2012 Oscar Predictions: August

This is going to be an interesting year for the Oscars. So far, it is shaping up to be a really strong awards season. Most of the buzzed films have yet to be released, and a ton of major directors have a film coming out this fall/winter. A few of the favorites, including We Bought a Zoo, J. Edgar, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close have yet to even release trailers. At this point, initial reviews have not even been speculated on, but there do seem to be some indications of early leaders in the clubhouse. Best Picture will be difficult because we don’t know how many movies will be nominated (somewhere between 5 and 10), so I will just go with 10, ranked of course. Here are my first predictions of 2011…

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. The Ides of March – It is another political movie by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. This one looks to be a major player.

2. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – Best trailer of the year? Maybe. Looks like a brilliant screenplay. This should be a hit.

3. War Horse – The Spielberg movie that everyone has proclaimed the frontrunner. Based on a beloved book. Even if it isn’t outstanding, it is Spielberg…it will be nominated several times.

4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – It is a Stephen Daldry film, so it will be nominated here. Written by winner Eric Roth. This should be a monster Oscar contender.

5. The Descendents – Alexander Payne’s first film since Sideways had an underwhelming trailer, but he has never taken a misstep. This will be great.

Others in contention

6. We Bought a Zoo – Cameron Crowe’s first movie in forever promises to be a hit. The cast looks incredible, and the story seems like Oscar-material.

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – I wish I had more faith in the Academy’s taste, but I can see this getting almost completely shutout, no matter how good it is.

8. A Dangerous Method – Cronenberg movies are always a tough sell at the Oscars, but this movie seems a bit more their speed.

9. Moneyball – Aaron Sorkin, fresh off his Oscar, has another brilliant screenplay here. Baseball is never that popular with awards, but this looks different, especially with the amazing second trailer.

10. Hugo – Honestly, who knows how this movie will do? Up until Shutter Island, Scorsese couldn’t miss with the Oscars. This looks extremely weird and different. His next The Age of Innocence?

11. Carnage – I would have more faith in Polanski and his extraordinary cast, but it is based on a play (not always good for screenplay noms), and it has been reported to be like 75 minutes long. Weird.

12. We Need to Talk About Kevin – This has been hyped for its actors, and it seems like it could be the little movie that gets some screenplay love.

13. Coriolanus – Directed by Ralph Fiennes, this will surely get some viewers. Based on a Shakespeare play, it will certainly be well-written. Worth keeping an eye on.

14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – Who knows how this will be treated? They could give the series some love in its last installment.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. The Artist – This movie had massive buzz coming out of Cannes, and by the look of it, the Academy will eat it up.

2. J. Edgar – Eastwood movies haven’t gotten in as much recently, but this is written by Dustin Lance Black. It will be more their thing for sure.

3. Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen’s best film in 17 years. Its buzz will last until the winter…I hope.

4. Young Adult – Jason Reitman-Diablo Cody reunion. It will be in this category.

5. The Tree of Life – The buzz might seem to have died down now, but that is what happened with Inception too. People haven’t forgotten, I assure you.

Others in contention

6. The Iron Lady – The Meryl Streep-starring political movie. It seems like a WGA film, maybe not Oscar, though.

7. Martha Marcy May Marlene – Looks incredibly eerie, and has a really good indie drama cast. This could be one of those little movies that make a splash.

8. Violet & Daisy – Maybe the coolest-sounding movie of the year, written and directed by recent Oscar-winner Geoffrey Fletcher. Awesome cast too.

9. Shame – Steve McQueen’s next movie after the indie hit Hunger. Sounds like really strong stuff.

10. Bridesmaids – Got some of the year’s most glowing reviews, and it has strong female characters. Might slip in.

11. Like Crazy – Has a great young cast and a sweet atmosphere, from the trailer at least. It could be the relationship movie that makes noise.

12. My Week with Marilyn – It is about classic movie stars. The Academy voters should adore this, but I am not sure about the screenplay category.

13. Take This Waltz – Sarah Polley’s sophomore film sounds like a winner. She was nominated last time, so maybe 2 for 2?

14. Beginners – One of the more beloved early year releases. It may be too small, but it seems like Academy material.

15. This Must Be the Place – Totally weird-sounding, but Sean Penn is in it, so it has a chance.

16. Contagion – Looks strange, but Soderbergh and that cast are beyond appealing. It could be terrific.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Elizabeth Reaser – Young Adult – Sort of taking a stab with this, since I have no clue about the role, but she seems like the Reitman supporting female that could shine. Cody will write her a good part.

2. Judi Dench – J. Edgar – Just because she is always there, and Eastwood’s actors are as well.

3. Sandra Bullock – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Seems like the justification nomination that the Academy always likes to give. Plus it is Daldry, so it will be a good role and well-directed.

4. Sarah Silverman – Take This Waltz – May sound ridiculous (and it might turn out to be), but this movie seems like Oscar stuff. And she is third-billed and supposed going full frontal in the movie. And it is drama. It could happen…right?

5. Viola Davis – The Help – The movie looks very light, but she appears to have a character that could make it 2 noms in 4 years.

Others in contention

6. Vanessa Redgrave – Coriolanus – I just have a feeling that this movie will be popular. She is always close to getting in.

7. Kate Winslet – Carnage – She is Winslet, so she will be in contention. Polanski movies don’t always click, but this one will most likely (at least for its actors).

8. Marisa Tomei – The Ides of March – She appears to have a meaty role and very well could make it if the film is indeed as good as it promises to be.

9. Keira Knightley – A Dangerous Method – Being directed by Cronenberg will assure that her character will be like nothing she has done before. That is sometimes rewarded.

10. Naomi Watts – J. Edgar – Until we get a trailer, all of the cast members are legitimate contenders.

11. Jennifer Lawrence – Like Crazy – Her part might be small, but coming off a brilliant breakout performance, they might want to continue to capitalize on her undeniable young talent.

12. Emma Watson – My Week with Marilyn – With the Potter movies finally over, they could easily validate the highest paid actress in the world in basically her first non-Potter role.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Albert Brooks – Drive – This incredible-looking film seems to have an insane role for the veteran actor. Would be a sweet comeback.

2. Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn – Playing Laurence Olivier will certainly give him his scenes. He could win this thing if he gets the Olivier quirks down.

3. Christoph Waltz – Carnage – This would be a cool out-of-nowhere nomination. Polanski will certainly push him, and he could walk away with the movie, as he did in his Oscar role.

4. Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Ides of March – He has a great-looking role, and he is always invited. This would be a cool, safe, harmless nomination for the Academy.

5. Niels Arestrup – War Horse – The always reliable actor is in what many consider to be the can’t-miss frontrunner film, and it is as the grandfather role. He will probably have a few heartbreaking Oscar scenes.

