The Best of Film 2010: Let the Arguements Begin

 yes it was a good year for film lovers. my personal tastes vary and there was a lot to satisfy my movie going pleasure. i can't limit my 'best of' to ten. the following are just representing the treasure trove of movies that more than satisfied in 2010.

these films affected me in different ways. some are brilliant pieces of film making. a couple just made me smile. two made me shudder in a good way. one specifically dazzled my eyes and ears. some made me cry or a least shed a few tears. some made me think well after the film ended. but after all is said and done they all satisfied and touched me in one way or another. 

(argue amongst yourselves. my work is done)

1. the king's speech
simply the all around best. acting, directing, screenplay and characters you care for. give colin the oscar now.

2. Inception

a feast for the eyes and ears. what direction and editing are all about.

3. Black Swan

a psycho sexual feast. i just happen to love films that blur the line between reality and fantasy. a better descent into maddness has not been served up before. give natalie the oscar now.

4. Shutter Island

a mystery to die for. another film that blurs the line between what is real and maybe not so real.

5. Agora

does history repeat itself? see for yourself.

and the rest in no particular order



The Town

ben affleck triumphs in his sophmore directorial effort. why the hell is blake lively not getting supporting kudos?

 127 Hours

the film some are afraid to see. has no one ever heard of great editing. a triumph in cinema fotography

 City Island

a slice of life gem. andy garcia has never been better.

 Hereafter

no pronouncements or denouncements. just a call for thoughtful dialogue. clint eastwood amazes yet again.

 Fair Game

the truth can prevail.

 The Social Network

amazing on most levels. a bit overwritten and yet surprisingly underdeveloped characterization. the characters btw are some of the most despicable people i've ever spent two hours with.

 Remember Me

an indie with heart. robert pattinson is more than a vampire heart throb. he has the wounded soul of a montgomery clift.

 Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

i really did not want to see this film. i was more than pleasantly surprised.

 Letters to Juliet

a romcom for all ages. vanessa redgrave shines.

 Twilight Eclipse

the best of the trilogy. you may say well hell that's not saying much. well maybe not to you but it is to me.

 The Fighter

i went kicking and screaming. i was wrong. christian bale is worth the admission price.

 The Tillman Story

oh america the beautiful...not so much.

 Hiachi: A Dog's Tale

why the hell this little gem went straight to dvd i'll never know. if you ever loved a pet or had a pet love you this is a must.

'The Town' Releases Today on Blu Ray and DVD

the golden globes decided to ignore 'the town' except for a nod to jeremy renner in the supporting male category. you should not ignore it. when i first saw it i wondered if it would catch on. many film critic organizations got it right and it made more ten best lists than i thought it might. this is a nice surprise. it also appears to be getting rewarded in the ensemble acting category where that distinction applies. the credit for this goes to ben allleck. there is not a weak acting moment in this film.

mr. affleck also gave rebecca hall and blake lively their best roles to date. especially ms. lively. for those of you who only know her as serena on 'gossip girl', where she is actually wonderful, you ain't seen nothing yet. as the meth addicted krista she shines. and it seems that only the san diego film critics and i noticed. blake gives one of the best supporting performances of 2010. is it because of 'gossip girl' that she can't really be taken that seriously. have we forgotten that two time oscar winner sally field appeared in 'gidget' and 'the flying nun' before major film roles?

you owe it to yourself to see this film. this is just a reminder. i'll bet the farm it makes one of the ten nominations come oscar time. i'll bet the same farm the oscars ignore blake lively. they've made bigger mistakes in the past but don't get me started.

'THE TOWN' IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF 2010

blake as krista

 with director affleck

'The Town' ***1/2stars

like most i wondered if ben affleck's first directorial effort, 'burn baby burn', was a one time fluke. well we need wonder no more. with 'the town' he is proving himself to be a director to be reckoned with. and he gets everything out of his cast that they have to give with no holds barred. 'the town' is a damn good film.

it has oscar noms wriiten all over it at the moment. there are three months to go.

and he directs himself better than anyone else has. unlike streisand who can give herself no direction, ben keeps his own performance in check. and who the hell is rebecca hall? keep this woman working. she goes to the head of my class. and damn blake lively breaks out as a strung out single mom leaving her rather glamorous image way in the dust. give her a supporting nom now! 

run now to see this film...yes film. it soars way above 'movie'. it's almost a work of art. keep on directing ben. you're a natural.