2014 was simultaneously a strong year and a sparse year for good films. Some good quality flicks came out, but in between many of them there was quite the drought. It may sound weird, but I could have easily made a nice comprehensive Top 20 list for the year, but kinda struggled with creating a really strong Top 10 (that said, this lists top 5 films might be the strongest of any of the years I've done.) 10. TIE: BIG EYES & BIRDMAN. I couldn't choose between these two films that both examine the lives of different kinds of artists. In Big Eyes, we focus on the woman behind some truly kitschy paintings... and in Birdman we are taken into the life of a washed up actor responsible for portraying a character in crowd-pleasing action movies, who now is trying to rejuvenate his career on broadway. A lot of interesting questions and commentaries posed in both. Also, both movies feature awesome performances from their respective casts. Birdman is definitely showier, with a larger cast being required to do more heavy lifting... but really I just enjoyed both. 9. THE LEGO MOVIE This is one of the movies that absolutely surprised me most in 2014 (the other is listed immediately below.) Sometimes low expectations can be a really good thing! I thought this movie looked absolutely awful before it came out, and I was delighted to find the opposite: everything was awesome. The Lego Movie was a perfect ride for both kids and adults.. and was quite simply one of the most fun movies I saw last year. From the catchy song to using all our favorite characters in one place, and its clever real world nods.. I really had to lay my bias down and appreciate this movie. 8. EDGE OF TOMORROW This movie was the other biggest surprise of 2014. When I saw the trailers for this movie I didn't think it could look more generic. I was blown away in the preview screening when I found out how funny it actually was... and smart. This is the type of popcorn movie that Hollywood needs more of. Original and fun. Plus it's so fun to see Tom Cruise play against his type (at the beginning of the movie anyway) and Emily Blunt was beyond fabulous. 7. TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT The premise of this film isn't much; one woman loses her job in order for her co-workers to receive a bonus with her old salary. She has a weekend to convince them to give up those bonuses so that she can keep her job. There's not much to it, but Marion Cotillard's quiet performance makes the movie. We see her reluctantly have to beg her coworkers for her job back, and in so doing gets to see pretty much all sides of human nature. There's a simplicity to this film, but it constantly kept me engaged. 6. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES It seems like this year on everyone's Top Ten lists all blockbuster movies save one called Guardians of the Galaxy, were banned from inclusion. For some reason, it seems like not a lot of people really appreciated THIS awesome sequel, which in my opinion was undoubtedly the best that the summer movie blockbuster lineup had to offer. Yes, the human characters are underdeveloped, but it's really not their story. The conflict with Caesar and Koba had me hooked. I absolutely can't wait to see where this franchise goes next. 5. BOYHOOD The film topping everyone's best lists (and perhaps the Academy's as well,) came in right in the middle of my list. The beginning of Boyhood absolutely grabbed me. It was like shades of my childhood (set about 10 years later anyway...) were captured on screen. As Linklater does in his Before trilogy he allows us to be the witness to some defining moments in characters lives who seem as real as we do. Also like the Before films, the conversations we witness are at the same time fascinating, and true to life. My only qualm is that I didn't quite relate to the middle portion of the film (I guess me and Mason had very different Junior High School experiences...) But the movie came back around in his High School years leading up to college. I'll be happy if this wins the Oscar though because I can't help but admire the ambition and dedication to the making of this film. 4. NIGHTCRAWLER As someone who worked in the world of TV news, and who also considers herself an artist...I found this film fascinating. Jake Gyllenhaal gives perhaps a career-best performance as a man who is more than a little bit off. His Lou Bloom is a man obsessed with pushing the boundaries in what's ethical in the name of art, and in the name of the news. There were some moments that were a little montagey to me... but the entire second half of the film is absolute money. I was mesmerized at the lengths Lou Bloom went for a bit of b-roll. 3. GONE GIRL I absolutely loved Gone Girl from start to finish. I thought I had this movie pegged but halfway through I realized that though I was correct in my predictions.. I had no idea what would happen next. I still had half a movie left of surprises in store for me, and those surprises were simply insane! Rosamund Pike gives off an incredible performance here, and Ben Affleck ain't too bad either. Though it is a thriller, it has a side of dark comedy to it as well. The commentary here on marriage is kind of hilarious and terrifying at the same time. 2. WHIPLASH Who would have thunk that the most wildly intense movie of 2014 would have been about a drum student and his emotionally abusive teacher? This movie completely held me captive and I loved it. JK Simmons is unforgettable here and will hopefully be rewarded in the following weeks with Oscar gold for his performance. Also the composition of shots here are marvelous. Props to whoever edited this movie...they did a fabulous job. This movie all around amazed me. 1. INTERSTELLAR Sorry haters. Interstellar remains both my favorite film of 2014 and favorite film experience as well. Seeing that movie the night we did with the crowd we did (all film lovers we could tell..) was just magical. The trailers left me thankfully vague on what I could expect from this movie, but I was delighted every step of the journey. Oh how I love this movie. Let me count the ways. I love the relationship between Cooper and Murph; it is the heart of the film and it touched me throughout. I love how I had no idea what to predict would happen the whole movie long (and I could sense our entire audience felt that same way too We were in THIS together.) I love the poem Michael Caine's character repeatedly recites accompanied with the beautiful haunting musical score. The shot selection with certain moments coupled with that score was so powerful...and editing of certain sequences for that matter. And I loved feeling like I immediately had to see it again to wrap my head around everything. Some may claim it's too boring or that they can't suspend their disbelief... I guess we saw a different film than each other. And I pity that they didn't get to see what I saw. Honorable Mentions: The Fault in Our Stars, God Help the Girl, X-Men Days of Future Past, What If, The Amazing Spider-man 2, Begin Again, Magic in the Moonlight, The One I Love.

