[Metrujectiktus]

"The notion of objectively ordering works of art seems bizarre to me."
– Roger Ebert

Yet he still puts out a Top 10 list every year anyway. So w/ that in mind, what are your top ten films of 2010?

Here are the Top 10 Films that I saw in 2010*:

#10 Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1
The climax to the Harry Potter series begins! I'm a fan of the novels, and despite my best efforts, I've had difficulty not comparing the films to the novels. I enjoyed the first two films well enough, and I was really pleased with the adaptations of the third and fourth novels. However, the fifth and sixth films really left me feeling disappointed—like opportunities were missed. Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 left me with no such feeling. Indeed, I think this is the best film of the series thus far. And even though I know how the novels conclude, I cannot wait to see how the film series plays out to its conclusion in Pt. 2.

#9 How To Train Your Dragon
The story is that of a misfit Viking trying to fit in. His village is plagued by dragon attacks and all he wants to be is the number one dragon slayer—until he befriends an injured dragon named Toothless. This film is the perfect package for a family film: it has heart, humor, and spectacular CGI action. I saw this film in both 2d & 3D in theaters, and the animation in this film definitely begs for the 3D technology to be quickly perfected for home theaters.

#8 The A-Team
By far one of the most enjoyable action films I've seen in a long time. Fans of the 1980s TV show will remember the short voice-over at the beginning of each episode explaining how these former soldiers became mercenaries known as The A-Team. Well, this movie is that story, and it's a hilarious one filled with one hyperbolic action scene after another. They also cram in some nice character arcs without coming off too corny. The bottom line is: if you like action films then you'll like this movie. If you liked the 80s TV show, you'll love this movie. And if you loved the 80s TV show then this film will likely be for you an experience so awesome that it may make your head explode—well, either that or make you pee yourself a little.

#7 Catfish
This is a sweet and enjoyable documentary on how modern day romance blooms and grows via facebook for the first two-thirds of the film, and then it becomes a haunting and engaging character study for the final third. I won't spoil the final act for you here, but this film will definitely have you talking afterwards about the thin line that separates delusion from reality and insanity from desperation.

#6 The Social Network
When writer Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher team up to make a film about the creation of the world's most popular social network (*derp*facebook*derp*), I'm pretty much sold on that alone. However, the performances and gut wrenching irony of the story behind how Mark Zuckerberg's Internet empire was created in the "mean streets" of Harvard (where pretension and douche-baggery are as common among the students as brilliance and creativity) only make this filmgoing experience that much more layered and enjoyable.

# 5 True Grit
George Portis wrote a western novel called True Grit and John Wayne starred in the 1969 film version as morally questionable US Marshal Rueben "Rooster" Cogburn. Some people might say calling the 1969 version a "classic of the genre" is hyperbole—and those people would be asshats. So, it is no small compliment when I say the Coen Brothers have neither done the novel nor Wayne's film a disservice with their 2010 re-make. The Coen's version is slightly darker, and the violence more graphic, than Wayne's version. The Coen's take a more naturalistic approach to Portis' tale, while Wayne's version was more "Hollywood" in many ways—especially with the ending. And it is with the ending that I have my greatest complaint—it just kind of lays there with a thud. However, everything else from the dialogue to the performances is just about perfect. I could also nit-pick a bit about the pacing, but I won't. I enjoyed the rest of the film too much to bother you with those trifles. I highly recommend seeing this great addition to the Western genre.

#4 The Fighter
This film is directed by David O. Russell in a gritty documentary style and is based on the true story of Micky Ward and his half-brother Dick Eklund. Both brothers were boxers, but their lives and careers were drastically different. This film is a wonderful drama about boxing, the dynamics of Ward's family, and redemption. Both Ward and Eklund are fighters, but it is Eklund, who is played in an Oscar worthy performance by Christian Bale, that makes the greatest transformations in the film. I'll admit this film has a story we've all seen before (the underdog triumphs despite the odds); however, thanks to the outstanding performances and direction, I was never once bothered by that fact because I was too busy riding along with the characters on their emotional highs and lows on the roller coaster that is their lives.

#3 Toy Story 3
The first Toy Story film came out when I was working at a movie theater in high school, and I've been a fan of Pixar ever since. This film, like all Pixar films, has heart, humor, exquisite animation, a well paced plot, and most importantly—characters you truly care about.

#2 Inception
The closest thing I can compare seeing this film when time I saw The Matrix for the first time. While both films deal with reality and our concepts of reality, Inception is James Bond sleek where The Matrix is sci-fi stylized. The visuals are breathtaking, the soundtrack outstanding, performances are stellar, and the plot dizzyingly engaging. The only thing keeping this exceptional film from the #1 spot on my list is a movie that was made specifically just for me…

#1
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
This movie was made for me in the sense it was custom-made for males 18-40. It's got superhero action, witty dialogue, video game references, wicked punk rock tunes by Beck, snarky characters to hate, awesome characters to cheer, and it uses kung-fu fights as a visual metaphor for all the baggage that comes in a romantic relationship. Anyone looking to gain insight into the heart, mind, and soul of a male movie/music/comic/gamer geek need go no further than this film.

