and direction by David Fincher and great performances and you have what many are calling the movie of the year. “The Social Network” is in theaters now.
2. Black Swan
Director Darren Aronofsky has made a career out of getting inside his character’s heads and seeing how they deal with deeply personal issues. He directed Ellen Burstyn and Mickey Rourke to Oscar nominations for “Requiem For A Dream” and “The Wrestler,” respectively, and will almost assuredly be guiding Natalie Portman to Oscar night with her terrific performance as an embattled dancer in “Black Swan.” But it’s not just the performances and story that are great: The film is also a technical masterpiece, with cinematography, lighting, production design and editing that is the epitome of superb modern filmmaking. Any aspiring filmmaker interested in making truly artistic films should watch this repeatedly. “Black Swan” is in theaters now.
1. Inception
In an otherwise creatively dead summer, “Inception” stood out as a truly mind-bending idea that burst with originality and imagination. With the sure-handed direction of Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) leading the way, the acting, pacing, action and visual effects made it a marvelous, unforgettable viewing experience. Because of the sheer size and ambition of the project, and its incredible accomplishment, it’s definitely the best film of the year. “Inception” is available on home video.
I also liked: The energy, warmth and message of How to Train Your Dragon; the sentimentality and timelessness of Toy Story 3; the bare intensity of George Clooney’s performance in The American; the intrigue and heartbreak of The Tillman Story; Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix having fun with us in I’m Still Here; Let Me In is about as good a vampire movie remake as you’ll find; James Franco gave phenomenal performances in Howl and 127 Hours; the suspense of Ben Affleck’s The Town, and the pleasant surprise of his film “The Company Men,” opening in January; and Noomi Rapace’s breakout performances as Lisbeth Salander in the Millenium Trilogy movies.
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omarsprize1
said:
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... i admit that inception had a very deep (ie. confusing), "interesting" (yes in quotes) story, but i feel that i was more entertained by kick ass than by inception. black swan was good, as was social network...kings speech and blue valentine were mildly disappointing to me but still very solid, and understand how all the aforementioned movies would make it to the top 10, but i dont know if i would say that inception would be my number 1. |
smovies
said:
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... Your article nspires me to see some films I never would have thought about seeing - such as A Piece of Work and Toy Story 3... |
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