| TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2010... |
| Written by Sian Rafferty |
| Thursday, 06 January 2011 18:20 |
 2010 was a year of the quiet achievers and the underachievers. Yes we had the blockbusters and a fair few sequels, but the real credit goes to the quirky, the independent, the humorous and the nerdy. Surprisingly three family films have made it onto top film lists worldwide, as well as two comic book retellings. In total, with the exception of a few, it was a fun year for the loopy and none-too-serious. #10. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP Perplexing, very perplexing. ‘EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP’ is a neat little story about a completely bonkers French documentary film maker and shop keeper. He seemingly has no vision; no real talent beyond his total persistence. Yet still, artist Thierry Guetta manages to completely bedazzle the L.A. art scene and become an overnight millionaire. Oh and it’s made by Banksy, probably the most notorious street artist out there. Known for his very public pranks and shots at ‘The Man’, Banksy’s story of renegade artist Guetta is well crafted. Maybe too well crafted to be completely real. TOP MOMENT: The anecdotes which Banksy recounts to Guetta are often completely astonishing and the real gems in this story. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Art films like ‘My Kid Could Paint That’, ‘Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollack’... and little doses of anarchy and sticking it to society. WATCH FOR: Banksy’s political pop at 'The Simpsons' in his sneaky recreation of their opening credits. #9. UP IN THE AIR Jason Reitman’s ‘UP IN THE AIR’ goes down nicely, like silky caramel with a simple heartfelt story. The genius perhaps comes from casting playboy mega-smooth actor George Clooney as perpetual traveller and King of the skies Ryan Bingham. Bingham leads his American Dream - money, women, fancy hotels, and best of all, absolutely nothing tying him down. That’s until everything is thrown... up in the air (see what I did there)... with the arrival of two women in Bingham’s life. Easy-watching at its best. TOP MOMENT: With artists like Elliot Smith and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, this films boasts a stand-out soundtrack which soars throughout the movie. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Thank You For Smoking’, ‘The Accidental Tourist’, and ‘Sideways'. WATCH FOR: Reitman’s next film, ‘Young Adult’ - starring Charlize Theron and sees him re-teaming with Diablo Cody of 'Juno'. #8. KICK-ASS Probably one of the more controversial films of the year, ‘KICK-ASS’ got plenty of knickers in a twist primarily over the character Hit-Girl – featuring Chloe Grace Moretz as a totally gratuitously violent, kicking spitting and swearing twelve-year-old. Audiences lapped up the complete carnage and underdog characters which made up this superhero story. The film stars newcomer (and star of Lennon biopic ‘Nowhere Boy’) Aaron Johnson, as well as old-timers like Nicholas Cage - who do well sticking to these bloody romps (instead of his more serious roles... like errr ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’). TOP MOMENT: Hit-Girl's epic entrance as her and Big Daddy rocket onto the scene and save Kickass’ hiney. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘Sin City’, ‘The Spirit’, and this year’s other underdog favourite ‘Scott Pilgrim’. WATCH FOR: Stan Lee’s cameo as a man watching the news. #7. THE HURT LOCKER Iraqi war drama ‘THE HURT LOCKER’ garnered attention at the beginning of the year as female director of this relatively unknown film, Kathyrn Bigelow, went head to head with ex-husband James Cameron. She battled his headline-hogging giant ‘Avatar’ at the Oscars, and sent the blue freaks spinning to the ground. Behind this hype was a gritty story of an American Bomb Squad in Iraq, starring Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie; this is a real David and Goliath triumph. TOP MOMENT: Renner’s swagger and cowboy attitude make him this year’s breakout actor, especially as he was snapped up by Ben Affleck in ‘The Town’ shortly after. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘Jarhead', ‘Generation Kill’, ‘Black Hawk Down’ and ‘Green Zone’. WATCH FOR: The nonexistent opening credits - this movie just dives on in. #6. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 1 2010 could be notable for one feat alone: finally a ‘HARRY POTTER’ film worthy of its place on a Top Ten list. In past years, critics around the globe maybe have let previous Potters slide into the top, based on childish loyalties and reliance on those exceptional books. This year however, the film gets ugly. There is torture, murder, and Ron throws the mother of all tantrums. Parents everywhere mutter "it’s so dark, so very dark..." But of course it ruddy well is. TOP MOMENT: Witty banter abound when everyone takes polyjuice potion to disguise themselves as Harry. Oh, and anything Ron (Rupert Grint) does. