2010 in Film
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2344/s0022.jpg
With 2010 now over and done with, as well as with the Academy Awards still more than a month away, I figured it was my turn to hold a wrap-up for the year that has past. Why? Well, I figure I've done a fair few movie reviews in the past few months, and that totally makes me an expert. Me being home sick and bored with nothing to do had absolutely no say in the matter, I swear.
Now, this time around, I'm just going to list which films I believed were the best and worst of 2010, give a small explanation as to why that is, and at the end I'll list off films that I didn't get to see, but will hopefully find them sooner, rather than later, on DVD. The first list will be the best of 2010, and will have 10 slots, while my worst films will only have 5 slots, (due to less films being eligible for this category--I tend to go see good films at the cinema, not bad ones).
So...yeah, I hope you'll enjoy this, and please feel free to mention your own best/worst films.
Anyway, drum roll please.
<audio=http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/download/mp3/StageSounds/3DrumrollFanfare.mp3>
The Best Films of 2010
<spoiler=#10>
Hot Tub Time Machine
<img height=300>http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2624/hottubtimemachine1.jpg
So...yeah, Hot Tub Time Machine was really funny. Is this a surprise choice? Well, to me it is, because I honestly didn't think much of this film just by looking at its trailer and premise. In fact, I expected to really dislike it. Turns out, I was wrong. Maybe the low-to-the-ground expectations elevated how much I ended up liking it, but I like to think that I'm impartial enough for that not to be a factor.
Regardless of whether or not my expectations did factor in, I really enjoyed Hot Tub Time Machine. It was funny, had likable characters and an interesting, albeit silly premise. I can't say it was an excellently acted or directed film, but it was fun, and when you look at a "guy's comedy" like this one, that's all you can really want from it.
<spoiler=#9>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.253962Kick-Ass>Kick-Ass
<img height=300>http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1876/kickassposterd.jpg
Kick-Ass had a lot of heart behind it, something that many action films can't brag about nowadays. It was an emotional film, and its characters are ones that you want to become invested in. Even Hit Girl, who didn't really fit into the realistic nature of the rest of the film, had an emotional scene which tried to make the audience care for her.
Whether or not that worked will depend on who you are. For me, she wasn't a character I cared much for. For others that I know, her emotional scenes were the hardest hitting in the entire film. Kick-Ass also had a ton of action scenes, and was almost always entertaining, if nothing else. The action scenes were fun, inventive and gloriously over-the-top, yet still realistic in a sense.
<spoiler=#8>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254454-Marter-to-the-Movies-True-Grit>True Grit
<img height=300>http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5678/truegritposter.jpg
I was actually hoping to have more affection for True Grit than I ended up having. Yes, it was a really solid, well-made, wonderfully acted film, but that's about it. It just seemed to be missing something. What though? I actually don't know.
Even without knowing who the directors were, (the Coen brothers, if you weren't aware), the film still seemed to be missing something. Maybe the story needed tweaking, or a character turn added--just something. It was still entertaining, and very well-made, so it gets credit for that. It just wasn't quite all there for me.
<spoiler=#7>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246582>Shutter Island
<img height=300>http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/334/shutterislandposterw.jpg
Shutter Island works on two levels. It works as a suspenseful psychological thriller, and also doubles as a mystery film. The mystery plays more against the audience than the characters in the film, as it is you, not them, who are left guessing throughout. You will be waiting and waiting to see the ending, and it will leave you thinking about it for a while.
In terms of the psychological aspect, it is also a thrilling film. The scenery gives the film a great sense of the eerie dread that you would feel if you were stranded on an island that houses an insane asylum. You don't want to be there, but you also do, because you want to find out what the answers are behind the questions the film throws at us. It also had good acting and an excellent soundtrack.
<spoiler=#6>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238550>The Social Network
<img height=300>http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8041/socialnetworkx.jpg
A movie about Facebook? How is this in here? Well, unless you've not been paying attention, The Social Network isn't really about Facebook, but is instead about the relationships, betrayals and turmoil in its creation. Yes, Facebook is used as a basis, but since it doesn't actually get created until fairly late in the film, you can't say that it is the sole focus.
Instead, we get to learn about Mark Zuckerberg, and the process he took to create Facebook. There are complex relationships that are created and broken throughout, and the entire film is engaging as could be. It took me by surprise how good this was, given the basic idea, but David Fincher made it work.
