TOP FILMS OF 2010

Enough procrastinating. It's always a tough decision--which film was better than another--so I end up with a list of films that gave me the greatest pleasure this year, and ended up with 20 great films. I could also list 20 more that were arguably just as good--I'll add those later.


TOP FILMS OF 2010

SOCIAL NETWORK--The quick, snappy dialogue was at times a challenge to follow, but it sparkled with intellectual wit, sharp characterizations, and dynamic direction, writing, music and acting. A class act.

WASTELAND--My favorite documentary of the year, a very moving story of an artist who makes art out of garbage (!), and he gets help from the poverty stricken garbage sorters, changing their lives and views of the world in the meantime. At times shocking, disturbing, empowering and uplifting, this is a fascinating look at the power of ART. (See also EXIT THRU THE GIFT SHOP further down list.) *

TOY STORY III--All I can say is that the four of us who went (on July 4th) sat and sobbed like 10 year old girls through the last half of the film. Who'd have thought that an animated feature (which features a horrifying near death scene for the main toy characters) could be so incredibly moving?!?

BLACK SWAN--The most audacious, shocking, provocative film of the year-it will have you talking and thinking about it for weeks. Plus, it features four incredible female performances.

NOWHERE BOY--It's been a big year for John Lennon material, and this was the best of them--a moving drama about his early years living with his aunt (the amazing Kristin Scott Thomas) and discovering the biological mother that couldn't raise him. *

UNDERTOW--A lushly photographed story set on a Peruvian coastal fishing village about a love triangle that takes a shocking turn at midpoint, yet still manages to be a powerful, emotional and very likable tale of loyalty, tolerance and honesty. *

THE FIGHTER--Well directed and propelled by terrific performances all around, this biopic is marred only a little by a pat ending.

I AM LOVE--Wildly and romantically stylized, with a compelling lead in Tilda Swinton, and stringent architecturally sleek decor, this leisurely, luscious looking story of adulterous love set among Italy's upper classes split the audiences, but there's no denying this powerful vision. *

INCEPTION--Frenetically creative and spellbinding, but with a powerful humanistic undertow, this science fiction masterpiece keeps pushing the boundaries of fantasy with mind blowing special effects, yet it was the tender tragic love story between Leo diCapprio and his wife played by Marion Cotillard that lingers.

AGORA--Some may criticize the lack of total historical accuracy, but here was a sand and sandal epic with big ideas, big set designs, big action sequences, believable actors, and compelling philosophical dilemmas that kept me on the seats edge to the tragic conclusion. It plays like an intellectual epic (dare I compare it to LAWRENCE OF ARABIA?) and I loved it. *

PLEASE GIVE--A thoughtful but very enjoyable depiction of a modern New York family torn up by their liberal philosophies (bleeding hearts) vs the reality of life in the hustle and bustle.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO--Swedish shocker based on the world wide bestseller that features an outstanding performance by Noomi Repace and others in the mystery of a young woman's 40 years long disappearance. A huge, lurid can of worms is opened by the end--not for the faint of heart viewers, even if you've read the book. The follow up films THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS NEST are also superior, shit-kicking mystery thrillers.

THE KING'S SPEECH--Fine British costume drama based on true story about King George being thrust into national and international politics when his brother abdicates the throne. He struggles to control his stammering in order to lead the nation, with the help of a therapist and his wife. Excellent acting by the three principles especially, who are Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP-- A surprising documentary which starts out as an expose on street graffiti artists, but suddenly morphs into a damning expose on artists with NO talent except for their bravado. This is an amazing true story which starts out to show how street artist Blansky operates, but soon Blansky has taken over the story to illustrate how easy it is for manufactured art to take over the industry. Very entertaining and insightful. Also see WASTELAND above.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT--The final resolution rings a bit false (especially the affair business) but up to that point, the film shows the dynamics of a modern family headed by a lesbian couple to be as universally true and funny and humane as any film of the year.

127 HOURS--You might think you don't want to watch this, but here's a film full of life-loving energy, and the tremendous will to survive an accident propels this into near greatness, not horror. The newest film from Danny Boyle who made SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE really transcends it's potentially grim subject matter in ways that will uplift you.

WINTER'S BONE--An ethno-centric drama about a teen age girl trying to save her family from falling apart by finding her drug dealing father in the poverty stricken Ozark region. Fascinating and well acted and shockingly powerful. *

GET HIM TO THE GREEK--The year's funniest, crude, lewd, rude comedy, featuring the rock and roll singer from the funny FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL from a couple years ago. Major guilty pleasure time.

TRUE GRIT--Very solid remake of the John Wayne classic, with the ever reliable Jeff Bridges as the one eyed drunkard sheriff, and a star in the making performance by the young Hailee Steinfeld who is as natural as they come.

HIDEAWAY (LE REFUGE)--Prolific French director Francois Ozon (SWIMMING POOL, 8 WOMEN, SITCOM, TIME TO LEAVE, etc) has created a moving sensual film about the unlikely relationship of a gay man who tracks down the pregnant girlfriend of his dead (by overdose) brother. The ending has haunted me for months. *


Now, if the above 20 films (all rated A, A- and B+) aren't enough to get you through the winter, then check out the next 20 films, all rated B+ and solid B.


Other GOOD STUFF in no particular order: CLIENT 9: Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, YOUTH IN REVOLT, NORTHFACE*, GHOST WRITER, DATE NIGHT, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, SHUTTER ISLAND, LA MISSION*, CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION, SECRET IN THEIR EYES, LOOSE CANNONS*, JOAN RIVERS: A Piece of Work*, THE CONCERT*, ANIMAL KINGDOM, BRAN NUE DAE*, LET ME IN, MOTHER, ANOTHER YEAR, THE TILMAN STORY*, THE TOWN.

Guilty Pleasures: GET HIM TO THE GREEK, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS, UNSTOPPABLE, KICK ASS, SALT, A TEAM, DATE NIGHT.

BAD BAD FILMS: Kites, Predators, Clash of the Titans, Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll, The Next Three Days, Country Strong, Extraordinary Measures, and at the very bottom---When in Rome and Hot Tub Time Machine

*=premiered at SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival), then had regular run.


COMING SOON---Top films for the last Decade 2001-2010