1. Inception
Christopher Nolan’s massive mind-bender was a triumph of editing and technology. To show this much imagination in a summer “popcorn” film was nothing short of courageous. Multiple storylines across different timelines? Ambitious. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, the film flies by. I saw it three times in theaters, each time demanding a skeptic go with me, and they all came out converted. This is a movie for fans of intricately built plots, but it’s full of visual beauty as well. Is it completely logical? It is not. Do we care? I say no, the medium of film doesn’t always have to make sense, and Nolan’s ambition outshines any qualms we might have. My favorite film of the year, perfectly crafted, excellently scored, and featuring great performances on the acting front. For 2010, make mine Christopher Nolan. More…
2. 127 Hours
The most visceral movie experience of the year, and no director started out with a larger “how is this going to work?” quotient than Danny Boyle when he picked up his camera to start shooting this. But it’s really, really, good, if you can get through it. A massively hopeful message, and a natural thematic bookend to True Grit, this one really should be seen in the theater if you get the chance. As I said in my review:
“If not for the prodigious gifts Boyle possesses in terms of pacing, comedy, and music infusion, we could have been headed down the path to melodrama. But we don’t ever get there, and the arresting visual fireworks on-screen will bring you as close to crying, “Yeeeeeeeoooooow!” as you’ll get in the theater this year.” More…
3. True Grit
The Coen Brothers, at their best, possess a quiet competence that’s simply unmatched. They pulled beautiful dialogue from the book, brought the best out of young actress Hailee Steinfeld, and gave us another iconic Jeff Bridges performance. Matt Damon and Josh Brolin were thrown in to provide even more dramatic oomph. An occasionally violent film, an occasionally quiet film, but an extremely watchable film throughout. Where does it rank among the Coen’s films? Hard to say, it’s like pondering roses or success. You just find yourself wanting a little more. More…
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4. Another Year
Seeing a realistic relationship portrayed in cinema is a rare sight, but Another Year pulls it off with style and grace. Director Mike Leigh is an expert storyteller, and his deft hand makes a small story feel monumentally important. You’ll adore the subtle interplay between the main couple, portrayed by Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, and their friends who flit in and around their fantastic bond. More…
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5. A Prophet
I wasn’t able to see it until January, so one of last year’s Best Foreign Film nominations has to appear on this year’s list. The best prison film in years, this one builds and builds until the tension is almost unbearable. A Prophet easily strides across three languages and is the closest thing we’re going to get to a Godfather redux in our lifetime. More…
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6. The Fighter
Christian Bale gives the best performance of the year, and all of the characters refuse to conform to storytelling tropes. Plus, bonus, it’s largely representative of the true life story of Micky Ward it is based upon. You could make the case that boxing movies, and true stories in general, are easier to execute than almost any other genre. You’d be right, but it wouldn’t make this film less captivating. More…
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7. Get Low
A compelling take on loss and love, but packed with wry humor throughout. It was great to see Bill Murray continue his strong run, and Robert Duvall was the pitch perfect Tennessee curmudgeon. Get Low also offers excellent pacing and a dandy pay-off, not too shabby for a film that pivots from comedy to drama somewhere near the last third. More…
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8. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
The most fun I had at the movies this year. The perfect film for a society that continues to sidle towards full-on attention deficit disorder. I loved the method employed here because entertainment was always job one. Introspection? Not so much, but who needs deep thoughts when your movie looks this good? More…
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9. Certified Copy (Copie Conformie)
This is as much a movie about our experience with storytelling as it is a purposefully confusing exercise. You think you know where this film is headed, right until you realize you’re completely lost. A really innovative technique, and Juliette Binoche’s performance is exceptional. I’d encourage you not to read a synopsis or summary beforehand, because part of the “trick” behind this one is going in without expectations or prior knowledge. More…
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10. Howl
A very difficult film to watch, but off the charts in terms of visual style. Part animation, part courtroom drama, and part treatise on the divide between creativity and censorship. This was also the film where everyone communally realized that James Franco was an actor with serious range, a realization that would be hammered home once 127 Hours was released. More…
