1. The Social Network
If you know me at all, this won't come as a surprise. David Fincher's fascinating look at the creation of Facebook hit every note perfectly, from Trent Reznor's provocative score to Aaron Sorkin's action-paced dialogue. Instead of simply chronicling the creation of an internet phenomenon and multi-billion dollar company, the film comments on the social experience outside of Facebook, focusing on friendship outside of the redefined term, and that's where the film finds its heart. I've gushed about this movie many, many times on this blog, so please do peruse those other articles for further insight to why The Social Network is, bar none, the best film of 2010.2. Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky, one of my favorite directors, finally got the sort of attention so much of his previous work deserved with his psychosexual ballet thriller. Black Swan followed in the footsteps of such critical successes of Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, but it also managed to find a surprisingly large audience. It seemed everyone was talking about the movie: how weird it was, how creepy it was, how hot it was. It was, indeed, all of these things. But for most people, the movie was about one thing: Natalie Portman's Oscar-winning turn as obsessed ballerina Nina. Portman's supreme dedication to the role anchors the movie both in its passionate melodrama and in a skewed reality, where some scenes are ambiguous to the point of fantasy. It's a darkly compelling work, and as Nina delves into the black swan within, viewers can't help but feel they're being pulled into a black hole, namely, the vacuum of human imperfection (or perhaps the denial of such a vacuum). Beautifully pieced together and with a fantastic ensemble, Black Swan is the sort of bizarre art-house project that is too good to be ignored.3. Toy Story 3
It's become a bit tired to say, "Pixar never fails," and it's even become tired to say that such a statement is now tired, but the reason for all the tiredness is because of the truth of the thing. Every Pixar release is an event, and after the minor note of Cars, Pixar began a streak of their finest work to date, culminating in Toy Story 3, one of the most emotional movies I've ever seen. Releasing 15 years after the original film, I was in that blessed demographic that aged right alongside Andy, seeing the film after finishing my freshman year at college and leaving so many aspects of childhood behind. More important than Andy's growth and departure, however, is the reminder the film carries that there's still a kid in all of us, a fact proven by the swell of tears audiences shared during the film's final, perfectly written scene. Just thinking about it gives me a lump in my throat, and though it was a fond farewell, we can now look forward to shorts featuring the characters we all know and love, starting with Hawaiian Vacation before Cars 2.4. Inception
Inception is what happens when Christopher Nolan tackles an exciting original idea, a la Memento, with the budget he might get for one of his Batman movies. In other words, it's a huge, crazy, awesome thing to behold. While many focused on the layered premise (which, in all honesty, isn't terribly hard to follow, but certainly becomes clearer on repeat viewings), the emotional aspect of the film was all but ignored. It's a shame, considering Cobb's (Leonardo DiCaprio) deeply personal journey, which is the reason we can root for him, even though he's more or less the villain in the story. Nolan is the rare director who can marry a great narrative with eye-popping visuals, and Inception is the finest example of this talent yet. Spinning hallways and exploding kiosks serve as the attraction, but ultimately, it's the fascinating journey, and the even more interesting logic to it, that keeps viewers coming back for more.5. 127 Hours
James Franco didn't fare so well as Oscar host, but that's one of the few gigs he doesn't excel at. The awkward, boyishly charming actor has played an impressive range of characters, but never has he connected with the material as he does in Danny Boyle's follow-up to his Oscar powerhouse Slumdog Millionaire. Though flashbacks, memories, hallucinations, and fantasies allow Franco to share the screen with other actors, the movie is basically a one-man show, with Franco performing for the camera or simply acting out his frustration, and every scene rings incredibly true. Though confined to a cramped space for most of its runtime, Boyle directs the film with a thumping energy, always reminding the audience of the urgency of the situation, and promising them that a triumphant resolution is on its way.6. Rabbit Hole
Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play parents mourning the loss of their young son, and I sit in the theater, sobbing as I've never sobbed at a movie before. Rabbit Hole is not for the faint of heart; it's a relentless portrait of grief, beautifully brought to life by the two leads, giving career-best performances and breaking hearts in the process. Though there's barely a happy moment to be had, there's still a tangible hopefulness to the film, the possibility of moving beyond tragedy to a better place, even if there's no promise of happiness. The film doesn't resort to a sappy Hollywood ending, but instead remains grounded in the reality of the film, promising another day and nothing more.7. Four Lions
I often find that the best comedy stems from material that shouldn't be funny. I like to feel a little guilty when I laugh, and that's the exact brand of humor Four Lions delivers in droves. The film follows a group of inept terrorist wannabes who bumble their way through various misadventures, plotting ill-conceived attacks, attaching bombs to crows, and dressing up in ridiculous mascot costumes to go undercover at the London Marathon. The film is simply hilarious (the Lion King bedtime story had me in tears), but it also has heart: as the protagonists carry out their ultimate goals (poorly, of course), there's a deep sense of melancholy, and their humanity shines through their misguided foolishness, and through the smoke.8. A Prophet
This French prison drama was up for the Foreign Film Oscar last year but lost to the also-but-not-as great The Secret in Their Eyes, but didn't get a proper US release until 2010. It's the sort of sprawling epic that sucks the audience in completely, immersing them in a lawless world that is perhaps only familiar from a cinematic standpoint. The film's gritty look at criminal life in and out of the pen is colored with fantastical touches that complicate the brutal believability that permeates the film. It's a fascinating watch, and deserves to be counted alongside The Godfather as one of the great crime films of all-time.9. Tangled
2010 continued the Great Animation Renaissance of 2009, though with a few less truly outstanding entries. One of the best, however, was Disney's latest (and apparently last) princess tale. While The Princess and the Frog was a fun yarn, it lacked the classic beats that defined the best of Disney's impressive best. Tangled, however, deserves a spot right by Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. With its feisty heroine, voiced to sweet perfection by Mandy Moore, catchy songs, and happily ever after, Tangled is a love story in the most classic Disney sense. As a group of intimidating bar-goers sings, I've got a dream: for Disney to make more movies like this.10. Another Year
Mike Leigh's stirring British drama features the best performance of the year: the criminally overlooked Lesley Manville, whose insecure, lonely Mary made for one of the year's most frustrating but lovable characters. Manville is only part of the great ensemble, which also includes Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, and Imelda Staunton in a small but moving role early in the film. The film follows a group of characters throughout a year, chronicling the ups and downs of everyday life with an attention to detail and touching empathy that many filmmakers would be scared to attempt. In a world of flashy action movies and steamy romances, Another Year is a rare breed: a movie that celebrates life as it is, not as it could be.Honorable Mentions: Catfish, Dogtooth, Exit Through the Gift Shop, How to Train Your Dragon, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, Mother, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Secret in Their Eyes, Waiting for "Superman"
Nice list!
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