Others in contention

6. Christopher Plummer – Beginners – I wouldn’t bet against him, but I just have a feeling that this will go unnoticed during awards season.

7. Viggo Mortensen – A Dangerous Method – Playing a real person, and Cronenberg has directed him to a nom in the past.

8. Tom Hardy – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – He is always awesome, and this could be a great supporting role for him. He is surrounded by actors who will get the best out of him.

9. Brad Pitt – The Tree of Life – At one point, he appeared to be a shoo-in. He deserves the nom for sure, but I sort of doubt it now. Maybe lead for Moneyball?

10. Jim Broadbent – The Iron Lady – Playing the husband role to Streep can bring greatness. Tucci in Julia & Julia got some buzz, even.

11. Tom Hanks – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Talking about Hanks in a supporting role seems odd, but I really do not think he is lead in this.

12. Brian Cox – Coriolanus – He is always superb, and this Shakespeare adaptation will give him his time to shine. It is about time he gets a nom, don’t you think?

13. Philip Seymour Hoffman – Moneyball – I just can’t ignore the fact that he looks perfect in this movie and it is the director who he won for.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady – They have to give her another win at some point, right? They can’t just keep nominating her every year.

2. Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn – Biopic role of an industry icon is certain to give her a ton of great scenes. She also has a couple more great roles this year to staple her nomination.

3. Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin – Her performance was one of the main buzzed ones out of the early year festivals, and many pundits are calling her a lock for a nomination.

4. Elizabeth Olsen – Martha Marcy May Marlene – Mary-Kate and Ashley’s younger sister has garnered incredible buzz for this role. She can get a nomination with basically her first acting role, playing opposite John Hawkes and a few other indie stars.

5. Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – She will have the most difficult role that anyone will play this year, and she is sure to nail it with Fincher at the helm. If she garners some precursors, watch out. She could win this.

Others in contention

6. Charlize Theron – Young Adult – Two-time nominee being directed by an Academy favorite. She is always in the running.

7. Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs – Written and starring Close, this period piece is certain to get her some attention. She is also known as one of the best actors without an Oscar, so they might want to reward her while they still can.

8. Berenice Bejo – The Artist – One of the Oscar frontrunners. There is always a newcomer it seems, and she could be that person.

9. Carey Mulligan – Shame – A recent nominee, and playing with that superb cast, she will definitely be challenged. She is one of the most talented young actresses in the industry as well.

10. Felicity Jones – Like Crazy – At the center of that love story that won Sundance is Jones and Anton Yelchin. Since Best Actress is a bit weaker, I am not counting her out yet. Yelchin’s climb will definitely be uphill, though.

11. Anne Hathaway – One Day – Looks really slight, but her accent appears to be spot-on, and it is directed by An Education director Lone Sherfig.

12. Michelle Williams – Meek’s Cutoff – A very highly praised early year release might have enough indie fans to make the steam last until Oscar time.

13. Michelle Williams – Take This Waltz – Opposite the likes of Sarah Silverman and Seth Rogen, we know that she is going to be doing something different. She has three great roles this year, only one of which can be rewarded, unfortunately. Let’s hope she gets one in.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Jean Dujardin – The Artist – Won the Cannes Best Actor award. Could he be this year’s Adrien Brody? I think so.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar – I can’t see him not getting in being directed by Eastwood and getting snubbed for two roles last year.

3. Gary Oldman – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – Appears to finally be Oldman’s time to get a nomination after every movie buff in the world saying that his lack of noms is one of the biggest crimes ever.

4. Ryan Gosling – The Ides of March – I am not sure how showy his role is, but he always understates his characters. I am holding out hope that he can finally get his second nomination.

5. Michael Fassbender – Shame – Appears to be a fantastic role for the breakout star, but the word on the film is very quiet as of right now. We will see where this goes.

Others in contention

6. George Clooney – The Descendents­ – He always gets nominated, but I just have a feeling that they will take a break from him this year and give him his director dues instead.

7. Ryan Gosling – Drive – The movie looks astonishing, and he always has to in the discussion.

8. Sean Penn – This Must Be the Place – Penn playing against type will certainly raise some eyebrows, but is the movie big enough? I am not so sure.

9. Brad Pitt – Moneyball – Maybe the coolest underdog movie of the year. If it really is as good as it could be, then Pitt will be swept in for sure.

10. Jeremy Irvine – War Horse – Debut performance in one of the Best Picture hopefuls. He will need to blow everyone away to get in.

11. Michael Fassbender – A Dangerous Method – Directed by Cronenberg is intriguing, and the film being about real people will help his cause, but can he steal the show from Mortensen, a favorite in Cronenberg pictures? Could be.

12. Matt Damon – We Bought a Zoo – The word on this movie is just so quiet that I cannot really warrant predicting mass love for it yet. The movie still hasn’t completely wrapped yet, either.

13. Owen Wilson – Midnight in Paris – If the movie is beloved by the Academy, he will be the token acting nomination for the film. He was spot-on in that role.

14. Johnny Depp – The Rum Diary – This one has been delayed a few times, but Depp is so popular that he could streak to yet another nomination.

15. Mel Gibson – The Beaver – This could be the WTF nomination of the year. Some people adored it, and basically everyone else did not see it. If they want a great comeback story, this will be it. It won’t happen, though. It will need a monster DVD run, but people are just so turned off to Gibson that there is almost no shot of that.

BEST DIRECTOR

The Predicted Five

1. George Clooney – The Ides of March – Seems like an Oscar movie, and it has a cast to die for. This promises to be Clooney’s best movie to date.

2. Steven Daldry – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Never underestimate his fans. He is 3 for 3 with Best Director nominations for his films.

3. Michel Haznavicius – The Artist – Maybe I am expecting a bit too much with this, but I can see this being the throwback gem that the Academy adores.

4. Steven Spielberg – War Horse – He is going to get nominated, it is just a matter of whether he will win or not. This looks like his next big, epic masterpiece.

5. Clint Eastwood – J. Edgar – It is time that he ends his drought. This movie will be totally the Academy’s speed, unlike Invictus, Hereafter, Changeling, and Gran Torino.

Others in contention

6. Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life – Everything I have read makes it seem like they are just dying to give this guy an Oscar. He deserves it, but the movie needed to be more unanimous.

7. Martin Scorsese – Hugo – I hope that the Academy doesn’t just neglect his work now that he has won, but this movie just looks too weird, but it is Marty…it will be great.

8. Alexander Payne – The Descendents – I hope the movie is better than I am expecting. If it is as popular as Sideways, Payne will certainly get nominated here.

9. Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris – The Academy cannot resist a good Allen movie. This is a great one.

