Top 10 of '10

And here it is, the inevitable end of the year list. But before I lay it out for you, it's time for a bit of reflection. This 'reflection' is mostly remembering how terrible this year's summer lineup was. 'Robin Hood', 'Prince of Persia', 'Iron Man 2', 'The Last Airbender', 'Clash of the Titans', 'Jonah Hex', just to name a few. Not to mention the drastic switch to 3D that took theaters by storm this year. And with all these movies converting to 3D, none (besides 'Tron', to a degree) have made the movie any better. The only case in which 3D worked was with 'Avatar', but it costs a whole lot more to get the multiple cameras and other equipment necessary to make a movie with 'Avatar' 3D. It makes me wonder if this cheap, 3D conversion will be able to entertain audiences for very much longer. All this said, the late Fall and Winter still brought a handful of future Oscar nominees and award winners from which I have selected the majority of my top 10. So here we go:

10. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I'

Warner Bros.

I think the majority of Potter fans can agree that the latest addition to the mega-blockbuster series is the best of the lot, so far. In 'Hallows' we get to see the characters as actual people like we've never seen them before. Instead of blinding and distracting the audience with unending magic and special effects, this film focused on the people and built on their personal struggles more than any of the other films. Not to mention it successfully brought on the darkness and creepiness needed to do the book justice. This is undoubtedly the best adaptation of the books so far and I can't wait for the sequel coming next Summer.

9. 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World'

Universal Pictures

One of the most underrated movies of the year, 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' unites Michael Cera and a fabulous supporting cast with Edgar Wright, director of 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Shaun of the Dead' for a highly entertaining, hilarious adaptation of a comic series of the same name. It's hard to say why this film did so poorly at the box office considering the presence of Cera, the comic's following, and Wright's fan club. Still, it's out there on DVD now, and I feel very confident that anyone would enjoy it's surprisingly fun, cool action and Wright's masterful editing style and quirky, sarcastic comedy that blends perfectly with the comic book-ish style.

8. 'The Town'

Warner Bros.

With 'Gone Baby Gone' Ben Affleck proved that his skills as director/writer heavily outweigh his skill as an actor. And with 'The Town', a wonderfully edited, acted, directed heist film, Affleck has shown he can deliver once again. He even did a pretty good job in the acting department as well, but Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall shine the brightest in the cast. After watching 'Mad Men', I'm sure I'd see Jon Hamm's character a bit differently now that I know Don Draper. 'The Town' is probably the year's best crime movie and even though it's not that different or explosive, all the pieces fit together and work very well to make a very solid film.

7. 'The Kids are All Right'

Focus Features

I think it's amazing that a movie like this can be made for a mere $3.5 million. That, no doubt, was all spent on the excellent cast. Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo star alongside young stars Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson in this family drama. By the 'family drama', I mean that it's about a family, NOT a movie for families since it's a pretty hard R with all the sexuality/nudity/and language. Still, that doesn't stop it from having some of the best acting of the year and a simple but realistic, meaningful plot. Many will hear about the lesbian couple in it (Bening and Moore) and think it's an agenda film, and it isn't at all. No matter the characters' sexuality, this film is about people, and therefore, they are not perfect and things get messy. 'Kids' is presented as comedy, but it's more of a drama and is pretty sad at points. But, still a very good film.

6. 'The Fighter'

Paramount Pictures

What may look like a boring, stereotypical boxing movie is nothing of the sort. 'The Fighter' is about the boxer's (Mark Wahlberg) family and struggling to become his own person and make something for himself apart from his brother (Christian Bale) and mother (Melissa Leo). It's a movie bolstered primarily by it's great acting, but director David O. Russell has shown again that he's comfortable doing anything from 'I Heart Huckabees' to 'Three Kings'. Bale deserves best supporting actor more than anyone this year to show people he can do much more than Batman. Director and adapted screenplay nominees may be flying it's way as well.

5. 'True Grit'

Paramount Pictures

While legendary directors Joel and Ethan Coen could've put their own spin on a modern Western, they didn't and chose to go with a traditional one. In the end, it was a very close remake of the original, and while that may have disappointed some people, I believe it shows the incredible breadth of talent the Coen brothers possess. The cast is phenomenal and Jeff Bridges makes a much better Rooster Cogburn than John Wayne, in my opinion. The plot is straightforward and not as explosive as some may want, but it shows incredible precision and restraint on the part of the Coens to craft a product that is everything it's meant to be. So if you like the classic Western, you'll love this.

4. 'The King's Speech'

The Weinstein Company

Instead of being the high and mighty, over dramatic Oscar winner the advertising presented it to be, 'The King's Speech' is a modest picture that soars because of it's strong performances and simple, but beautiful handling of the cinematography and plot. Colin Firth will inevitably win best actor this year, and while I wish Christian Bale the best for supporting actor, his greatest challenger will be Geoffrey Rush who proves once again to be very comfortable in whatever role he is given. It is an all around very like able picture that stays away from the normal Oscar parade of  melodramatics and I applaud it for that.

3. 'The Social Network'

Columbia Pictures

'The Social Network' is the movie to beat this year for editing, directing, and screenplay. The dialogue was astounding in it's creativity and execution, not to mention director David Fincher's masterful handling of the pacing and unfolding of the plot. Acting nominees will inevitably come to this one as well and most likely for Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield. The battle for best director this year will be very interesting and Fincher is at the front, and with his impressive resume (which includes 'Fight Club' and 'Seven') he is even more likely to finally be rewarded. With the films that are inevitably going to be battling over best picture, director, screenplay, etc, I'll be satisfied no matter what because I like them all.

2. 'Black Swan'

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Darren Aronofsky is a master of the visually stimulating and awesome, but he also never ceases to disturb and create a darkness that is very unsettling. 'Black Swan' is his ultimate blending of each and showcases the best use of hand held camera I have seen in a long time. Natalie Portman finally gets her chance to shine here, but Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, and Mila Kunis all do a fantastic job, Cassel most of all. If Bale, Rush, and Cassel all get nominated for supporting actor, I will be extremely satisfied. Aronofsky will no doubt pick up a directing nomination, but as I said, that battle will be a close one. 'Black Swan' may come off as melodramatic to some, but it is unabashedly so and pulls it all off amazingly well.

1. 'Inception'

Warner Bros.

It was inevitable. 'Inception' is the #1 pick on countless lists across the nation and has proved that director Christopher Nolan is brilliant writer/director. His second film, 'Memento', was in the top 5 of my favorite movies from the last decade, and I think 'Inception' will probably make it into that section in 2019. There have been many attempts by angry/annoying people (that nobody likes) to show how 'Inception' isn't 'original' or that Nolan stole the entire idea from a Donald Duck cartoon (wtf?). No matter what people say, 'Inception' has some of the most mind bending plot details and entertaining action I have seen in a movie for a very, very long time. Everyone has their theories about the ending and the meaning behind everything, but the most amazing (and right) theory is that 'Inception' is Nolan's own '8 1/2'. You movie nerds know what I mean by that, and if you don't, go watch Federico Fellini's '8 1/2', and you'll understand. It is my dream that 'Inception' would win director and screenplay. I don't see how the Academy can ignore a movie that is #1 throughout the world and on the top 10 list of highest grossing films of the year. Put together, it shows critical and audience acclaim agree which should be a recipe for awards success. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But Nolan will always remain a genius in my mind, no matter what.