Best Films of 2010?

[swerb]

Ebert's are here ...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/12 ... _2010.html

[Rat_Tail]

Inception was easily my favorite.

Arguably one of the best movies ever made.

[Cease]

Re: The Kids Are Alright

Maybe me and Ebert need to hand in our man cards, but I also liked this movie- it was very well acted and presented a dynamic I'd never seen on film before. I am also officially a fan of Annette Bening. Liked her a lot in American Beauty, and she's good in this flick.

[mitch]

I have probably five more movies I have to watch before I make my "official" list. "The Fighter" and "Black Swan" I'll see Monday and Tuesday; "True Grit" on Wed or Thur, "The Kids Are Alright" arrives from Netflix on Monday, and then "The King's Speech" whenever it makes it down here to Podunkville.

But as it stands this minute, my top 10 are;

1. Inception
2. The Social Network (almost a 1A. I may yet flip the top two).
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
4. Toy Story 3
5. Winter's Bone
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
7. The Town
8. The Ghostwriter
9. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
10. The Girl Who Played with Fire

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Winter's Bone was really really good. One of the bleaker movies i've seen.

[peeker643]

I haven't seen a single film on Mitch's list.

Good God I need to find some time somewhere.

[jerryroche]

I've seen 70 movies this year. Love rich characterizations and great dialogue. Here are my favorites so far: (1) The Town; (2) The Ghost Writer; (3) Toy Story 3; (4) Restrepo; (5) The Fighter; (6) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; (7) Fair Game; (8) Shutter Island.

Didn't understand "Inception" on first viewing and refused to go back for a second -- too high-concept and high-tech for my taste, plus Ellen Page (one of the main characters) seemed to be badly miscast, and it wasn't one of DiCaprio's best efforts.

Haven't seen "Black Swan," "True Grit" or "Winter's Bone" yet, but I have a funny feeling all three will make my list.

[swerb]

Only legit 2010 films I've seen are ...

Toy Story 3 (good for an animated movie)
Shutter Island (I liked it more than most did)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (very good)
Brooklyn's Finest (worth seeing)
Alice in Wonderland (eh)
The Secret in their Eyes (watched the 1st 90 min, hoping to finish tonight - so far, outstanding)

Also gonna try and watch The Town tonight. Getting Inception on Blu Ray for Xmas .. can't wait to see that.

Top of my Netflix Q are ...

The Winters Bone
The Kids Are Alright
The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Ghost Writer
Restrepo

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

I have probably five more movies I have to watch before I make my "official" list. "The Fighter" and "Black Swan" I'll see Monday and Tuesday; "True Grit" on Wed or Thur, "The Kids Are Alright" arrives from Netflix on Monday, and then "The King's Speech" whenever it makes it down here to Podunkville.

But as it stands this minute, my top 10 are;

1. Inception
2. The Social Network (almost a 1A. I may yet flip the top two).
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
4. Toy Story 3
5. Winter's Bone
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
7. The Town
8. The Ghostwriter
9. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
10. The Girl Who Played with Fire

Inception was pretty good. But if there were still just five nominations for the Oscars, it wouldn't get picked. Toy Story 3 was great. The Girl Who Played With Fire was a borefest filled with bad actors acting badly. If I hadn't read the book just before watching the movie I wouldn't have had a clue what was going on and why people were doing the things they were doing.

[leadpipe]

Are there going to be more than 3 films in 2011 that aren't either a re-make, a cartoon or in 3D?

[mitch]

Are there going to be more than 3 films in 2011 that aren't either a re-make, a cartoon or in 3D?

At this point, I'm saying "no".

I'll post the 2011 schedule in my January Crystal Ball, but right now, the only semi-original films I'm looking forward to is "Hanna", with Saoirse Ronan (the young girl from "Atonement" as a teenage hit girl. Sort of a "what would have happened had Mathilda been allowed to kill people in 'The Professional'", and "The Adjustment Bureau" with Matt Damon.

Then again, the "good" movies always come out towards the end of the year.

[Dellucci TailGator]

What a miserable year for film.

I disliked 'Inception' with an irrational strength. I really do hate Leo that much. Early on I though the entire movie was a brilliant discussion of quantum physics. Oh, how I was giving the film waaaay too much credit. And, as stated, Page was so miscast.

I loved 'Greenberg' and 'The Ghost Writer' more than most people. 'Toy Story 3' was incredible...for a children's movie. The fact that I have to add that to the end means it should never, ever, not-ever win a Best Picture Oscar.