10. Bennett Miller – Moneyball – Past nominee making his second first feature since his nomination in 2005. He needs to be mentioned.

11. Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive – Won the Cannes Best Director. Could this be this generation’s The French Connection, the action movie that transcends genre? I suppose it is possible. The trailer is awesome.

12. Cameron Crowe – We Bought a Zoo – Never been nominated in this category before, but this movie seems most like an Academy movie. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him here.

13. Tomas Alfredson – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – The director is still young and has plenty of time to get in, but if the movie is really as good as it appears, he will slide in for sure.

14. David Fincher – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Should have won last year. If the Academy doesn’t love it, they might still want to recognize him for the atrocious snub.

15. Jason Reitman – Young Adult – Has two straight nominations, but I can’t see him getting in for a third. He is way too young to have that kind of run.

16. Simon Curtis – My Week with Marilyn – I think the movie will be a big hit, but this is his first movie.

17. Drake Doremus – Like Crazy – The Sundance darling will need to have a great box office to get this kind of love, but with its cool young cast, it might.

18. Sarah Polley – Take This Waltz – She has gotten a screenplay nomination in the past, so this is not out of the question.

BEST PICTURE

The Predicted Ten (I predict 7 will get in)

1. The Ides of March – This has so much going for it that I cannot help but put it number one. The cast, director, and premise all promise greatness.

2. The Artist – There are so many old Oscar voters (only explanation for how The King’s Speech wins Best Picture), and this seems like the perfect throwback to the Golden Age of movies. It will be a smash hit.

3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Stephen Daldry makes the movie instantly a contender, and the cast of Bullock, Hanks, Goodman, von Sydow ensure its popularity. This could be right up there all awards season.

4. J. Edgar – It is strange to think that we can call it a comeback, but Eastwood has not gotten a nomination in four films. That is a ridiculous stat considering the films. This appears to be the one that will force the Academy to embrace him again.

5. War Horse – Everything with this film points to Oscar sweep, but those films have not been doing that recently. It will be nominated everywhere, but the wins might not come showering in the way everyone seems to think they will.

6. Midnight in Paris – One of the best earlier releases of the year and a legendary filmmaker at the helm. He has not exactly raked in Best Picture nominations in his career, but the bigger number of nominees ensures he will be there.

7. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – This thriller by the director of Let the Right One In looks to be the real deal. If it can get the British vote, then it will be a lock.

8. The Tree of Life – This will get a fair amount of number one votes, but the people who do not love it tend to think it is trash. I do not think there will be 8 nominees, so this might get left out, unfortunately.

9. Young Adult – This appears to be a bit too conventional to get the love of Juno or Up in the Air, but the talent involved should give it a chance.

10. The Descendents – Alexander Payne’s film looks good, but it will need to be outstanding to get the necessary 5% of votes to get in.

Others in contention

11. Hugo – Scorsese’s film just doesn’t look like the Oscar thing, but it is Scorsese, so he is always in the hunt.

12. Like Crazy – The Sundance winner will definitely find an audience, but will it be unanimous the way Winter’s Bone and Precious were? That remains to be seen, but the buzz is not close to as strong as it was for those two.

13. We Bought a Zoo – Cameron Crowe cannot make a bad movie, and this cast looks tremendous. We need a trailer, though. We do not know anything about its Oscar potential.

14. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Fincher will hopefully get his Oscar someday after last year’s travesty snub. This just isn’t it. It will need to be The Silence of the Lambs-level appeal, box office, acting, tone, and originality to have a shot. I wouldn’t put it against Fincher, though, who is always looking to push the envelope.

15. Drive – The trailer is astonishing. Movies like this do not win awards at Cannes, but this one did. That is what my hopes are lying on. Plus, Gosling chooses his projects very wisely.

16. My Week with Marilyn – It will certainly have its fans, but that group might be a bit too small. Acting awards could come aplenty, as long as they do not caricature those classic actors.

17. A Dangerous Method – The most serious movie that Cronenberg has made in a long time, but I just do not see this being a massive hit. It will need a strong box office number to stand a chance.

18. Moneyball – Movies about baseball do not do well, but this movie is written by two Oscar winners and directed by a filmmaker whose first film they adored. And the Brad Pitt factor helps. It will need to be either the best written movie of the year or one of the highest grossing. I cannot see that happening, but it is possible.

19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – Will they want to give this movie the awards that they held from the previous ones? I cannot see it getting the necessary number one votes from the Academy.

20. Carnage – Polanski films are always in the mix, but this one appears to be one of those small one-room, four-actor talky movies. Those do not get Best Picture awards.

21. Take This Waltz – It is going to be difficult for this to get in if we do not hear something about it soon. The buzz is very quiet, and my anticipation/predictions are all on potential for this film.

So, what do you think? Did I miss anything? Let me know with your comments.

Top 10 Films of 2010

(written in December)

2010 has been an extremely good year for film. If you did not like the bunch of films that stacked the Best Picture category and the performances and writing of many of the films this year, then you might as well quit watching them. It was the best year since at least 2007. I even included 3 films from my top 5 of the first half of the year list, suggesting that the return to 10 nominees in the Best Picture category really did cause the studios to let their films get an early-year release, which makes the first half not just a complete black hole of nothingness at the box office. It was also an extraordinary year for documentaries, an amazing year for foreign films, a very strong year for animated film, and it contained perhaps the best film of the last five years. It seemed like every film that had hype lived up to it. Some of them, such as Hereafter, did not do so well with critics or at the box office, but it was still a fascinating picture with some truly great things to say and some amazing achievements. There were a bunch of independent films that swept everyone off their feet, including Winter’s Bone and Blue Valentine. There were some really great comedies as well, none more satisfying and surprising than Easy A and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It was a year that was about as well-rounded as any, and I will remember it as being one of the better years of the new millennium. I can see a few of these films ending up in my end of decade top 10 for 2010-2019. Now, to the films:

Others receiving votes:

Blue Valentine

Get Low

Mercy

The Secret in Their Eyes

Shutter Island

10. The Fighter (directed by David O. Russell). This movie is one of immense passion and feeling. It is unlike any boxing movie that I have come across. Its gritty style suggests a Raging Bull aspect, yet the underdog story is almost a form of Rocky. This is a true story, however, and it is about so much more than just boxing. The stories of Mickey Ward and Dick Eklund are so rich and true, and they just come alive under the superb direction of David O. Russell. Each character is given its time to shine, yet each one has their own flaws that are sometimes excruciatingly exposed. You cannot look away, though. It is as inspiring as they come, and it is certainly the best ensemble cast of the year. It was the ultimate dark horse and the little film that seemingly could not get made. I am glad it did. It was as satisfying as any film-going experience I had in 2010.

