Top 10 of 2010

As the month of January winds to a close, all of the films that backed there way into 2010 Oscar consideration by releasing themselves in one theatre for one week in late December are now out! This works out well for a first [real] post as it should give you a pretty good insight into the movies I like.

As you'll see by my list, 2010 seemed to be propped up by well established directors that we know very well. It does fill me full of hope, however, that directors like Matthew Vaughn (a little bit of a veteran, I grant you) and David Michod made my list. This bodes well for the future as people like Peter Weir don't direct things every year. Good movies have to come from somewhere and therefore new directors need to make there way to the fore. Michod definitely did that with Animal Kingdom. Who will it be in 2011 I wonder...

Firstly, however, a final look at the top 10 (or 13, or even 15) movies of 2010.

1. The Social Network (David Fincher)

2. True Grit (The Coen Brothers)

It was a tough choice to choose between these two. From cinematography, to pacing, to writing, to rewatchability the movies were a dead heat for me. The Social Network won out with it's depth, however. The irony just drips from this film, and I'm a sucker for that. True Grit had terrific performances and a great score I've listened to about a dozen times at this point but when it comes down to it, it was just a very well crafted genre exercise (much like Millers Crossing). Still, a solid number 2.

3. Inception (Chris Nolan)

This one gets high marks for it's degree of difficulty more than anything else. I've seen the movie 3 or 4 times now and it never gets old. It's missing a little something in the heart department but I loved the score, the editing was great, the production design was out of this world and the script was impeccably well crafted.

4. Blue Valentine (Derek Cianfrance)

A beautifully acted and depressing look at the end of a relationship. Movies like this tend to ramp up the drama to the point of unbelievability. I'm not sure where this movie goes without the performances, but performances are part of the movie and it's a beautiful movie.

5. 127 Hours (Danny Boyle)

I'm a little bit surprised I liked this as much as I did. I was put off a bit by some of the family stuff that was wedged into the movie, but still a very enjoyable movie with a must see performance.

6. The Way Back (Peter Weir)

It's a brutal movie, no two ways about it, but the brutality helps shine light on the ordeal the characters went through. Jim Sturgess was great and Colin Farrell was Russian! The cinematogaphy was beautiful and the soundtrack was as well.

7. Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky)

It ain't subtle, but that ain't Aronofsky's style. It's just a terrific thriller with a very raw performance by Natalie Portman. Rewatchability hurt this one, not sure I want to see it again as good as it was!

8. Animal Kingdom (David Michod)

It's an Australian movie about a crime family written by one of the worst and most inappropriate mothers ever put to film. A boy whose mother has just committed suicide is thrust in the middle and must navigate through it.

9. The Town (Ben Affleck)

10. Kick-Ass (Matthew Vaughn)

These ones are well made movies I'll watch again and again. The strobe scene in Kick-Ass is worth the price of admission alone. As far as The Town is concerned, I just love a good heist movie.

Honorable Mentions:

Another Year (Mike Leigh)

Carlos (Olivier Assayas)

Top 3 Docs:

Exit Through the Gift Shop (Banksy)

Restrepo (Tim Hetherington & Sebastian Junger)

Client 9 (Alex Gibney)

I separated the docs because I always find it tough to compare fictional movies with docs - so I didn't. Exit through the gift shop is one of the better movies out there that cuts to the heart of what art is. Also, it's fun! Restrepo is one of the better looks at what it is to be a soldier in one of the most dangerous places on the planet. For someone who has no idea what that's like, it's a terrific look into that world. Lastly, Client 9 takes a look at the last days of Eliot Spitzer and why he left office. It does a great job at shining a light on the hypocrisy of the whole situation.

2010 was a great year and here's hoping I get to see at least a few good movies before fucking November!!