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Best Movies of 2010 -- Did Your Favorite Make My List?

Independent Films, Talk Shows, Movie Reviews

Best Movies of 2010 -- Did Your Favorite Make My List?

2010 was a great year at the movies. Both Hollywood and independent cinema offered thought-provoking gems that thrilled and entertained us. Because of the over-abundance of quality filmmaking, I decided that this year, I will forego with the annual Top 10 and instead, give you a list of the very Best Movies of 2010...HAVE A HAPPY, SAFE, AND MAGICAL 2011!


Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

2010 was a great year at the movies. Both Hollywood and independent cinema offered thought-provoking gems that thrilled and entertained us. Because of the over-abundance of quality filmmaking, I decided that this year, I will forego with the annual Top 10 and instead, give you a list of the very Best Movies of 2010 (in alphabetical order):

“127 Hours” – “Slumdog Millionaire” vets, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and co-writer/director Danny Boyle, reteamed to give us a haunting and oddly uplifting film about Aron Ralston, the mountain climber trapped under a boulder. James Franco gave one of the most brilliant performances of the year. ("127 Hours" movie review, "127 Hours" interviews with Simon Beaufoy, Danny Boyle, and James Franco)

“Biutiful” – Alejandro González Iñárritu (“Babel,” “Amores Perros,” “21 Grams”) tells a touching tale of a man in search of redemption. That man is Javier Bardem, and his quest to achieve liberation will stay with you forever.

“Black Swan” – Director Darren Aronofsky knows how to tell a story, and this mesmerizing and captivating thriller plays with your perception. Natalie Portman is equally mesmerizing and captivating with the role. She deserves a Best Actress Oscar nomination. ("Black Swan" Movie Review)

“Despicable Me” – Not a sequel or based on a popular book, this animated treasure is one of the most original films in 2010. Steve Carell gives an inspired voice performance as Gru, the despicable but loveable character who is literally shooting for the moon. ("Despicable Me" Movie Review)

“Exit Through the Gift Shop” – A documentary about street graffiti artists that sets its sights on an eccentric French shop keeper and wannabe filmmaker, Thierry Guetta. Street artist Bansky is an instinctive director and gave us a rare peak inside the world of urban art.

“How to Train Your Dragon” – Underdogs, Vikings, and dragons! This DreamWorks Animation production taught us to believe that we can train and unleash our inner dragons. ("How to Train Your Dragon" movie review, interviews with Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, writers/directors Chris Sanders and Dean Debois)

“I Am Love” – Tilda Swinton gives a fascinating performance in this Italian love story that is at once tragic and romantic. “I Am Love” is one of the best foreign films this year.

“Inception” – Director Christopher Nolan is a brilliant filmmaker and one of the smartest, astute directors working in Hollywood today. Together with Leonardo DiCaprio, they sought to explore the architect of the mind but discovered the power of the human heart instead. ("Inception" Movie Review)

“Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” – You will change your perception about Joan Rivers after watching this documentary. In humanizing the famous comedienne, directors Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg delved into the fickle celebrity culture. (Best Summer 2010 Movies)

“Monsters” – Easily one of the best sci-fi films this year with a shoestring budget. Much like “District 9,” writer/director Gareth Edwards made an alien invasion movie that speaks volumes on illegal immigration. And it helps that the film is creepy!

“Mother” – Korean director Joon-ho Bong, the guy who gave us the excellent sci-fi thriller “The Host,” returns with this drama/thriller about a mother’s undying love for her son. Hye-ja Kim is excellent as the titular mother.