9. Exit Through the Gift Shop (directed by Banksy). Is it a hoax? Is it real? Are they just playing with us? We do not really know, but we are willing to spend several viewings getting lost in whatever it is. The filming of this documentary about street art was started by Thierry Guetta, an eccentric French shoe keeper and amateur filmmaker. He filmed everything and met every major street artist, even the amazing, famously unseen Banksy. One thing led to another, and Banksy took over the filming after a dreadful attempt at editing by Guetta. This comedic and always strange documentary is as thought-provoking and crazy of an experience that could be had in 2010. It is so interesting, especially because they basically make their profession out to be a sham. Is it staged? I really do not care. This is a hilarious film that struck a chord with audiences and critics, and there are images that are forever engrained in my head. I loved this film.

8. Mother (directed by Joon-ho Bong). This is one of the craziest thrills I have had at the movies in the last couple years. It is about a mother, played with fierce brilliance by Hye-ja Kim, who searches for the murderer who framed her son of a horrible crime. The director, Joon-ho Bong, has made a couple films that unquestionable rank with the best foreign films of the past decade. He is the most interesting and creative auteur in Asia without a doubt. The film, while brutal, is also darkly comic and always intriguing. It is highly recommendable and appealing. The ending is as thought-provoking and haunting as any that I saw in 2010. It is a completely original crime thriller, unlike anything I have ever seen. More people have got to check this one out.

7. Cyrus (directed by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass). This was one of the stranger films that came out in 2010. It was marketed as a mainstream film, but it really wasn’t one, nor was it released as one. It has the A-list cast, but it was really still a mumblecore film, which almost makes it mainstream and to me made it feel like an instant classic. The Duplass brothers can to do so much with only casting themselves and their friends, but when they get Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, and John C. Reilly in the leads, it makes the film almost more credible. Jonah Hill is so nuanced and really has a creepily keen ear for mixing comedy and drama. His talent is shown here like it never has been before. The film is deeper than might be expected. It pulls its punches, while still being quite sensitive and realistic in its portrayal of relationships, which is the staple of the mumblecore subgenre. I cannot wait to see where the brilliant Duplass brothers go from here.

6. Restrepo (directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger). This documentary is a brilliant, breathtaking tribute to the men who so courageously defended one of the most strategically-crucial spots in Afghanistan. It says all that you need to know about the military soldiers without any politics or manipulation. It is just watching the soldiers in their daily routine. How do they spend their time? How do they stay motivated? There is one moment where they actually get into a group and basically get psyched-out to go to battle, not unlike a sports locker room. That is something that I have never seen in any war film or documentary, and it was really refreshing. This is a film of reality, and nothing in it felt staged. It is a deeply revealing film that is also flawlessly-edited. It is as inspirational as any film that I saw in 2010, but it is also quite poignant. It plays like a drama, and it is certainly the best documentary that I saw last year.

5. Black Swan (directed by Darren Aronofsky). I have yet to hear an opinion of Black Swan that sounded the same. Everyone thinks something different about it, yet very few people seriously dislike it (that moron guy on the new Ebert show is one). It has something in the film for everyone. The psychological drama-thriller elements are brilliantly realized. The tone of the film is one that only Aronofsky could create. The final dance sequences are breathtaking and unforgettable. It really does a fantastic job following up the other ballet classics The Red Shoes and Suspiria. In a way, it is a superb companion piece to The Wrestler. Both are remarkably deep, meaningful, and devastating views of a somewhat glamorized performing art that are really as physically and mentally demanding as any sport. Some of the images will be stuck with me forever. It is yet another masterpiece from the brilliant auteur Darren Aronofsky.

4. A Prophet (directed by Jacques Audiard). Watching this film, I felt like I was watching an already accomplished crime masterpiece. Its tone alone makes the film feel like a classic in the vein of Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco. It is the best prison movie in ages. The lead actor, Tahar Rahim, gives an absolute breakthrough performance. Every bit of his performance suggests that he is a future star in Europe. The film itself has a somewhat classic storyline, but it is done with such brutality and intensity that it is impossible to not get immersed in it. The final hour or so is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. It could be considered this generation’s The Godfather if it had been more accessible. It is perhaps the quickest 150 minutes of 2010, which is not a back-handed compliment at all. Films that long come around more often than they should and can fail quite easily. This is one of the best ones in a while. Any fan of crime dramas should see it pronto.

3. Animal Kingdom (directed by David Michod). This was perhaps the biggest surprise addition to my list of any this year. I went in expecting a Jacki Weaver show, but everything else about it was completely astonishing as well. It is like a more polished Shane Meadows film. From the opening shot, I knew that this film was going to be loaded. It has a classic feel like The Lookout, yet it has an indie heart like A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. It is also like Saints in that the director and lead both made their debuts with this film, which only makes it that much more impressive. The story is a somewhat conventional one, which is a young man who is thrown into a life of crime due to circumstances beyond his control. That is actually a connection to A Prophet as well. As the film goes along, I felt more and more like this could actually be the best film of the year. Like La Haine, the film has so much passion, grittiness, and honesty that it thoroughly draws the audience in and blows them away. The tone and editing feel a bit like Clockers, but much more compelling, satisfying, and tighter (and congealed). So, yeah, put the best parts of those 6-7 mentioned movies together, and you get this stunning, incredible masterwork.

2. Toy Story 3 (directed by Lee Unkrich). What else is there to say about this movie? It is the best third leg of a trilogy maybe ever. It is a brilliant film about life, love, film, imagination, and family. There really are not enough positive words to say about it. I was so skeptical when I heard about a third film in this series, which was already flawless and seemed like it had closure. The first one was a film that basically defined my childhood and is an all-time favorite. This film was different, though. That is not just because it will make you cry, but also because the human characters are much more central. Andy becomes the one that the audience relates the most. Letting go of your childhood and imagination is something that we all have to do, and this shows in heartbreaking and humorous fashion how difficult that can be. Also, the main characters are still the toys, which are as appealing and brilliant as ever. How can Pixar keep spitting out these all-time great animated films year after year? It is an astonishing run that they have been on, and this ranks with their best films. I cannot be more enthusiastic about it.

