Ten to See

In Theaters

Tangled - Last year, Disney revisited the classic fairy tale romances that it had teased us with in 2007's partially-animated Enchanted, but The Princess and the Frog felt somehow different than the most indelible Disney masterpieces.  Perhaps it was that the main characters spent the majority of the film in amphibian form, or that the film lacked a strong central romantic song, or that the princess was more hard-work than damsel in distress.  Of course, none of those are necessarily bad qualities (well, maybe the lack of a strong central romantic song is), but the film felt like a really great Disney film rather than a really great Disney fairy tale.

Tangled, on the other hand, fits immediately into the pantheon of beautiful royal Disney goddesses.  Rapunzel is one of the most likable princesses in Disney's rich history - she's spunky, vibrant, and perfectly-voiced by the extremely talented Mandy Moore.  The songs are great, especially the gorgeous "I See the Light," a romantic duet worthy of "A Whole New World."  Plus, the deliciously evil villainess, wonderfully realized by Donna Murphy, has a hint of Ursula in her - not at all a bad thing.

All in all, Tangled reminded me of The Little Mermaid, and I can't really pay it a higher compliment than that.  The story is simple but clever, the characters are memorable and funny, and the animation is gorgeous, especially the 3-D during the lantern sequence.  Just an amazing film overall, and one of the best of the year.

Fair Game - Earlier this year, Naomi Watts was considered a sure-thing for a Best Actress Oscar nomination, but that was before the ridiculous (and awesome) amount of strong contenders in the category was fully known.  Still, if Watts does get one of the coveted spots, it will be well-deserved.  She is fascinating, tough, and somehow relatable as CIA agent Valerie Plame in this true story.  The story is richly told by director Doug Liman, and Watts has an equal talent to work with in Sean Penn, who plays her loyal husband to amazing effect.

Morning Glory - It's too bad Morning Glory has been lost in the shuffle at theaters lately, because it's one of the year's most pleasant surprises.  Rachel McAdams is dreamy as always, and yet again, I fell in love with her throughout the course of the movie.  The screenplay, from the same scribe who brought The Devil Wears Prada to the big screen a few years ago, is lots of fun, balancing an admiration for and satire of the sometimes-ridiculous world or morning news shows.  The film is most notable, however, for giving Harrison Ford the best part he's had in years.  He hits just the right notes as the reluctant, gruff news veteran who must accept a job he considers beneath him.  It's a funny and ultimately touching performance that will sadly be overlooked this awards season.

127 Hours - I'm not sure I'll see a better performance this year than James Franco's work in the phenomenal 127 Hours.  Danny Boyle brings his unique energy to a story that, in a geographical sense, barely goes anywhere.  Though Aron Ralston spends the majority of the film trapped in a crevice with dangerously few supplies, Boyle makes the story completely gripping, making creative use of hallucinations, flashbacks, and Franco's immense talent - best-displayed by his self-interview.  The film is grim, even gruesome when it comes to the already infamous amputation scene, but above all else, it is about a man overcoming a situation that seems insurmountable.  Among my absolute favorite films of the year.

Inside Job - Inside Job is one of the front-runners for the documentary Oscar this year, and it's not hard to see why.  Taking a large, complex situation (our current economic nightmare) and breaking it down into layman's terms is no easy task, but that's exactly what you get here.  Extremely interesting, well-written, and truly terrifying.  One of the most important films of the year.

On DVD

Going the Distance - This rom-com starring real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long was unceremoniously dumped into theaters in September, and it never found the audience it deserves.  Barrymore is one of the queens of the genre, and for good reason.  Though she always plays a slight variation of herself, she has an extreme likability factor that many actresses lack, and her chemistry with Long is refreshingly believable, something that actual couples often fail to achieve.  Funny, raunchy, and sweet, Going the Distance is a great entry in an under-appreciated genre.

Knight & Day - In my review of this slight action-romance earlier this year, I wrote that you're likely to forget it as you watch it.  However, I still consider it a trip worth taking.  This is a pure fluff piece - it's stupid, flashy, and fun.  Tom Cruise gets a chance to play a crazy person, which means he's more or less channeling himself onscreen.  It's a great performance from an actor who rarely gets the chance to deliver such.  Plus, his chemistry with Cameron Diaz is quite enjoyable, as are the exotic locales.

Disney's A Christmas Carol - When it comes to motion-capture animated flicks, I often get creeped out by the Uncanny Valley effect.  With Disney's latest take on the classic Dickens tale, however, the animation works.  It's a beautiful, sometimes scary vision, and the cast, specifically the multi-character-playing Jim Carrey, is great.  Though it received mediocre reviews, with a few years' time and some reevaluation, this could become a future holiday classic.

Youth in Revolt - 2010 has been a banner year for Michael Cera.  He's been re-invited to the cool kids' table, thanks in large part to his hilarious turn as Scott Pilgrim, but also to his little-seen double performance in January's great Youth in Revolt.  Cera's main character is the same one he's played ad nauseam, but that character's alter-ego, Francois Dillinger, is a delightfully anarchistic play on the familiar Cera schtick.  The supporting cast includes Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, and the soon-to-be-It-girl Rooney Mara.

The Joneses - This is a bizarre movie, but it's all the better for it.  I went into it not knowing anything about it, and I suggest doing the same, so I won't go into plot details.  This is an interesting black comedy that features a great cast, especially Demi Moore, and the romance that emerges between her and David Duchovny is surprisingly sweet.