HONORABLE MENTIONS: First Reformed, Leave No Trace, A Star is Born, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Tully, Minding the Gap, Paddington 2, Widows, Wildlife, Thoroughbreds.
TOP 10 OF 2017
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Good Time, God’s Own Country, Columbus, The Disaster Artist, The Big Sick, The Shape of Water, The Square, Logan, I, Tonya, Coco.
TOP 10 OF 2016
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Loving, Other People, Elle, Kubo and the Two Strings, Things To Come, Edge of Seventeen, Captain Fantastic, Little Men, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Sing Street
TOP 10 OF 2015
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mustang, The Martian, Spotlight, Creed, Trainwreck, Far from the Madding Crowd, Cinderella, Beasts of No Nation, Diary of a Teenage Girl, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
10. PHOENIX. Potent, commanding cinema. Buoyed by a mesmerizing performance from Nina Hoss, Petzold's post-WWII melodrama—layered with subtle subtexts—channels the atmosphere and mystery of a Hitchcock classic and gathers momentum as it goes, charging towards a shattering final scene.
9. IT FOLLOWS. This slow burn supernatural fable and its moody, nightmarish visuals offer a stylish reinvention of the modern horror movie. Every frame is filled with palpable panic, possessing a minimalism rarely seen in the genre today. Be warned: its faceless, amorphous monster will lurk behind you for days.
8. ROOM. A piercing psychological thriller / familial drama wrought with emotional extremes: nerve-shredding yet life-affirming, horrifying yet hopeful. Future-Best-Actress-winner Brie Larson and newcomer Jacob Tremblay create one of the most deeply moving mother-son relationships ever seen on film. There will be tears.
7. CAROL. A timeless romance—told in whispers and glances—that evokes the ache and ecstasy of forbidden love with a sense of stillness, delicacy. Progressive without being political, Todd Haynes fashions this affair of the heart with his trademark sophistication and meticulousness. Mara and Blanchett are each extraordinary.
6. BROOKLYN. Unashamedly old-fashioned, director John Crowley and star Saoirse Ronan exquisitely capture the burden and beauty of change. This kind of restrained, no-frills filmmaking is hard to ignore; its simplicity makes it all the more significant. Brooklyn is a story about coming of age, but mostly, it's a story about coming home.
5. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. A visceral demolition derby of a movie where plot takes a backseat to bone-jarring, pedal-to-the-metal, post-apocalyptic action. The mayhem of Miller's bold vision explodes and thunders across the screen with astonishing scope, proving action can, in fact, be art.
4. 45 YEARS. A complex, carefully unrolled exploration of marriage, commitment and the secrets from our past that threaten to unravel us. Quietly devastating, Haigh's latest character study radiates palpable hurt and heart thanks to its co-stars. Rampling, in particular, astounds in the single best performance of the year.
3. SICARIO. Denis Vilenueve proves himself the master of atmospheric thrillers, delivering a moody stomach-churner that's both timely and intelligent. It's a simmering, sweaty-palmed look at the war on drugs, featuring grim, gut-checking action while asking harrowing moral questions.
2. INSIDE OUT. An instant classic. Pixar delivers their trademark blend of innovation and imagination, crafting one of the most ambitious and sharply insightful films they've ever made. Heady, heart-swelling and profound, Inside Out is a tour de force that's as weighty as it is witty.
1. EX MACHINA. Cerebral sci-fi that bewitches beginning to end. A modern Frankenstein story featuring one of the most breathtaking and instantly iconic screen performances of the year from Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina forces us to reevaluate what it means to be alive, raising intriguing questions on human consciousness. Thought-provoking, hand-wringing, and heart-pounding, Alex Garland's dazzling directorial debut is an A.I. thriller for the ages.
TOP 10 OF 2014
Honorable Mentions: Grand Budapest Hotel, Snowpiercer, Only Lovers Left Alive, Obvious Child, Love Is Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gloria, Pride, Interstellar, Under the Skin.
10. Edge of Tomorrow
Edge of Tomorrow is one blazingly imaginative sci-fi flick; endlessly entertaining and smarter than a summer spectacle has any right to be. Emily Blunt's "full metal bitch," alone, is worth the ticket. It's big, loud, and worth watching again. And again. And again.