1. The Social Network (directed by David Fincher). Now we go to the obvious choice for the number one film of the year. It is the consensus number one, and unlike so many times in the past, the best one is actually sweeping all of the awards and made a big box office statement. What is it that we love so much? There are too many aspects of this flawless work of art to count. It is like this generation’s All the President’s Men or Citizen Kane. It takes a total in-the-moment story and makes it undeniably timeless. There is not a wasted moment. The editing is some of the best I have ever come across. Every scene is so flawlessly-detailed and structured. The performances are top notch. Every artistic and technical aspect is as good as is possible, let alone for a movie made about Facebook. This is a film that I have discussed and analyzed with several people several times since the first time I saw it. I am always noticing something new and interesting, never feeling like I have come close to exhausting the scope of the film. There is so much going on in every scene that it is impossible to cover it. This is not only a testament to David Fincher’s career-best direction, but to Aaron Sorkin’s masterful script. In his speech at the Critics Choice Awards, he stated that he asked a lot of the audience. He had to convince the producers that the film’s audience was at least as intelligent as the people involved in making it. This is something that I greatly admire. Not since Sideways have I felt so intellectually-stimulated by a film. It challenges us in ways that we could never have expected. There is never a dull moment, and there never will be, even when the viewings approach double digits in number. This will be looked back on as the film that defines an entire generation of film and film-goers. There is nothing like it anywhere. Looking at the surface, it could be construed as a film about young people getting rich. It is so much deeper than that. Try to find a flaw in it. I dare you.

Top 10 Movies - 2010

2010 turned out to be a marvelous year for movies. One thing I loved about the year in film is that the awards shows, for the most part, have rewarded the best movies of the year. Many times, they will ignore some amazing movies and instead reward films that are better in theory but not necessarily executed that well. Because of this, my top 10 list looks very similar to the Best Picture lineup. Without further ado, here they are!

Honorable Mention

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Get Low

True Grit

10. The Fighter

Dir. by David O. Russell

This film is the latest in the endless parade of great boxing movies. There always seems to be amazing stories ready to be told about the sport. This film explores the relationship between two brothers, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. Bale plays the washed-up has-been with a drug problem. Wahlberg plays the up-and-coming fighter looking to single-handedly bring redemption to his brother, his family, and his entire of Lowell, Massachusetts. This is possibly the best acted film of the year and one of the most appealing.

9. The King’s Speech

Dir. by Tom Hooper

This movie was just fun. Once again, it is beautifully acted in an ensemble of three Oscar nominees: Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, and Oscar favorite Colin Firth. This tells the story of a man forced into his ancestral duty of King of England while struggling through a speech impediment. A constant stutter makes public speaking a nightmare for him, and becoming king forces him into that situation often as World War II is about to start. He forms a bond with Rush’s character, an unorthodox speech therapist that becomes much more. He begins to make progress because the king realizes that this man genuinely cares for him. I loved this film. I’m not sure if it deserves to be the Oscar favorite, but it was one of the top films of the year.

8. The Town

Dir. by Ben Affleck

I was so disappointed this film missed the Best Picture lineup for this year. The Town is the second film directed by Ben Affleck, and it shows that he had no sophomore slump. This film is a crime drama following a group of bank robbers led by Affleck who wants out of the business. These thoughts started when he had to confront a blindfolded hostage from one of their jobs to make sure she did not recognize them. He ends up falling for this girl, wishing there was not the lie bringing them together. This film received an acting nomination for supporting character Jeremy Renner. It also validates Ben Affleck’s directing career as for real. I will definitely look forward to his next film.

7. The Secret in Their Eyes

Dir. by Juan Jose Campanella

This film was last year’s Best Foreign Film winner, which always seems to be an obscure film when crowned the winner, but becomes one of the best films of the first half the next year when it gets its American release. The Secret in Their Eyes fits this profile perfectly. It tells the story of a former detective haunted by a cold case that he encountered several years before. He relives the details of this case as he once again tries to silence the demons inside him regarding this case. The film is wonderfully made with an ending that will shock you.

6. 127 Hours

Dir. by Danny Boyle

No other film this year was more of a product of one man’s performance than this one. James Franco puts in a performance that takes over the movie simply because he is the only actor on the screen for most of the film. This film tells the story of the young man who went hiking alone, got his arm wedged and stuck in the middle of nowhere, and spent 127 hours trying to escape and survive. This film was engaging and surprisingly intense from start to finish. This is all due to the acting ability of James Franco. He deservedly was nominated for the Oscar, and if it were up to me he would win.

5. Toy Story 3

Dir. by Lee Unkrich

One of my favorite film franchises growing up concluded its masterful story in 2010 with this beautiful movie. Once again, we get to spend time with Andy’s favorite toys. This time, Andy is getting ready to go off to college and deciding what to do with his toys. They accidentally get placed in a box to be donated to a local daycare. From there Woody, Buzz, and the gang once again have to find their way back home to their rightful owner. From start to finish, it does what is so hard for sequels to do that come long after the last installment: it fits the feel and persona of the previous films. It did not skip a beat. It also does something else that is even harder for a sequel to do: it brings a perfect end to a remarkable franchise. They could not have put a better ending together for this story. Just amazing.

4. The Social Network

Dir. by David Fincher

I asked the same question I am sure everyone else asked when they heard about this film. How good can a movie about Facebook be? And why is David Fincher directing it? It turned out to be one of the best films of the year, and a film that could come to define a decade. The near perfect Aaron Sorkin screenplay is executed to perfection by Jesse Eisenberg as the conflicted founder, Andrew Garfield as the best friend business partner, and Justin Timberlake as the smooth-talking entrepreneur. This film tells what was a little known story of the founding of the groundbreaking website and several of the lawsuits that ensued. This film is intoxicating from start to finish, from litigation to code writing. This might be the most complete film of the year; from screenplay to acting to directing.

3. Shutter Island

Dir. by Martin Scorsese

I said The Social Network may have been the most complete film of the year. What makes these next three films better are amazing, original premises and three of the most shocking endings I have ever seen. Shutter Island is by far the most underrated and forgotten film of the year. Scorsese’s latest effort was supposed to be released in the middle of 2009’s awards season, but instead got pushed back to February of 2010 due to production cuts. What a shame. This latest adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel focuses on a detective (Leonardo DiCaprio) sent to a mental hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. While there, you begin to see some inner demons that he is trying to work through while also trying to solve the case. Perfect performances from the whole cast and the legendary trained eye of Martin Scorsese make this film unforgettable.

2. Black Swan

Dir. by Darren Aronofsky

The debate over which film would end up first and which would end up second was one of the greatest inner debates I have ever had with myself in regards to movies. These last two films are really more like numbers 1 and 1A. First, we have Black Swan. This is the story of a production of Swan Lake that is set to star Natalie Portman, who is forced to wage war inside herself in order to play both the innocent Swan Queen and the sensual Black Swan in the ballet. Portman gives the performance of her career as she fights with who she is, while supporting actors such as Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder enhance this incredible product constructed and pulled together by the genius that is Darren Aronofsky. This film takes on some aspects of a David Lynch-esque movie, as it seems to mess with the audience’s mind until the jaw-dropping final scene. It will leave you breathless and stick with you for days after viewing.