In my penchant for loving deeply-flawed but fun-concept films, 'Lovers of Hate' was my favorite film.

Yes, it was cheaply made, had dialogue that sometimes reminded me of a bad SNL script (which one isn't these days?) and was trite near the end...but damn if I didn't care about Rudy by the end. And the fact that he's a failed writer only endeared him to me.

Give Brian Poyser a bigger budget and I think he makes one hell of a movie out of this. Chris Doubek was great.

[cozmeesah]

Haven't seen that many films this year, and I don't tend to go see films unless I know there's a 95% chance I'm going to enjoy them. So I didn't hate any that I saw.

So, my list:

1. The Social Network - incredible, very much deserving of all the awards that are piling in

The rest in no particular order:
2. Toy Story 3
3. Inception
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
5. Black Swan
6. Shutter Island
7. Despicable Me
8. How to Train Your Dragon
9. Easy A
10. Red


I've also seen The Kids Are All Right, Tron: Legacy, Alice in Wonderland, Shrek Forever After & Due Date, all of which I enjoyed. But I wouldn't put them on my top 10 favorites above any of the others.

I have yet (and want to) see: The Town, 127 Hours, The Fighter, True Grit, The King's Speech and Unstoppable. Any of those could end up being added to my list of 10.

[jerryroche]

Here's a twist.

I just got out of the 3-D moving picture theater, having shelled out $11 for a matinee showing of "Tron: Legacy 3-D." Thus, I am posting the WORST films I saw in 2010 for your edification and enjoyment, worst first:

1. Tron: Legacy. Why did Disney even make this picture? Terrible acting, terrible dialogue, more plot holes than a 30-foot sieve.
2. Skyline. Ditto Tron. Another "sci-fi classic" that will go down in the annals with "Doomsday."
3. The Last Exorcism. Garbage. "Blair Witch" lite. Terrible ending.
4. Splice. A waste of Adrien Brody's talent, and Sarah Polley didn't exactly pull a Kate Hepburn, either.
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street. Yeah, it was a nightmare, all right. Not even Jackie Earle Haley could save it.
6. The Last Airbender. Totally unappealing -- and confusing to boot.
7. Due Date. Has Robert Downey Jr. stooped this low?

There were probably many worse movies in 2010 ("Yogi Bear" et. al.), but this list contains films that I had higher hopes for and actually shelled out money to see. Will I ever learn???

[mitch]

I was wondering why Jerry had my count of 40 movies beaten by so many.

The difference is that I've become a total snob, and absolutely refuse to see most of these movies that I know will suck. I just don't have the freaking time anymore with work.

Out of Jerry's worst list, Tron was the only one that I've seen...and I can't really dismiss his low opinion of it. I just didn't hate it as much as he did, as I thought the visuals made up (a bit) for the rest of the crap.

For the rest of the list, Splice was the only thing I was thinking of seeing...but I doubt I'll waste my time now.

And I have no desire to see any slasher film, or gross/stupid comedy of the Adam Sandler variety. I was intrigued by Downey being in Due Date, but when I started seeing the trailers, I just thought to myself; "shitty. skip it".

I'll put the bottom five that I was stupid enough to watch in my Crystal Ball next Friday.

[skatingtripods]

I was intrigued by Downey being in Due Date, but when I started seeing the trailers, I just thought to myself; "shitty. skip it".

It was forgettable. In the sense that it was decent to watch at a matinee price and had a few decent lines, but nothing stood out about it.

[jerryroche]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting. If you like character studies, don't miss it. If you like shoot-em-ups, forget it.

It's now at the top of my favorites list, even though it's probably a darkhorse for Best Picture (don't know if the backers -- Anonymous Content and Winter's Bone Productions -- have the $$$ to adequately promote it).

Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes are absolutely, positively terrific as Ree and Teardrop, respectively.

"The Making of Winter's Bone" (on the DVD) is worth watching, too.

[mitch]

Just saw "The King's Speech"...suprisingly good.

I've also had a chance to re-watch a couple of other major ones on my list.

It will be out on a Friday recap of the year, but there will be some major changes.

Quite a strange year. For the most part, it sucked. Especially the Blockbuster Summer, which was full of disappointments and bombs.

But it's been redeemed somewhat by a very good December, and some incredible original films, including some under the radar indies.

[motherscratcher]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting. If you like character studies, don't miss it. If you like shoot-em-ups, forget it.