9. Ida
A tremendous example of "Show, Don't Tell," with every monochrome frame of this quiet Polish gem bursting with life, heart, and history. This future Oscar-winner is a haunting exploration of right and wrong, but the only thing black and white about it is the exquisitely composed cinematography.
8. Two Days, One Night
The Dardennes' hand-held realist aesthetic + Marion Cotillard's scrappy, simmering brilliance = one of the most profoundly affecting dramas of the year. The film offers a discerning look at the life of the working class and delivers a raw, unvarnished portrait of a woman on a crusade to put her life back together. I dare you not to be moved.
7. Nightcrawler
A slithering, captivating, and bleak satire/thriller featuring a never-better Jake Gyllenhaal as a nightmarish, amoral antihero. Dan Gilroy's dark examination of one man's stop-at-nothing approach to journalism is one of the most unsettling and unfogettable movie experiences of the year.
6. The Babadook
Brace yourselves: Jennifer Kent's flawless and fearsome film debut is the best spook in quite some time. It's as rich and imaginative a study of depression as it is a creepy-crawly ghost story. This soon-to-be classic horror entry is packed with dread, paranoia, and claustrophobia, grounded by a startling central turn from Essie Davis.
5. Gone Girl
A twisting mystery that offers the perfect blend of pulp and prestige, humor and horror. In Pike, a star is born. It's yet another deliciously dark, stylish, and funny entry from the master of the adult thriller, David Fincher, elevated by Gillian Flynn's sick and slick screenplay.
4. Selma
A momentous movie, in every sense of the word. Ava DuVernay's impeccable film, starring a triumphant David Oyelowo, celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. as the fearless, flawed leader he was and asks: what has changed? Selma is a movie worth marching for.
3. Boyhood
The year's grandest movie epic. And the most astonishingly intimate, moving, and memorable, too. Richard Linklater's bold experiment -- filming the lives of one fictional family one week a year for 12 years -- pays off generously with a warm and wonderful human drama, perhaps the greatest coming-of-age story ever put on film.
2. Whiplash
Prepare to sweat. This taut jackhammer of a movie thumps and cracks along at breakneck speeds, leaving its audience white-knuckling it from beginning to end. Much like J.K. Simmons' ball-busting performance, the movie is relentless. With his piercing and electric ode to the process and pain of achieving greatness, young director Damien Chazelle does just that.
1. Birdman
A surreal and dizzyingly ambitious maze of a movie where actors playing actors give utterly heroic performances. Director Inarritu ingeniously crafts the movie as a seamless single take (shot by the master Lubeski) which allows for a truly innovative and engrossing movie experience. Some might balk at Birdman's stream-of-conscious storytelling, but I, for one, found it disturbing, magnetic, and altogether mesmerizing.
TOP 10 of 2013
Honorable Mentions: Fruitvale Station, Mud, Prisoners, Before Midnight, Dallas Buyers Club, The Spectacular Now, The Act of Killing, Philomena, Saving Mr. Banks, The Conjouring.
10. Captain Phillips
Paul Greengrass (of The Bourne Trilogy fame) knows a thing or two about suspense. He depicts the true events of Captain Phillips with conviction, never romanticizing or manipulating, but delivering sequences of drama so authentic you might forget you're watching a staged reenactment. Aside from its pedestrian (almost laughable) first scene, Captain Phillips is downright riveting storytelling. Once the sweaty-palmed, nerve-shredding tension begins to build, it doesn't let up until the films gutting climax. Throughout the film, but especially during those final moments, Tom Hanks delivers a remarkably powerful performance—possibly one of the best of his career—and further cements himself as one of the greats. If you're up for 134 minutes of relentless, nail-chewing, high-stakes drama, look no further than the incomparable Captain Phillips.
9. The Wind Rises
A bittersweet swan song from one of the all-time greats, Hayao Miyazaki's final animated feature is a dream-like ode to imagination set in the rubble of 1920's Japan. It has the grace and majesty of an animated classic, yet feels fresh and sweepingly now. It possesses such a sure-footed grasp of reality despite its fantastic premise, it's easy to overlook the fact that the story unfolding is actually a true one. It also helps that the animation is absurdly gorgeous. If you're fortunate enough to see The Wind Rises in theaters, you'll be swept away to a land and time when life was fueled by the possibility of what could be, and the promise that with enough passion and purpose, human beings are capable of extraordinary things.
8. Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen's latest outing is an acidic, yet entirely mesmerizing portrait of a woman in the midst of complete emotional collapse. The film only works thanks to a bulldozing tour-de-force from Cate Blanchett. Jasmine is a train wreck of epic, historic proportions. As if whisked right from the pages of a Tennessee William's play, the character is an intoxicating blend of funny and sad, poise and panic, beauty and repugnance. While the film is a highlight in Allen's recent repertoire, it certainly wouldn't be anything without Blanchett's Oscar-bound portrayal of a neurotic verging on psychotic. Once you're able to see straight, you'll see Blue Jasmine for what it is: one of the most painful and painfully funny doses of dark humor in years.
7. Blue Is the Warmest Color
Warning: this film is about lesbians. If that, in any way, offends you, please skip to #6. Thanks, in part, to its explicit nature, Blue made quite a splash at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Sparing no detail of its central characters' turbulent love affair, it captures young love through a very, very realistic lens. But that's just a footnote. What really secured this film's place on my Top 10 list was its uncompromising depiction of the human heart and its many vagaries. The story is emotionally intricate yet universally applicable. Including this movie in my Top 10 list will likely put me in hot water with certain someones, but so be it. For me personally, this movie was momentous. When you're left emotionally ravaged, weepy and wistful, you know you've experienced something far too exceptional to be defined by its controversies.
6. American Hustle
There wasn't a more raucous, entertaining, or vibrant confection in cinemas this year. David O. Russell continues his winning streak with yet another entry of his trademark character-before-plot approach to film making. No complaints here. The film isn't without its flaws (often unfocused and untidy), but Russell's loose, energetic direction and the obscenely talented cast make up for its bouts of convoluted con-artistry. Having worked with Bale, Adams, Lawrence, and Cooper before, Russell establishes himself, yet again, as an actor's director and draws four of the best performances of these fine actors' careers (all of which earned Oscar nods this year). Stylish, sexy and uproariously funny, American Hustle hits sparkling highs that are hard to come down from.
5. Gravity
2013's most groundbreaking achievement in film, Alfonso Cuaron's technical triumph launched into cinemas with dazzling and dizzying results. Its much-hyped state-of-the-art special effects and impressive one-woman showcase for star Sandra Bullock certainly lived up to the hype. While slightly hampered by uninspired dialogue (just minor quibbles) the film manages to be both technically grand and emotionally resonant, not to mention it features some of the most white-knuckled sequences of jaw-dropping action ever seen on film. Beginning to end, Gravity is a masterfully directed thrill ride that has changed the big-budget epic forever. James Cameron, it's your move.
4. Frances Ha
Oh, the endearing plights of the defining decade! Rarely captured with such unabashed openness, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's collaboration feels like a time capsule for Generation Y-ers clamoring for adulthood. It's a perfect incarnation of insecurity, aimlessness, and living paycheck to paycheck, told with a deft blend of awkwardness and earnestness. Gerwig literally dances across the screen in a role that will certainly put her on the map. Many compare it Lena Dunham's Girls, but where Girls feels like a cast of caricatures, France Ha juggles its themes and characters perfectly imperfectly.
3. Her
At a glance, Spike Jonze's latest marvel is about a not-too-distant future where handheld devices and artificially intelligent operating systems rule us. But upon further inspection, Her reveals itself to be so much more than just a commentary on our present day communication conundrum. It also examines universal truths about human connections. With anyone. In any way. It's about rising and falling relationships and the flailing players who are left picking up the pieces. Her is many things to many people, but to me, it stands out as an innovative meditation on human loneliness and our innate need to connect.
2. Short Term 12
We're lucky to get movies this good three or four times a year. It truly transcends its seemingly one-note premise, averting melodrama and manipulation in favor of unmistakable authenticity. Often so real, raw, and natural, it feels like a documentary. For all its heartrending and lump-in-the-throating, Short Term 12 is also incredibly warm and funny. It wears its compassion on its sleeves, much of which is a result of its star, Brie Larsen. She delivers a truly lived-in performance, gradually peeling back Grace's straight-faced exterior to reveal a complex and tortured core. What could easily come off as a made-for-TV special instead feels refreshingly uncool and unpolished and all the more interesting, as a result. I will never stop recommending this unshakable little movie.
