Every week, I'm gonna go back a year and pick what I feel are the 10 best movies of said year. Why? Because I think it would be fun to do so. Don't judge me.
2010
10. Winter's Bone
Australian cinema is not to be trifled with. Animal Kingdom is being hailed as the Australian Godfather. The tension never lets up as we watch this crime family unravel from within. Jacki Weaver plays an incredibly wicked old woman in a performance that's scary only because of how natural it comes out.
8. The Kids Are All Right
A funny, smart, thought-provoking film that challenges "traditional" notions of family by showing a different kind of family and how they handle their problems. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are both in top form.
7. The Social Network
Aaron Sorkin scored major points for writing a movie about Facebook and having it be as great as it was. The Social Network is a triumph of modern filmmaking which gives a younger generation the credit it's due. Great performances are pulled from the least likely of people - Jesse Eisenberg, for instance. It also holds the distinction of being one of the smartest, snappiest screenplays ever written.
6. Black Swan
Natalie Portman has come a long way as an actress, and Black Swan is her own personal masterpiece. A very twisted film experience, Black Swan examines the life of a ballet dancer whose sanity is succumbing to the pressure of pulling off that perfect performance... from her perspective. The film is designed to make its audience feel uncomfortable, and it works. Very dark, gritty and flawless.
5. True Grit
The Coen Brothers wanted to make it clear that True Grit was not a remake, but a more faithful adaptation to the book. The story is told from the perspective of scene-stealing Hailee Steinfeld, whose natural talent was able to hold its own playing up against giants like Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon - who were also incredible. True Grit is an old school Western done Coen style, and it's a very fun film to watch.
4. Toy Story 3
Pixar continues its tradition of making only good (and mostly great) movies (and I stand by my judgment that Cars 2 is a GOOD movie) with its third installment of the Toy Story series. Made ten years after its predecessor, they managed to get the audience to empathize with toys... to the point where tears may end up being shed at some point. It's successful in making one very nostalgic for their childhood, and examining the effects of growing up - from the perspective of the toys. At the same time, it's a very cool prison break film.
3. Inception
Who said Blockbusters can't also provoke thought? Christopher Nolan challenged that notion with Inception, which may very well be the biggest-budget, highest grossing art film ever made. It proves that filmmakers do not have to dumb down their movies and audiences are capable of connecting the dots and putting two and two together. Inception plays out like an elaborate puzzle, and the story is layered. On top of that, the characters are easy to root for and Marion Cotillard is a very effective femme fatale.
2. The King's Speech
No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just a simple, straightforward story told remarkably well. Colin Firth's performance can best be described as a tour-de-force. The King's Speech is the kind of movie you can't help but feel good watching - and I haven't seen one do quite as good a job of that since Forrest Gump.
1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
I can't hide it. I really, really freakin' loved this movie. It is one of the funniest, most clever pieces of pure, unfiltered entertainment. Edgar Wright created a masterpiece for the ADD generation. Scott Pilgrim puts a new spin on the romantic comedy, by essentially turning it into a high-sensation video game. But unlike most "video game" movies, it doesn't feel like you're just watching someone else play. You are completely immersed in this high-energy, super kinetic world that will give you a serious nerdgasm. I loved every freakin' minute of this movie.
Honorable Mentions:
The Fighter
Blue Valentine
How to Train Your Dragon
127 Hours
Tangled
2010
10. Winter's Bone
A modern noir film. Its quiet, deliberate pace only helps build tension in this mysterious film. Jennifer Lawrence broke through in a very subtle performance as a backwoods Humphrey Bogart. It is a very modest film that is spoken for by its incredible performances, a different setting and a great story.
9. Animal Kingdom
Australian cinema is not to be trifled with. Animal Kingdom is being hailed as the Australian Godfather. The tension never lets up as we watch this crime family unravel from within. Jacki Weaver plays an incredibly wicked old woman in a performance that's scary only because of how natural it comes out.
8. The Kids Are All Right
A funny, smart, thought-provoking film that challenges "traditional" notions of family by showing a different kind of family and how they handle their problems. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are both in top form.
7. The Social Network
Aaron Sorkin scored major points for writing a movie about Facebook and having it be as great as it was. The Social Network is a triumph of modern filmmaking which gives a younger generation the credit it's due. Great performances are pulled from the least likely of people - Jesse Eisenberg, for instance. It also holds the distinction of being one of the smartest, snappiest screenplays ever written.
6. Black Swan
Natalie Portman has come a long way as an actress, and Black Swan is her own personal masterpiece. A very twisted film experience, Black Swan examines the life of a ballet dancer whose sanity is succumbing to the pressure of pulling off that perfect performance... from her perspective. The film is designed to make its audience feel uncomfortable, and it works. Very dark, gritty and flawless.
5. True Grit
The Coen Brothers wanted to make it clear that True Grit was not a remake, but a more faithful adaptation to the book. The story is told from the perspective of scene-stealing Hailee Steinfeld, whose natural talent was able to hold its own playing up against giants like Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon - who were also incredible. True Grit is an old school Western done Coen style, and it's a very fun film to watch.
4. Toy Story 3
Pixar continues its tradition of making only good (and mostly great) movies (and I stand by my judgment that Cars 2 is a GOOD movie) with its third installment of the Toy Story series. Made ten years after its predecessor, they managed to get the audience to empathize with toys... to the point where tears may end up being shed at some point. It's successful in making one very nostalgic for their childhood, and examining the effects of growing up - from the perspective of the toys. At the same time, it's a very cool prison break film.
3. Inception
Who said Blockbusters can't also provoke thought? Christopher Nolan challenged that notion with Inception, which may very well be the biggest-budget, highest grossing art film ever made. It proves that filmmakers do not have to dumb down their movies and audiences are capable of connecting the dots and putting two and two together. Inception plays out like an elaborate puzzle, and the story is layered. On top of that, the characters are easy to root for and Marion Cotillard is a very effective femme fatale.
2. The King's Speech
No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just a simple, straightforward story told remarkably well. Colin Firth's performance can best be described as a tour-de-force. The King's Speech is the kind of movie you can't help but feel good watching - and I haven't seen one do quite as good a job of that since Forrest Gump.
1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
I can't hide it. I really, really freakin' loved this movie. It is one of the funniest, most clever pieces of pure, unfiltered entertainment. Edgar Wright created a masterpiece for the ADD generation. Scott Pilgrim puts a new spin on the romantic comedy, by essentially turning it into a high-sensation video game. But unlike most "video game" movies, it doesn't feel like you're just watching someone else play. You are completely immersed in this high-energy, super kinetic world that will give you a serious nerdgasm. I loved every freakin' minute of this movie.
Honorable Mentions:
The Fighter
Blue Valentine
How to Train Your Dragon
127 Hours
Tangled
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