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* Films that I didn't get to see in 2010, but are films I hope to see in 2011 are: 127 Hours, All Good Things, The American, Blue Valentine, The Company Men, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, Machete, and Somewhere.

[Andrius]

This movie was made for me in the sense it was custom-made for males 18-40.

I don't know that I'd gender it. As a female movie/music/comic/gamer geek, I felt like it was custom-made for me too, to the point where I left the theater giddy -- "yes, somebody GETS IT!" Otherwise, totally agree.

[L0KoxewQ]

I still haven't seen Blue Valentine or The Tempest, but I've pretty much seen everything else I really wanted to. I did a top 15.

Top 15


1. Black Swan


2. Buried


3. Life During Wartime


4. Rabbit Hole


5. Black Death


6. Red, White & Blue


7. Catfish


8. Dogtooth


9. Enter The Void


10. Please Give


11. 127 Hours


12. Amer


13. Paranormal Activity 2


14. The Last Exorcism


15. True Grit

Honorable Mentions


Somewhere


Monsters


The Loved Ones


Frozen


Chloe

[Z3s9vQZj]

I've seen so little this year! Despite that, Black Swan is definitely #1.

[Metrujectiktus]

Top 15? I like it. I've heard good things about Monsters and it's on my queue.

I don't know that I'd gender it. As a female movie/music/comic/gamer geek, I felt like it was custom-made for me too, to the point where I left the theater giddy -- "yes, somebody GETS IT!" Otherwise, totally agree.

Well, sorry for the gender bias there. I guess you're right in that it doesn't completely speak to the male geek. But you have to admit, especially if you've watched any of the BluRay extras, that this was a movie conceived of by and for guys geeks.

[prmwsinfo]

This is the first year in recent memory where I don't even know if I can put together a list of 10 movies I loved. 2010 was weeeeak. There's a lot I haven't seen, though. I think for all its flaws, Black Swan is the most interesting, entertaining movie to come out this year. I Love You Phillip Morris was also wonderful. True Grit disappointed the hell out of me, but Coens can be growers. Inception was good, but throwaway. And some of the dialogue is abominable. The Social Network is well-made and entertaining, but has almost nothing interesting to say about anything.

Mainstream American filmmaking needs a reboot.

[Loopyjr]

The Social Network is well-made and entertaining, but has almost nothing interesting to say about anything.

I was actually most interested in reading your picks, so it comes as no surprise that you seem to be the only person that agrees with me re: The Social Network. For me, it was just a well-made film about Facebook. I didn't glean anything from it other than that. I actually wonder if it's an age thing.

[vansVoish]

eh.. I didnt really go to the movies much this year. However, of the few times I did go, I can tell you that Inception was one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. And Shutter Island was a close second... so it was a good year for Leo, in my book.

[mirvokrug]

I have been slacking in watching movies. I have a list of films from this year that I enjoyed or would want to see again. I haven’t seen some of the 2010 films yet mentioned above and so those aren’t on the list. Some of them I have, but wasn’t thrilled with them enough to include them. Some of them are light weight fluff and some aren’t, but I enjoyed them and that was my only criteria.
In no particular order:
1. Restrepo - a great documentary. For a war that we hear about on the nightly news, but see little of, this documentary performs a much needed service.
2. True Grit - Though not as good as No Country for Old Men, I still enjoyed it, primarily for Bridges's and Steinfeld’s performances and the true star - the dialogue from the book translated to the screen so accurately and lovingly.
3. Red - was a fun and light weight fluff of a movie. I also have a soft spot for funny spy movies.
4. Greenberg - finally a Ben Stiller movie that I like. And Gerwig was great in it too.
5. The Ghost Writer - A well filmed thriller, like I haven’t seen in a good long time.
6. Winter’s Bone - Great non-condescending view of life at the tattered edges. Jennifer Lawrence was so good in this. The scene where she gets her “proof” to keep the family home, stuck with me for days.
7. Four Lions - a very funny and also dark satire. It’s what terrorism would look like if performed by the equivalent of the Three Stooges. Oddly enough the ending is sad and inevitable though.

I agree that 2010 wasn't a banner year for movies.

[L0KoxewQ]

5. The Ghost Writer - A well filmed thriller, like I haven’t seen in a good long time.

I completely forgot about that movie. It would've been on my list for sure. I liked the classic suspense vibe, all atmosphere and the feeling of being watched, creeps lurking around dark corners.

[prmwsinfo]

I really enjoyed Ghost Writer as well.