2013 actually had a lot of good movies to offer.....just not a lot of great ones. There were so many I liked that were about the same level that I felt I couldn't keep them off the list. I never saw Her, so hey maybe later this will just become an (un)even 15. So take a gander and agree or disagree, but these are the movies that earned my affection last year. We'll start with the bottom up. 12. AMERICAN HUSTLE I finally got around to seeing this, and I liked it a lot....but not entirely for the reasons I was expecting. This movie is far more about the characters and performances than the actual story. The main con itself never drew me in, as much as the emotional cons the characters pulled on each other. Fantastic performances from everyone involved (Amy Adams, in particular, has never been better, and Bradley Cooper nearly rivals his work in his previous collaboration with David O Russell.) But yeah, for me it was all about the character interactions...not the overall story. Besides characters though it's got some great dialogue, a pretty fun soundtrack, and some awesome production design too. 11. BEFORE MIDNIGHT Original review HERE. I really almost didn't put this on here, and then I rewatched it last night (I must stress that THIS time, as opposed to the first, I watched it with language and other things edited out..) and was just blown away. I loved the first two entries so much that I think the first time I saw it, I wasn't sure if it lived up to them. The tone and feel of it is so unlike the others, that it almost didn't feel like a member of the same family (and if it was, it was a little more of an older, more depressed distant relative.) But watching it again, even though it wasn't where I expected the story to go, after all, these years of waiting for a sequel to this story of star-crossed lovers, I must appreciate the beauty of the realism here (THAT HIMYM writers is realism in case you were wondering btw.) As always, the conversations had in these films are absolutely fascinating and I just love all the concepts being discussed....even when it leads into a huge fight. Whenever I watch these I almost want to just jump into the conversation with them and honestly, what more can you ask for in a movie? 10. ENOUGH SAID If you know me and my taste in movies at all, you know I just love a good "relationship examination" movie. Last year that movie was without a doubt Enough Said. Ever since I saw the trailer I thought the concept was great; the idea of trying to find out everything you can about a potential love interest is certainly something anyone can relate with. But how far do you go in order to protect yourself at the expense of giving the other person a fair chance? In our social media saturated age of stalking people and learning EVERYTHING we can, coupled with the overall self-preservation we humans sometimes selfishly possess, I thought the message this movie offers was really poignant. If you enjoy someone's company, why not pursue it? Or more importantly, why not allow yourself to naturally feel it instead of overthinking everything. 9. STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS Original review HERE. Look. I had to put one blockbuster on here, and this one was absolutely my favorite of not only the summer, but the year as well. JJ, you have my heart. I fully trust that Star Wars is in your capable hands. Just don't go crazy with the lens flares. I jest. But back to Trek. This movie just was a ride. It breezed by and I enjoyed every second (well...maybe I could have done without the gratuitous/unnecessary shot of Alice Eve...) The characters are coming into their own and their chemistry with one another is delightful. 8. TIE: MUD, THE KINGS OF SUMMER Original review of Mud HERE. If we can take one thing away from 2013 it's that it was a dang fine year for the "teenage boy summer coming of age" film. I loved both Mud and Kings of Summer equally in their execution, so I chose to have them appear side by side on this list. Mud had more going on than just that, namely Matthew McConaughey's solid performance about an escaped convict who befriends two teenage boys. The humor in both films was impeccable, but I might say that the friendship between the boys in The Kings of Summer resonated with me by the slightest bit more. 7. STOKER Okay let's get something straight here. This movie is MESSED UP. I feel somewhat embarrassed in my admiration of it in some ways (and honestly would recommend it to very few people..) but my goodness, it was captivating. The cinematography was gorgeousness defined, as my jaw dropped a couple times to be sure. This was like a modern day Hitchcock film, but made by someone who was way more into incest and other inappropriate things. Haha ringing endorsement right? But really, it was such a mystery and watching it all unfold was pretty dang cool. Plus it's the most interesting thing Nicole Kidman has done in some time. 6. SAVING MR. BANKS Original review HERE. It takes a really good movie to trick me into watching Mary Poppins again. Haha just kidding. But I really enjoyed this movie for a myriad of reasons, starting with: it was whimsical, emotional and beautiful. The performances were all great, especially from Emma Thompson who was seriously overlooked by the Academy. And I must admit, I just really enjoy movies about filmmaking. This one in particular...I just completely got it. Plus it's just such a fun story and time period to visit. In such a cynical time for filmmaking, it's nice to find movies that have some heart. 5. BLUE JASMINE This certainly wasn't the easiest film to watch on this list (or actually the hardest...that one is yet to come...) but it was absolutely captivating from start to finish. The story structure is definitely part of the reason for that as little by little, more and more is revealed about the former life of our protagonist Jasmine....but the biggest reason? Cate Blanchett's powerhouse performance which is (from what I've seen of her body of work anyway...) the highlight of her career. Every inch of her face is involved in the performance of a woman who is coming apart at the seams. She was just fascinating to watch. Sally Hawkins turns in an amazing performance as Jasmine's sister as well. This was an amazing year for performances, but this one might just boast some of the strongest. 4. ABOUT TIME I had such high expectations the first time I saw this, and I really wasn't quite sold at all by the time it was finished. And then....it just grew on me more and more over time and I truly understood the beauty of it. It may look like a cute, quirky, and eventually predictable romance (and in fact even starts out that way,) but by the end it grows into this beautiful examination on life and how we ought to be spending our time while living it. I think a great key to this movie's success is the likability of its lead, Domhnall Gleeson who makes the character's journey relatable and one you want to end well. The end in particular is just perfect. 