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20. The Fighter
Aside from baseball, I've never been a huge fan of sports. Admittedly, it's partially due to a lack of athleticism, but I generally just don't see the appeal. Having said that, if a director and cast manage to portray a sport in the right way, I can be drawn in. I didn't think I'd ever really enjoy a boxing movie. I've never even seen Rocky, generally considered to be one of the best movies of all time, due to a general disinterest in the sport. The Fighter piqued my interest for two reasons; one being the involvement of director David O. Russell, who usually has more small, odd sensibilities in film. The other was the presence of Christian Bale, who I've greatly admired as an actor for years now. Needless to say, these two elements are what make The Fighter so good. Russell gives the film a really scrappy feel to it and really makes the town of Lowell, Massachusetts and it's inhabitants come to life. There's a definite authenticity to the town that adds a lot. He makes the boxing scenes equally interesting by making the unique choice to present them in the style that they would appear on television. It's a subtle choice, but it works. However, the true heart of the story comes with the characters, specifically Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund. Bale has always been one to fully commit to a role and his portrayal of Eklund is no exception. Aside from his physical transformation, the performance itself is one of his best. There is a moment at the end of the film where Dicky talks about the pride he feels for his brother, and Bale makes a very subtle choice in the way he delivers this speech that is very impressive and quite moving. It makes the story less about boxing and more about family, which gives it an almost universal appeal.
19. Paranormal Activity 2
Last year, I talked about how 2009 was a great year for horror and a step in the right direction. Sadly, 2010 didn't really follow up on that promise, but the few horror films I enjoyed worked really well. Oddly enough, one of my two favorite horror films of the year was a sequel. Not only that, but a sequel to a highly effective first film, and one that was made pretty quickly. It had all the elements to potentially fail. Surprisingly, Paranormal Activity 2 ended up being just as good as it's predecessor (if not more so), and ended up giving the original a new layer as a result. The movie makes a smart choice by making the film part prequel/part sequel, so instead of being a simple rehash of the first film, it works as a companion to it. With the presence of a baby and a dog in the trailers, there was a lot of concern that the film would go for cheap scares by putting obvious sympathetic targets in danger. Thankfully, the film continues to build it's scares from tension and atmosphere. Every scene plays in a gradually increasing pace, so that when the truly scary stuff happens, it hits you even harder because of the build-up.
18. Let Me In
As much as Paranormal Activity 2 had the potential to be a disappointment, this one had the potential to be a disaster. Not only was it remake, but it was a remake of one of the best horror films in years, the brilliant Swedish film, Let The Right One In. I was as hesitant as anyone over how the quality of the film would be, but director Matt Reeves ends up keeping what made the original so great but adds some new interesting elements, a strong visual style and two remarkable lead performers. Kodi Smit-McPhee gives such a quiet sadness as the lonely, bullied Owen. He has to play a very troubled child who has nobody in the world and he really sells it. Even better is Chloe Grace Moretz as Abby. Considering that Moret was only 11 or 12 years old when she made this, it's astonishing to see what an adult presence she has as an actor, and how she can control any scene she's in. The very bleak style also adds to the story, and it acts as a perfect antidote to that other story of the relationship between a human and a vampire. Let Me In understands that what makes the vampire story interesting is the fact that it's somebody dealing with a curse, not a social disorder, and the pain that these characters go through is translated wonderfully on film.
17. Easy A
Ever since John Hughes stopping making teen movies, it seemed like the genre has been pretty hollow and empty. Sure every decade or so, we get one that's a worthy entry in the genre; a Can't Hardly Wait here, a Mean Girls there, but the results are few and far between. So it was quite a treat to see Easy A swoop in and show that a good high school movie can still be made. I won't lie; the film does seem to exist in a heightened reality where parents and teachers are uber-hip and the kids can talk to them on a real level. However, the film would work for no other reason than the presence of Emma Stone. I've enjoyed in her in everything I've seen her in before, but the performance she gives here is one that is guaranteed to make her a star. The movie itself is very clever and funny, and makes a smart move by both embracing the cliches of the high school genre and subverting them, but the one thing that truly keeps you invested in the film is watching Emma Stone become a modern day Molly Ringwald right before your eyes.
16. The Kids Are All Right
This is a film that is exceptional for both the wonderful cast and how it portrays a pretty conventional family drama in a way that feels new and progressive. First off, the entire cast is amazing and works perfectly together. Annette Bening is wonderful as a strong, work-driven woman who struggles not to let her weaknesses show, Julianne Moore has a natural charm that shines through constantly, Mark Ruffalo gives a friendly, laid-back approach to his role and Mia Wasikowska & Josh Hutcherson are very strong at playing two young teenagers trying to find their place in the world. As I said the film has a relatively simply, almost sitcom-like setup; Bening and Moore are a lesbian couple, raising a family, when their children suddenly show an interest in meeting their biological father. The film succeeds though in not making the same-sex coupling seem that abnormal; despite the problems they face in the movie, they are universal problems that any family could relate to. It's a really mature way to present the family and the movie excels other family dramas because of it.
