My late and slightly incomplete year in film.

In the past I've been able to comfortably do a traditional top ten at the end of the year, however in 2010 I haven't quite been to the multiplex enough to really warrant something like that in my mind. There's a whole gang of notable films that I've managed to miss that probably would have made their way into a best of list. In any event, because the Oscar nominations came out today and we're already a month into 2011, I feel compelled to at least do something, so without further ado here is my late and slightly incomplete year in film. Enjoy!

The best movies you've probably not seen.


Monsters - An independent science fiction epic that was shot for about hundred bucks or something like that, but looks like a billion. A tale that shows us love can come in any shape, form or fashion and in the end we are all just lost souls looking for one another, no matter human or really big octopus type alien creature.

Devil - If you told me M.Night Shyamalan is a once great filmmaker that has fallen from grace quicker then the construction workers in The Happening, I probably wouldn't debate. And judging from the universal opinion that his big film from this past year The Last Airbender was about as entertaining as watching someones puke dry on the bottom of your brand new boots, it's easy to say his 2010 wasn't a great one. Not so fast. He came up with the story for this raw and scary sleeper and let another filmmaker write the screenplay and direct. Enter volume one of The Night Chronicles. More Sixth Sense then Airbender, I could assure you. Peep it if you've slept.

The Kids are All Right - After this snags a few Oscars more people will take note but I can let you in on it right now, this could possibly be the best picture of the year, and probably is in my book. A funny and emotional trip with a progressive and challenging, more modern day take on a nuclear family. A simple story with complex performances, anchored by a career defining one in Annette Bening.

The best movie we can all probably agree on.


Toy Story 3 - Seriously though who hasn't loved this ten year plus saga of our favorite inanimate (or in this case very animated) childhood companions? If this is indeed the last installment, it'll make Buzz and Woody's adventure one of the most entertaining trilogies the film world has ever seen. It's as good as the first two and perhaps the most genuinely moving film of the year. Maybe it's crazy to admit because of the technology involved but the creator's of this movie have managed to make it the most heartfelt and soulful film and are able to effortlessly span it from one generation to the next, without any real human beings in it. A true testament to the combination of art and storytelling at its very best.

The rest of the best.


The Fighter - Sure we've seen this type of thing before but when it's well done, there's no denying its impact. A gritty yet beautiful movie in all aspects led by an insanely brilliant display of acting by Christian Bale.

Cyrus - A weird, hilarious movie centered around the off beat chemistry of Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly. So well made you don't know whether you want to laugh, cry or yell at the screen.

Kick-Ass - Pure, adrenaline filled piece of pop culture. A bloody good time.

Leaves of Grass - Not really sure when and if this was actually released, but it could perhaps be the greatest straight to DVD movie ever made. It's a mystifying notion to me that Edward Norton's performance as twin brothers in this is going to go unnoticed this awards season. Do what you can to check this one out, Norton's role alone makes it well worth it.

Guilty Pleasures


The Book of Eli - Sure the plot of this one seems like it was written by me circa 1993, not a good thing. But I can't help to admit that I loved seeing Denzel go out of his comfort zone of being cool ass Denzel, to being cool ass Denzel living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland taking goon after goon out with a Katana blade. Gary Oldman hoots and hollers about wanting the magic Bible or something and Mila Kunis somehow gets mixed up in the whole ordeal, this movie kinda sucks real bad, but I like it.

The Wolfman - Fortunately I watched the unrated version of this OnDemand, because we all know the more brutal be-headings by a wolfman the better. To me it had fine acting, great effects and a strong plot, it even manages to be a bit scary at times. To most critics and movie goers it missed the mark, perhaps I'm a sucker for a good monster movie, so shoot me. Without a silver bullet preferably.

Why did these suck?


I ask that question because it truly is baffling to me what exactly went wrong with these three films. All three have a great premise and a great cast, it's just in the end the final product never came together in the way it should have. Iron Man 2 had more of a How to Make an American Quilt vibe then carrying over the energy and storytelling of the first one. Splice seemed to be going okay until they actually had the hero of the film lustfully have sex with the monster, I don't care if I'm giving anything away here, never watch it because it's more disturbing then it sounds. And The Expendables should have been the manliest, most kick ass movie ever made but ended up being a truly dreadful experience. Let down, let down, let down.

Don't believe the hype.


Inception - I considered dedicating a whole post to why this film just isn't that good, but I decided in the day and age when something could insist upon itself with such a strong fervor, I would ultimately come off as a hater in the minds of the fall in line mass. So I'll keep it short and sweet. I could admit because of the sheer audacity of the whole thing, in the middle of a weak summer it could manage to be a stand out. What I can't understand is how people have claimed that this is the best movie of the year, best movie of the decade, and so on. And now with best picture nod, I am truly confused. Did I miss something here or was this not a bunch of halfhearted, drone like performances making the most of the buildings folding around them? Not a single remarkable character, classic line, challenging scene, hint of soul in the whole thing. Just pointless heavy handed scene, after heavy handed scene...amounting to nothing but I dunno, nothing.

Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky has managed to make movies about drug addiction and professional wrestling both depressing and grimy, this I understand. But to take beautiful actresses, put them in a movie about ballerinas and make the audience feel like they need a laugh and a shower when the credits roll is actually quite a feat. Sans Portman's performance there is really nothing to this film except the usual bleakness and cynical character studies that come with the territory.

The must see before Oscar day list.



While there's still a handful of movies I haven't seen yet, some out of pure curiosity (The Karate Kid, Predators, A-Team, etc) the ones above are four that I kind of need to see before the Academy Awards air. It just wouldn't feel right if I didn't and obviously any of the above lists could change when I do.


So there you have it. Kind of a weak year in cinema if you ask me. Not surprisingly though, I remember reading through an Entertainment Weekly preview issue back in 09 and thinking the year ahead didn't really get my juices flowing all that much. This coming year may or may not be different, it definitely looks like there might be a renaissance of superhero movies, which is always fun. So until then, keep watching movies. I'll see you around with a bucket of popcorn and some jujubes.

Peace.