And it's getting more and more difficult to even hear about great foreign flicks until after they've been through the awards.
Still managed to entertain a few of my vices regardless. So here's the 2010 Wrap-Up -- meager as it may be.
Favorite 5 Films of 2010:
- The American - Superbly acted, minimalist thriller about an assassin (George Clooney) who takes refuge in Italy after being attacked. No wasted scenes, no unnecessary dialog. If such films are allowed to be called works of art, then this sets the bench mark.
- True Grit - Say what you want about the Coen brothers, but given the right source material (ie - No Country For Old Men) they know how to tell a story. Such again is the case with their adaptation of Charles Portis' True Grit. Coarse characters, great dialog always laced with oddball humor. A tale of redemption and revenge that sets it apart from usual fare.
- The Town - Affleck showing again his directing chops (Gone Baby Gone was his too) with a hard-nosed heist film set in a grim Bostonian neighborhood.
- The Fighter - If ever a boxer's story deserved to be told, Mickey Ward's did. And The Fighter does a great job of using the tumultuous dynamic of his family as a means to telling a fine, fine underdog story. Wahlberg and Bale will be lauded for their acting. But Melissa Leo should get top honors for her portrayal as their mom.
- The Ghost Writer - Never thought I'd recommend a Ewen MacGregor film, but Polanski (when he's not being chased around the world for statutory rape) directs an intelligent bit of whodunnit here. Careful moments of revelation make for great pacing.
While I bought plenty of new music this year, none of it was produced in 2010 save for Gord Downie's The Grand Bounce (which I love). Notable bands that I discovered this year are Russian Circles, Mumford and Sons, and Katatonia.
Likewise for books, of which I only managed a depressing 19 -- only two of them were from 2010. Paul Harding's Tinkers and Justin Halpern's quite humorous S*it My Dad Says. Both of them are recommended, though the former is clearly of greater value than the latter.
Likewise for books, of which I only managed a depressing 19 -- only two of them were from 2010. Paul Harding's Tinkers and Justin Halpern's quite humorous S*it My Dad Says. Both of them are recommended, though the former is clearly of greater value than the latter.
Now time for you to post your own lists. I'm always in need of recommendations.
6 comments:
LOVE The American. My fave too. It was real cinema for once. The King's Speech & The Social Network were a close 2nd/3rd. (I still need to see The Town, True Grit & Winter's Bone.)
The Ghost Writer's ending was a bit disappointing for me. It felt like a cop-out. But I'm open to being persuaded. I loved the look and feel up until the final reveal.
Thanks for the comments, Goode. King's Speech and Social Network are on my list but alas I haven't caught them yet. Heard good things, though.
My initial response to Ghost Writer was similar to yours -- and a few of my other friends have also intimated the same.
A few days later and it didn't bother me as much. Not sure why.
Oh and Winter's Bone. Really want to see that too.
Harry, you may have written the only top five films list of films I'd actually want to see. The Town was great (the director's cut is better), Social Network was great, and I'm excited as hell for True Grit. Happy New Year
And to you, old sport. Loved your last blog post.
Okay, here's a sorry admission: I haven't seen any of these! So I have my mission.... ;)
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