15. Exit Through The Gift Shop/Catfish
The best documentaries are the ones that not only give us a look into a world that we're either not familiar with or don't pay enough attention to, but at the same time, manage to tell a compelling story in the process. However, when the story becomes such a big part, one starts to question how much of what we are seeing is actually real. That was the controversy surrounding these two documentaries this past year. Exit Through The Gift Shop starts out as a look at the street-art movement through the eyes of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in LA who constantly carries a camera around with him, documenting everything he sees. That story is interesting enough, but when the infamous street-artist Banksy gets involved, the film reaches a whole new level. Banksy takes Thierry under his wing and, after a certain amount of time, Thierry decides to try and enter the street-art scene himself. The film then transforms into a look at what art actually is and what defines an artist. As Thierry ego begins to grow, Banksy subtly presents some very interesting points about the state of art in our world today and it's fascinating to watch. Catfish focuses on a subject most of us are more familiar with; that is, the digital world we live in, and how easily we make friends online without really knowing who they are. The film follows Nev Schulman, a New York photographer, who begins talking to Abby, an 8 year old painter in Michigan who painted a picture of one of Nev's photos, and her mother. They develop a friendship that eventually extends to Nev talking to Abby's older sister, Megan, which in turn develops into a romantic relationship. However, as time goes on, Nev notices some odd discrepancies in what Megan is telling him. I'll leave it at that, because the movie plays best as a surprise, but what follows is both shocking, scary and heartbreaking. The questionable reality in both documentaries adds a lot to the overall experience. The entire experience of art is meant to be debated, so the question of how much Banksy is presenting is genuine is all too appropriate. Likewise, the idea that we're not sure how honest the people we talk to online are being is one that is definitely worth exploring, as it can affect us in profound ways. These two movies manage to give us insights into endlessly fascinating, important topics while presenting a terrific story at the same time, which is what the best documentaries are made of.
14. Mother
It's kind of sad that foreign films go so relatively unnoticed in the United States. For the sole fact that most people don't want to read subtitles, they miss out on some amazing films, such as Mother. The film follows the titular unnamed Mother, played brilliantly by Kim Hye-ja, as she tries to prove that her mentally slow son is innocent of a horrible crime. I'll leave it at that, because this is another film that plays best knowing as little as possible going in, but the events that transpire are gripping, and make for one of the best mystery dramas of the year.
13. Louis C.K.: Hilarious
All I really have to say about this movie and Louis C.K. in general was pretty much summed up yesterday while talking about his TV show, Louie. Simply put, this stand-up film is the funniest movie of the year, as C.K. tackles a wide range of topics with brutal honesty and hysterical insight. Please, please check him out. He is one of the best stand-up comedians working today and deserves the attention.
12. The Town
Ben Affleck has truly proved himself as a great director. With Gone Baby Gone, he managed to take a standard procedural story and turn it into a gritty, heartbreaking drama. Now with his follow-up, he turns what could have been a standard heist movie into one of the best crime dramas in recent memory. Most of this is due to the cast; Affleck himself manages to give a very thoughtful quiet performance as a man trying to get away from the life he's become accustomed to, and Jeremy Renner builds on the great impression he made with The Hurt Locker by giving a seering performance as the loose cannon of the heist crew. It's a fairly conventional crime story, but the strong cast and astute style & attention to detail that Affleck puts into his direction really raises it to something more.
11. Greenberg
Every year, there tends to be a movie that just speaks to me on a personal level that is hard to describe. I just feel a strong sense of connection with the movie and immediately gain a strong fondness for it. In 2010, that movie was Greenberg. Noah Baumbach is infamous for making his films uncomfortable and awkward, almost unbearably so at times. It's still here this time, but definitely pulled back a bit. Ben Stiller gives one of the best performances of his career as Roger Greenberg, a man who's recovering from a mental breakdown and struggles to socialize with anyone on even the most basic of levels. He attempts to open up when he meets Florence, the personal assistant of his brother, but it's not easy. Greta Gerwig is equally excellent as Florence. She has a very natural style to her acting that's immediately likeable. Much as she enchants and draws in Roger over the course of the film, she does the same to the audience. It's also interesting to note that this is yet another film that I can connect with that involves a socially awkward man being bettered by a quirky, endearing girl, also known by Nathan Rabin as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. One has to wonder what that says about me.