<spoiler=#5>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254137>Fair Game
<img height=300>http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/363/fairgameposter.jpg
Did anyone else even know that this movie came out? Seriously, it got no promotion, advertising or anything, despite being a very good film. I mean, it was a critical success, but nobody I know had even heard of it before I told them. Things like this frustrate me, as it means that genuinely good films often get ignored solely because they don't get publicity.
Anyway, Fair Game tells the true story of the Plame Affair. Or at least, as true as you can get while still making an entertaining movie. If the opening part of the film had been shorter and less confusing, Fair Game might have cracked my top 3. As it is, it's a film that was interesting and engaging, even to someone who knows and cares very little about American politics.
<spoiler=#4>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=300>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
I actually went out and bought Scott Pilgrim on Blu-Ray. That is how much I enjoyed this movie, (and wish to support it). Scott Pilgrim was actually the funniest film I saw this year, despite not being completely a comedy. It also mixes in amazing action, a decent romance and really pretty, (yes, I just used the word pretty to compliment something), special effects.
It's a really enjoyable, feel-good film. That's about as much as I need to say about it. It is funny, action-packed and really fun to watch.
<spoiler=#3>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251569>The Fighter
<img height=300>http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6448/thefighterposterlg.jpg
And now we get into the top 3, the films that you will likely care the most about. (Although if you skipped the previous films, please go back and read about them too. It'll be worth your time, I pinky swear!)
Anyway, The Fighter is another film based on a true story, and also one that I really enjoyed despite not being a fan of what the film is based around. Like both The Social Network and Fair Game, The Fighter really isn't about its main subject--in this case, boxing--but is instead about the relationships between different characters. I don't really like boxing, but the film kept me engaged by not focussing on the boxing.
And yet, even when boxing is the focus, I was entertained. The fights seemed real, with every punch looking like it meant something. This is something that star Mark Wahlberg wanted, and this really is his love project. He spent years both training, and trying to get this film made, and that dedication really shows here.
<spoiler=#2>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797>Inception
<img height=300>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Here is where I have to make a tough choice. Which film do I name as my number 1 film of the year? Do I pick the film that I enjoyed the most, or the movie that I actually believe to be "the best". I decided to settle on the latter, because Inception is actually the film that I enjoyed the most.
Yes, I really, really enjoyed Inception. It's the first film I ever went to see twice while it was still in theatres. It felt like it was an hour long, despite being 2.5 hours in total. A film like this kept me incredibly engaged throughout, and is one that I am always up to watch. The story was interesting, the characters were fun, and the action scenes were exciting.
<spoiler=#1>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254228>Black Swan
<img height=300>http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1586/blackswanposter.jpg
While I didn't absolutely fall in love with Black Swan like I did with Inception, I did think it was the better film of the two. Like the lead character in the film, you can tell that Darren Aronofsky really cares about his art.
The story is interesting, the characters have depth and progression, and the film has a point to it. It doesn't struggle or lack in any one area, and is on the whole a very strong film. Also, if you are noticing a trend with films like Black Swan, The Fighter, Fair Game and The Social Network, well then, you aren't alone. Films like these use something familiar--in this case the ballet--to stage something more important. The ballet is a basis for something bigger and more interesting, so that even if you don't care for the ballet, that won't hamper your enjoyment of the film.
Now...for the worst films of 2010. Only 5 though, as I can only think of 5.
The Worst Films of 2010
<spoiler=#5>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.234554>Salt
<img height=300>http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/926/saltangelinajolie.jpg
Actually, Salt wasn't that bad, but I promised you guys 5 bad films, and this is what I'm giving you. After giving it some thought, Salt, to me, felt like a weaker version of the Bourne films. Almost exactly like them, in fact, expect that the story was weaker, particularly in the ending. It wasn't a terrible film, but it's one I wouldn't recommend, as you can just go watch the Bourne films instead.
<spoiler=#4>
The Other Guys
<img height=300>http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7416/otherguysmovieposterwil.jpg
The critics betrayed me on this one. Funny? Yeah, The Other Guys wasn't funny at all. It ended up being a silly, over-the-top buddy cop film that had no substance at all. And if a comedy isn't funny, it fails, doesn't it? The action scenes weren't terrible, I'll admit, so at least it had that, but the film as a whole just wasn't humorous enough to warrant a watch.
