It has been quite a year for films. They have either risen straight to the top or sunk like a rock to the bottom. Foreign films made their voices heard with some amazing pieces of work that cannot be ignored. It has been quite a year for animation and some amazing storytelling.
With that said, ladies and gentlemen, I give you my top 10 list for best and worst films of 2010. These are in descending order so that you will be in suspense to the very end. Remember, these aren’t scientific, just the films that won my heart or earned my frown for 2010.
Best Films
10. Social Network: I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the characters and it was constantly on the move — wow, kind of like Facebook itself!
9. Easy A: This is the most enjoyable comedy I’ve seen in a long time. Emma Stone is charming, witty, out there with presence and refreshing. Bonus: I want her parents. Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are so good I can’t stand it. The film itself is intelligent and funny.
8. Inception: What can you say about a movie that confuses the living daylights out of you? That you want to see it again and again. It is like a roller coaster ride without the nasty side effects — you’re hooked! Leonardo DiCaprio seems to have found his niche in choosing roles. How do I know this? See below.
7. Shutter Island: This is just plain good story telling, good cinematography and outstanding acting. This is what I long for all good movies to be. It is on the old-fashioned side, with the effects being small and the story being huge. Paying attention has never been so much fun.
6. Winter’s Bone: It’s a surprise little sleeper out in theaters. This is a daring look at a girl who has the strength to call out injustice and the gumption to make things right in the back hill country. The young actress Jennifer Lawrence shows the adults how it’s done.
5. How to Train Your Dragon: How is it possible that I fell in love with a dragon named Toothless and have all the dang toys? If you don’t know the answer, then you haven’t seen this film. It is delightful, fun and amazingly original. See it whether you have kids or grandkids. If you’re that shy to see a “kid’s” film alone, borrow a kid and go have some fun!
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Here you have a series of films all released within a year. No two-year wait or breaking it into sections that take years off your life. One, two, three and story’s done. Noomi Rapace deserves every bit of attention she gets for portraying the tough as nails heroine Lisbeth Salander in a story filled with twists and turns.
3) 127 Hours: OK, yes, it’s a film about a guy who cuts his arm off. If that’s all you know then you definitely need to see James Franco pull off one of the best performances of his career as mountain rider and radical climber Aaron Ralston — you’ll never take a boulder for granted ever again.
2. The King’s Speech: To be quite honest, these last two were a tough call. In this film Colin Firth has captured a historical piece with his usual charm, grace and humor. Last year’s performance in “A Single Man” got him noticed — his role in this film should nail him the Oscar. There, I said it — give the man his award!
1. Black Swan: Darren Aronofsky scared a lot of people a few years ago with a little film called “The Fountain,” but not in a good way. This time he scares us in the right way with Natalie Portman in the leading role of Nina the ballerina. Mila Kunis jumps on board if you need another amazing performance. This is a thriller the way a thriller should be and if you haven’t seen it, why not?
Worst Films
Oh yes, of course, there has to be the yin with the yang, and the bad with the good. There were a lot this year and these are the ones that made me wish I had a machine to get the time back it took to actually watch them.
10. Monster: All that time sitting in a theater seat hoping and praying that something will happen — something, anything — eat the two lead characters at least! A film that goes nowhere that we haven’t been before. Aliens invading again? I wish they’d just do it already because I can’t take one more film about it.
9. The Back-up Plan: Anyone who believes any part of this film’s premise raise your hand. That’s what I thought — next!
8. Dinner for Schmucks: I felt so bad after watching this film. Really? Dinner? For schmucks? Enough said.
7. When in Rome: There is nothing about this film that could save it from itself. Not even the ever delightfully handsome Josh Duhamel could flash his brilliant smile nor twinkle his eyes to win me over on this one — sorry, dude.
6. The Bounty Hunter: OK, I’m going to say it. I’m tired of Jennifer Aniston running around in high heels and short skirts screeching at men with dull one-liners just so she can get in bed with leading man Gerard Butler. Yeah, I’m jealous — what’s your point?
5. Furry Vengeance: Another painful film to watch. I love Brendan Fraser. I have ever since I first gazed upon him as a caveman in “Encino Man.” Then he became a dashing bad boy in “The Mummy.” But this … this … what is this? Brendan, you cut me man, cut me deep.
4. Paranormal Activity 2: I believe I said this about the first film, but I guess I’m forced to say it again. Really? The two “scariest” parts of the film are in the television commercials and still there is jumping in the seats? When did we become so freakishly wussy-like? I’m disappointed, now excuse me while I go find something really scary to watch.
3. Sex and the City 2: Wow, I guess no one had the cojones to say, “Hey, I don’t think this is such a good idea.” Oh wait — I did, after hearing the premise of the film. It’s wrong, it doesn’t work and it insults the characters that fans have come to love. This is self-righteous indignation talking here, so listen when you get a wild hair and write the script for SATC 3 — talk to me first!
2. Karate Kid: This is not “Karate Kid” … this is “Kung Fu” kid and it’s not believable. Don’t mess with my memories and don’t try and fool me with, “Oh, it’s different.” It’s jumping on the ‘80s remake bandwagon, trying to disguise it with Chinese food. I’ll have sweet and sour chicken please.
1. Somewhere: There is no way I’ll ever get the time back in my life for subjecting myself to this film. An experiment gone horrible wrong? Did someone’s computer crash with the original script in it?
Did everyone just wake up one day and decide to slap together people walking around and whining? Ms. Coppola, call me to schedule an appointment to discuss this further — or not.
And, the Guilty Pleasure Bad Film Award goes to “Piranha 3D” — intentionally horrible and so much so you will have a ripping good time. Pun intended.
That’s it. My 2010 theater time in a nutshell. It will be interesting to see what the Oscars have to say about my choices and if the Razzys will agree with me as well. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year — see you at the movies.