10. Kick-Ass
Superhero films have become huge over the past decade, so it's inevitable that there would be movies to come along that deconstruct them. Kick-Ass does so in a brilliant way by first poking fun at the logic of superhero movies, and then fully embracing them in a very smart way. There have been many complaints about the sudden shift in tone halfway through the movie, but upon closer look, it couldn't be more appropriate. Kick-Ass certainly revels in the glorious violence of it's story, but eventually it shows that these violent acts have consequences and one must be willing to face them. Among this message, the film is just plain fun; it has a madcap energy to it that's addictive, which is best represented by Hit Girl, yet another fantastic performance by Chloe Grace Moretz. Sure, the film wants to have it's cake and eat it too, but it fully acknowledges that.
9. How To Train Your Dragon
Dreamworks Animation has long seemed like the ugly stepsister to Pixar. While Pixar makes animated films that are beautiful both visually and thematically, Dreamworks has worked more as a pop culture joke factory, making movies where the characters constantly spout off one-liners and act too cool for the room (with the exception of the highly enjoyable Kung Fu Panda). That all changed with How To Train Your Dragon, a movie that both presents a very creative world and features a really strong, uplifting story with great characters. The scenes of flying with the dragons are so easy to get lost in with the sense of wonder presented, but at it's heart, the story is one of a young man who feels like an outcast, then finally finding someone to bond with. The film takes this trope and does it in a way that feels refreshing and new, leading to one of the most joyous movie experiences of the year.
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
For the longest time, I was Anti-Harry Potter. I saw the first 2 films when they first came out, and through some stupid sense of teenage self-superiority, I thought I was too cool for it. Despite the glowing praise from people I highly respected, I still resisted. When I saw the trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I was actually really intrigued, but still didn't give in. Finally, the trailers for the final 2 installments in the film franchise drew me in; during a marathon of the first 5 films, I decided to finally give it another shot. It only took about halfway through the 3rd movie for me to be won over; by the end of the 5the film, I was officially obsessed and a full-fledged new fan. I now have the first 6 movies on Blu-Ray and the entire book series in a nice box set waiting to be read. Having said all that, the most recent installment is a extremely entertaining film and one of the best in the franchise. The films have become more and more mature with each installment and Part 1 of the finale is the darkest yet. There is a constant sense of fear and dread as our heroes get chased and watch their comrades die in front of them. There have been complaints about the first part being too slow and featuring too much in the woods, but I think it's a really nice way to spend some with these characters before they enter the sure to be epic final battle. I've held back from reading the books until after I've seen all the movies and I've managed to avoid a good deal of spoilers, so needless to say, I'm filled with the anticipation for Part 2. Sure, Part 1 is technically only half of a movie, but it's a damn good half that leaves you desperate for more.
7. Shutter Island
In the hands of the right director, any story can become a great film. Shutter Island is a film that initially plays as a mystery, one in which the ending is not hard to guess. However, under the genius eye of Scorsese, it still remains riveting, and the story becomes much more focused on the journey rather than the end result. This shines even truer upon repeated viewings, as the film changes from a standard mystery into a brilliant character drama with plenty of suspense and thrills. Leonardo DiCaprio is better than ever in the lead role, giving a lot of weight and pathos to a role that could have easily been played as overly aggresive. Aside from being possibly the most visually beautiful film of the year, it's also one that ends up having layers, thanks to Scorsese's direction and DiCaprio's captivating performance.
6. True Grit
The Coen Brothers are two of the best filmmakers working today. They have such a unique voice & style, and each of their films beg to be discussed & analyed immediately after you finish watching them. True Grit is surprising in that it's fairly straight-forward in it's storytelling. Despite being known for the complex themes, with this movie, the Coens simply present a classic Western. However, the Coens being as smart as they are, it's a fantastic Western. The duo knows how to present great characters onscreen and this is no exception. Jeff Bridges is perfect as Rooster Cogburn, giving him the right mix of toughness, humor and heart. Matt Damon is hilarious as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, giving his character an arrogance that manages to not be offputting. The real find though is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as lead character, Mattie Ross; realizing that this was the young girl's first leading role is astonishing. She has such a strong, confident presence, managing to hold her own among people who have been acting for years without breaking a sweat. It's the type of movie that's so good, you immediately want to watch it again as soon as it's over, and would probably enjoy it even more.
5. Toy Story 3
I've spoken a great deal about my love of Pixar in the past (as recently as this post actually). They are just the masters of their work, and Toy Story 3 continues that trend. The film manages to be welcoming to younger viewers while still holding a deeper resonance for the older audience who have followed these characters since they were children. The film is very mature in the way it tackles themes such as moving on and letting go of the past. There are some sequences in this film that moved to me tears with the amount of emotion they present in very simple ways. It's a movie that has a message that also applies to itself; it deals with remembering the good times of your past and realizing what was important, but also giving it to a new generation to love.
