Best Films Of 2010
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- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsMatt DamonCécile de FranceBryce Dallas HowardAn American construction worker, a French journalist and a London school boy set out on a spiritual journey after death touches their lives in different ways.To me this is definitely one of Mr. Eastwood's best projects. A subtle and brilliant film. 9/10
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsEwan McGregorPierce BrosnanOlivia WilliamsA ghost writer, hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.Polanski had quite a year, but hopefully Polanski's 2010 is most remembered for this film, rather than anything else. This is very relevant and masterful storytelling from one of the best directors on the planet. This film can seem a little slow at first, but it actually unfolds with great precision, and hits you with punches that you never see coming. This is truly great filmmaking. 9/10
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioEmily MortimerMark RuffaloTeddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place.I had to rewatch the ending a second time to be exactly sure of what was being relayed via the beautiful art of filmmaking by the one and only, Martin Scorsese. I basically rushed home right after watching it in the theatre so I could rewatched the end again online. This is a brilliant and impactful story, especially when the end is fully understood. In fact the ending of the book is not nearly as good as what Scorsese does with the film. In the end this film becomes an amazing story of hope and compassion. However most people have not even seen or realised this deep aspect of Scorsese's storytelling in full scope.
**SPOILER** It becomes a story of hope and compassion because at the end when Andrew decides he can no longer live with himself, and begins to purposely regress back into Teddy, we feel strongly that he should not essentially kill himself (Get a lobotomy). We want Andrew to overcome his own demons, even though he feels he is a monster. Even though he is haunted by the war, even though he killed his own wife. Even though his kids were murdered by his wife, and even though he can't seem to stop losing his sense of reality and can be a real danger to others. We still want Teddy to go on, we still have hope that he can make something of his life again. We want him to get better, and so do all the doctors. This story delivers by far the most brilliant anti suicide theme that we could ever see or imagine on film. This whole film is a brilliant work of art. For those of you who totally missed this aspect of the ending, (Which is the vast percentage of you) in interviews Scorsese has confirmed this hopeful message I have talked about at the end of the film. In the end, quite obviously this film is about not giving up, no matter how horrific your experiences have been. Keep pushing forward, rather than continuing to hold on to your pain and fall back into confusing and negative emotions.
This film however is not just a hopeful piece. It is an incredibley well crafted film in every regard. Shutter Island could in fact be Scorsese's most underrated film yet.
8.5/10 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsLubna AzabalMélissa Désormeaux-PoulinMaxim GaudetteTwins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes.A knockout!
- DirectorSzabolcs HajduStarsOrsolya Török-IllyésOana PelleaRazvan VasilescuIn order to regain custody of her daughter, whom she left in the care of her fortune-telling aunt, Mona must tell a social worker her story. The tale she spins---and the movie we watch---is a wild, surreal adventure in which people are able to project and enter each other's dreams, and our heroine is sold into slavery and lands in a swank, debauched Liverpool brothel where the patrons enact their literary/sexual fantasies with Lolita, St. Joan, and Desdemona. Rendered with dazzling tracking shots, striking CGI effects and a pulsing soundtrack, Hungarian director Szabolcs Hajdu's risk-taking fantasia has style to spare. But under the seductive surface lurks the very human story of a woman who uses fantasy to cushion the pain of life.A beautiful mind-blowing film.
- DirectorJohn CurranStarsEdward NortonMilla JovovichRobert De NiroA convicted arsonist looks to manipulate a parole officer into a plan to secure his parole by placing his beautiful wife in the lawman's path.Many people find this film hard to relate to it seems; I however thought the film was quite brilliant. In my mind Angus MacLachlan is definitely an interesting screenwriter. 8.5/10
- DirectorJeff ZimbalistMichael ZimbalistStarsMaría Ester EscobarFrancisco MaturanaAlexis García V.The rise of Colombian soccer is attributed to the influx of drug money into the sport by Pablo Escobar and the other drug cartels. However, the team's swift decline after Escobar's death results in the murder of star player Andres Escobar.This film, 'The Two Escobars' has appeared in the ESPN 30 for 30 series, and is easily the best of all 30 Documentary films. It has also appeared on The Fabulous Picture Show TV series. I must say that it ranks as one of the very best films of the year in my view. Only a few other films are really as interesting AND as well told as this mind blowing story is. Do yourself a favor and find this film.
