10. INCEPTION
There are certain films that, like it or not, define a year. Last year, it was Avatar. This year, it's Inception. An epic, high-concept mindfuck of a movie that plays like an extremely neurotic cousin of The Matrix, it delivered action, romance, and sci-fi world building all in one gigantic, yet intimate, package. It managed to become a critical darling and a massive box office hit without pandering to the masses or dumbing itself down one iota. Not too shabby for what's ostensibly director Christopher Nolan's version of a "one for me" movie. The four way dream-within-a-dream sequence is a masterpiece of editing, mixing the tension of a heist film with the balls out action of James Bond. Even if it weren't entertaining as all hell, I might have thrown it on here for sheer hutzpah alone.
9. SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
Edgar Wright's long-awaited (by me and five other people, apparently) adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's brilliant Manga-style, Canadian, nerd/hipster, magical realist, kung-foolish, hilarious, and generation defining comic book series. It's not exactly the way I would have adapted it, and the comics are still my preferred version of the story, but it's a pretty damn perfect movie in so many ways. Remember when I said that Inception was well edited? This is some kind of next-level, ADD-infused shit, reminiscent of the equally underrated Speed Racer movie. In addition to being one of the best directors working, Wright is also one of the best writers, and like his other films you'll pick up on millions of little details that you've missed the first dozen or so times you watch it. I could see this one working it's way up the list as time goes on.
8. KICK-ASS
A satire of superhero movies that transforms into a superhero movie in it's own right, with enough pitch-black comedy and sublime action that I left the theater grinning from ear to ear. The story of a perpetual high school loser who comes up with a way to get himself noticed; by becoming the world's first "real" superhero. Unfortunately for him, other superheroes begin to pop up, ones who are actually efficient at their job, and he's again thrust to the bottom of the food chain. Beyond the visceral and puerile surface lies a message about doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do, not just to make yourself look cool. 13-year old Chloe Morentz, in the iconic role of Hit-Girl, makes this movie her bitch.
7. THE AMERICAN
If any genre of film has been done to death recently, it's the hitman film. I try not to watch them, but they unfortunately continue to be very well made. I don't know what it is about the genre that attracts so many artistic directors. Maybe because, like the western, it allows the director to explore the nature of isolation, and by extension, introspection. Sold as a Bourne-style action film, though really anything but, this is an action movie in the old school style; crisp, intense, and thrilling. Not for all tastes, but highly reminiscent of some of my favorite sixties era spy thrillers. Also, some of the best looking photography (and actors) you're likely to see all year.
6. TRUE GRIT
5. SHUTTER ISLAND
Unlike the Coens, Martin Scorsese often takes his sweet ass time making a film, but you know that the end result will be worth the wait. Case in point; the other Leonardo DiCaprio mindfuck film of 2010. Partly noir, partly straight-up horror. A simple story in many ways, but it functions well on multiple levels. As a film fan, it's like getting a master class on direction. Every shot, cut, and performance is beautiful, and positioned right where it should be. I figured out the mystery early on, but that really isn't the point of this story. It's ultimately an incredibly powerful and emotional drama, strung together with some pants-shittingly intense scenes. If Marty ever did a balls out horror film, I'm not sure that I would survive it.
4. WINTER'S BONE
Take your standard Film Noir premise, but substitute your typical male schlub protagonist with a headstrong teenage girl. Now set it in the world of meth dealers in the Ozarks; an extremely hostile environment for a woman of any age. Instead of slavishly imitating the style of classic noirs, director Debra Granik infuses every frame with pure honesty and realism, making the villains even more terrifying for doing so. It's bleak, mean, and dark, but with a few well timed glimmers of light.
3. BLACK SWAN
Darren Aronofsky delivers his companion piece to The Wrestler, doing for femininity what he did with masculinity in his previous work. Scored with both actual samples and variations on Swan Lake, the movie builds to the most incredible crescendo of the year; appropriate for a story revolving around sexual repression and desire. Like an actual ballet, it maintains the delicate balance between reality and fantasy; between the poised and the playful. Natalie Portman was the perfect choice for this role, and it must have been a tough one to play, but she totally nails it. Aronofsky's best, and I'm interested to see where he goes from here.
2. NEVER LET ME GO
The rare sci-fi story that doesn't cross over into the action, horror, or thriller genres. Instead, we have a seemingly simple story of a love triangle between three childhood friends, who start out having little idea of the horrible fate that awaits them. What really sticks with me, and depresses me, is the characters' passivity. At no point do the characters bother to fight against their government, or even to question it. They just accept what's given to them, which is all that most of us ever do. Spectacular performances, beautiful photography. This one haunted me for days.
1. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
If you'd told me a year ago that my favorite film from 2010 was going to be a 3D, Dreamworks animated film starring Gerard Butler, I'd have shipped you off to the looney bin; but here we are. From the writer/director team that made Lilo & Stitch one of my favorite films of the last decade comes the story of a Viking and his Dragon friend. Great family entertainment, with a good message. The 3D isn't essential for enjoyment of the film, but the first flying scene in IMAX 3D was the most exhilarating movie moment of the year for me. The script is a good balance of serious and humorous, the voice cast does a great job, and the animation is excellent. I'll be watching this one for years to come.
Well, that about wraps it up! Another year, another great set of films.
Oh, wait. . . There's a bonus! My most hated film of the year!
MOST HATED FILM OF 2010
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
"I'm going to fight for you, until your heart stops beating." - Jacob Black
Ya know, I tried that as a pick-up line once, and it didn't really work out for me. Eclipse is basically the story of a girl who has to choose (because being single isn't an option) between a creepy stalker (the aforementioned Jacob) and bored/boring Edward. Um. . . I guess I'm Team Edward then. Take it from an old man; boring beats psycho every time. Except when it comes to movies; then it doesn't pay to be boring. I'm not sure exactly how long this was, but the emotional running time was around 18 hours, and I was unfortunately too paralyzed by boredom to turn the movie off (A situation I thankfully avoided with Kristen Stewart's other film from 2010, The Runaways). Ron Howard's daughter shows up, but thankfully for her no one notices, since this is the worst film she's been in yet (and this is after starring in TWO M. Night Shyamalan films).
Goodbye 2010, hello 2011!
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