4. Inception
What else can one say about Inception? It was one of the biggest movie of the year, and almost universally loved by all. The epic scope of the film is simply awe-inspiring. Christopher Nolan is a brilliant director, and the dream world he presents in the movie is just breathtaking. It's such an inspiration to see a filmmaker who makes film in such a big way but with such a master touch of class. On top of that, the film still manages to have an intimacy to it, as Leonardo DiCaprio gives yet another terrific performance as a man haunted by his past. The balance between the epic dream journey and the more personal journey that Cobb goes on throughout the film is what makes the film work as well it does. Also, when you have a final shot that inspires that big of a response from an audience, how can you not love the movie?
3. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
I've spoken endlessly about my love for this film, so I'll try to keep it short. Everything I've said about it still holds true today; Edgar Wright made a movie that is unlike anything I've ever seen before. The visual style is simply brilliant, giving a heightened reality that's part video game, part comic book and all pure awesome. The cast is perfect, with every one of the many characters adding something to the movie. Most importantly, the film actually has a good story and makes some very thoughtful points about how the baggage we bring with us to a new relationship can affect things in a very drastic way. The movie takes the personal problems young adults face and blows them up into a burst of imagination. For this reason and many others, my love for this film knows no bounds.
2. Black Swan
It's not very often that I have a strong visceral reaction to a film. Yet, during almost the entirety of Black Swan, I had knots in my stomach and my fists clenched tight. There is such a palpable sense of tension and dread present throughout the film that it's nearly impossible not to get lost in it. However, the ballet setting also gives the film a strong sense of beauty as well. As much as I love Natalie Portman, she's at her absolute best here, completely committing to the performance of Nina Sayers, a girl who wants to be perfect. There is such a strong sense of physicality to the film, and Portman displays it wonderfully, both emotionally and physically. The film constantly has you questioning what is really happening and what will transpire next, which is enough to keep you invested, but the thing that really kept me wrapped up was the journey that Nina was going through. That journey is simultaneously beautiful and horrifying, and becomes an undeniably moving experience while watching it.
1. The Social Network
Everybody laughed it off at first. The idea of a movie about Facebook seemed like a joke. Then it was revealed that Aaron Sorkin was writing the screenplay and David Fincher was directing and suddenly, the movie became a lot more intriguing. What would a movie about Facebook made by one of the best directors and screenwriters working today look like? It turns out, it's an expert piece of filmmaking that is very, very important. I can't stress enough what an important film The Social Network is. It uses the very interesting story about the invention of Facebook as a gateway to show how one person completely changed not only the way we communicate with each other, but the way we make friends. Jesse Eisenberg gives an extremely impressive performance as Mark Zuckerberg. He plays him as a very smart, ruthless young man but still with a strong underlying sense of sadness and humanity. Zuckerberg creates Facebook in a spur of the drunken moment after he is dumped by his girlfriend. What starts out as a therapeutic act of revenge ends up spreading throughout the school, then further and further beyond that into the site we all have become very familiar with. With Zuckerberg, we witness how the rise of the internet and social profiling has led to our obsession with status; We are at the point where we can shape our identity online to let others see us the way we really wish we could be seen. Zuckerberg does some truly petty things throughout the movie, all in the name of status and perception. The film also has some very insightful things to say about how almost nothing can remain private in our world anymore; how our constant need to share everything keeps us from connecting with people on a real level, and can even end up alienating those who we actually could connect with. This is best personified by Andrew Garfield's terrific performance as Eduardo Saverin, who is truly the heart of the movie. Eduardo's story is extremely moving and Garfield proves that he has a long career ahead of him with the gravitas he gives the character. The cast really brings Sorkin's trademark rapid-fire dialogue to life, making every conversation in the film feel both exciting and crucial. Meanwhile, David Fincher continues his consistently great work as a director by holding everything together with a dark & moody yet very sophisticated and intriguing style. Facebook changed the way people communicate; The Social Network questions whether or not this is for the better or worse while presenting a near perfect film with a story of friendship, betrayal and social change.
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And that's it for my Best of 2010! If you actually took the time to read all of my lists, I very much appreciate it and hope you take the time to seek out what I've talked about here. I could talk about movies endlessly, so it's really nice to be able to share the movies that spoke to me in some way or another on here. 2011 is looking to be a great year for film. Whether it's here or somewhere else, I'm going to make sure to find some way to talk about them and share it with everybody.