<spoiler=#3>
Alice in Wonderland
<img height=300>http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8676/displaymedias.jpg
I'm not even sure this was supposed to be a comedy, but if it was, it failed at that. If it was supposed to be an adventure film, it failed at that as well. If it was supposed to be a fantasy-drama, yet again, it fails. This was just a bad movie. It wasn't funny, fun or f...resh. Yeah, fresh, let's go with that. It just wasn't a movie that was enjoyable to watch.
<spoiler=#2>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248819>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
<img height=300>http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5032/harrypotterandthedeathla.jpg
"Best Harry Potter movie so far" my foot! I don't care whether or not they kept close to the book or not, the film was boring. It tried humour at times, and it fell flat when it did. the side characters all but disappeared after their first appearance, with only a couple of them getting more than one chance to be on-screen. Most importantly, it was kind of boring. The visuals were nice though.
<spoiler=#1>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.239775>Red
<img height=300>http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8219/redmovieposter.jpg
Red is the reason I no longer trust critics at all. I used to, to be honest, but this was the biggest let-down of the year for me. It looked funny, it had a great cast and it looked like it would be fun to watch. Too bad it really sucked. It wasn't all that funny, all the good action scenes were shown in the trailer, and the cast didn't have all that much to do.
Okay...so, here are the films that I didn't get to see, but, based on the premise/cast/director/alloftheaboveandmore, could have been on one of these lists. Also included are the films I saw, but didn't make any of the two lists. Consider them on the better side of the "good-bad" spectrum.
<spoiler=OTHER MOVIES, EITHER ONES I DID NOT SEE, OR ONES THAT DIDN'T MAKE EITHER LIST>
<quote=POSSIBLE BEST MOVIE CONTENDERS>
Toy Story 3
Daybreakers
The Town
Buried
The American
127 Hours
The King's Speech
Blue Valentine
<quote=POSSIBLE WORST MOVIE CONTENDERS>
Legion
The Tooth Fairy
The Bounty Hunter
Death at a Funeral
The Losers
Furry Vengeance
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Killers
Jonah Hex
Grown Ups
Vampires Suck
Skyline
Unstoppable
Faster
Yogi Bear
<quote=MOVIES SEEN, BUT DON'T FIT ON EITHER LIST>
Iron Man 2
Prince of Persia
Splice
The Runways
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Let Me In
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2344/s0022.jpg
With 2010 now over and done with, as well as with the Academy Awards still more than a month away, I figured it was my turn to hold a wrap-up for the year that has past. Why? Well, I figure I've done a fair few movie reviews in the past few months, and that totally makes me an expert. Me being home sick and bored with nothing to do had absolutely no say in the matter, I swear.
Now, this time around, I'm just going to list which films I believed were the best and worst of 2010, give a small explanation as to why that is, and at the end I'll list off films that I didn't get to see, but will hopefully find them sooner, rather than later, on DVD. The first list will be the best of 2010, and will have 10 slots, while my worst films will only have 5 slots, (due to less films being eligible for this category--I tend to go see good films at the cinema, not bad ones).
So...yeah, I hope you'll enjoy this, and please feel free to mention your own best/worst films.
Anyway, drum roll please.
<audio=http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/download/mp3/StageSounds/3DrumrollFanfare.mp3>
The Best Films of 2010
<spoiler=#10>
Hot Tub Time Machine
<img height=300>http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2624/hottubtimemachine1.jpg
So...yeah, Hot Tub Time Machine was really funny. Is this a surprise choice? Well, to me it is, because I honestly didn't think much of this film just by looking at its trailer and premise. In fact, I expected to really dislike it. Turns out, I was wrong. Maybe the low-to-the-ground expectations elevated how much I ended up liking it, but I like to think that I'm impartial enough for that not to be a factor.
Regardless of whether or not my expectations did factor in, I really enjoyed Hot Tub Time Machine. It was funny, had likable characters and an interesting, albeit silly premise. I can't say it was an excellently acted or directed film, but it was fun, and when you look at a "guy's comedy" like this one, that's all you can really want from it.
<spoiler=#9>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.253962Kick-Ass>Kick-Ass
<img height=300>http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1876/kickassposterd.jpg
Kick-Ass had a lot of heart behind it, something that many action films can't brag about nowadays. It was an emotional film, and its characters are ones that you want to become invested in. Even Hit Girl, who didn't really fit into the realistic nature of the rest of the film, had an emotional scene which tried to make the audience care for her.