3. PRISONERS Okay THIS was the hardest movie to watch on the list. Yet...I couldn't stop watching and was completely glued to my seat from start to finish. Hugh Jackman just blows you away as a man who begins to rationalize violence more and more in the name of justice. And Paul Dano was born to play a mental creep. Haha! The tension never lets up and the movie never makes you stop guessing. 2. 12 YEARS A SLAVE Original review HERE. This movie was heartbreakingly brutal. The acting all across the board was phenomenal and knowing this was based on a true story makes it all the more powerful. Honestly, all the elements of filmmaking were firing on all cylinders in the production of this movie; every aspect from acting, music, cinematography...you name it is top notch. This certainly isn't the type of movie that I'll be eager to revisit over and over (especially any time soon,) but it's kind of like to slavery what Schindler's List was to the holocaust. Told with poeticism and reverence but not neglecting to show the brutality that happened. And my #1 movie of 2013 was..... drumroll.... 1. THE WAY WAY BACK Original review HERE. One of the first movies I saw last year remained my favorite all year long, and nothing really managed to top it for me. And it's not like it was some amazing new feat of filmmaking. In fact, it was a lot of the familiar; but executed in such a delightful and meaningful way that I just adored it right when I saw it at Sundance. Like I said, teenage boy coming of age summer films were on trend for 2013, and this one was my favorite of them all. The story though not anything new, was welcome in its familiarity because the characters felt so lived in and important. It didn't matter if I'd seen the story before, because I loved and cared for the characters right from the get-go and the writing was absolutely key in that. Right from the opening lines of Steve Carell telling our young protagonist he thought of him as "a 3,"they had my attention and never let it go. BONUS FAVORITE: AUSTENLAND. Original review HERE. Surprise! Another addition, but this time to keep my street cred I will not assign it a number (even though it mayyyy have been my heart's true favorite.) I loved this movie for the following reasons 1) My poor heart was starved for a rom-com 2) I love Jane Austen 3) I have to give it props for honestly keeping me guessing til the end. It's rare to find that in a rom-com. 4) It made me laugh. Even if guiltily so...I laughed a lot. So yeah. I love it. Haters gonna hate. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Captain Phillips, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Conjuring, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Spectacular Now, The Great Gatsby, Frozen, All Is Lost, August Osage County, Inside Llewyn Davis

Another year has come and gone, which means it's time to look back on the best movies of 2012. 10. Lincoln Previous thoughts on the film HERE and HERE. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln features some of the strongest performances of the year. Daniel Day Lewis' performance alone is enough to merit a spot on the list, but the film has a lot more going for it than just that. The story is both compelling and inspiring, however I'm not quite sure it will have much of a rewatch factor (then again, it's not like I've watched Schindler's List ten times and that doesn't exactly diminish its quality...) 9. Zero Dark Thirty I couldn't believe this movie was being made so soon after the events that inspired it. In some ways I still kind of think that's questionable, but I can't deny that I'm glad this movie was made...if only to give praise to the unsung heroes that really made the siege happen. Jessica Chastain does a marvelous job, which is a really good thing because the movie almost rests entirely on her shoulders! I wish the film was a bit more tightly edited, but also can see how the filmmakers wanted to stress every detail to make the viewer understand what a long process it really was to find Bin Laden. 8. 21 Jump Street Any of my honorable mentions could have definitely filled this spot, but you know what? I needed a nice well-rounded list that included a bit of comedy, and 21 Jump Street happened to be my favorite comedy of 2012. This film had me in stitches all throughout the first time I saw it. And who knew Channing Tatum was anything more than a mimbo!? (That's a male bimbo for those who are unfamiliar with Seinfeld.) This is probably the best work he's ever done to be honest! And while we're talking about the cast I have to say I love little Dave Franco in his supporting role. Really though you can tell that everyone is having a ball in this movie! 7. Liberal Arts Original review HERE. Josh Radnor wrote, directed and starred in this Sundance hit about the "in-between" stages of life...and like his other work, it really resonated with me. It's not a perfect film by any means, but I really identified with far too many of the things it had to say. Plus I really appreciated that I wasn't really able to predict everything that was going to happen (to be honest, I was too engaged in the dialogue to focus on what may or may not happen next.) I don't know...I just thought it was an incredibly refreshing film. 6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Original review HERE. Yeah, I know people have their issues with this film... but honestly I've seen it three times now and I've loved it every time. I love the character of Bilbo Baggins (as well as Martin Freeman who plays him), and I found the first part of his story to be highly enjoyable and entertaining. No, it's not a carbon copy of the Lord of the Rings films, nor does it have to be. The two film series rightfully have completely contrasting tones, and I for one am perfectly fine embracing that. Besides, who doesn't love a little time in middle-earth? Especially with an excellent as ever Gollum this time around! 