1. Inception

Dir. by Christopher Nolan

If we just forget that The Prestige was ever made (which I try to do every day), then Christopher Nolan might have the greatest filmography of any director ever. Every film seems to be groundbreaking in its own way as he constantly explores never-before-seen concepts. Coming off his record-breaking The Dark Knight, Nolan switches gears and constructs the most original idea in recent memory: the exploration and theft of subconscious thoughts found in dreams. Once again, Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a similar role to his Shutter Island role; a conflicted, tormented man trying to work through his inner demons enough to do his job. The performances are amazing, but what makes this film the best of the year is its originality and ability to sell the completely illogical concept as absolutely plausible in every aspect. The scope and scale are so breathtaking at times, as cities are folded on top of themselves and crumble into the ocean, it actually becomes hard to believe what you are watching isn’t actually happening. Christopher Nolan is by far the most creative and original filmmaking mind of our time. All we can ask is that he lives a long time never stops making movies.

2010 Awards

2010 was a year that reminded us the sequel to Wall Street sucked because the first one wasn’t all that good to begin with, the words “Facebook,” “Justin Timberlake,” and “Overwhelming Academy Award Favorite” now are seamlessly linked together, and It was also the last year we can say with complete confidence and gratitude that there hasn’t been a movie biopic of Justin Bieber ever made. Yet. 2011 is set for the release of Justin Bieber’s big-screen debut and the NFL lockout. And they said the apocalypse would happen in 2012 . . .

Here are the movie awards for 2010:

Queen Latifah in Stranger Than Fiction Award for “Most Completely Unnecessary Character in a Movie”

Nominees:
Michael Cera’s other half, Youth in Revolt (no one wants to see him smoking a cigar in a beret; the French already have it bad enough)
Yaya DaCosta, The Kids are All Right (Mark Ruffalo’s afro-spotting girlfriend; pretty much only there for her nude scene)
Catherine Keener, Cyrus (no one cares about John C. Reiley’s ex-wife)
Anna Kendrick, Twilight: Eclipse (the high school chick whose contract stipulates she needs five minutes of extra screen time after her Oscar-nominated performance in Up in the Air)

The Winner:
Every character not played by Annette Bening or Naomi Watts in Mother and Child. This includes Good Man, Jesus Freak Daughter, Sympathetic Nun, Sharp-Tonged Blind Girl, Mexican Maid, and Sassy Black Momma.

John Goodman in The Big Lebowski Award for “Character who’s so annoying it pretty much ruined the entire rest of the movie”

Nominees:
Joan Rivers, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (for the amount of money I spent on that movie ticket, I could have purchased dozens of pieces of her high-end TV jewelry)
The kid who plays Rowley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid (annoying, but only after everyone at school started liking him more than Greg)
Nate Torrance, She’s Out of My League (unfunny wannabe Apatow supporting player who shaves Jay Baruchel’s balls and watches Disney movies)
The entire cast of Twilight: Eclipse and anyone who actually saw it.

The Winner:
Ben Stiller as the title character in Greenberg. The entire movie is like sitting on a delayed flight to Rochester next to Larry David. Watching this character be annoying and a complete dickwad to the people around him makes oral surgery seem like a day at Wally World. Greenberg is appallingly egotistical, and I wish he had been shipped off to Australia with those other stupid chicks at the end of the film.

Tiger Woods in The Girlfriend Experience Award for “Most Eerily Appropriate Title of a 2010 Film for a 2010 Celebrity.”

Nominees:
Tom Brady: Furry Vengeance
The European Union: Get Him to the Greek
Brett Favre and Greg Oden: How to Train Your Dragon
The girls from Sex and the City 2: Predators
Randy Moss, Dinner for Schmucks

The Winner:
LeBron James, who had at least five movies come out that were about him: Devil, My Soul to Take, Jackass 3-D, The King’s Speech, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Cop Out. But at least all of those are better than the title for LeBron’s mom and Delonte West: Date Night.

The Steve Martin as Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr in The Man With Two Brains Award for “Best Movie Character Name in a 2010 Film.”

Nominees:
Cliff Curtis as Fire Lord Ozai, The Last Airbender
Derek Jacobi as Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, The King’s Speech
Donal Logue as Tink Weatherbee, Charlie St. Cloud
Kirsten Wiig as Vicki St. Elmo, MacGruber

The Winner: Craig Ferguson as Gobber the Belch in How to Train Your Dragon. Lots of good names to choose from in this film (including Stoick the Vast and Snotlout Jorgenson), but how could you possibly pass up on this gem? He also appears to be the best-looking Viking to sport a moustache since Brad Childress. On a related note, special recognition goes to Tink Weatherbee, which is now officially my gay porn star name.

The Tony Siragusa in 25^th Hour Award for “Random athlete, rapper, or reality TV star in a 2010 film role.”

Nominees:
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as Bosco Albert “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus, The A-Team
Warren Sapp as Wendell Boyd, Our Family Wedding
Slaine as Albert “Gloansy” Magloan, The Town
T.I. as the Ghost of Delonte Rivers, Takers

The Winner:
Lester “Rasta” Speight as Baphomet in Faster. This is the guy who played Terry Tate, Office Linebacker in the Reebock commercials from about seven years ago. Maybe this choice for the award is a little tainted since, according to his Wikipedia page, he has also had roles in Norbit, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (playing “a character who is interrogated using racist methods), and Bachelor Party Vegas (playing “a prison rapist.”) But he makes up for it by being, simultaneously, kind of a reality TV star and kind of an athlete.

The Kathleen Turner in Marley and Me Award for “Random Appearance in a Film by an Actor Who Was Popular 10-50 Years Ago and Most People Probably Thought Was Dead.”

Nominees:
Ernest Borgnine as Henry, the Records Keeper, Red
Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants in Toy Story 3, and as Chief Inspector Jones in The Tourist
Patrick Duffy as Ritchie Phillips, You Again
Penelope Ann Miller as Mrs. Baker, Flipped

The Winner:
Paul Reubens as Andy in Life During Wartime. Actually, Reubens should probably get this award every time he makes a new movie. But this also represents a massive failure to capitalize on the seemingly obvious: This is Todd Solondz’s sequel to Happiness, profiling all the same characters roughly ten years after the first film took place, but played by different actors. So, it would be natural to assume that Pee-Wee plays the pedophile dad, right? Would that make a perfect kind of cosmic sense? I mean, I’d shell out money to see that! But, um, no. He plays Jon Lovitz’s character (the guy who breaks up with the youngest sister at the beginning of the first film). Come on, doesn’t Solondz have a sense of humor? So much potential. Wasted.