- DirectorTom ShadyacStarsTom ShadyacDesmond TutuNoam ChomskyDirector Tom Shadyac speaks with intellectual and spiritual leaders about what's wrong with our world and how we can improve both it and the way we live in it.A must see documentary for the spiritually minded.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsMel GibsonRay WinstoneDanny HustonAs homicide detective Thomas Craven investigates the murder of his activist daughter, he uncovers a corporate cover-up and government conspiracy that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.Well the media has buried Mel as much as they can but one thing remains true for me. I like Mel Gibson far more than I like modern day media, and I'd even trust him more than them as well. No matter what anyone says about Mel, Edge Of Darkness is a great thriller! This was the first role Mel took after an 8 year acting hiatus. Don't miss it!! 8/10
- DirectorNora BatesonStarsGregory BatesonNora BatesonGerry Brown'An Ecology of Mind' is a filmic portrait of anthropologist, biologist, and psychotherapist Gregory Bateson. Bateson believed that, 'The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between the way nature works and the way people think.' Seen through the relationship between father and daughter, this documentary is an invitation into 'systems thinking' and interrelationships in the natural world. 'Looking at what holds systems together is a radical step toward sewing the world back together, from the inside.'A very important film in terms of how we perceive ourselves and our world. I think an even better docu on this brilliant man could yet be made. It is not just important that we view ourselves as part of an ecology, it is literally an absolute must if we are interested in life and in truth at all.
- DirectorJohn MurlowskiStarsScott Anthony LeetCole WilliamsDusty SorgThe true story of William Bonin a California serial killer.
- DirectorDavid GrubinStarsRichard GereBlair BrownThe Dalai LamaAfter 400 BC, a new philosophy was born in South east Asia, generated from the ideas of Buddha, a mysterious Prince from Nepal who gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree.A good overview of the Buddhist perspective. 8/10
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsJeff BridgesMatt DamonHailee SteinfeldA stubborn teenager enlists the help of a tough U.S. Marshal to track down her father's murderer.A simple, but elegantly beautiful western. 8/10
- DirectorCruz AngelesStarsMike BritoStanley M. BrooksAl Campanis"The Natural is supposed to be a blue-eyed boy who teethed on a 36-ounce Louisville Slugger. He should run like the wind and throw boysenberries through brick. He should come from California." Steve Wulf, Sports Illustrated, 1981. So how was it that a pudgy 19-year-old Mexican left-handed pitcher from a remote village in the Sonoran desert, unable to speak a word of English, could sell out stadiums across America and become a rock star overnight? In Fernando Nation, Mexican-born and Los Angeles-raised director Cruz Angeles traces the history of a community that was torn apart when Dodger Stadium was built in Chavez Ravine and then revitalized by one of the most captivating pitching phenoms baseball has ever seen. Nicknamed "El Toro" by his fans, Fernando Valenzuela ignited a fire that spread from LA to New York -- and beyond. He vaulted himself onto the prime-time stage and proved with his signature look to the heavens and killer screwball that the American dream was not reserved for those born on U.S. soil. In this layered look at the myth and the man, Cruz Angeles recalls the euphoria around Fernando's arrival and probes a phenomenon that transcended baseball for many Mexican-Americans. Fernando Valenzuela himself opens up to share his perspective on this very special time. Even 20 years later, "Fernandomania" lives.Another great documentary that was featured on ESPN's 30 for 30 anniversary series. 8/10
- DirectorYony LeyserStarsFred AldrichLaurie AndersonAmiri BarakaWilliam S. Burroughs: featuring never before seen footage as well as exclusive interviews with his closest friends and colleagues. Born the heir of the Burroughs' adding machine estate, he struggled throughout his life with addiction, control systems, and self. He was forced to deal with the tragedy of killing his wife and the repercussions of neglecting his son. His novel, Naked Lunch, was one of the last books to be banned by the U.S. government. Allen Ginsberg and Norman Mailer testified on behalf of the book. The courts eventually overturned their decision in 1966, ruling that the book had an important social value. It remains one of the most recognized literary works of the 20th century. William Burroughs was one of the first to cross the dangerous boundaries of queer and drug culture in the 1950s, and write about his experiences. Eventually he was hailed the godfather of the beat generation and influenced artists for generations to come. However, his friends were left wondering, did William ever find happiness? This extremely personal documentary breaks the surface of the troubled and brilliant world of one of the greatest authors of all time. "William S. Burroughs: A Man Within" is the first and only posthumous documentary about this legendary figure.A great portrait of one very interesting man. 8/10
- DirectorDebra GranikStarsJennifer LawrenceJohn HawkesGarret DillahuntAn unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact.A strong film told with tons of atmosphere. In some ways this reminded me of Kubrick films, and we need to be reminded of them as much as possible. :) 7.5/10
- DirectorMiguel Ángel VivasStarsFernando CayoManuela VellésAna WagenerThree hooded Eastern-European criminals burst into a home in a Madrid gated community, holding the family hostage in its own home, and forcing the father to empty his credit cards.7.5/10
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.Well, I didn't think it lived up to all the hype, but nonetheless it was still a pretty good film. I don't think the story came out quite the way Nolan had hoped, after working on it for so many years. In my view this is basically a combination of Vanilla Sky meets The Matrix, but really it ends up being less meaningful than both (A combination of the mystical waking dream and the matrix of consciousness). I do understand entirely what Nolan is trying to say and question with this film, it is undoubtedly his version of Edgar Allan Poe's A Dream Within A Dream, or the like. However I don't think the film really comes across this way as well as it should or was meant to.