5. Argo Previous thoughts on the film HERE. Ben Affleck does a masterful job of building tension in this incredibly true (well...true yet highly dramatized apparently) story. How this scheme to rescue a group of kidnapped Americans in Iran plays out was both incredibly fun and tense to watch! From the characters conceptualizing the idea to carrying it out, each phase is important and interesting. It also doesn't hurt whenever you throw Alan Arkin into the mix! 4. Silver Linings Playbook Yet another film packed with wonderful performances by a terrific ensemble cast finds its way onto my list. Bradley Cooper, in particular, is absolutely excellent in this story of a bi-polar man trying to get his life back together (even though he pretty much wants to make the same mistakes that got him into the mess he's dealing with in the first place!) There's definitely a lot going on here and honestly it's hard to categorize the film into any one genre, and that's kind of what I love about it. 3. Ruby Sparks Previous posts on the film HERE and HERE. This is the third relationship film to find its way on my list...(yes I must admit I have a weakness for them,) and this one is definitely my favorite. This film has a bit of magic to it that I adore; it's kind of like Stranger Than Fiction meets The Purple Rose of Cairo in the best possible way. When it comes down to it, it's about loving a person for who they are, not for who we want them to be, or think they should be. The script is funny, smart and incredibly poignant all at once. 2. Life of Pi Original review found HERE. Ang Lee's Life of Pi was without a doubt the most visually stunning film to grace the screen in 2012 (maybe though had Gatsby not been delayed there would have been more competition!) And although as spectacular as it was, that cinematography wasn't all that Life of Pi was able to boast. in its favor. I was stunned this film was as riveting as it was! Honestly, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time...and once it was over I thought about it for days. It's definitely a film that stays in your mind, not only visually, but intellectually as well. And now.....my #1 favorite film for 2012 was: 1. The Impossible Original review found HERE. This film was without a doubt the most powerful film of 2012. Nothing even came close to making me feel the emotions I felt while I was sitting in that theater. The performances of everyone involved were honest...beyond remarkable. Somehow these actors made you truly believe that they were a family; that they had this bond. You can just FEEL their love and concern for one another...and that on its own is powerful. This film deserved so much more recognition than it got and it is truly a shame that more people haven't taken the time to see it. Honestly, I can't even say enough how wonderful a film this is. It is one of the most brutal you could possibly watch, but truly rewarding and wonderful all at the same time. Honorable Mentions: The Dark Knight Rises, Les Miserables, The Amazing Spider-man, Looper, Bernie.

This was a really tough list to make and as I look at everything the conclusion I've come to was that there were a lot of GOOD movies that came out last year...but there weren't a ton of GREAT ones. But I will say that these ten movies, (and I'm actually going to cheat and include a couple ties which brings it to 12.. ) I enjoyed above the rest and thought were worth my time. 10. TIE Midnight in Paris This movie contains beautiful scenery and a wonderful message. It takes place in one of my favorite cities in the entire world and it has a delightful plot. I feel like everyone is having a fabulous time in their parts...but for some reason as much as I admire this movie I still can't say I'm sure that I love it. It is very simplistic when it comes down to it and I don't know if I just can't get over my expectations that I wanted it to be a little more...I wanted it to blow me away. But still as it is, it is a very enjoyable and visually beautiful film and it has a lot of great things to say. 10. TIE Take Shelter This film about a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown (or perhaps in the midst of one..), as he becomes preoccupied with building a storm shelter in his backyard, was absolutely fascinating all throughout. The performances were all spectacular here and the director did a great job of creating a constant doubt that the audience is never sure of what's really going on...what is reality and what isn't. I really enjoyed this...I just wish I knew a little more what to make of the ending. Then again sometimes ambiguous endings are half the fun of more serious films...where the audience gets more of a say of what they think happened... 9. Like Crazy Original review HERE. Another film I wanted to love but only ended up liking. This movie's setup was either completely lacking or completely spoiled by the trailer or both. Make me CARE about your characters and show me why they need to be together. Wait a minute why is it on the list then? Gosh, this list is starting to sound realllll negative. Okay, okay, let's get positive then. Well flawed as it is, I still do appreciate it's a more realistic approach to romance and the ending almost completely made up for all of its faults. The imagery was gorgeous and I think it had a lot of worthwhile things to say. So while it wasn't up to the standard of (500) Days of Summer, I would say it is still far above many Hollywood romances being put out today. 8. The Muppets Original review HERE (well the first paragraph anyway..) Okay, I know that half of my family loved this and the other half wasn't all that impressed haha. But I really enjoyed this movie. Maybe it was seeing it with my nephew and really seeing his excitement to it, but I honestly was laughing and enjoying myself all throughout. I will admit that I can see that it already doesn't have the best re-watch factor as my second experience viewing it I definitely noticed the length a bit more. I've always thought the muppets were fun characters so for me I really thought their latest adventure was just some silly fun. 7. Moneyball Original review HERE Let's get some things straight. I don't love baseball....and I HATE math. But somehow I found Moneyball to be fascinating... which is saying a lot. Maybe it's because Aaron Sorkin who helped write the Moneyball script also wrote The Social Network. The pacing of both films is incredibly similar and I was captivated by both. In addition to the script, it is Brad Pitt's surprisingly strong performance and his bro-chemistry with Jonah Hill that really makes the movie. 6. Super 8 Original review HERE Okay, it's kinda true that this movie doesn't really have an original thing going for it. But what I love is that it takes so many elements from other great films and still somehow makes it its own. The movie to me feels like a love letter to filmmaking as well as the art of popcorn flicks. I love the kids' passion and enthusiasm for their film and seeing it in the credits is probably the best part of the whole movie. The marketing really helped me to have no expectations and since I didn't know what to expect I just had a blast. 