The Eugene Levy and Queen Latifah in Bringing Down the House Award for “Most Awkward Leading Romantic Couple.”

Nominees:
Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, I Love You Phillip Morris
Common and Queen Latifah, Just Wright
Rob Schneider and Joyce Van Patten, Grown Ups
Nev Schulman and Angela Pierce, Catfish

The Winner:
Joe Pesci and Helen Mirren as Charlie and Grace Bontempo in Love Ranch. They play the real-life married couple who opened the first legal brothel in Nevada. This was a film that was directed by Taylor Hackford (the director of An Officer and a Gentleman and Ray), and co-starred Gina Gershon, Bryan Cranston, and Bai Ling. There’s a reason you never heard of it.

Side Note: Helen Mirren deserves some sort of award for her 2010 film resume. Besides this film, she played a female version of Prospero in The Tempest, an aging assassin in Red, the voice of Nyra the Barn Owl in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, and her upcoming role is a Mossad secret agent on a secret mission to kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. And she’s like 85 and still hot.

The “In the Land of Women and There Will Be Blood” Award for “Film Titles That When Put Together Sound Funny and Immature.”

Nominees:
My Soul To Take and Babies.
Please Give and Love and Other Drugs.
Vampires Suck and Little Fockers.
What If... and I Spit on Your Grave.

The Winner:
Let Me In and The Other Guys. Couldn’t resist.

The Human Stain Award for “Film Titles That Should Be About Zombies But Aren’t For Some Reason.”

Nominees:
Eat Pray Love
It’s a Wonderful Afterlife
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead
Soul Kitchen

The Winner:
The Kids Are All Right. Adults taste better.

The Jude Law in 2004 Award for “We’re Tired of Seeing This Already.”

Nominees:
Films about Jack Abramoff named Casino Jack
Naked scenes of Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs
Horrible, godawful calls by NFL referee Gene Steratore (a proud Pittsburgh resident and obvious Steeler fan)
Movies where Leonardo DiCaprio is living in a mind-bending false reality

The Winner:
All feature films with M. Night Shyamalon’s creative influence. The Last Airbender and Devil were nails in the coffin. Oh wait, he’s actually been dead this entire time! (Token unfunny joke for this article. I’m allowed one.)

The “Sean Penn Defending Jude Law at the 2004 Oscars” Award for “Let’s Actually Be Serious For A Second and Name the Actual Best Performance in a 2010 film.”
Nominees:
George Clooney, The American
Andy Garcia, City Island
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

The Winner:
Chloe Grace Moretz, Let Me In. It was a great year for child performances (and a breakout year for the real-life Hit-Girl), but this one stood out. Moretz is absolutely spellbinding as the blood-sucking young vampire Abby, creating a complex, painfully real character, which could have been lampooned and turned into a Colt Ford music video. A truly great performance in one of 2010’s few truly great motion pictures.

Without further ado, here are my top ten films for 2010. There were other films that came out, but they generally sucked, especially if they involved vampires or 3-D.

10. True Grit (Joel and Ethan Coen). Excellent classical western, lacking the moral ambiguity of recent revisionist westerns, but more accessible for audiences as a result. Ripe with typically quirky Coen characters and dialogue, with terrific cinematography by Roger Deakins. Bridges, Damon, and Brolin solid, but all outshined by outstanding newcomer Hailee Steinfeld.

9. Restrepo (Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger) In April 2011, Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya while on a filming assignment. A real shame, because one of Restrepo’s strengths is the fearless willingness of the filmmakers to completely absorb themselves in the horrific, unpredictable violence of the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. Like The Hurt Locker, the movie illustrates that there is little time for long-winded, much-rehearsed political debates over military conflict in the heat of the battle. It ultimately comes down to camaraderie and the reliance of others for support – which, in the case of Restrepo, may actually be an impediment to keeping emotions off the battlefield. (Side note: Juan “Doc” Restrepo wins this year’s “Dick from High Fidelity” Award for Best Todd Look-alike.)

8. The American (Anton Corbijn). George Clooney has officially entered the realm of acceptable man-crushes as a badass assassin in this quiet, understated, but terrifically exciting thriller. BTW: Acceptable Man-Crushes include Bill Simmons, Tom Brady, Ed Norton, Clint Eastwood, the Dos Equis guy, Brian “The Beard” Wilson, Jack Bauer, Dr. McDreamy, Ed Harris at the History of Violence press junket, Peggy from the Discover Card commercials, Hilary Swank, the guy who invented the first down line in football, Bob Barker, ALF.

7. City Island (Raymond De Felitta). Easily the funniest movie of the year, even though the title sounds like a futuristic sci-fi thriller. Andy Garcia plays a corrections officer with a penchant for acting who keeps a secret from his family - while they keep secrets from him. Great Italian-American humor with some truly hilarious dinner scenes, and a final city block confrontation that brings down the house. Did anyone know Andy Garcia was this funny? Maybe not a truly great movie, but it’s hard making an intentionally funny movie nowadays. "OOHH!"

6. Blue Valentine (Derek Cianfrance). Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play a married couple who are completely wrong for each other. It soon turns into Buddy Ryan and Kevin Gilbride and the ’93 Oilers coaching staff kind of situation, and remind happy couples seeing the movie everywhere that marriage is a bad idea. Already rough news in a year where boyfriends everywhere were dragged to the Twilight movie and Life as We Know It.

5. The Social Network (David Fincher). It’s the cultural zeitgeist of the 21^st Century, a film illustrating Enough has already been written about the strengths of this once-laughable concept so here are my two flaws: The Zuckerberg character is a little inconsistent, and Sorkin's script examines the cultural ramifications of social networking rather superficially. But otherwise a terrifically engaging film, undoubtedly one of this generation's most definitive. You already know that.

4. The Tillman Story (Amir Bar-Lev). Eye-opening documentary that not only reveals the massive and appalling military cover-up of the football star-turned-military hero’s death, but also a doc that asks questions about what it means to truly sacrifice for one’s country and be patriotic. What emerges is that Pat Tillman was a hero not because he loved his country, but because even when he began to question the motives behind the war in Afghanistan, he continued his obligation to military service over a high-paying football career. He was a hero not because he made inspirational speeches, but because he was vulgar, crass, and didn’t take himself seriously. It will take decades to get over all the Effed-up BS pulled by the Bush administration (see below).

3. Inside Job (Charles Ferguson). This is one of the most engaging, unbiased, and informative documentaries ever made about the American financial system, and specifically the economic breakdown of 2008. At times harrowing, infuriating, and always riveting, the film argues the collapse wasn't a single event, but the product of larger negligance and corruption. Like Ferguson’s previous feature, No End in Sight, the doc very clearly and concisely puts together information and cogently makes arguments. And yes, it’s mostly Republicans’ fault, although Obama and others are not completely clear of fault. Every American under the age of 30 should see this movie.