Whether or not that worked will depend on who you are. For me, she wasn't a character I cared much for. For others that I know, her emotional scenes were the hardest hitting in the entire film. Kick-Ass also had a ton of action scenes, and was almost always entertaining, if nothing else. The action scenes were fun, inventive and gloriously over-the-top, yet still realistic in a sense.
<spoiler=#8>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254454-Marter-to-the-Movies-True-Grit>True Grit
<img height=300>http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5678/truegritposter.jpg
I was actually hoping to have more affection for True Grit than I ended up having. Yes, it was a really solid, well-made, wonderfully acted film, but that's about it. It just seemed to be missing something. What though? I actually don't know.
Even without knowing who the directors were, (the Coen brothers, if you weren't aware), the film still seemed to be missing something. Maybe the story needed tweaking, or a character turn added--just something. It was still entertaining, and very well-made, so it gets credit for that. It just wasn't quite all there for me.
<spoiler=#7>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246582>Shutter Island
<img height=300>http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/334/shutterislandposterw.jpg
Shutter Island works on two levels. It works as a suspenseful psychological thriller, and also doubles as a mystery film. The mystery plays more against the audience than the characters in the film, as it is you, not them, who are left guessing throughout. You will be waiting and waiting to see the ending, and it will leave you thinking about it for a while.
In terms of the psychological aspect, it is also a thrilling film. The scenery gives the film a great sense of the eerie dread that you would feel if you were stranded on an island that houses an insane asylum. You don't want to be there, but you also do, because you want to find out what the answers are behind the questions the film throws at us. It also had good acting and an excellent soundtrack.
<spoiler=#6>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238550>The Social Network
<img height=300>http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8041/socialnetworkx.jpg
A movie about Facebook? How is this in here? Well, unless you've not been paying attention, The Social Network isn't really about Facebook, but is instead about the relationships, betrayals and turmoil in its creation. Yes, Facebook is used as a basis, but since it doesn't actually get created until fairly late in the film, you can't say that it is the sole focus.
Instead, we get to learn about Mark Zuckerberg, and the process he took to create Facebook. There are complex relationships that are created and broken throughout, and the entire film is engaging as could be. It took me by surprise how good this was, given the basic idea, but David Fincher made it work.
<spoiler=#5>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254137>Fair Game
<img height=300>http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/363/fairgameposter.jpg
Did anyone else even know that this movie came out? Seriously, it got no promotion, advertising or anything, despite being a very good film. I mean, it was a critical success, but nobody I know had even heard of it before I told them. Things like this frustrate me, as it means that genuinely good films often get ignored solely because they don't get publicity.
Anyway, Fair Game tells the true story of the Plame Affair. Or at least, as true as you can get while still making an entertaining movie. If the opening part of the film had been shorter and less confusing, Fair Game might have cracked my top 3. As it is, it's a film that was interesting and engaging, even to someone who knows and cares very little about American politics.
<spoiler=#4>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=300>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
I actually went out and bought Scott Pilgrim on Blu-Ray. That is how much I enjoyed this movie, (and wish to support it). Scott Pilgrim was actually the funniest film I saw this year, despite not being completely a comedy. It also mixes in amazing action, a decent romance and really pretty, (yes, I just used the word pretty to compliment something), special effects.
It's a really enjoyable, feel-good film. That's about as much as I need to say about it. It is funny, action-packed and really fun to watch.
<spoiler=#3>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251569>The Fighter
<img height=300>http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6448/thefighterposterlg.jpg
And now we get into the top 3, the films that you will likely care the most about. (Although if you skipped the previous films, please go back and read about them too. It'll be worth your time, I pinky swear!)
Anyway, The Fighter is another film based on a true story, and also one that I really enjoyed despite not being a fan of what the film is based around. Like both The Social Network and Fair Game, The Fighter really isn't about its main subject--in this case, boxing--but is instead about the relationships between different characters. I don't really like boxing, but the film kept me engaged by not focussing on the boxing.
And yet, even when boxing is the focus, I was entertained. The fights seemed real, with every punch looking like it meant something. This is something that star Mark Wahlberg wanted, and this really is his love project. He spent years both training, and trying to get this film made, and that dedication really shows here.
<spoiler=#2>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797>Inception
<img height=300>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Here is where I have to make a tough choice. Which film do I name as my number 1 film of the year? Do I pick the film that I enjoyed the most, or the movie that I actually believe to be "the best". I decided to settle on the latter, because Inception is actually the film that I enjoyed the most.
