My Top Ten of 2010
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Honorable Mentions: Tangled, The King's Speech,
Youth in Revolt, True Grit, The Figther, Rabbit Hole
