Top ten of 2010

Hey all, as I'm sure most people know, the Oscars are coming up pretty soon, and so I figuredmy first blog post here at the Grove would be my top ten movies of 2010. Also, I'll give you opinions on what I think will win at the big awards show.

10. The American

Because of the advertisements making the movie look like it was supposed to an action packed thrill ride of a spy thriller in the vein of the excellent Bourne Trilogy, I found that I was presently surprised to find that the American was something different entirely. I found a movie not about some super agent running around and kicking the ass of everyone around him, but a movie that was a slow and calculated character study about a man trying to leave his dark past behind and start anew in the sleepy village of Castel del Monte. While not for everyone (namely the girl on my floor who called it the worst movie of all time, sorry Gabby, that honor goes to Transformers II) the movie features beautiful cinematography, great tension, and good action the little bit it is there.

9. The Kids are All Right

The Kids are All Right is a drama-comedy with brains. The movie is at times hilarious, sad, and entirely compelling. The balance between comedy and drama is top notch, never veering too far in any direction. The acting is excellent and you care for every character on screen and their respective struggles. I really enjoyed Mark Ruffalo in it, and because of this movie he has gone from being "that guy from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" to an actor I actually care about. Simply put, the Kids are All Right is a great film; one of the best in 2010.

8. True Grit

Being a big fan of the western genre of movies, and given their sad decline in popularity since the 80's, I was happy to see a new western come out this year (and even directed by the Coen Brothers!). The performances in the movie a brilliant, Jeff Bridges brings a nice edge of comedy to Marshall Cogburn, Hailee Steinfield is one of the best young actresses out there, and Matt Damon is unrecognizable as Matt Damon. Despite being one of the Coen Brother's weakest films, True Grit is still a worthy remake of the John Wayne classic, it brings the thrills, the tension, and the old west action I have been craving since 3:10 to Yuma.

7. Inception

Despite what I may say about Inception being overrated, it is still a marvel of film making. Christopher Nolan poured his life into this movie, never settling for the easy way out (going so far as to build a giant rotating hallway for the gravity crazy sequence). He worked out the script for nearly a decade, and his work paid off with one of the best heist movies in recent memory, and certainly the most original. Being lead by a strong cast featuring the always excellent Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy, Inception is both awe inspiring and thought provoking.

6. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I cannot exclaim enough how much I enjoy this movie, and while it is no where near the top movie of 2010, it is certainly the funniest. Scott Pilgrim's comedy delivers on all fronts from clever turns of phrase to repeating visual gags that poke fun at everything from videogames to movies to manga. Michael Cera finally breaks out of his role as socially awkward teenager, and becomes a marital arts ass-kicking-bad-ass. Edgar Wright's direction is great, going for as many practical effects as possible, which made the film look great. It is a 60 million dollar movie that looks like it is a 100 million dollar movie. Scott Pilgrim may have been a flop at the box office, but I encourage anyone and everyone to at least give it a shot.

5. The Fighter

The Fighter is an interesting movie, it is more a study of the relationship between the members of a highly dysfunctional family than another Rocky Balboa tale. While there is certainly plenty of underdog boxing matches and watching Mark Wahlberg get the shit kicked out of him, the true heart and soul of this movie is in the family relationship, specifically between the two brothers Mickey Ward and Dickey Ecklund. I have to specifically call out Christian Bale's performance as Dickey Ecklund as being the best of the year. He deserves his long awaited Oscar for it, and it is what elevates the movie to the level of greatness it has attained. He literally lives the part. The Fighter is a smart and emotional boxing movie about what it takes to succeed, and I highly recommend it.

4. The Social Network

David Fincher takes what could have been "that movie about Facebook" and elevates it to a new level. The Social Network is an enthralling tale about the rise of the world's youngest billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, and how he back-stabbed his friends, stole ideas, and threw a lot of legal money around to get there. Jesse Eisenberg breaks out of his mold as the poor man's Micheal Cera, and makes the movie his own, giving Mark Zuckerberg little personality ticks and just a hint (Well a lot) of asshole. Zuckerberg is a fascinating character to watch, and the drama within is compelling throughout. The direction is fantastic, the soundtrack haunting, and the performances compelling making the Social Network my number four choice.

3. Winter's Bone

Winter's Bone is a fantastic and highly original film all around. The sense of mystery the prevails throughout the film is fantastic, and the compelling way the mystery of the movie unwraps around the audience is superb. A great leading performance by new face Jennifer Lawrence carries the movie from one uncompromising and depressingly realistic moment to the next as she retraces her father's footsteps in a desperate attempt to save her family's home. With phenomenal characters, acting, and plot, Winter's Bone offers one of the best movie watching experiences of 2010.

2. The King's Speech

A movie about King George the VI's speech impediment. Sounds pretty boring right? Well, that plot summary does not give what director Tom Hooper accomplished by making this lovable, compelling movie about friendship, family, overcoming class differences, and finally, getting over a disability that has kept you from achieving your life's goals, justice. Colin Firth plays the King flawlessly, giving us a character who has fame, money, and absolute power; yet he makes us feel sorry for him. Another shout out must go Geoffrey Rush who played the King's speech therapist Lionel Logue. Hey portrays Lionel as a kind, knowledgeable working class man with unusual conventions about his work. He is hilarious, lovable, and completely unorthodox. The King's Speech is a move that does not sound great on basic plot summary alone, but if you were to ignore it based on this fact, you would be missing one of the greatest movies of 2010.

1. Black Swan

Black Swan is thrilling, disturbing, heartbreaking, mind boggling, intense, and beautiful. The movie is arguably the best directed of the year, with Darren Aronofsky's brilliant use of lighting, focus, and point of view to give the movie its unique look. The camera often stays close to Portman's character, never letting the audience let go of her or her struggles. I must point out, Portman's Oscar deserving performance carries the movie to its full extent, giving us an incredibly wide range of emotions, depth, and believability. The movie's unconventional take on the tale of Swan Lake, and its slow spiral down the hole of insanity is brilliantly done, nearly perfect. Black Swan is not for the faint at heart though, throughout the movie my heart was beating out of my chest awaiting the next grotesque occurrence that would happen, ever wondering what exactly was going on with this character, and how this film was going to end. Black Swan is everything Aronofsky set out to achieve, Portman's career defining performance, and quite simply, the best movie of 2010.

Special Category: Most Embarrassing Omission

I did not get around to seeing 127 Hours yet. Danny Boyle is one of my favorite directors, and the movie has gotten nothing but praise. Upon seeing it, this list may be slightly revised. Or maybe not... I can be lazy.

And as promised, here is a prediction of the major categories at the Oscars:

Best Movie: The King's Speech

Best Director: Darren Aronofsky

Best Screenplay: The King's Speech

Best Lead Actor: Colin Firth

Best Lead Actress: Natalie Portman

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld