Movies 2010
Dogtooth
Fascinating, bizarre, beautiful and surreal Greek film about a family that exists entirely in its own world. Less about its strange narrative, which concerns the most extreme version of home-schooled children imaginable, than about human behavior and the human condition. Reinvents how to look at film. Perfect.
Somewhere
Moody, sexy, delicious auteur work from Sophia Copolla. Perfectly paced as a dream-like reflection on a wayward society and the soul that eludes us. Evokes complex trains of thought and tender moments of appreciation. Dry, existential, poetic. Awesome cinematography and soundtrack.
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Thoroughly entertaining, quixotically brilliant art-piece from punk-provocateur Banksy; critiques a society that would sooner commodify rebellion & dissent than actually consider it. Hilarious as well.
I Am Love
Gorgeous, lush film of deep soul and beauty, with a melodramatic narrative that merely buttresses a cinematic, sensorial feast. Photography and score are miraculous. Simply put: a sublime film.
Black Swan
Delightfully dark erotic thriller that plays in realms of tawdry pop-lust and heady high art; Darren Aronofsy perfects a blend of OCD filmmaking (Requiem for a Dream) with a verité style (The Wrestler) to achieve a sort of thesis film on the subject of ambition, perfection and flaw. Beautiful, and intense.
Inside Job
Rousing and incendiary, yet level-headed and crystal-clear, Charles Ferguson does to the financial crisis what he did previously to the Iraq war (No End in Sight): efficiently expose the horrors and evils that mainstream media has utterly failed to do sufficiently. This work of intelligence and anger reveals the horrible truth about our terribly sick capitalist system: a system that is designed to fail us. Mandatory viewing for all citizens.
Biutiful
Epic film of a dying man. Deals in the depressing inequities of the global market, and the difficult interpersonal relationships between desperate people. In all its emotional heft, it remains a remarkably beautiful poem about humanity from Alejandro González Iñarritu, who has never made a better film. Given his résumé, that’s saying a great deal.
Powerful, inspirational, touching, expertly directed, astounding filmmaking. Runs the gamut of emotions: nostalgia, despair, hope, doubt, triumph, without being saccharine. Never has such a genre picture risen to this high caliber. Kudos to all involved. Great movie.
Greenberg
Eloquent character study of an anxious narcissist who manages to capture our own sympathies. Greenberg is less about the man (embodied so naturally by Ben Stiller) than about a culture that prescribes, avoids and fumbles through its own psychological landscape.
Blue Valentine
Expertly crafted, beautiful and poignant dissection of a fairly ordinary couple on the rocks. Their marriage is contrasted nicely with their courtship, with epic results. Romantic, though shattering.
Please Give
Filmmaker Nicole Holofcener has an uncanny ability to portray the psyche of the privileged class, in even measures of scorn and sympathy. Guilt and entitlement create sharply poignant situations, fleshed out by incredibly believable, complex characters. Timely and pressing material, handled with a perfectly light touch.
The American
There’s something poetic about George Clooney as the American. It’s how America wants to see itself — the Marlboro/Richard-Prince way. He is a lone, intelligent, armed, dangerous, romantic, damaged yet persevering entity on a mission (however ambiguous and/or symbolic), and Anton Corbijn’s direction serves it finely. The gun-assembly sequences snap mechanically like great electronic music. It’s a strong ambient film that nicely contemplates the cultural zeitgeist, if somewhat of a monotone one.
I’m Still Here
Regardless of whether or not Joaquin Phoenix and buddy/director Casey Affleck staged this whole thing, like Exit Through the Gift Shop, I’m Still Here is wildly entertaining, and intriguing. Fame, identity, and a culture obsessed with celebrity and melodrama, ignorant of health and happiness create compelling cinema, if not quite brilliant.
The Kids Are Alright
Just a really good movie about an interesting, relatable American family. Great writing, perfectly brought to the screen. Not fascinating on any cinematic or philosophical level, but pleasurable, tight and radiant.
Hot Tub Time Machine
This was the most fun you could have at the movies in 2010. Does for Rob Corddry what The Hangover did for Zach Galifianakis: highlight his remarkable comedic talent! Very satisfying conceptually — the ridiculous plot is handled tongue-in-cheek. Lots of great jokes and fun character work, not to mention its nostalgic ode to nostalgia itself.
Toy Story 3
Wonderful work from Pixar. A study on nostalgia and the passing of time, and belonging. What function do old toys serve? As we grow, how much do we change? Minor philosophy buttresses an otherwise delightful family film.
The King’s Speech
This is a nice film that combines our awe of icons/celebrity/royalty (read: power), and our fascination with psychosis/illness/hinderances (read: flaw) to create a well-cooked experience of sympathy, compassion and joy. Functions as a comedy of manners as much as a period drama, as well as a teacher-student and/or buddy-pic.
True Grit
The Coen Brothers can be more inventive and more amazing, but this is as entertaining as anything. Writing, direction, acting, etc all good. It’s a fun, crackling and snappy movie.
Machete
The Social Network
White Material
The Ghost Writer
Fair Game
127 Hours
Due Date
It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Get Him to the Greek
Un Prophete
Enter the Void
Tron
