2010 was a solid year at the box office with plenty of good films for both the mainstream and critical audiences. I have compiled a list of our top films of the year as well as some of the worst. I decided to mix it up a bit and not give the standard list of dramatic films which are sure to dominate the awards season.
Yes, those films are being included, but I believe that there were various genre films that really captured the essence of their core audiences expectations, and as such should be recognized, as not every film needs a complex story and outstanding acting to be a satisfying experience and worth of merit.
The Best of 2010
The Social Network
A solid story and top flight cast keeps this film riveting from start to finish. The incredible, if albeit dramatically enhanced, story of the creation of Facebook is a compelling human drama which gets the most out of its cast and source material to deliver one of the best films of the year.
127 Hours
James Franco and Director Danny Boyle have crafted a gripping and intense human drama about just how far a person is willing to go to survive. While the story was widely told in the news media, Boyle manages to maintain a sense of tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Franco gives a masterful performance and despite the gory content, the uplifting story is one of the best ever told.
The Kings Speech
Colin Firth gives an outstanding performance in this very well-made historical story of how a speech defect hindered the installment of King George the VI to the British throne when his brother suddenly abdicated the position. Firth gives an Oscar-worthy performancem, as does Geoffrey Rush, with and strong supporting cast.
The Fighter
Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg give dramatic performances that will not soon be forgotten in this gripping true story of two brothers who battle each other over the paths their lives have taken them. Both Wahlberg and his character are given a stunning shot in the limelight with this movie.
True Grit
Jeff Bridges follows his Oscar win last year with another film that is destined to land him as contender this year. The Coen brothers’ take on the John Wayne classic is a dark and gripping tale of a bitter old law man (Bridges) who embarks on a quest to help a young girl avenge the death of her father.
The Expendables
Ok, the acting and story were not great, but Sylvester Stallone crafted a fun throwback to the action films of old and by surrounding himself with a bevy of action stars, gave fans the testosterone fueled throw down that they had sadly been missing from the current group of action films and proved that the old guys can still deliver.
SALT
While it was formulaic in parts, Angelina Jolie and Director Philip Noyce gave us a solid Cold War era thriller that despite some plot holes, was a gripping and thrilling adventure that was filled with twists and turns and plenty of action.
Inception
The twisting plotline of the film, the solid special effects and the ending, that is still debated by millions, underscored that this was not your simple popcorn flick. The movie cleverly lets the audience make up its own mind as to what is really going on and makes you question the true meaning of reality and happiness.
Toy Story 3
If this is indeed the final chapter in the beloved series, they went out on a high note with this funny and emotional tale of love, friendship, growing older, and letting go. The cast is in rare form and the jokes are as fresh and effective as the amazing animation by the wizards at Pixar.
The Worst of 2010
There were so many to pick from this year that I decided to focus on the ones that stood out the most to me.
The Last Airbender
From the pathetic 3D conversion to the abandoning of the source material and look of the characters, M. Night Shyamalan continued his box office free fall with this clunker.
Grown Ups
With a cast loaded with funny people it was shocking how bad this film was. I love many of Adam Sandler’s films and know the formula he uses for success. This one however came off like something that they made up as they went along.
Jonah Hex
You have a top notch cast, a popular graphic novel, and a tale of revenge, yet this film was so bad, it is destined to land on most of the worst of the year lists. So bad, its hard to even suggest it as a dollar rental at Red Box.
There are others that come to mind, but I figured quality over quantity as in this case, less is definitely more.