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Come on, if you haven’t seen these movies already or read the books, you never will... WATCH FOR: In 2011, the <sob> final part of the series, Hallows Part Two <sob sob>. #5. TOY STORY 3 Sometimes it can be a travesty when studios dare to touch our childhood classics. In the case of ‘TOY STORY 3’ however, producers were bang on the money. Additions such as Barbie’s camp soulmate Ken (Michael Keaton) and the lovable, yet deeply hurt Lotso (Ned Beatty) join the already all-star cast. The dusty, rose-tinted story provides a fitting send off for our childhood friends, as well as definitely the most finger-biting finale on this list. TOP MOMENT: One Mr Potato Head + one tortilla = a whole audience of laughing-induced stomach aches. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Any of the real animation greats like ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘A Bug's Life’, and ‘The Incredibles’. WATCH FOR: The excellent short at the start, ‘Day And Night’ - Pixar have sure outdone themselves with this simple yet clever tale. #4. INCEPTION If this was a list looking for the most befuddling movie of 2010, ‘INCEPTION’ would win hands down. Seemingly out of nowhere, this movie did what Christopher Nolan does best, leaving audiences the world over scratching their heads in confusion. Pure escapism at its best, Nolan took us head first into a dream world where anything was possible, and showcased some of the most amazing shots of the year - like the collapsing cities and zero gravity fights. TOP MOMENT: The cocky chemistry between Eames (Tom Hardy) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) make for some of the more amusing one-liners. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Anything distinctly Nolan - ‘Batman Begins’, ‘The Dark Knight’, ‘Memento', ‘The Prestige’. WATCH FOR: Nolan’s next project, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in 2012. #3. FANTASTIC MR. FOX You can’t go wrong when it’s Wes Anderson, and you can’t go wrong when you are working from a legendary storyteller like Roald Dahl. Taking on Quentin Blake’s unique but entirely distinctive style, Anderson and crew enlist their usual posse - cue George Clooney, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman - to retell this iconic story (which is probably the best Dahl story... well after ‘The Twits’ of course... and ‘Esiotrot’... and ‘Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’. Sigh, they are all good. TOP MOMENT: A speech/toast that Mr. Fox gives to his survivor woodland animal friends. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘The Life Aquatic With Steven Zissou’, ‘The Royal Tenenbaums', ‘James And The Giant Peach’. WATCH FOR: The original books - vampires and wizards may have replaced the popularity of Dahl’s classic novels, but they truly are masterpieces for young and old alike. #2. THE SOCIAL NETWORK 2010 reached out to a smarter audience. Gone are the wizz-bang pyrotechnics of years past ('Transformers' I am looking at you), to be replaced with more subtle comedy and discourse that required a sharper intelligence, or at least a few moments to ponder on. Case in point, ‘THE SOCIAL NETWORK’. Fronted by Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, the somewhat socially inept founder of Facebook, this movie delivered an almost constant barrage of wit-slapping dialogue and a sharp story to boot. TOP MOMENT: Zuckerberg’s so hopelessly cringing attempt to converse with girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) at the start of the film. The boy doesn’t have a clue. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘Thank You For Smoking’, ‘Adventureland’... and nerdy boy hunks basically. WATCH FOR IN 2011: Andrew Garfield, who has perhaps benefited most from this movie, nabbing the lead as the next 'Spiderman'. #1. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD The breakout film of this year would have to be the rockin' ‘SCOTT PILGRIM’. Resting firmly on the original comic material and supported by some choice beats lovingly created by people like Emily Haines, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, ‘Scott Pilgrim’ really is THE movie for this generation. When Scott (an adept Michael Cera, as effortlessly awkward as usual) falls for cool-girl Ramona Flowers, he soon finds out she comes with a truck load of excess baggage. With a few retro arcade effects, and kick-ass band battles, Scott fights his way past Ramona’s seven evil exes with pizzazz to get his girl. TOP MOMENT: The name of Scott’s band ‘Sex Bob-Omb’ which references ‘Bob-Omb’ from 'Super Mario Bros. 2'. Geeks unite! YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: ‘Zombieland’, ‘Shaun Of The Dead’, ‘Juno’... and music from the East Coast Canadian indie scene. WATCH FOR: Mae Whitman, one of Ramona’s exes, who actually played Cera’s girlfriend in ‘Arrested Development’ all those years ago... |
