I don’t think this year was one of cinema’s best, but the ones that were excellent were really amazing films. First off, here are some honorable mentions that are definitely worth picking up on a movie night in no particular order:
BURIED
127 HOURS
THE RUNAWAYS
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
KICK-ASS
But there can only be 10 worthy of being the year’s best. And these, for me, were them.
10. THE FIGHTER – This was Mark Wahlberg’s magnum opus about Irish Micky Ward, but this isn’t as much a movie about boxing as It is about a family and a man’s struggle for individuality within it. And make no mistake about it—Christian Bale carries this film even from a supporting role. He is outstanding and really is beginning to cement his legacy as one of the best actors of all time. Movies like this can be cheesy if even slightly mishandled, but with a well-crafted script, great visual finesse and steady direction by David O. Russell, this is one of those rare ones that makes you want to stand up and cheer.
9. PIRANHA 3D – I know. I know. What am I thinking? Well, what I am thinking is that this was quite simply one of the most humorous, fun-filled bloodbath homages to aquatic camp creature features in some time. This was a popcorn movie for film geeks with subtle nods to classic sci-fi movies, period, not just monster fish flicks (notably, JAWS, BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE ABYSS, and ALIENS). With fun dialogue, endless amounts of boobs, and one of the most balls-out bloody fish feasts ever caught on film, this was a master class for doing horror comedies and keeping the core elements intact.
8. CYRUS – I love this movie. I love John C. Reilly’s character. He just wants to finally be free from the shadows of his ex and move on with his life with a new love. It’s hard to go too much into this movie without giving anything away. In this touching, but slightly warped comedy, Reilly, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Hill (who was extraordinary in this) round out one of the best casted films of the year and tell a story about people who are trying to move on. This was also the funniest movie of the year with its Mojave dry humor and more awkward exchanges than a speed dating session.
7. BLACK SWAN – Darren Aranofsky has made some stunning work over his career dating back to PI, but this was really brilliant because he creates such a dark and haunting story world in something that seems so sweet and elegant (keep in mind I know nothing about ballet). If you take a hefty serving of Polanski and a dash of David Lynch, you get this really introverted glimpse into the cutthroat world of ballet where there is more backstabbing and competition than 1930’s Chicago. Natalie Portman is our guide through her own tormented, delusional universe and it is really an awe-inspiring performance. I’m pleased to see she wasn’t too damaged by working with George Lucas for so many years. Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassell also turned in some really terrific supporting roles, particularly Kunis who seems to have really pushed the limits of her range and proven herself as a venerable Hollywood talent.
6. ENTER THE VOID – This was the best theatrical moviegoing experience I had this past year. This ranked right up there with seeing AVATAR 3D last year. We follow our drug dealing protagonist for the first 25 minutes before he is gunned down by Tokyo police. And, no this isn’t a spoiler; even the trailer tells us this. But that is really when the movie begins. After this, we go on a voyeuristic journey through his past, the present of his friends and family he left behind and get a glimpse into the future destiny that awaits him. This is a visual powerhouse head trip that takes us through the neon towers and glowing streets of nighttime Tokyo in a visceral tale about reincarnation and how a man’s promise to never leave his sister won’t stop even in death. With trippy graphics, an extended Hentai sequence and a sincere gritty portrait of Tokyo’s underbelly, this is a film that stays with its viewers long after they ingest it.
5. THE SOCIAL NETWORK – What is the American Dream? Is it still to stake out a part of the world, get married, and raise a family doing a job honestly with hard work and integrity? Or is it to steal someone’s idea, get bj’s from some hot Asian chicks in club bathrooms, and screw over your only friends to get on top? What really captivated me about this film (other than the brilliant Trent Reznor soundtrack) is that this is a film that realizes what most young people’s ideal vision of The American Dream has evolved into. The messages are clear and have been reinforced that it’s usually not the honest, faith-based and hard working approach to pursue the American Dream, but one corroded with dishonesty and duplicitous agendas that, in the end, result with only one person left standing. And it’s lonely at the top for protagonist Mark Zuckerberg portrayed astonishingly well by Jesse Eisenberg who makes Charles Foster Kane look like Mr. Rogers by comparison!
4. A PROPHET – A tale of a small time hood’s ascension through the ranks of a harsh French prison system. This is an awesome gangster film that really gives the genre a much-needed shot of originality. Wondrously shot, well acted, and packing a story that really makes you want to cheer this guy on, this was directed by Jacques Audiard, the follow-up to another terrific film he made a few years back, THE BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED. Both films are worth seeing immediately if you haven’t yet seen either.
3. THE GHOST WRITER – Roman Polanski’s infamy at the time outshined this amazing film. He has a way of taking somewhat unlikeable protagonists, but really gaining the audience’s investment and leading us through a harrowing journey with Ewan McGregor’s nameless Ghost as our guide. If you like Polanski’s earlier works like CHINATOWN and THE NINTH GATE, this one follows in their tradition of investigative and cocky characters getting mixed up and in over their heads with mysterious individuals who have the power to make problems like them disappear. With a fantastic cast that includes McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, and a spectacular Olivia Williams, this adds yet another remarkable masterpiece to Polanski’s brilliant filmmaking career no matter what you may think of him personally.
2. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO – This was one of the freshest, most original takes on the detective story with two very unlikely protagonists. Lisbeth Salander is truly a hero for our times and Noomi Rapace played her with utter perfection. She was not only the lynchpin of this film, but the entire franchise and it will be interesting to see how Rooney Mara fares playing the character in the U.S. remake. Beautifully shot, supremely acted, and really well paced, this first film was really the crown jewel of the Swedish MILLENIUM TRILOGY. It was just unfortunate that the films got progressively worse (a la THE MATRIX) as the series progressed. But this first installment was truly a beautiful and unique watch.
BEST FILM OF 2010
1. INCEPTION – The Zero G fight. The awesome chases in the snow. The deafening shootouts. This is a unique masterpiece in every sense of the word and, most importantly, a brilliant story. I hate that most action films are such mindless affairs, but this one was not only intelligent, techy, and geeky, this was something even the most die-hard action fan and romance film fan could appreciate. It’s the perfect blend of genres (as was the first MATRIX back in 1999) and a film that both men and women could enjoy together.
And that’s what the movies should be about. That’s why I love them so much. They bring people together. If only they could all do it in such an entertaining and innovative way as INCEPTION (and all of the others listed here) did in 2010…
-M. Muniz
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