What if you like character study shoot em ups?

[peeker643]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting. If you like character studies, don't miss it. If you like shoot-em-ups, forget it.

What if you like character study shoot em ups?

I'd recommend 'Reservoir Dogs' for you then Mr. Pink.

[motherscratcher]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting. If you like character studies, don't miss it. If you like shoot-em-ups, forget it.

What if you like character study shoot em ups?

I'd recommend 'Reservoir Dogs' for you then Mr. Pink.

Well played, sir.


But why do I have to be Mr Pink?

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting. If you like character studies, don't miss it. If you like shoot-em-ups, forget it.

What if you like character study shoot em ups?

I'd recommend 'Reservoir Dogs' for you then Mr. Pink.

Well played, sir.


But why do I have to be Mr Pink?

Quiet you.

Go watch Smokin' Aces, that's more your speed.

You're probably one of those rubes who liked The Matrix.

[motherscratcher]

Actually I did like the Matrix. What kind of asshole doesn't like the Matrix?

[Loo]

If Shutter Island is counted, that wins hands-down. Really loved that movie, one of my all-time favorites.

The Social Network was very good. I just saw True Grit (not sure where that one will fall), I was very excited to see it, and it was pretty good, but didn't live up to the probably unfair hype I had built up in my head.

If you guys are looking for a good chick flick to watch on date night, rent Love And Other Drugs.

My girlfriend desperately wanted to see it, I didn't, I finally budged...glad I did. Anne Hathaway naked half the movie? "Well, if you want to see it honey, I guess that's OK."

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Actually I did like the Matrix. What kind of asshole doesn't like the Matrix?

This kind of asshole!

Stupid ass wire fighting Jesus story with dumb laser robots.

V For Vendetta was much better.

[RickNashEquilibrium]

Actually I did like the Matrix. What kind of asshole doesn't like the Matrix?

This kind of asshole!

Stupid ass wire fighting Jesus story with dumb laser robots.

V For Vendetta was much better.

AND A GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR

[e0y2e3]

The first two Matrix films were about the uberman and Nietzsche light, it wasn't until the third that they sold out for the cunt Christians.

[e0y2e3]

If Shutter Island is counted, that wins hands-down. Really loved that movie, one of my all-time favorites.

And you, good sir, are the reason that most of the American Public would be better off sucking on the hot tip of a glock than breathing.

Shutter Fucking Island.

I've had masterbation cycles that were more interesting.

EVEN WITH THAT TWIST!@$!$!@$!

[Erie Warrior]

I watched "Winter's Bone" on DVD yesterday. Mesmerizing and haunting.

Fair to mid. Looking for more on the back story of the life of Jessup Dolly. Ending left something to be desired as well.

[peeker643]

If Shutter Island is counted, that wins hands-down. Really loved that movie, one of my all-time favorites.

And you, good sir, are the reason that most of the American Public would be better off sucking on the hot tip of a glock than breathing.

Shutter Fucking Island.

I've had masterbation cycles that were more interesting.

EVEN WITH THAT TWIST!@$!$!@$!

God I've missed you

[Loo]

If Shutter Island is counted, that wins hands-down. Really loved that movie, one of my all-time favorites.

And you, good sir, are the reason that most of the American Public would be better off sucking on the hot tip of a glock than breathing.

Shutter Fucking Island.

I've had masterbation cycles that were more interesting.

EVEN WITH THAT TWIST!@$!$!@$!

I'm not even mad...that was amazing!

[Erie Warrior]

I've had masterbation cycles that were more interesting.

Like out one end and into another?

[e0y2e3]

:seriousface:

Mitch, I gotta get ya email, as I hit up these guys/Peeks when shit needs to be said re: Sterling Jr.

I've been on most of these December flicks since early June and started pushing them hard in the last few weeks. Black Swan and 127 Hours alone make this a very very interesting film season (and one that has shown more adaptability than any other in the decade aside from maybe last year with Inglorious being the most original idea in ages).

The best scene of the year involves a scared guy cutting off his own arm.

Great. Year. In. Film.

And watch Catfish, just to argue about its reality.

Aside from that.... fuck all yall.

Oh and fuck The Town, wanna be Departed that can suck my dick.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

The first two Matrix films were about the uberman and Nietzsche light, it wasn't until the third that they sold out for the cunt Christians.

No. The Matrix movies are about what I said they are. Good to see you. I was worried maybe they found you dead in a men's room with a cum filled condom stuck in your throat.