5. Bridesmaids Original review HERE Like Super 8, this movie isn't really giving us anything we haven't seen before. But the WAY it's given somehow feels fresh and new. Kristen Wiig is a very talented comedic actress and she really makes the movie work. She really deserves the credit because the movie wouldn't work without her (and of course it is also worthy to note that Melissa McCarthy does give a pretty hilarious performance here too.) This movie is just incredibly funny and maybe I just love it a little bit more because I feel like sometimes lately Wiig's character's terrible life is my life too. 4. TIE The Artist Original review HERE. I put this film with its tie because they just have so much in common. 2011 seemed to be the year of paying tribute to the cinema. And trust me I loved that. So much detail was put into this movie with EVERYTHING (but especially the period..) and it shows. It looks impeccable and it's really hard not to find the movie pretty likable. I wouldn't say it blew me away, but it really made me think of film as an art form and made me appreciate how far it has come. 4. TIE Hugo Original review HERE. Yep. The other love letter to the movies. I honestly can't really decide which one I like better. The cinematography and imagery in this film are just spectacular. ESPECIALLY when viewing the film in 3D. I absolutely LOVED this movie when it became all about the cinema...the problem was the pacing before that that took so long to get us to that point. But for that second half I truly love it. 3. The Descendants I loved this movie. It just worked for me. I found it heartbreaking and fascinating. I thought George Clooney's performance was real and honest. This movie had a lot of duality and showed the complexity that can arise from situations in life. The characters and situations seemed so real to me because we saw the full scope of them and how flawed the things and people really were. I honestly just thought this was a great portrait of a family's struggle. 2. Melancholia Okay this movie is kinda ape shiz bizarre. But in a way that I CAN get behind unlike how I struggled with The Tree of Life. There's creativity in art and then sometimes I feel like there's art just for art's sake....and in a bad way (though I did feel that Tree of Life had its moments..) Melancholia was absolutely fascinating all throughout. I like that after it's weird little opening montage it starts with a sweet innocent scene giving you a first impression of its characters that it then completely turns upside down by the time the film is over. The movie is told in two perspectives and as each go on you really get a glimpse at who these people really are. But in the end, it still is only a glimpse and these mysteries stay with the viewer. I couldn't recommend it to many people, but I honestly thought it was completely fascinating. And.... 1. 50/50 Original review HERE. JGL you've done it again. 3 years in a row you feature in a movie that tops my list (and coincidentally the only years I've posted my top ten on this blog...because I've only had the blog that long ha.) This movie had it all for me. Characters I cared about, humor, drama, strong plot and actual meaning. Definitely one of the movies with the biggest heart on the list and for me, it was far and away above everything I saw last year. Congrats JGL. Perhaps with The Dark Knight Rises you just might pull a fourpeat. HONORABLE MENTIONS: My Week With Marilyn (soooo close. if only the main character had actually LEARNED something this movie would be up there for sure.) Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Source Code, Martha Marcy May Marlene, X-men: First Class, Hanna, Horrible Bosses and Young Adult.

It's that time again! Time to look back at the best films 2010 had to offer...so without further ado let's take a look at which movies were my all time favorites of 2010. 10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 This is the best Harry Potter film in YEARS. The last two installments have just seemed so anti-climactic to me and while I still was a fan of the series, those films didn't make you care like this one did. The film was very action packed and exciting, and it definitely made me anticipate the final installment (whereas with all the others recently it's kind of felt "meh") It was also great to see a change from the usual Harry Potter. This is the first film not set at Hogwarts and the difference is refreshing. You can really feel the urgency in this one in the need to stop Voldemort, whereas the last were like "Oh Voldemort is on the loose, not much we can do..." Plus SPOILER ALERT: Dobby dies. How can you not be happy about that? But...I still hate Ginny. Quote: Look away, I'm hideous! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE 9. Toy Story 3 I wasn't totally looking forward to this one last year. I prefer Pixar to make original films...even though I did really love Toy Story 2. I felt like this was a sequel forced on them by Disney and what story is there to tell at this point? Luckily, I was very surprised to see a very thoughtful end to this trilogy that had been made with a lot of care. It was absolute fun and just plain adorable. The Ken and Barbie love story was hilarious. And as someone who, when I was younger, loved the world of toys, the ending was very touching. Though....SPOILER ALERT. The attic would not have been a bad place to end up. Hello!? They'd just have to wait a few years to play again, and this time with Andy's children. How special would that be? Maybe he can get them back from that girl when she's older...Haha! Quote: And this... well, this is where I live. It's got a disco, it's got a dune buggy, and a whole room just for trying on clothes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNMpa5yBf5o 8. The Town This is a story that on paper, seems like it has been done probably a thousand times. But what's great about the film is that the attention to the characters makes it feel fresh. Scenes that we may have seen before only as common heist tropes, are filled with a new suspense in their execution and again because of our attachment to the characters. I also really liked exploring the central relationship and all of its complications. Very well-made and entertaining film. Not sure I'm sold on the ending though. Quote: These guards like to test you though. They wanna get hurt for ten dollars an hour, don't get in the way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXY_JvOK63c 7. Shutter Island I think this was definitely one of the most underrated films of the year. It was tense and thrilling. The acting was all very solid and it featured an incredible ending. Definitely worth multiple views. Great film. The less said about it though, the better. It's one not to be spoiled. Quote: Why are you all wet, baby? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iaYLCiq5RM 6. 127 Hours James Franco carries this film with an unforgettable performance and he definitely earned the oscar nod he got. I loved the editing of the film and the cinematography was also fantastic. This true story of one man's survival against all the odds was incredibly powerful and inspirational...probably the most positive emotional film of the year I'd say. But some of the most crucial scenes are the hardest to watch! Quote: You know, I've been thinking. Everything is... just comes together. It's me. I chose this. I chose all this. This rock... this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlhLOWTnVoQ 5. Black Swan This was probably one of the darkest movies I've seen, but it is SO fascinating! And Natalie Portman gives a mind blowing performance. I just love movies that grab hold of your attention and then after it's done still make you think about it. Black Swan definitely did that. I seriously found myself thinking about it for days afterward. What is so amazing about the movie is that it constantly has you guessing what's real and what's not so that in the end we feel like we've gone almost as crazy as the main character! (Almost) I think it deserves multiple viewings, but I have yet to see it again. Quote: I just want to be perfect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs 4. Blue Valentine When I first heard about this movie it recalled to me similar plot and structure to (500) Days of Summer so I was really excited about that. But, while they shared some similarities they were two very different films. What I loved most about this movie is what it shared with the former film. But though both were heartbreaking, I'd say that Blue Valentine would have been a broken heart that was then subsequently stomped on. There's not the whimsy and wonder of (500) Days, things feel too broken. But I love films that give honest examinations of relationships and show us two flawed characters who both share the blame, but neither are totally at fault. I like seeing relationships that feel real, both in how they were created and how they eventually crumble. It's also important to note that this isn't a film that really lays everything out, there's a lot that's under the surface that you've got to dig for. But it's so heartbreaking to see this relationship develop and you want to root for it, but you can see how ultimately it won't work. Loved the ending too. Very raw and real. Quote: - In my experience, the prettier a girl is, the more nuts she is, which makes you insane. - I like how you can compliment and insult somebody at the same time, in equal measure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oiY7W7nDeE 3. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Well since I just wrote a blog a few weeks ago over my love of this film, it's probably not necessary for me to go on and on. But, it's hilarious, non-stop fun with great music and hilarious one-liners. Crazy fights and witty humor, what could be better? Plus, as I said, the editing is fantastic. Quote: Because you'll be dust by Monday, because you'll be pulverized in two seconds; and the cleaning lady, she cleans up dust. She dusts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_RrNCqCIPE 2. The Social Network This is a surprisingly, gripping film. From the first scene til the last I was captivated by Jesse Eisenberg's (though perhaps factually inaccurate) portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg. There's just so much going on here. Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake also give pretty impressive performances in a movie that really does define the age we live in. My mom mentioned how frenetic the pacing of the film is, almost recalling the website facebook itself. It's a powerful film and was definitely one of the best the year had to offer. Even if it wasn't the most truthful as depicting what really happened, it was certainly good storytelling. Quote: You know, you really don't need a forensics team to get to the bottom of this. If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4 And the #1 Favorite Film of 2010 1. Inception When I first saw this I was just blown away. It is one of the most original big blockbuster films (or any film really) I had seen in years. Every single element of the film is just solid. The cast, the action, the direction, cinematography, score....you name it, it was done right. For more praise of the film just go back to the blog that I wrote when it came out because my feelings haven't changed. I know it wasn't the type of film to win best picture, because the academy just doesn't work that way, but it truly is one of the best films to have come around in a long time and every time I watch it I gain even more appreciation for it. It's wonderful. Quote: I'll tell you a riddle. You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter. How can it not matter to you where that train will take you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM Honorable Mentions: Tangled, The King's Speech, Youth in Revolt, True Grit, The Figther, Rabbit Hole

For the past two years, Sundance has included a special selection of films specifically chosen for children.. and the young at heart. This year, Sundance Kids included three films: The Games Maker, Operation Arctic, and Shaun the Sheep. I wish I could report on all three, but fate in the form of a contest did not step in to help me see The Games Maker... only the other two. So below are a couple of mini-reviews for the two films I did see. We'll start with Operation Arctic. Watching this movie is kind of like watching a version of Jurassic Park without any adults to reign the stupid kids in. But instead, you swap the dinosaurs for a polar bear and a tropical island for the North Pole. But to be more precise, the film follows three siblings who stow away on a helicopter headed for an island of the North Pole and accidentally are left there (since no one ever realized the stowaways..) I did enjoy the movie, but good grief these kids made some frustratingly poor decisions (think Lex shining a flashlight in a dino's face stupid.) If kids in peril scenes make you lose your mind in tension, this might not be for you. When they put themselves in danger by their stupid actions it's even more frustrating. But still, somehow, I managed to find this movie really enjoyable. This film rests on the shoulders of three kids, and they manage to pull it off effortlessly. But really my favorite part of the film was the breathtaking cinematography. They photographed things so beautifully...it was a lovely film to watch unfold before your eyes. Also, I'll add that a movie