Biutiful, Catfish, How to Train Your Dragon, Inside Job, The King’s Speech, No One Knows About Persian Cats, Please Give, Rabbit Hole, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Winter’s Bone
Now onto the top ten:
10. Fair Game
This year, while having many good films, didn’t offer too many surprises. This was one of the few. Many people avoided the display of peering into recent political history, not helped by the master grandstander himself Sean Penn. However, I was completely taken in by this riveting, exciting, and even humorous film. Penn and Naomi Watts give incredible performances, and together with director Doug Liman, they work to create a film that engages the audience in a way that has so much relevance today. This may have been avoided by most audiences, but I hope people will seek it out later and give it a better chance than it ultimately got.
9. Animal Kingdom
An incredibly effective crime drama that is aided by its capable director. I’m quite amazed that this is David Michôd’s first feature film, and the way he builds suspense and tension within such a quiet atmosphere is astounding. His script is also a gem, unfurling this dense world that exists just beyond the public’s gaze. The entire ensemble delivers, with the standout being Jacki Weaver as the matriarch to the criminal tribe, who can deliver the sweet grandmotherly charm just as well as the sinister plotter against even those closest to her. In an incredibly Best Supporting Actress race, she rises as one worth singling out.
8. The Kids Are All Right
I really fell in love with this movie when it first came out, and while subsequent viewings have diminished my affection a bit, I still don’t deny that it’s still an excellent film. It still boasts probably the year’s best ensemble, with absolutely stellar performances from the likes of Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Lisa Cholodenko directs this film with a steady hand, and the script by her and co-writer Stuart Blumberg captures every genuine emotion that comes with not only modern families but in all families living today. It’s not a perfect film, but it feels endearing in its message and a joy to watch.
7. True Grit You’d be hard pressed to find a recent Coen Brothers film that doesn’t have something to like about it. They are in true form once again here, with their adaptation/remake of the classic story. Their touch as master craftsmen is felt throughout the entire film, and they continue to indulge in creating an engaging piece of suspense and tension while also giving way to that off-beat sense of humor that has permeated through all of their films. The actors also bring a lot to the table here, with Jeff Bridges carrying quite the charm and hard-edged gruff to portray Marshall Cogburn and Matt Damon as the deviously charismatic Texas Ranger. However, it is Hailee Steinfeld who steals the show here, always willing to carry her own weight with the big boys as well as most of the emotional weight for the entire film. Definitely one of the most entertaining movies of the year.
6. 127 Hours Thank goodness Danny Boyle was the man who was given the task to direct this story. It seems that only a man whose entire career has been about characters constantly on the run could be the one made about a man who stays in one spot for the majority of the story. Boyle’s presence here has received charges of overcompensation, but I feel it a necessary task in order to not only keep the viewer’s interest maintained in the story, but also give an accurate representation of what Ralston is going through. James Franco topped off an incredible year he had with an incredible performance. It’s really up to him whether or not the film lives or dies, and his remarkable dedication never once feel disingenuous in its emotions. He’s utterly fantastic in an utterly fantastic film.
5. Inception I’ll admit the film’s got issues, but returning to the film again and again, I still get caught up in the awesome spectacle. Christopher Nolan has now permanently cemented himself as one of the true visionary artists working today. His touch is all over this film, and he creates an exciting and wholly entertaining ride. His script might be a bit exposition heavy, but I still found it to unveil a plot that was still quite engaging to experience. The whole ensemble delivers well here, with all of them working well against one another. It’s hard to pick standouts, but Tom Hardy always manages to bring a smile to my face. It’s a film that has a good amount of ambition, and for me it paid off very well.
4. Toy Story 3 The folks at Pixar are some of the smartest people working today, and the reason is because they take so much time to hone their storytelling, and get it to the point where it feels just right. This is no different, and with even a decade-plus hiatus from these characters, there is still an emotional resonance that is struck. The movie finds plenty of humor, along with its incredible serious emotions. The film manages to find a sweet conclusion to this endearing series, and everyone involved managed to deliver an emotional ride that felt genuine in every moment, something that is rare and should certainly be appreciated.
3. Blue Valentine If this movie is doing its job right, then it will make you squirm while watching it. However, you will get down on your knees and thank that the film for it. Derek Cianfrance, experienced in documentary films, captures such a quiet and intimate tone to the piece, making every scene feel so real and powerful. The two leads also deliver outstanding and incredible performances. Gosling disappears into his chameleonic habits and creates a man whose boyish charms wow us in the beginning and self-destructing habits destroys us in the end. Michelle Williams, pulling off the more subdued and trickier role, is absolutely devastating and she provides a compelling portrait of a woman trying to stay afloat in a world that is constantly trying to drown her. When you watch the two of them falling in love to an acoustic Elvis song and then see their relationship disintegrate before our eyes, you feel the right emotion for each, and the film earns it in every scene.
2. Exit Through the Gift Shop Whether the film is all truth or fabrication, I couldn’t care less. No matter what degree of veracity, there still remains such in engaging and entertaining story. The setup feels too perfect to believe, but you end up going with it anyway. The hapless protagonist is such a loveable mess, and is quite the interesting avatar into a world that is hidden beneath the surface to most people. By the end of it, we are treated to an interesting satirical commentary on the world of art, how art is perceived in the popular culture and what ultimately defines the “good” art from the bad. I had never heard of Banksy until this film. Now I’m completely fascinated. Quite a nice bit of self-promotion while also creating a great movie.
1. The Social Network I apologize for joining the resounding chorus of critics groups right now, but even before the unstoppable avalanche of accolades, I had come to pick this film as the best of the year. This is a movie that stays with you long after you see it, and David Fincher’s meticulous and controlled direction pulls you in from the get go. His talents also work well with Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay, probably the best written script this year, and the zippy lines freely fly by while also maintaining their strict discipline and heavy tones. The performances are also outstanding from Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake and Armie Hammer. This is really an ensemble film, and everyone delivers. All the parts work together, and the finished product is the best film of the year.
There it is. In the next day or two, I’ll have my own personal awards, recognizing a lot of the categories the Oscars do. So be on the lookout for that.
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