“Restrepo” – This documentary allows us to spend time with one U.S. platoon in the deadliest valley in Afghanistan. It’s a gripping reality check on the true nature of war.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” – This film was overhyped, but at least its quality matched its heated publicity. Based on a comic book series, “Scott Pilgrim” entertained us with its wacky humor and witty banter while simultaneously looking for answers about the mysteries of love. ("Scott Pilgrim" Movie Review)

“Tangled” – Another film that lived up to its hype, Walt Disney Pictures made its own animated movie without Pixar, and succeeded! Thanks to its innately sweet story and dazzling voice work by Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Flynn Rider). Alan Menken’s original music is a plus! ("Tangled" Movie Review)

“The Fighter” – Director David O. Russell might have fought with George Clooney while making “Three Kings,” but the helmer sure knows how to give a knockout movie! It has a great Oscar-ready cast headed by Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg, an affecting story about the real-life Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his crazy family, and a great soundtrack celebrating the 80s. Tubular!

“The Ghost Writer” – Say what you want about Roman Polanski, but the man is a filmmaker at heart. He made a brilliant government thriller that is funny to boot! Olivia Williams mesmerizes as the femme fatale at the heart of the film. ("Ghost Writer" movie review, interviews with Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams)

“The Illusionist” – Based on an original screenplay by French cinema legend, Jacques Tati, this charming animated film travails the slippery slope of love.

“The Kids Are All Right” – Featuring a great ensemble cast headed by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, “The Kids Are All Right” singlehandedly restored my faith on Hollywood’s ability to talk frankly about marriage and relationships. ("The Kids Are All Right" movie review, interviews with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Washikowska, Josh Hutcherson, and writer/director Lisa Cholodenko)

“The King’s Speech” – Colin Firth is my choice to win the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI. Director Tom Hooper offers a glimpse into the life of a monarch with a speech impediment. How will the king give his speech to rally his country during World War II? Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush also gave great supporting performances.

“The Social Network” – Director David Fincher and scriptwriter Aaron Sorkin make a captivating movie about the history of Facebook. At its center is the creator, Mark Zuckerberg (wonderfully played by Jesse Eisenberg), a hero you love to hate. I subscribe to the film’s entertainment value, but most importantly, “The Social Network” is the movie of this generation – a generation of online social structure. ("The Social Network" movie review, interviews with Armie Hammer, and the real Winklevoss twins!)

“The Tillman Story” – This documentary focuses on the life and tragic death of Pat Tillman, a hero who left a multimillion-dollar football contract to join the military and eventually met his end in the line of duty. This will unfathomably enrage you to look for answers surrounding the mystery of Tillman’s death.

“The Town” – Ben Affleck is a quintessential renaissance man. He acts, writes, and directs intelligent movies. Case in point is “The Town,” an engaging movie about the bank robbery capital of America. Told like a western, “The Town” forces us to root for the bad guys and leaves us near-breathless in excitement. ("The Town" movie review)

“Toy Story 3” – Sure it’s a threequel, but that’s what makes “Toy Story 3” a gem. Instead of falling into the trap of “sequel-itis,” this third installment gave us a winning conclusion that made grown men cry. The biggest blockbuster of the year also has the biggest heart. ("Toy Story 3" movie review)

“True Grit” – John Wayne would have been proud of this version. Joel and Ethan Coen faithfully adapted Charles Portis’ novel which was the reason the Duke made the original film in 1969. Excellent cast, dramatic cinematography, and heart-pounding pace make “True Grit” one of the best films of 2010. Watch for Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, she will be a big star. ("True Grit" movie review, interview with Barry Pepper)

“Waiting for Superman” – We all know our education system is broken, so how can we fix it? Director Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) highlights the problem and tries to offer solutions. The story of gifted children trying to get into better schools will break your heart.

“Winter’s Bone” – I’m glad that this Sundance darling is still captivating audiences months after winning the Grand Jury Prize. Director Debra Granik’s look into poverty and its effect on one rural community is mentally challenging but emotionally satisfying. Jennifer Lawrence deserves all the awards in the world for playing a brave teenager in search of her despondent meth-addicted father. ("Winter's Bone" movie review)

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Details

Language: English

Year of Production: 2010

Length: 3:40

Country: United States