has really accomplished a feat when it makes me care about and root for a dog's safety because usually, I'm rather heartless toward canines. EMILY RATING: 7/10 From the same people who brought you Wallis & Gromit and Chicken Run comes the feature-length film for Shaun the Sheep. A few fart jokes and plumbers bums aside, I found the movie to be really intelligent, clever, and witty (can humor be witty without words?) Definitely the type of film that a kid would love, but a parent wouldn't mind watching either. For a movie with mumbling and grumbling in place of dialogue, the film needs to be sharp and entertaining enough to keep the viewer's attention, and thankfully the story is up to the task. In fact, the end resulting film is actually incredibly fun. Pretty well, every character gets a moment to shine from Shaun and his sheep entourage, the farmer and the bad guy: the animal control employee, and everyone in between. As someone who never really likes movies from these creators or typically even gives them the chance to them, I have to say I enjoyed this movie. In the end, Shaun the Sheep is a solid, fun kids' movie. EMILY RATING: 8/10

Sundance is winding down, but I've still got a few reviews left in me. Wednesday night I was fortunate to have tickets to the delightful Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig collaboration Mistress America. This movie might be criticized for being a too precious indie film at first glance (akin to its predecessor Frances Ha which I also did, in fact, like,) but I actually found the film to be extremely true to life in the characters and ideas they presented. Maybe that's because one of my best friends reminded me of her with her constant crazy schemes for restaurant ideas (most specifically "I'll have what she's having") It's a tough call between this film and Dying Girl for my favorite film I've gotten to see at the festival, I seem to flip flop every day! Both resonate and are incredibly funny, but Mistress is kinda breezy while Dying Girl is more weighty. So really it depends on your mood. The plot follows a lonely girl named Tracy in her first semester of college. An aspiring writer, she finds it hard to find friends... other than a guy she bonds with through writing short stories who quickly friendzones her. Her mother urges her to seek out a friendship with her soon-to-be step-sister named Brooke to fill the void. Once meeting the vivacious daughter of her mother's fiancee, Tracy finally has a muse to base her short stories on. It's really as simple as that on paper, but a lot more to it because of the characters. What I love most about Mistress America is that these characters seem lived-in. Just the smallest touches from Tracy's disheveled hair to the broken iPhone screen.. these feel like real people we all know. That realness and relatability aren't the only things it has going for it though. It also has in its favor that it's incredibly funny, witty, and quotable. I'm paraphrasing here, but a line like "I can't wait to fast forward to the part of my life where everyone realizes I'm a genius." had me in stitches. Unlike previous Gerwig movies, she comes across as more human here and less with the pontificating voice. In fact, there's hardly time for such slow pondering as many of the scenes at the end are spoken so fast it's hard to keep up with them (but fun to try!) My only REAL complaint is that I guess it had more cat stealing like was promised in the Sundance official description. Sad day. RATING: 8.5/10

It's no secret to long-time readers of my site that I'm a big fan of the horror genre (if done well that is.) I wasn't completely sure what I was getting myself into when I decided on the spur of the moment to get a ticket to this movie. Since it was premiering in the drama category as opposed to the special horror section, the water was muddied in trying to classify what The Witch was. Would this end up being a historical horror film like I secretly hoped? Or was it merely a psychological period piece drama? On the one hand, a name like The Witch had to promise a scare right? The promo photos and the setting of puritanical New England had me very encouraged. But other than that there wasn't much for me to go off of. So what exactly was it? Well, your mileage may vary, but personally, I consider anything with [SPOILER] possessions, infant sacrifices or communications with Satan [/END SPOILER] to be firmly rooted in the horror genre. So let's get one thing straight. This movie is MESSED. There were more "what the? why... howwww.. um... OH THE HUMANITY" moments than I can count (and sadly I was by myself so I couldn't share such wonderful moments with the ones I love...instead I settled for a really funny old couple next to me.) This movie was... well evil. In that horror genre way where I kind of love it but it freaks me out at the same time. It gave me everything I hoped for in utilizing its setting (after all I'm always lamenting that there aren't more Salem witch trial-focused movies..) and yet managed to completely surprise me in how far it was willing to take its themes. That's not to say all of the risks worked. Two instances, in particular, that were meant to be huge gasp moments I found to be kind of humorously amusing. One involves a bird and the other involves a random shapeshift. The first one especially is never fully explained either.. but I guess we can come up with our own conclusions. To me, neither moment builds up to as much as was hoped... but there are plenty of other scenes to make up for that. And what makes the really effective scenes work is no doubt the suffocatingly freaky music. Even in the beginning when the action hasn't happened yet that score is ever-present and just makes you feel unsettled. That feeling basically never lets up. There are no big name stars in The Witch, but the story draws you in so much that you easily forget about that. It doesn't hurt that everyone gives pretty good performances too. Also, I'm not sure if this is to the film's strength of detriment...but it features two of the most annoying children characters I can even recall. Tonally this is a very moody film from the cinematography, performances, the general look, and that spooky score. Whether or not you find this movie to actually be scary depends on your horror genre tastes. There's not exactly torture porn in this film or anything... but it has its own messed up stuff. One thing is for sure: this film is gonna be a must for Halloween viewing. RATING: 9/10

