Top 10 of 2010 January 24, 2011

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.

(A Belated) Top 10 of 2009 January 31, 2010

This is about four weeks belated, but, as they say, “Oh well.”

And with a new year starting, an old one comes to a close. Some films from 2009 have settled in my mind over the last few weeks (or months) as great, and other have faded. That is truly the test of a film’s strength. So here is the Top 10 of 2009.

1. The Informant!

Steven Soderbergh has been very prolific lately, and despite the shallow ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ released earlier this year, he also directed ‘The Informant!’. This film manages to deal so well with deception, family issues, mental health issues, and even moral dilemmas — all in the most creative of ways. Credit is also obviously due to the great screenplay (by Scott Z. Burns), the book (by Kurt Eichenwald), and an excellent performance by Matt Damon.

2. An Education

This is a cute, touching film about a girl who discovers a bit about life and a lot about herself through her relationship with an older man. It is wonderfully made, but the film belongs to Carey Mulligan. Read more writing by me on the film here.

3. Avatar

This is the most entertaining film of the year. Yes, the script has problems, but those are more than compensated for. The visuals are unlike anything seen before (in 3D — I will admit the visuals may disappoint in traditional 2D) and, despite some writing flaws, we do still care about Pandora, the Na’vi, and the characters. And now that it’s the highest grossing movie ever, James Cameron has much to celebrate.

4. A Serious Man

A sad, humorous film about a normal man who has more than his share of troubles. The Coen Brothers pose some interesting questions about ethics, faith, and logical reasoning in their newest success. Read more writing by me on the film here

5. Coraline

When I started this list about 2 months ago ‘Coraline’ was the film to beat. This says two things: First, that 2009 was a relatively weak year for films (which is true), and second, that animated films outside of the Disney/Pixar realm have come a long way. Coraline is a cute, bratty girl who learns a thing or two, but the way she learns it is unique and visually stunning. And at times, very cringe-inducing.

6. The Hangover

Now this is a funny movie. There are no tricks or gimmicks. It was funny in theaters, and funny again on DVD. I’ve always liked Todd Phillips’ work (even critically panned ones, like ‘Old School’ or ‘Road Trip’), but here he hits a high point. There is not a full moment to be had.

7. The Hurt Locker

This is a gripping film, a great thriller, and should not be categorized as a “war” film because this is hardly about the war. This is not the perfect film many critics lead us to believe it is (the characters only have a three-point arc and some scenes are nothing more than anecdotal), but it is carefully crafted and very entertaining. Read more writing by me on the film here.

8. Fantastic Mr. Fox

It seems I’m spamming this post with “entertaining” and “creative”, but I promise that they are justified. Wes Anderson and frequent collaborator Noah Baumbach have made a fun film that can be enjoyed equally by children and adults. It was a great year for animated films.

9. The Cove

This is a documentary that doubles as a thriller and, in the end, a horror film. The second act of the film has problems with pacing, but that may just be because my brain is used to traditional films and I’ve only seen a few dozen documentaries. While maybe only the 9th best film, it is the most important and everyone should see it.

10. Inglourious Basterds

I am including this film simply for Tarantino’s effort. It was bold, but I don’t think the film is the masterpiece so many are pegging it as.

And there you have it. 2009 was a year of a few greats, many goods, and a plethora of awful movies. Bring in 2010.

Retro Post: Top 10 of 2007 September 27, 2009

Editor’s note: Taken from my old blog to be posted here. Anachronisms are present to keep the integrity of the piece.

1. Zodiac

David Fincher’s finest film to date, even surpassing ‘Seven’ and ‘Fight Club.’ Here is a movie that is split almost two ways — the first half about the killings, the second half about the obsession. Both halves are amazing and together form this perfect movie. Sadly, the movie came out too early in the year, and will most likely be looked over come Oscar time.

Editor’s note: ‘Zodiac’ is discussed in more detail in the Movies to Study column.

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

There are very few movies that I would make everyone see if I possibly could. This would be one of them. The movie is inspired by Jean-Do Bauby’s “locked-in syndrome,” in which he blinks out an entire memoir with only his left eye. He is completely paralyzed and somehow manages to accomplish that. Jean-Do is a witty man (even more-so in the memoir itself), and that helps offset the deeply serious subject matter. Yet, at the same time, the scenes of his family coping with his immobility are overwhelming. It is perfect and innovative the way this story was filmed, and supreme credit goes to the director, cinematographer, and writer. I will write a more lengthy review at a later date.

Editor’s note: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly can be found as a Movie to Study.

3. No Country For Old Men

A movie that will not be overlooked come Oscar time is the Coen Brothers’ latest. Seeing this twice in theaters, the movie is smart, clean, and altogether flawless. People bitch about the ending. The first viewing it caught me off-guard, but when I saw it a second time I liked it a lot better, and think it’s the only way the film could have ended. I feel this movie will be studied for years to come.

4. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Where most movies would falter, ‘Devil’ rises up and becomes that much better. There are no questions of motivation, there are no flaws in pacing, and the acting is completely top-notch. Sidney Lumet is the mastermind behind this picture, but a fabulous script by Kelly Masterson and the always-great Philip Seymour Hoffman take this film out of the standard ‘jewelry store robbery movie’ genre and elevate it to greatness.

5. Juno

You would have to try really hard not to love Juno. The character, specifically — but also the movie. I would try to describe scenes in this movie, but it would lose all effect. But ever since Juno accuses her ~4 year-old sister of puking blue slurpee into the vase, I couldn’t help it. It’s rare when I laugh at parts in a movie that are in the trailer, but I was that guy. It seems like Juno is the female version of any of the characters from ‘Knocked Up’ or ‘Superbad.’ But the real success here, where those movies have good one-liners, it’s the stupid jokes that are endearing. Here, Juno herself is what the movie is about — her quirky personality comes second to the movie as a whole.

6. Atonement

Atonement is a movie that on first glance seems to be all about love, but people forget to factor in ignorance, betrayal, lust, jealousy, and self-loathing. The twisting of this movie is delicate and perfectly executed. Visual art of the highest form, the whole movie is a pleasure to look at and just take in. Gotta love British period pieces.

7. La Vie en Rose

A one-woman show for Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, and how great that show is. The music aside, this is pure storytelling in a creative way. Taking the life of a person and re-ordering it for increased effect is risky, but here works extremely well. Perhaps there is a reason Edith Piaf was the pride of France.

8. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton is very hit-or-miss for me. On the one hand is Batman and Big Fish, but then there’s also Planet of the Apes and Sleepy Hollow. Here I think is his best work to date, with an eerie movie/musical that lifts well from the source material. Johnny Depp also shines, showing he has more range than most working actors today. A great movie, but not for everyone.

9. Ratatouille

I’ll be honest — I liked the Incredibles, but not so much as everyone else. Here Brad Bird steps up again for Pixar and produces the best animated film in years. A great blend of wit, passion, and cooking detail, the movie could have been twice as long and I still would’ve watched it three times.

10. The Bourne Ultimatum

The third installment in the series, and the best of the bunch (which we all know is rare). The plot is a bit flimsy, but still strong enough to justify the endless action sequences that put many imitators to shame. Believe the hype when they say, “You are glued to the screen.”

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I will not do a ‘honorable mentions’ because that is a cop-out, though in a year like this it would be more than justified. 2007 was a phenomenal year for movies, with so many great flicks. I could have probably made a top 20 and felt strongly about all of them.

And as with all top 10 lists, let me say that I know people will gripe. Really, I just do these so whoever may stumble across the list will feel a tiny bit more inclined to see a few of these, and I know that they will appreciate it. Any time I can get people to see these films instead of ‘Epic Movie’ or ‘The Bucket List’ I am pleased.

And lastly — I stand by these rankings. Isn’t No Country For Old Men a better movie than Zodiac? How can you rank perfect movies that are so different? It’s like judging any kind of art: When you’re stuck in the middle, go with the one that makes you feel something.

Retro Post: Top 10 of 2008 September 27, 2009

Editor’s note: Taken from the old blog and posted here. Anachronisms removed.

First, let me say that this year was not as strong as last year (2007). Last year I had trouble just picking ten, and while I’ve seen plenty of movies this year, few have had a lasting impact, which is somewhat required of all great movies. A movie has not done its job unless you’re still pondering about it 24 hours later. This year, lots of films need to be fired. These are the ones that will last.

