It’s that time of year again.
2010 was a pretty good year for movies and I’ve finally seen everything I wanted to. Being in Korea, I’m sure I missed a few from this year that I will really enjoy. Only one movie clearly stood out above the rest, so I am ranking that film as #1. The other nine are listed without a rank because I simply could not place them. They are listed in the order in which they came to my mind, if that puts any weight on anything.
1. The Social Network
There should be no surprise here. This is by far the best film of 2010. Wisely, ‘The Social Network’ is more about the people behind Facebook and less about the actual website. We see how Mark Zuckerberg’s obsession changes nothing for him and everything for the people he meets. You can read a in-depth review of it in my Movies to Study article.
*. All Good Things
This film wasn’t well-received, and I am puzzled as to why. It has a strong, emotional lead with Ryan Gosling doing some of his best work. The story is complex, which I can summarize as, “If ‘American Psycho’ made any sense whatsoever it would be this movie.” It is the story of a man pushed into a mold, which triggers a homicidal desire within in. This is based on true events, though these days, many movies are. I know this is more in line with my tastes, as I am a fan of murder-mysteries that are unsolved (‘Zodiac’ being one of my favorites). Despite its poor ratings on IMDb, give it a chance.
*. Despicable Me
What a fun little film. Bad guys are universally acknowledged as more interesting than the good guys, and while ‘Megamind’ was flat, ‘Despicable Me’ is a gem. It is so good because it doesn’t oversell the concept and has a quirky sense of humor about it, as well as subtle things in the background that are easy to miss. Sure, by the end, Gru is a pretty nice father figure, but success comes because in the first 2/3 of the film he is harsh and blunt with the children, and that makes for great entertainment. Read a bit more about ‘Despicable Me’ here.
*. Black Swan
Lots of praise for Natalie Portman here. This is her movie without a doubt. Her role is dynamic and follows a strong arc as she collapses into her own insanity. So this is a good film, yet not a great one. Darren Aronofsky has slick direction and does well, but we have seen this from him before in ‘Pi.’ We see minor obsession, minor symptoms, and they grow a little, then a little more, then a lot, then our protagonist is completely loony. No surprises. So while this film is executed well and worth a watch and a top-ten of the year, it is not a complete triumph.
*. True Grit
A yearly countdown wouldn’t be complete with a Coen Brothers movie. A little out of their element (but not too far out, as we’ve all seen ‘No Country for Old Men’), the Coens play ‘True Grit’ straight and it is wonderful. Gritty, of course, but great dialogue is abundant. Unknown Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross as a caustic, precocious youth who gets her way and can boss around a rustic Jeff Bridges. This is a great Western.
*. Somewhere
This is a delicate movie, and Sofia Coppola recycles a couple themes from ‘Lost in Translation’, but that is not a bad thing. A lesser movie would escalate problems and create melodrama, but here we observe the characters naturally and they are much more interesting that way. Read more about ‘Somewhere’ here.
*. Exit Through the Gift Shop
Most people with internet access had probably heard of Banksy before this film, but here’s a new perspective on his work. Argued by some as a hoax, the film is Banksy’s documentary about Mr. Brainwash. Whether it is a hoax or not, this is a strong film. Street art is interesting, sometimes even more-so than art, because of the risks involved. ‘Exit’ is split into a couple parts, and the first 2/3 really thrive. I will admit I was not overly enthusiastic about the third act, where we are assaulted by pseudo-intelligent artwork by Mr. Brainwash, but Banksy’s spin on the whole thing is downright entertaining. This is a must-see of the year. Read more here.
*. Toy Story 3
This third movie is the weakest of the trilogy of ‘Toy Story’ movies, yet it is still magical. What does that say about Pixar? The plot here is flimsy, but an inevitable conclusion to the series. It resolves soundly. I hate when films descend into action, and though ‘Toy Story 3′ does that for quite a long time (the jail-break segment onward), we are so invested in these lovable characters that it is never boring. If nothing else, ‘Toy Story 3′ deserves to be on this list for Ken. He easily has the best lines of the film.
*. The American
I don’t understand the seemingly common backlash against this movie. Does the common movie-goer, seeing George Clooney and guns, expect something similar to ‘Shooter?’ Probably. Maybe that’s how the trailers were cut. Regardless, this is a film with a soul, and it takes its time to develop the protagonist, Jack, and the climax of the movie is one of the best this year. As I said before, sit down, pay attention, and enjoy the ride. It’s a good one.
*. The Ghost Writer
Some directors just don’t lose the gift (thankfully). Roman Polanski has made a taught thriller about, of all things, a writer. The last great thriller about a writer I can think of is ‘Misery,’ which was in 1990. Ewan McGregor has always been better at playing an unknowing sucker, and here that quality is key. Pierce Brosnan always has charisma and is a perfect subject, and we have Tom Wilkinson, who as far as I can recall has never had a bad role. This film never lets up as is progresses toward its inevitable conclusion, and it’s excitement the whole way.