Welcome back, fag.

[swerb]

The Kids Are Alright was outstanding. So was The Secret In Their Eyes.

By far my favorite two 2010 films so far ... with the caveat that I still have to see most of the hyped ones.

Great casting, acting, and plot line in The Kids Are Alright. Pound for pound, don't know if there is a better actress than Annette Bening. Julianne Moore was excellent as her hippie lover. Mark Ruffalo was perfectly casted as the sperm donor dad. All three could get Oscar love. Not sure who the lead actor would be considered though. And Bening and Moore's kids did a helluva acting job as well.

The Secret In Their Eyes is another must see also. Foreign film, subtitled. About a former prosecutor that decides to write a book about a 20 year old murder, and ends up stumbling on some new truths in the process.

[RickNashEquilibrium]

The Kids Are Alright was outstanding. So was The Secret In Their Eyes.

By far my favorite two 2010 films so far ... with the caveat that I still have to see most of the hyped ones.

Great casting, acting, and plot line in The Kids Are Alright. Pound for pound, don't know if there is a better actress than Annette Bening. Julianne Moore was excellent as her hippie lover. Mark Ruffalo was perfectly casted as the sperm donor dad. All three could get Oscar love. Not sure who the lead actor would be considered though. And Bening and Moore's kids did a helluva acting job as well.

The Secret In Their Eyes is another must see also. Foreign film, subtitled. About a former prosecutor that decides to write a book about a 20 year old murder, and ends up stumbling on some new truths in the process.

I got Secrets In Their Eyes sitting on my dining room table at home. Rented it from the library last week and am excited to see it. Saw The Girl with the Dragoon Tattoo last week and was blown away. Salander is one of the most epically gripping characters in recent memory. Rapace played the role perfectly, though I didn't read the book so I can't make a full judgment based on the original piece of work.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Kinda OT.

I suggest people watch White Lightnin', it's inspired by the life of Jesco "The Dancing Outlaw" White. It's a pretty fucked up movie.

[jb]

I have probably five more movies I have to watch before I make my "official" list. "The Fighter" and "Black Swan" I'll see Monday and Tuesday; "True Grit" on Wed or Thur, "The Kids Are Alright" arrives from Netflix on Monday, and then "The King's Speech" whenever it makes it down here to Podunkville.

But as it stands this minute, my top 10 are;

1. Inception
2. The Social Network (almost a 1A. I may yet flip the top two).
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
4. Toy Story 3
5. Winter's Bone
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
7. The Town
8. The Ghostwriter
9. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
10. The Girl Who Played with Fire

No "Date Night" ?

What's up with all The Girl Who flicks?

[swerb]

What's up with all The Girl Who flicks?

Series of three books written by a Swedish author named Stieg Larson. He passed away and all three books became international best sellers. I'm halfway through the 3rd. They're outstanding.

Main character in the books is a hot, young, tough as nails, computer hacker chick named Lisbeth Salander ... who you don't want to eff with.

Movies were made in Sweden, subtitles only. Being remade here in the states starting next year.

[mitch]

No "Date Night" ?

What's up with all The Girl Who flicks?

Then again, as I predicted, my "final" list changed a lot after seeing several films during the last two weeks of the year, plus re-thinking/re-viewing some of the others. Which is why my revamped list looks like this:

1. The Social Network
2. Winter's Bone
3. True Grit
4. Inception
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6. HP and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
7. Black Swan
8. The King's Speech
9. The Fighter
10. The Town

Still need to see "127 Hours", but I'm sorry e0y...it won't be until it comes out on DVD so that I can skip through the part where he hacks his own arm off. That's just something that I don't need to see (or hear)...I don't care how "artfully" it's done.

[metalhead9x9]

Mithc, read your top ten article, what's with the short shrift of Toy Story 3? Haven't seen it, but damned if I bet against Pixar and haven't read one review that didn't love it. Don't see how it's any more of a kiddie flick than Up, which I did see and was on your top ten last year. Don't buy that either are kiddie flicks anyway since they deal with some pretty adult themes. If you genuinely like ten movies better than TS3, then cool, but I wouldn't knock it down a peg just cause of perceived genre.

