Last year I managed to get a post out on New Years Eve looking back at the last year of my life, hitting some high points month by month. I had hoped to get something similar posted this year but it did not happen. Now that we are three days in to old twentyeleven I am not feeling as motivated. That may change, but I doubt it.
That does not mean, though, that I do not want to look back at the year. I just want to do so in a different way. This time of year a lot of people start talking about their "Best of" lists. Best books, best songs, best albums, best movies1. So I am going to throw my hat into the ring with my own look back at the world of cinema. However, I am going to mix it up a little, instead of just looking at 2010 I am also going to tell you my favorite movies from the last decade.
To get you jazzed for the list making here are two videos looking back over the movies of 2010. Neither is comprehensive, and it is interesting how many of the same clips are used2, but they are both beautiful and very well made.
The first is Filmography 2010 edited by Gen Ip. Of the two videos this one is more stylized and utilized more of the beats found both in the music and in the clips. Whenever I watch it I am reminded of how fun movies can be.
This second video is Cinema 2010 edited by Kees van Dijkhuizen3. This video definitely has style as well it also includes a deeply haunting beauty to it. Especially the last quarter which uses the version of Creep by Scala & Kolacny Brothers to perfection. If Filmography 2010 reminded me of how fun movie can be Cinema 2010 reminds me how beautiful they can be. The most interesting thing for me that there are some legitimately bad movies found in the clips, which shows that even a bad movie can't completely diminish the beauty that is found in telling a story.
So before we begin with the list making here are a couple of things you should know. I was surprised to find that I had only seen twelve movies that were released last year. Which is sad, though to be honest a lot of the movies I want to still see (we'll get there later) where all stacked at the end of the year and I can't afford to see them all. I will tell you about ten of these movies and why I liked them, only three will be ranked as the best of them. You are totally free to disagree with them and I'd love to here your picks.
Movies I saw, and enjoyed, this year, in no particular order4.
- Youth in Revolt - There is a big time backlash against Michael Cera (of Arrested Development fame). Most of it stems from the claim that he is a one note actor who always plays the same character. If his portrayal of his own imaginary alter ego François Dillinger doesn't change your mind nothing will.
- The Book of Eli - Post apocalyptic movies have been done before, but this has a great tone. Some of it is a little over the top but it surprised me with both the story and how good the movie itself ended up being.
- Kick-Ass - Over the top and violent, but funny. Very, very funny. Chloë Grace Moretz steals the show.
- Exit Through the Gift Shop - I'm not a big documentary guy but this was an incredibly fascinating film. I don't want to say too much about it, the less you know going in the better, but this look into the world of street art (graffiti not mimes) was entrancing. JimmyMann, who is a big documentary guy, loved it as well.
- Iron Man 2 - I liked the first one a little better, but mainly because the sequel felt a little cluttered. However, Robert Downey Junior continues to be one of my favorite actors and there are very few things with Sam Rockwell in them that I don't enjoy. Those two are worth watching on their own.
- Babies - It's crazy that 16% of the movies that I saw from 2010 were documentaries but what are you going to do. This was an incredibly beautiful film that follows the first year of life for four infants around the world. A lack of narration made worked incredibly well.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I - This was the first HP that I saw where I had read the book first, though I wish I would have done a reread before I saw it. It was a great movie, very moody, a little slower, but I thought the three main actors (HP, Ronnie the Bear, and the Wretched Harmony) all showed how far they have come in their craft.
1. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
You probably haven't seen this movie, most people haven't. I've written about it a couple of times now and I really can't stop singing it's praises. Michael Cera is the titular character and, I think, does a magnificent job in the role. The supporting cast is one of the best I have ever seen (that will be a theme with these top three) especially Kieran Culken.5 Also the transitions between scenes are some of the most amazing that I've seen.
2. True Grit
The Coen brothers return to the western genre, last visited in No Country for Old Men (2007), but this time the journey is less dark, less violent, but no less beautiful. Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon are amazing as Rooster Cogburn and Texas Ranger La Boeuf respectively. However, new comer Hailee Steinfeld steals the show, if she is not at least nominated for a Best Actress Oscar it will be a crime. The most surprising part of the movie was how hilarious it was, a definite must see.
