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Inception: When was the last time you saw a big budget summer blockbuster that didn’t treat its audience like idiots. Strangely enough it was two years ago and the movie was The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan has done it again. Inception is an intelligent and thoughtful movie with sublime acting, fantastic photography and a plot with just enough ambiguity to emphasise the existential themes. Not only the best but probably the most talked about movies of the year.
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The Secret in Their Eyes: Don’t be put off by the subtitles, this really is one of the best movies of the year, it was the surprise winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film and only the second movie ever to receive five stars on this very website (the first is at number one on this list). Set against a backdrop of the political instability in Argentina following the death of Perón this is as much a political history as it is a thriller but that enhances the plot not detracts from it. It also features the most impressive (seemingly) single take shot ever, even outdoing Snake Eyes.
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Monsters: I went into this movie expecting to see a great movie for the miniscule budget, what I got instead was a great movie. Blending the themes of an existential road movie, a monster movie, an allegorical tale about war and a love story, it could have been a mess but not only is it brilliantly constructed it also appears strangely effortless in its delivery. To quote Ross McG “there wasnt really any part of the film that didnt work”
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Winter’s Bone: Director Debra Granik has crafted perfectly paced taught and gritty thriller, Cinematographer Michael McDonough manages to find a strange beauty in the dark and hostile landscapes of The Ozark Mountains where the movie is set but it is Jennifer Lawrence performance that really makes this movie sensational. It isn’t a movie that you will want to watch frequently but it is certainly a rewarding experience.
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Kick-Ass: What would happen if an ordinary everyday person decided to become a supper hero? Haven’t we seen this one before, it was called Watchmen and it failed to find the audience it deserved last year. Kick-Ass has a lot in common with Watchmen but is also very different from it, it is these contradictions that make it so good. It isn’t really a superhero movies and it isn’t a spoof of superhero movies either. It isn’t a comedy and but it is extremely funny at times. It is a coming of age drama, a satire on human nature and modern society and a violent bloody action movie. It is also the most fun movie of the year, or is it?
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: No this isn’t the other contender for the most fun movie of the year, with images of rape and violence the film is often difficult to watch, but don’t be put off by this. It is a great movie and the most shocking and violent scenes however brutal are integral to the plot. Based on a novel by Stieg Larsson, the Hollywood remake is already in production but it is worth seeing this Swedish version for one simple reason: Noomi Rapace, having read the books I couldn’t imagine any actress bringing the character of Lisbeth Salander to life, now I have seen it I can’t imagine anyone else playing the part.
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The Social Network: This may not be the best film of the year but it is certainly the best written and the best directed. How they made a movie from the subject matter is a surprise, how they made such a fantastic movie is a minor miracle. The casting is nothing short of perfection with Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield giving the performances of their careers and like so many of David Fincher’s previous movies I suspect this one that will get better with time and repeated viewings.
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Depending on your point of view Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is either the coolest movie of the year or a flashy over edited mess that is trying too hard. Well it made it to my top ten movies of the year but only the lower reaches so I guess that says it all, I’m leaning towards the very cool argument but can see the imperfections of the movie. The casting is spot on and the action brilliantly choreographed, the script is cutting and funny but above all it is great fun, yes if you haven’t guessed this is the other contender for the most fun movie of the year.
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The Road: I know this is a 2009 movie but it came out in 2010 in the UK and that’s my criteria. Early on in the movie the voiceover tells us “The world gets colder week by week as the world slowly dies” This is a bleak movie but it isn’t a depressing movie. Think of it more as an exploration of mortality than a warning of impending doom. Look at the way “The Boy” has absorbed the life and moral lessons taught to him by his farther and is now able to pass them back to his farther and the audience providing a moral compass for the movie and a glimmer of hope for humanity.
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The Ghost: Directed by Roman Polanski with a script by Polanski and Robert Harris, the author of the book on which the film is based, The Ghost is a timely story. Released in the UK around the time of the Chilcot Enquiry it tells the story of a controversial former British prime minister as he attempts to write his autobiography with the help of a ghost-writer. All this is rolled up in an old-fashioned murder mystery thriller. The movie received some unfair (in my opinion) reviews and was moderately successful, this could have as much to do with its controversial director as the movie he has produced.
Honourable mentions or The movies I found it hardest to miss off the top ten
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
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Another Year
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Shutter Island
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Up in the Air
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A Prophet
A note on the selected movies. All movies received a UK cinema release in 2010 and where seen by me in a cinema.