1. WALL-E

I struggle with this choice, because choosing an animated film as my number one of the year seems taboo. Well, rules be damned, this is a spectacular film. Pixar has achieved such a significant level of storytelling that they scarcely even need dialogue anymore. WALL-E, both the robot himself and the film, possess an overwhelming compassion. WALL-E, with more determination than any robot has ever had before him, begins by pursuing his love for EVE, and ends up saving humanity. At first he tries to recover the plant to impress EVE, but along the way, somewhere, he realizes his purpose. Similarly, EVE transforms from a simple one-track robot to a real character, capable of more emotion than most characters in most other films. For these reasons, along with perfect animation, a great soundtrack, and a high ‘cute’ factor, WALL-E is the best film of the year.

2. Slumdog Millionaire

In my ‘review’ I copped out, saying that to reveal any plot details at all would dishonor the film and ruin the experience. I stand by that. This is not a film that is watched, but a story that is experienced. There is no better reason to go to the movies this year than to see this film. We shall discuss it later.

3. Revolutionary Road

Unlike Slumdog Millionaire, this is not a film for everyone. Revolutionary Road is a story likely to hit emotional chords with specific viewers because its characters have big dreams and even bigger falls. The truth about life is that not everyone finds their happy ending or meets their one true love — some people end up living in the suburbs and slowly die little by little every day. I have a feeling this is one of those films that will be praised ten years from now, but until then, be passed off as mediocre. Trust me, it is a great treasure.

Editor’s note: Revolutionary Road is written about in details as a Movie to Study

4. The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke, as The Ram, struggles deeply with his identity, his past, and his addictions. What is so touching in this story of one man’s life is not the actual wrestling, but how far his life has gone past its prime and how determined he is to make it right, even after he blows it one time after the other.

5. In Bruges

I recently watched this again, and am thrilled that the film has a screenplay nod for the Oscars. Sure, the politically incorrect humor is funny, but behind the vulgar comedy is a fine layer of weaving between the characters and their actions that makes the film work. Each viewing leads to the picking up of something new, for instance, when Ken drops the coins from the top of the tower toward the end, he doesn’t just happen to have coins (like most people), but they are the coins the clerk would not take way earlier in the film. Excellent.

6. Gran Torino

Can we all agree on something? Clint Eastwood is The Man. Not only is he one of the best actors to ever live, but he has directed many GREAT films — not ‘good’ films, but great ones. Just counting recent years, we have: Million Dollar Baby, Letter From Iwo Jima, Mystic River, and now Gran Torino. Dealing with aggressive racial issues (sort of like In Bruges, but in its own way), Gran Torino is a spectacular film about acceptance, forgiveness, vengeance, and doing the right thing. No matter what you read, it will still not be what you expect, but you will enjoy every minute of it.

7. Iron Man

Yes, there is a superhero movie on this list. No, it is not the overrated Dark Knight. Iron Man is such a success because — and this is fundamental to all stories — we care about the protagonist, the man, the hero. Tony Stark, while kind of a jerk, makes us laugh, and laughter is the way to the heart, right? I think that’s a proverb. This is a superhero film done extremely right, and the best since Spidey 2.

8. Rachel Getting Married

Seeming strangely like a documentary, this film is a treasure. It uses a unique pacing style to include the audience as a member of the family, and by the end we still don’t completely understand the dysfunction, but we appreciate it. Anne Hathaway has not been better, but the whole cast is perfect in this little film about what chunks of our past belong to us, which chunks are community canon fodder, and why some people can’t stop being selfish, just for one day. But why should they have to?

9. Religulous

Bill Maher makes fun of every religion, pointing out all of the contradictions and implausible theories behind creationism, the virgin Mary, Jesus, etc. Not perfect, but very funny.

10. Milk

A film that is moving, because Harvey Milk was not just fighting for gay rights, but for the rights and equality of all peoples. He was beaten election after election, but through perseverance, determination, and a little luck, he succeeded. Again, not a perfect movie, but one that everyone could benefit from seeing.

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And that is it for 2008. Intentionally left off because they are undeserving of any ‘best’ list, or any ‘Best Picture’ nomination: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Dark Knight, The Reader.