This is the first of two reviews of films I saw at the Sundance Festival Tuesday (look for my review on The Witch sometime tomorrow hopefully.) Brooklyn follows the story of an Irish immigrant named Eilis who leaves her family and her country in the 1950s in hopes of making a living for herself. From the promo pictures released of this film you'd be led to believe that Domhnall Gleeson (the lovable lad from About Time, Frank, and The Force Awakens) and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hanna and that awful Host movie) share equal screen time and it's "their story." This set of expectations was thrown for a loop when it turned out to really and purely be Saoirse's movie and [SPOILER] Domhnall doesn't even really appear until the last 40 minutes or so... he is actually relegated to being the disposable love interest. sniff. [/END SPOILERS] Saoirse is a lovely actress and gives the role her all. However... I just always found myself liking every side character more than her. As much as Ronan does most of the heavy lifting, she has quite the supporting cast to fall back on... and they're what makes the movie for me. Besides the cast though, what really drew me to this film was the fact that the screenplay had been written by Nick Hornby (though based on a novel by Colm Toibin.) I consider About A Boy to be a witty marvelous gem of a film... and I'm also fond of An Education as well. Brooklyn is not an About A Boy for me because I just don't love the main character. But it does share quite a lot of similarities to An Education. Like that film, it's a bright and beautiful mid-century period piece that's certainly fun to gawk at. I definitely heard a few collective "Ooohs" over some of the shots of New York. Both lead characters also happen to be young women who make some questionable choices with regard to their love lives that make the more experienced viewer cringe. Unlike some Hornby-written films though, I'm not sure I'm given as much insight into some of the characters' choices. I mean on a surface level I can understand some of the choices she makes, but without verbalizing her inner thoughts a lot of her actions toward the end of the movie feel out of character. This makes parts of the ending feel unearned (though the moments that are earned are very beautiful.) Essentially for me, Brooklyn is a good film that was tempered by my expectations (to be fair...when someone is second-billed you expect them to be the second biggest character.) I suppose though if I had the choice to give any particular character more screen time though it wouldn't be either of her love interests! Instead, I'd pick to have far more of the silly 8-year-old brother of her American suitor. As I said though, the story belongs to Saoirse's character and there's more to it than just a love triangle. I really enjoyed seeing her journey of learning how to survive so far away from her home...and how in fact she could create a new one. Brooklyn is a solid film that if nothing else...is incredibly beautiful to look at. RATING: 8/10

The Sundance film festival is in full swing and I finally have a review to show for it! Last night I went to a screening of Me, and Earl and the Dying Girl. There are some Sundance movies that I love immediately (The Way, Way Back, and Liberal Arts) and others I know I like an awful lot...but I need time to ponder just how much (God Help the Girl...which shortly after reflection I came to love dearly.) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (which from here on out we will refer to simply as Dying Girl) fits into the latter category. I found a lot I absolutely admired, but like the main character of Dying Girl, I guess I have a hard time fully embracing something without the certainty of love? That's not to say I didn't like the film. The fact is, I really really liked it. I just don't know if I can say THE L-word (no not lesbians.) But as with the case of God Help the Girl, I am sure my affection will grow for this film with time and repeat viewings. Dying Girl follows the story of Greg Gaines, a high school boy with a desire to exist peacefully and somewhat invisibly, among the many cliques that surround him. If he can't identify himself as one particular type he can't be really be rejected; he's content to keep people at arm's length. His status quo is thrown a wrench when his mother forces him to befriend a neighbor girl named Rachel who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. The film acts as a chronicle of their friendship while also acquainting us more with Greg's issues. Also along the way, we learn of Greg and his "co-worker" Earl's fondness for filmmaking (akin to the protagonists of Son of Rambow and Be Kind Rewind.) The sequences that showcase their many collaborative efforts were undoubtedly the biggest crowd-pleasing moments of the night. But as much as I love film and appreciate those homages, for me it was the quieter moments that are sticking with me. The first half of the film is absolute fun as our narrator paints the portrait of his life and burgeoning friendship with Rachel... but it wouldn't really work without a main character we like as much as Greg. He's funny but flawed and his self-deprecating humor is endearing to all who see shades of ourselves in him. The other two characters represented in the title have much depth to them as well, with Earl being the less developed since the focus isn't really on him. All three though are given real moments to shine and make their characters become three-dimensional and they all succeed in their portrayals. The first half is kind of frantic, but when it slows down there's a quiet power in two scenes in particular. The framing of the shot shows both characters on screen, neither one looking at each other really... Just showing their reactions to the conversation they're having and the shot just lingers on and on. It happens twice and it was just beautiful. Though it may seem like a standard cancer movie, it is told any way but conventionally. I really liked the visual style... But after too much, it also gave me a headache. The camera is always moving and is almost a character itself. I normally love these kinda shots and it seemed as though it was done to make us all feel like we were in the story...but really the amount of it all just made me dizzy. This headache fog wasn't helped by the fact that the narration set me up with a set of expectations for how much plot there was left to go which made me constantly aware of the run-time. I appreciate its dramatic purpose and no I didn't have a problem with what happens... I just was constantly thinking in my brain about what was left to happen to meet the narration and at times, it overwhelmed me. These two things are what's keeping me from saying the L word just yet. Repeated viewings (and sitting further away to help reduce the headaches from the constant camera movements,) I'm confident will help. RATING: 9/10