Yes, I really, really enjoyed Inception. It's the first film I ever went to see twice while it was still in theatres. It felt like it was an hour long, despite being 2.5 hours in total. A film like this kept me incredibly engaged throughout, and is one that I am always up to watch. The story was interesting, the characters were fun, and the action scenes were exciting.
<spoiler=#1>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.254228>Black Swan
<img height=300>http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1586/blackswanposter.jpg
While I didn't absolutely fall in love with Black Swan like I did with Inception, I did think it was the better film of the two. Like the lead character in the film, you can tell that Darren Aronofsky really cares about his art.
The story is interesting, the characters have depth and progression, and the film has a point to it. It doesn't struggle or lack in any one area, and is on the whole a very strong film. Also, if you are noticing a trend with films like Black Swan, The Fighter, Fair Game and The Social Network, well then, you aren't alone. Films like these use something familiar--in this case the ballet--to stage something more important. The ballet is a basis for something bigger and more interesting, so that even if you don't care for the ballet, that won't hamper your enjoyment of the film.
Now...for the worst films of 2010. Only 5 though, as I can only think of 5.
The Worst Films of 2010
<spoiler=#5>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.234554>Salt
<img height=300>http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/926/saltangelinajolie.jpg
Actually, Salt wasn't that bad, but I promised you guys 5 bad films, and this is what I'm giving you. After giving it some thought, Salt, to me, felt like a weaker version of the Bourne films. Almost exactly like them, in fact, expect that the story was weaker, particularly in the ending. It wasn't a terrible film, but it's one I wouldn't recommend, as you can just go watch the Bourne films instead.
<spoiler=#4>
The Other Guys
<img height=300>http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7416/otherguysmovieposterwil.jpg
The critics betrayed me on this one. Funny? Yeah, The Other Guys wasn't funny at all. It ended up being a silly, over-the-top buddy cop film that had no substance at all. And if a comedy isn't funny, it fails, doesn't it? The action scenes weren't terrible, I'll admit, so at least it had that, but the film as a whole just wasn't humorous enough to warrant a watch.
<spoiler=#3>
Alice in Wonderland
<img height=300>http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8676/displaymedias.jpg
I'm not even sure this was supposed to be a comedy, but if it was, it failed at that. If it was supposed to be an adventure film, it failed at that as well. If it was supposed to be a fantasy-drama, yet again, it fails. This was just a bad movie. It wasn't funny, fun or f...resh. Yeah, fresh, let's go with that. It just wasn't a movie that was enjoyable to watch.
<spoiler=#2>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248819>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
<img height=300>http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5032/harrypotterandthedeathla.jpg
"Best Harry Potter movie so far" my foot! I don't care whether or not they kept close to the book or not, the film was boring. It tried humour at times, and it fell flat when it did. the side characters all but disappeared after their first appearance, with only a couple of them getting more than one chance to be on-screen. Most importantly, it was kind of boring. The visuals were nice though.
<spoiler=#1>
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.239775>Red
<img height=300>http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8219/redmovieposter.jpg
Red is the reason I no longer trust critics at all. I used to, to be honest, but this was the biggest let-down of the year for me. It looked funny, it had a great cast and it looked like it would be fun to watch. Too bad it really sucked. It wasn't all that funny, all the good action scenes were shown in the trailer, and the cast didn't have all that much to do.
Okay...so, here are the films that I didn't get to see, but, based on the premise/cast/director/alloftheaboveandmore, could have been on one of these lists. Also included are the films I saw, but didn't make any of the two lists. Consider them on the better side of the "good-bad" spectrum.
<spoiler=OTHER MOVIES, EITHER ONES I DID NOT SEE, OR ONES THAT DIDN'T MAKE EITHER LIST>
<quote=POSSIBLE BEST MOVIE CONTENDERS>
Toy Story 3
Daybreakers
The Town
Buried
The American
127 Hours
The King's Speech
Blue Valentine
<quote=POSSIBLE WORST MOVIE CONTENDERS>
Legion
The Tooth Fairy
The Bounty Hunter
Death at a Funeral
The Losers
Furry Vengeance
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Killers
Jonah Hex
Grown Ups
Vampires Suck
Skyline
Unstoppable
Faster
Yogi Bear
<quote=MOVIES SEEN, BUT DON'T FIT ON EITHER LIST>
Iron Man 2
Prince of Persia
Splice
The Runways
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Let Me In