2. Inception (Christopher Nolan). A rare big-budget action thriller with a brain. The plot isn't as confounding as everyone says, and the jargon is minimal. Superb and memorable visuals, most notably Paris folding up like a book, another steel-clan Han Zimmer score, and a great performance from Leo. After you see it for the first time, you can't wait to see it again. Although two questions remain: How come Cillian Murphy didn’t recognize Ken Wantanabe on the plane, and how come Leo couldn’t just move his kids to France?

1. Let Me In (Matt Reeves). Yes, it’s a movie about first love and vampires. Yes, it’s a remake of a supposedly more sophisticated European film. Get over it; it’s also unquestionably the best film of the year. For a film about a blood-thirsty vampire who appears in the form of a 12-year-old girl, the film is remarkably finely tuned to the realities of puberty and first love. It perfectly captures the fine balance of the awkwardness between boys and girls, and the moments of pure exhilaration and ecstasy. Visually, its wonderfully drab color scheme accentuates the trepidation and fear of the unknown, which is amusingly reiterated through the film’s use of Reagan-era political rhetoric. It also has the best musical score of any film released this year, and its two young leads, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Grace Moretz, are revelations. There is a scene that takes place in a moving vehicle that is beautifully Hitchcockian (you’ll know the one), and From start to finish, there is not a single wrong note, a dull moment, or Is it better than Let the Right One In? Is that question really relevant? When you instantly love a film the way this film snuck up on me, the heart does not lie.

Power Rankings: Performances of 2010

Looking at last year’s top performances, one thing I noticed immediately is that the awards shows got the majority of it right this year. Sometimes there may be a questionable performance that is universally praised, but not in 2010. All the top awarded performances really were the best performances of the year. That makes this list a little boring with not many surprises, but that is okay. The important part is getting it right.

Others Receiving Votes

Robert Duvall – Get Low

Matt Damon – Hereafter

Jonah Hill – Cyrus

Amy Adams – The Fighter

Michael Shannon – The Runaways

10. Leonardo DiCaprio: Inception/Shutter Island

They were pretty much the same role so I thought I would combine them on my list as well. However, just because he played the same character twice, it does not cheapen the quality of either performance. They were both incredibly moving performances that carried their movies to heights few films can reach. Both characters were extremely flawed people that were forced to work through their own personal demons while also trying to solve the greater mystery before them. Both of these films could have simply been averages thrillers, but with one of the most gifted actors behind the lead characters both films became two of the year’s best.

9. Michael Cera: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

In one of my personal favorite films of the year, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tells the story of a young man fighting off his newfound girlfriend’s seven evil exes. With this crazy premise, and the crazy mind of Edgar Wright behind the camera, Michael Cera is thrown in as the title character. As always, Cera brings his innocent, awkward charm to the role, but also a little bit of action star. He is the perfect actor to play this character that is half confused kid, half video game character.

8. Geoffrey Rush: The King’s Speech

Geoffrey Rush has become one of those actors you can always count on to be a bright spot in any film he appears, especially when he is playing the quirky supporting character. This performance is no different. This time around he plays the unorthodox speech therapist that helps British royalty with a speech impediment. He brings his quirky charisma that he always brings to his roles, however he also possesses something deeper as he becomes the King’s employee, friend, and most trusted confidant.

7. Andrew Garfield: The Social Network

Rarely does someone come out of nowhere quite like Andrew Garfield did in 2010. Few people knew who he was a year ago. Now he has had two big movies, was robbed of an Oscar nomination, and will soon be playing Spider-Man. In this performance, he plays the betrayed friend of Mark Zuckerberg and displays an undeniable magnetism on screen. He has that draw that forces you to pay attention to him when he is on screen. I cannot wait to continue to see him grow into the superstar he is bound to become.

6. Hailee Steinfeld: True Grit

Star-studded cast. Two Oscars winners. Another nominee. Oscar winning directors. And a 14 year old girl steals the show and carries the movie to greatness. She is the focal point of the movie and even with this star-studded cast, everyone else plays off the standard and tone she sets for the movie. This is one of the greatest child performances I have ever seen. Can’t wait to see her in something else.

5. Jesse Eisenberg: The Social Network

You take Jesse Eisenberg’s fast-talking, awkward nature and channel it into an overly confident and cocky SOB, and you have the tour de force that is Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. From the start of the movie, Eisenberg completely embodies this character in a way I don’t think anyone else could. It is the best casting move of the year. A great actor with a perfect character in an incredible movie equals perfection.

4. Colin Firth: The King’s Speech

Colin Firth has been a well-respected actor for quite awhile now, but I had no idea how good he actually was before this film. If I didn’t know better, I would say his speech impediment is natural throughout the film. You know an actor is on top of his game when he is able to make the unnatural seem natural. On top of this obvious piece of his character, he shows great emotion in his subtlety which is really hard to do. He gives a very restrained performance in many ways which breaks in a most natural way in several outbursts of pure emotion throughout the film. He is completely deserving of his Oscar.

3. James Franco: 127 Hours

Few roles require a wider range of pure unbridled emotion than that of the lead character played by James Franco in 127 Hours. He starts the movie as a care-free risk-taker with a scary infectious energy that can best be described as cartoonish. Then he gets stuck. In the 127 hours he is stuck he goes from his joyful self to anger to rage to depression to denial to contentment to acceptance to creativity and back again several times. He owns this movie in a Cast Away type of role as he is the only one on screen for most of the film, and it is endlessly fascinating and engaging from start to finish.

2. Natalie Portman: Black Swan

This performance was the “drop-my-jaw-blow-me-away” performance of the year. I honestly didn’t know she had that in her. As the movie begins, Natalie Portman plays the sweet, innocent picture of perfection. Once she is cast in her dream role, she has to embody both the bright and dark sides of her personality. Her slow and steady transformation from the Swan Queen to the Black Swan is an acting master class. Portman absolutely deserved her Oscar.

1. Christian Bale: The Fighter

He’s one of the best actors we have, and he finally got the perfect role for him to show us all everything he is capable of on a stage where he can get all the recognition he has deserved for years. In The Fighter, Christian Bale becomes Dickie Eklund, a washed-up doped-up ex-boxer trying to get his kid brother to the top. Bale has always been able to completely throw himself 100% into every role sent his way, and this is no different. The only difference between this role and his past roles that puts this one over the top is he has more to work with in Dickie than he has ever had. It is the best character he has created, and the best platform to let that character shine. All this together makes this the best performance of the year.