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It saddens me that The Ghost Writer has come and gone with barely peep. It’s not my absolutely favourite film, but I’m sure it will remain in my top 10 by the time I’ve finished seeing all I want, and Polanski’s direction is especially taut and deliberate.
(And again, so loving the mentions for The Social Network and Scott Pilgrim)
Roman Polanski is hard to market especially in America at the moment. I think the British cast and timely subject matter helped it get a UK cinema release.
Love your number 1 (and great point about Nolan making just about the only smart blockbusters out there these days), but after that I have a bit of a disconnect with this list.
I thought Secrets in Their Eyes was good but far too long, with a twist ending I saw a mile away.
Monsters I thought was good, but nothing special beyond the admitedly impressive tale of it’s shoe-string budget.
Winters Bone is definitely a film I need to see again. I’d heard a ton of buzz going in, but when I finally got around to seeing it I thought it was solid but nothing more. Hopefully it improves upon repeat viewings.
Likewise, with Kick-Ass I hyped myself up (it was my most anticipated film of 2010) only to find it mildly entertaining but not much more.
Your number six I flat out disliked. I am at a loss as to understand why people are so crazy about this film – it’s way too long and weighed down with unnecessary sidestories (I assume as fan-service to the readers of the book). If this was in English, it wouldn’t get any more praise than a middling episode of CSI.
You basically win me back over after that – The Social Network is my number one for the year, and Scott Pilgrim will make my top ten for sure. The Road I thought was pretty good, and I agree that the reception to The Ghost (called The Ghost Writer here in Australia, and I think the US) was unfair. It’s a strong little thriller that never has to resort to being over the top.
Sorry you don’t like all my selections. Are you publishing a top ten?
I really liked The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the interesting thing about it in relation to your comment is that a lot of what you call “unnecessary sidestories” from the book don’t make it to the film and the biggest criticism from fans of the books id how much is omitted. I personally think it’s as faithful an adaptation as it needs to be.
Nice list, and perfectly valid. Of course I don’t agree with all, but it’d be pretty boring if we all thought the same – although that, of course, is what Hollywood’s trying to create…My list goes up on the 31st.
great I will check it out.
Yeah my list will probably go up around New Years at my blog and at rowthree.com (shameless plug).
I will say that I did quite enjoy the second film in the Trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and most of the backstory for that film was actually in the first film. Still, Dragon Tattoo just seemed way to long for my taste. The first 45 minutes all felt unnecessary. That being said, I’m definitely in the minority when it comes to that film, and I am quite excited to see Fincher’s Hollywood remake (I’d watch that man film paint dry)..
I actually found the second movie to be the weakest of the three. Also the first is the only one that works as a stand alone movie the others follow on so need the back story.
I am looking forward to the remake, I don’t normally like Hollywood remakes but like you will watch anything Fincher does. I am a little concerned about the setting of the remake. If they are going to do an American remake why not move the setting to America.
I agree with a few on your list, but I don’t think I’ll ever put Ghost Writer in any of my Best list. It’s not horrible but pretty boring to me and I was actually anticipating that film. I’m surprised how much I enjoyed Social Network. It certainly wasn’t ‘enjoyable’ but it was really well-written and well-crafted.
I look forward to your list. Until then head back over to Anomalous Material, I think your up now
Yeaaa….it always makes me happy to see Inception in someone else list.. as it is without a doubt the best movie in 2010.
I can’t have the same feeling as you in Kick-Ass, it will never be in my list…whatever list it is.
I don’t think The Girl With A Dragoon Tattoo is 2010′s movie.
ever since I read Ross’s review, I have been wanting to watch Monster but the chance hasn’t come yet.
My end of the year list only consist of movies I watched in Cinema.
Kick-Ass does seem to have polarized opinion, what did you dislike about it?
The Girl With A Dragoon Tattoo isn’t technically a 2010 movie, neither is The Secret in Their Eyes or The Road. My criteria has always been films that received a UK release in that year. If I stuck to the original release date in the country of origin I would be publishing this list in march.
Monsters is definitely worth watching when you get the chance.
I believe you can blame the teacher side of me for not liking Kick-Ass too much. As I already written here http://t.co/SwjZTwg , I enjoy the fighting scenes but so disturbed with a little girl doing a killing spree.
I love movie with lots of blood…but my love has limitation too.
Ah, good point on the release date
Shit, I really need to watch Dragon Tattoo already. Great list though. Had The Road on my Top Ten last year and I’m right there with on four others for this year. I gotta see Monsters somehow.