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Edgar Allan Poe
7/10 - DirectorIce CubeStarsMarcus AllenLyle AlzadoSoren BakerFor rapper-turned-filmmaker Ice Cube the emergence of gangster rap will be forever linked to the Oakland Raiders' move to Los Angeles in 1982. He turns the camera on himself to tell how his genre-defining group NWA forged an unlikely relationship with the Raiders, a team whose swagger and style captivated LA during their troubled 13-season stay.7/10
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsMark WahlbergChristian BaleAmy AdamsBased on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.Some billed this film as Rocky plus The Blindside. For me it definitely doesn't measure up to Rocky, but it still is a very solid film. I enjoyed it and it's definitely a film I could watch a few times. The main highlight of the film was its ability to weave in its gritty down to earth humor, along with the performance of Christian Bale. 7/10
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.In some ways I thought this was a great film. However in other ways I thought it could have been a lot better, especially much of the end. 7/10
- DirectorBreck EisnerStarsRadha MitchellTimothy OlyphantDanielle PanabakerAfter a strange and insecure plane crash, an unusual toxic virus enters a quaint farming town. A young couple are quarantined, but they fight for survival along with help from a couple of people.A redone zombie film that stays true to itself and pays some homage to others. A lot of fun. 7/10
- DirectorLarysa KondrackiStarsRachel WeiszMonica BellucciVanessa RedgraveA drama based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up a sex trafficking scandal.A sad but needed film. 7/10
- DirectorJim MickleStarsConnor PaoloNick DamiciKelly McGillisIn a world of vampires, an expert vampire hunter and his young protégé travel toward sanctuary.
- DirectorEthan ManiquisRobert RodriguezStarsDanny TrejoMichelle RodriguezRobert De NiroAfter being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.Machete is a funny, over the top, no B.S. action film that weaves its way through a thought provoking story. This is definitely a pretty cool film by Robert Rodriguez. 7/10
- DirectorCarl BessaiStarsDustin MilliganAmanda CrewRichard de KlerkThree twenty-somethings find themselves in an impossible time loop, where each day they awaken to the same terrifying day as the preceding one.An interesting under the radar sci-fi thriller in the vein of Groundhog Day. 7/10
- DirectorWagner de AssisStarsRenato PrietoFernando Alves PintoRosanne MulhollandThe life of the doctor André Luiz in the spiritual city of Nosso Lar.7/10
- DirectorSteve PinkStarsJohn CusackRob CorddryCraig RobinsonA malfunctioning time machine at a ski resort takes a man back to 1986 with his two friends and nephew, where they must relive a fateful night and not change anything to make sure the nephew is born.7/10
- DirectorMalcolm VenvilleStarsKeanu ReevesVera FarmigaJames CaanReleased from prison for a crime he didn't commit, an ex-con targets the same bank he was sent away for robbing.
- DirectorPaul HaggisStarsRussell CroweElizabeth BanksLiam NeesonA married couple's life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder.Another pretty solid film from Paul Haggis. 7/10
- DirectorSean PamphilonRoyce ToniStarsJohn AndersonJaney BarnesKristin BarnesThis documentary follows the life of Ricky Williams, a star for the Miami Dolphins who walked away from the sport over drug allegations. Ricky tells a different story about betrayal and turning his back on what many value - fame fortune and celebrity status.7/10
- DirectorMichael WinterbottomStarsCasey AffleckKate HudsonJessica AlbaA West Texas Deputy Sheriff is slowly unmasked as a psychotic killer.7/10
- DirectorGregor JordanStarsSamuel L. JacksonCarrie-Anne MossMichael SheenFollows a black-ops interrogator and an F.B.I. agent who try to press a suspect terrorist into divulging the location of three nuclear weapons set to detonate in the U.S.This film is great simply because it makes the viewer ask themselves important and tough questions.
