To be clear, right up front. This is not a comprehensive list. This list is only representative of the films that I was able to see during the period of 2010.
Not all films became available in my area in time to review (and in many cases, I just didn't have the time to make it out to see them). This is why many critically successful films, which may very well have ended up on the list, are not included.
So, here we go...my ten best list is as follows...
One of the best American adaptations of foreign source material you're likely to see. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves went back to the original novel to re-interpret the story instead of trying to play "telephone" with another artist's interpretation...with fantastic results. One of the rare films that actually can be enjoyed alongside the original adaptation and not compared to it.
Johnny Depp narrates an excellent documentary chronicling the legendary rock band "The Doors" and their enigmatic lead singer Jim Morrison.
You'll be intrigued to learn more of the truth about Morrison and The Doors than Oliver Stone told you in his grossly inaccurate (albeit entertaining) film with Val Kilmer.
Although it's got a twist that isn't hidden very well, the performances and Scorsese's direction more than make up for it. DiCaprio plays his standard guy with a mysterious background character (as usual), but the real treat, here is Mark Ruffalo in a performance that (in my opinion) outshines the one in the highly overrated, "The Kids Are All Right."
Read my review, HERE. You can also read fellow Film Warrior Lina Lamont's review, HERE.
What should have been simply a gamer's film provides crossover appeal and proves that the power of a unique story told uniquely can go a long way. Of course, Michael Cera is his usual neurotic geek character...but who cares. This film has originality (for a graphic novel adaptation) to spare, enough pop culture references to keep avid geeks happy and that ever elusive re-watchability factor. Easily Edgar Wright's best work to date...and (to be clear) I loved "Shaun Of The Dead."
Read my review, HERE.
Screw Ace and his undeserved trashing of the film. He just wishes he had discovered it first. This really is a loving tribute to the memory of the late John Hughes. Well acted by a competent cast, when it could have been a hack job done by D-list, Disney Channel has-beens...this is a very smartly written story that brings forward the classic problem of gossip in a teenager's life (and shows how being ready to always help the less fortunate can get yourself into serious shit).
Read my review of the film, HERE. Read Ace's bullshit, HERE.
The most faithful of all the adaptations. Fantastically made. The kids are almost all grown up now, and they are showing some real chops as capable actors. They handle an excellently adapted screenplay by Steve Kloves (the scribe of not only all the films in the series, but also the phenomenal attraction at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure). This shows that these stories are more than mere child's play. The shit just got real.
Read my review of the film, HERE (and the Universal attraction, HERE).
Give Oscar gold to both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush right now. Hands down, their best performances to date. Firth's King George VI, has been lauded all awards season long...and with very good reason. My dearest hope, though is that academy voters don't get so caught up in the hoopla surrounding Christian Bale's uneven performance in "The Fighter" that they forget about Rush. His performance is the crux of the film...if we don't believe him, none of this works. Performances aside, this is a truly great (and unexpectedly, very humorous) film, bolstered by an excellent screenplay by veteran television writer David Seidler.
Animated toys that make you regret your past...only Pixar could pull off such a feat. You will laugh and cry in equal measures as the fates of Andy's toys play out in front of you. Ever wondered what happened to your toys after you got rid of them, prepare to find out and ask forgiveness.
Excellent screenwriting from Michael Arndt, combined with the voice talents that we've come to know and love...it's a home run that is a rare sequel more than worthy of its predecessors.
Read my review, HERE.
Aaron Sorkin has long been one of my favorite writers and I will always be there on opening day when he has a new project. But, as I mentioned, he's just one piece of the puzzle. Also look for an oscar nomination for Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor for his excellent score.
Mind-Bending / Mind-Blowing, this is truly what I go to the movies for. This was the closest that I've been to geeking out like a child in a very long time. It just gets better the more times you see it. Layers upon layers of story and twists, make the film infinitely re-watchable. It is no wonder that it took Christophen Nolan (reportedly) ten years to complete the screenplay.
Unfortunately, this has no chance in hell at actually winning a Best Picture Oscar...since the Academy typically never recognizes films of the sci-fi genre (even if the film truly defies categorization). You can read my glowing review of the film, HERE.