3. Inception
Here is the thing, I am rarely impressed with Leonardo DiCaprio, and while he does a good job in this movie he is nothing to write home about. However he is helped tremendously by a show stopping all-star cast, it still amazes me to think about how great they all were, even with their limited character story lines. The two things that take this movie up to top three status are a) in was an incredibly original and beautiful version of what boils down to a standard heist movie and b) the sheer number of theories you can have about the movie.
PS Worst movie of the year? Shutter Island. Not that it was overly terrible, because it wasn't, but it was a huge let down as I had high expectations. It was too predictable for my tastes, and it tried way to hard to be mysterious for that level of predictability.
11 2010 movies for 2011
Movies I want to see but haven't yet: How to Train Your Dragon - I've heard nothing but good things, Toy Story 3 - I've been told to expect to cry, The Town - who knew Ben Afflec would be a good director, The Social Network - love me some Sorken dialog, Black Swan - looks creepy and amazing, I Love You Philip Morris - I'm intrigued by the hurdles it jumped to get distributed , The Fighter - Christian Bale is supposed to be amazing in it, Blue Valentine - an examination of a marriage on the rocks Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams each got a Golden Globe nomination, Catfish - all I needed to hear was that you need to know as little as possible about it, Buried - Shot in 17 days it is apparently incredibly tense, 127 Hours - James Franco plays a hiker who gets his arm trapped under a boulder, I've heard great things.
Okay so this post is taking longer than I thought6, sorry about that. When I decided to write a movie themed year-end post I started to consider looking back at the best movies of the last decade. That slowly melded into my favorite movies, which I think is an important distinction. So I did some research and discovered that some years it was very easy to pick my favorite, others it was much tougher (I'm looking at you 2007). Also, I'll give you a bonus award for the year as well.
2001 - Spy Game This is such an entertaining movie, following Brad Pitt and Robert Redford through multiple decades I was on the edge of my seat the first time I saw it. It is not a movie I put on if I am trying to get something else done. -- Most cool action pieces bogged down by inane story line: Pearl Harbor.
2002 - Lord of the Rings I am lumping all three movies together into one chunk this year because they are great, but I didn't want to take up three years of movies, plus '02 didn't have much else that stood out. They are really good. -- Best foreign movie that was the basis for an Oscar winner: Infernal Affairs.
2003 - Confidence A sold movie that is made great by its ending. Highly stylized with rapid fire dialogue. I'd love to watch it again, but it has gone missing, I blame the Feltons. -- Biggest train wreck that caused a knighted Academy Award winner to retire from acting: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
2004 - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou I have talked about Life Aquatic before here. So I'll just say this, it holds up after many repeat viewings, which is always the mark of a great film. -- Movie I can't stand that you would assume that I would like: Garden State.
2005 - Serenity The follow up film to the television show Firefly. It is a funny sci-fi western with some horror elements. If that doesn't interest you then nothing will. -- Worst movie I saw in the theater this decade: Saw II.
2006 - Children of Men Compelling story? Check. Good acting? Check. Amazingly well done long takes? Check. Favorite movie of the year? Check. -- Incredible start, terrible finish: Silent Hill.
2007 - Hot Fuzz Directed by the same guy as Scott Pilgrim this homage to buddy cop movies (think Bad Boys 2) is absolutely hilarious, I saw it in the theater then gathered a bunch of people to go see it again. -- I knew it wouldn't be good, but I didn't know it could be this bad: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
2008 - Tropic Thunder This is the funniest Ben Stiller movie I have seen in a long time, I am sure a big reason that I like it is because I enjoy movies so much, so of course I would like a movie about making movies. Plus, not surprisingly, Robert Downey Junior was fantastic. -- Most overrated movie that has three movies worth of stuff crammed into it: The Dark Knight.
2009 - Where the Wild Things Are A movie that had me smiling from start to finish, partially because it was good and partially because it took me back to my childhood. An absolutely beautiful movie that was made that much better because they used practical effects instead of just CGI. -- The only blue movie you might one day possibly see: Avatar.
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1 Check out Sarah blog for a good list: Not Wholly In Vain
2 Probably due to using a lot of clips from trailers so didn't have to watch trash like The Last Airbender.
3 He makes one every year so you can time warp if you want.
4 That's not true, it's actually chronological.
5 Also Chris Evan, Brandon Routh, and Jason Schwartzman.
6 Deal with it KaSchmal.