[mitch]

Mithc, read your top ten article, what's with the short shrift of Toy Story 3? Haven't seen it, but damned if I bet against Pixar and haven't read one review that didn't love it. Don't see how it's any more of a kiddie flick than Up, which I did see and was on your top ten last year. Don't buy that either are kiddie flicks anyway since they deal with some pretty adult themes. If you genuinely like ten movies better than TS3, then cool, but I wouldn't knock it down a peg just cause of perceived genre.

Up wasn't in my Top 10 last year. Pretty much for the same reason...it was a perfectly done movie for kids that just happened to be great for adults to watch as well. Same as Toy Story 3 (which, as mentioned, I gave my top grade of Bernie Kosar).

Yeah, there are "adult themes" in it, which did make it great...but I just decided last week to not include it.

I totally reserve the right to act like a woman and change my mind again next week, and put it back in the top 10 (probably at #6 or #7).

In either case, it's definitely going to get one of the top Best Picture nominations, and I have no problem with that.

[hiko]

Damn, I haven't watched most of the movies mentioned. Some I haven't even heard of.

What I did see of the listed...

Shutter Island - If you're gonna have a twist ending, then it's important that the viewer not see it coming from a mile away, b/c if they do the movie blows. Shutter Island blows.

Harry Potter 7 Part 1 - Best HP movie since the 3rd.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Good movie, like that Noomi actress a lot, interested to see the Fincher version.

The Girl Who Played with Fire - Not as good, but still OK. Had a real logical problem with her pointing the gun at her benefactor, then just setting it down with her fingerprints all over it. Her character is way too careful to make a mistake not even my retarded ex-wife would make.

Toy Story 3 - Yeah, it was good. But it was no Incredibles, though. Or even How To Train Your Dragon.

Is How To Train Your Dragon 2010? If so, put my Oscar vote on that one. That movie was tits in 3D.

[jerryroche]

Oscar nominations for Best Picture 2010 aren't out yet, but I wouldn't be disappointed if "Winter's Bone" won it all. "Black Swan" and "The King's Speech" are also good choices IMHO.

I say nix to two extremely popular flicks: "The Social Network" (critics) and "Inception" (movie-goers). But that's like hoping the Miami Heat get pounded every game out -- I lose.

[RedDawg53]

I cannot see movies like "Toy Story 3" and "Inception" winning Best Picture, IMO.

"Inception" was good and very interesting, defiently deserves a nomination but that's it.

I liked "Toy Story 3" the first time I watched it with my kids. The 3,000 times watching/hearing it since, (cauz the kids want to only watch that movie a whole month straight) makes me hate it, lol. The chances of it being nominated for BP; The old 5 movie format, no. The new 10 movie format, most likely yes.

Movie that I think will win, although I haven't seen yet due to work and family. "The Social Network" or "True Grit". I want to see those two before the awards next month.

[JCoz]

Inception was really good, enjoyed that more than any in some time.

Red was entertaining I guess.

EDIT: Forgot, Harry Potter DH 1 was really good.

[JCoz]

Haven't seen that many films this year, and I don't tend to go see films unless I know there's a 95% chance I'm going to enjoy them. So I didn't hate any that I saw.

So, my list:

1. The Social Network - incredible, very much deserving of all the awards that are piling in

The rest in no particular order:
2. Toy Story 3
3. Inception
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
5. Black Swan
6. Shutter Island
7. Despicable Me
8. How to Train Your Dragon
9. Easy A
10. Red


I've also seen The Kids Are All Right, Tron: Legacy, Alice in Wonderland, Shrek Forever After & Due Date, all of which I enjoyed. But I wouldn't put them on my top 10 favorites above any of the others.

I have yet (and want to) see: The Town, 127 Hours, The Fighter, True Grit, The King's Speech and Unstoppable. Any of those could end up being added to my list of 10.

Wow, you actually liked Despicable me?

I mean, I like some animated films, but I literally thought DM was the worst one I've ever seen.

Absolutely beyond bad.

Just me though, no offense.

[hiko]

Wow, you actually liked Despicable me?

I mean, I like some animated films, but I literally thought DM was the worst one I've ever seen.

Absolutely beyond bad.

Just me though, no offense.

Hate to pile on, cozmeesah, but I thought Despicable Me was hugely disappointing too.

Why is no one nominating Hot Tub Time Machine?

[RickNashEquilibrium]

The Secret in Their Eyes makes the top of my list as 1B under Inception. Great acting, great story, and captivating to the end.

EDIT: Deathly Hollows comes in at number 3. Thought that was the best of the series so far.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

1) Meet The Spartans

2) Vampires Suck

3) A Fart