If you are an open minded person, Unthinkable makes you think about things you definitely should ponder, even though you would probably rather not have to think about them.
This film essentially brings up the old adage that few things in this world are truly black and white, even though politicians, media, films, etc, usually like to pretend they are. We live in a complicated world of color where black and white makes grey. The truth or best options usually lie somewhere in the middle. Balance is truly the way of nature and those who are sane. These extremes of black and white thinking (Rights and wrongs) are as primitive as cave art. Yet still, this crap mentality is ingrained in humans across the world and still shoveled at us from countless sources, even though many of us know better.
The film as a whole goes a little over the top Hollywood (Rather than sticking to realism) in a couple of scenes. This is far, far from a perfect film, but it's tough questions alone make it well worth watching. 7/10 - DirectorEli CraigStarsTyler LabineAlan TudykKatrina BowdenAffable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.7/10
- DirectorDavid MichôdStarsJames FrechevilleGuy PearceJoel EdgertonA seventeen-year-old navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
- DirectorJohn MaddenStarsHelen MirrenSam WorthingtonTom WilkinsonIn 1965, three Mossad Agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the Agents share come back to haunt them.A better ending could have made this a fairly great film I'd say.
- DirectorNicholas StollerStarsJonah HillRussell BrandElisabeth MossA record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater.7/10
- DirectorFloria SigismondiStarsKristen StewartDakota FanningMichael ShannonA coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways. The relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett is also explored.A pretty good film in its own right. However it's also fairly disappointing if you know much of the real history here. There is a good bit of fictional sensationalism and unnecessary glamorization which I could have done without. Nonetheless it's worth watching for sure if you're a rock or punk fan. 7/10
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonJason IsaacsGreg KinnearDiscovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons of Mass Destruction in an unstable region.6.5/10
- DirectorJake ScottStarsJames GandolfiniKristen StewartMelissa LeoOn a business trip to New Orleans, a damaged man seeks salvation by caring for a wayward young woman.6.5/10
- DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerSalma HayekKevin JamesAfter their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.6.5/10
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellMark WahlbergDerek JeterTwo mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city's top cops, whom they idolize, only things don't quite go as planned.The film has many many jokes that don't really work, however it also has a few really hilarious moments. Nonetheless, the few hilarious moments, the good use of music in the film, as well as the interesting stats at the end make it well worth a watch. 6.5/10
- DirectorTrent CooperStarsKevin SpaceyCamilla BelleHeather GrahamAfter 8 years in prison, inventor Robert Axle struggles to win over his estranged family and catch up on current technology as he works to once again become the king of the infomercial.Definitely not every scene is even nearly effective in this film. However there are actually some very hilarious moments, and overall the positive messages of forgiveness, community and family are good. Not nearly as bad as the current IMDb rating of 5.7/10 in my view.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsRainn WilsonElliot PageLiv TylerAfter his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, but lacking in heroic skills.This film really is very stupid, and even to the point that much of it is quite frankly, pathetic. Nonetheless this silly film does create more than a few extremely hilarious parts. Enough to warrant a 6.5 out of 10 from me.
- DirectorMichael LanderStarsCillian MurphyElliot PageSusan SarandonA train accident in rural Nebraska gradually unveils a mystery involving the town's bank clerk.
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsRobert Downey Jr.Zach GalifianakisMichelle MonaghanHigh-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.
- DirectorJacob TierneyStarsJay BaruchelAnne-Marie CadieuxDiane D'AquilaVictor is new to Montreal and attempts to make friends with the wheelchair-bound Spencer and the cat-loving Louise, but everybody is on edge with a serial killer terrorizing the neighborhood.
- DirectorTom HooperStarsColin FirthGeoffrey RushHelena Bonham CarterThe story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.
- DirectorRudolf van den BergStarsGijs Scholten van AschatSylvia HoeksJohanna ter SteegeA laid-off book editor sets out to find his teenage daughter when she and her boyfriend go missing on holiday in Namibia.