Every ten best list should be accompanied by its reciprocal worst list. This list shall be no different, and I'm sure there is bound to be fist fights with some of the warriors over this...so I present (with no apologies) my ten worst of 2010.
My very first reviewed film for this blog...Its a wonder I kept writing. Although Travolta's performance is the lone saving grace, rest assured, this film is a qualified mess.
Not entirely sure how or why, but Ace actually gave the film a glowing review in his DVD Klaxxon post. If you want to read my review, you can find that, HERE. For the alternative (albeit wrong) viewpoint, check out Ace's review, HERE.
Mired in cliches, and misses all the crucial points of what a long distance relationship entails by miles.
Yes, I know that our frequent guest FW, Perri Nemiroff enjoyed this...but having been in this exact relationship situation, I can say with absolute certainty that the filmmakers had no clue what the hell they were talking about. Sadly, the trailer captured the essence of the situation better than the running time of the movie did. Folks, that takes talent. You can read my review, HERE.
Did anything actually happen in director Antoine Fuqua's pathetic retread of his own far superior "Training Day"? If it did, I wasn't awake to see it. And didn't Ethan Hawke notice he was making the same movie?!
I'm actually glad that I couldn't make it all the way into downtown Chicago for the screening of this. A winter storm prevented that, and the ability to have a post film Q&A with Wesley Snipes. Had I sat through this and then asked questions, it would have gotten ugly and Snipes would have went to jail for assault in addition to tax evasion.
Again, I repeat, a remake of a film universally recognized as horror royalty should be scary in its atmosphere, story and scripting and not just an exercise in gory effects.
The performances are decent and Hopkins chews scenery but it is all about the gore and effects. In the end, a waste of time, talent, effort and a sadly missed opportunity.
Read my review of the film, HERE. Check out Uncle Billy's take, HERE.
The filp side of the above coin. A 3-D remake of a film universally recognized as a camp classic should be an exercise in gory 3-D effects, not bogging itself down in ridiculous amounts of exposition. However, the last forty minutes of the film are worth at least a rental, as the kills get amped up and increasingly inventive (although the regurgitated penis just won't have the same effect in 2D). It just ends up as too little, too late to salvage the film as a whole.
Read my review, HERE.
Completely unbelievable plot points, terrible scripting, horribly filmed sports action. A romantic comedy as funny as most divorces.
That's about as much as I care to revisit about this film. You can, instead, read my epically super-sized trashing of the film, HERE.
One of the worst re-makes / re-imaginings of all time. Dull and just as scary as the local PTA sponsored haunted house. Jackie Earle Haley is about as menacing as The Simpsons' Ned Flanders. Hopefully, this killed all talk of re-igniting the franchise (at least in this form).
It's bad when all you want to do is curl up and go to sleep during a film where a dude will kill you for doing just that. Read my review of the film HERE.
I watched this one on Ace's recommendation (Read his subsequent sounding of the DVD Klaxxon, HERE). That was mistake number one. Boy, this one is just plain bad. A fifteen minute wonder. Fifteen minutes into the film and I was wondering why I was watching this...So I quit.
Yet another Ace recommendation (to be fair, he recommended that I watch this, but told me he knew I was going to hate it...he was right). I really have to stop listening to that guy.
Another wonder. I had to wonder why something so vile and reprehensible (to paraphrase from Roger Ebert) was so lauded as quality entertainment and not child abuse. Thankfully, Chloe Moretz will survive the assault (See Item #9 on my 10 best list) and maybe learn something from the experience.
Another type of abuse, several actually. Viewer abuse, major action star abuse, TV comedy star abuse, buddy cop formula abuse, humor abuse...all inexplicably at the hands of director Kevin Smith (whom I generally have a tremendous amount of respect for, and will continue to as a writer...since he didn't write this shitfest). Seriously, films just don't get much worse than this.
Want evidence, check out my Soiled Restroom Cinema post on this subject...HERE.
And there you have it. My 10 best and worst of 2010. Remember, this is a very incomplete list. Obviously, Ace doesn't pay very well for doing this (Just kidding, boss...we all know we don't get paid at all), so spare time is still a valuable commodity...and I don't have lots of it these days.
"Lesson Number Three. Always Trust Centauri."
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