1. 12 Years A Slave
How could anything else top this list? Steve McQueen's devastating depiction of the most loathsome period in American history hits like a sledgehammer and lingers for days, weeks after. It's hard to watch, to say the least, but it's even harder to look away. Every scene is artful, profound, and exquisitely performed. From Fassbender's spit-flinging rage to Lupita's soul-crushing scenes of agony, the cast is pitch perfect. Some film pundits fear 12 Years A Slave could lose Best Picture at the Oscar's to a technical marvel or all-out crowd pleaser (Gravity or American Hustle, respectively), but it shouldn't matter; 12 Years A Slave has already secured its permanent place in American culture and movie history. More than just a masterpiece, Steve McQueen's unflinching tale of slavery in America is a flat-out milestone.
TOP 10 of 2012
10. Perks of Being a Wallflower
Author/screenwriter/director Chbosky’s meticulous faithfulness to his source material is commendable, but it’s the film’s unmistakable injection of John Hughes-ness that makes it successful. Beautifully capturing the nostalgia and pain of high school, Perks is authentic and awkward in all the right ways. It helps that the mighty trio of lead actors deliver infectious, chemistry-rich performances. Perks tells such a specific story it’s impossible not to relate to, invest in, and connect with its expressiveness. But what I love most about this movie (and book) is that it dares to explore dark and unwelcome themes for its young characters. What could easily feel trite or unearned comes off genuine, even profound. Yes, the book is better, but I have a strong feeling this movie will age well—stories this sincere have a way of feeling truly infinite.
9. Argo
Just three features into what promises to be an illustrious directorial career, Affleck hits a home run. Argo walks that fine line of being both nail-biting and uproariously entertaining. A detailed historical thriller AND a unanimous crowd-pleaser? That's just damn good film making The cast of eccentric character actors from Arkin to Pullman to Cranston are all dynamic, but it's the relatively unknown actors as the American hostage victims that shine. Affleck has once again crafted an enthralling film sparing neither humor nor heart, and had he not dead-panned his way through the film as lead actor, it might've made my Top 5. Regardless, Argo is smart, crackling cinema and a triumphant piece of storytelling.
8. Moonrise Kingdom
You either love Wed Anderson's whimsically warped way of viewing the world or you loathe it. Obviously, I belong to the former group--I adore it. How beautiful a creature Moonrise Kingdom is: a fable about the sweetness of youth presented in Anderson's trademark twee-tinged splendor. The movie never allows its eccentricities or colorful characters to compromise the film's heart and soul, and exudes warmth and affection throughout. Anderson commits to his beloved cast of oddballs, including the sensational young actors at its center, as well as the supporting ensemble cast including Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, and Frances McDormand. Such a formidable cast combined with Anderson's off-kilter sense of narrative result in a surprisingly poignant piece of escapism, reminding us why we go to movies at all.
7. Rust and Bone
Rust and Bone is not a pleasant film. It's brutal, devastating, and heart wrenching It spares no drop of blood, no fallen tear in its jarring depiction of broken bones, broken knuckles, and broken souls piecing each other back together. The journey of its two central characters presses viewers into uncomfortable corners, studying their physical and emotional wounds slowly, deliberating. The movie, while daunting, becomes approachable--at times, achingly beautiful--thanks to two daring performances from Matthias Schoenaerts and Marion Cotillard as the central characters. Plus, any movie that can make an overplayed Katy Perry song feel haunting deserves some sort of award. A character study at its core, Rust and Bone is just as healing as it is harrowing.
6. Looper
In today's world of cinema the element of surprise has gone somewhat extinct. Teasers, trailers, clips, leaks, reviews, and spoiler-soaked blogs see to it that every movie is so thoroughly exposed that little to no surprise remains. Which is why Looper was such an unforgettable experience; it completely threw me for a--wait for it--loop. I expected intense action (delivers in spades), impressive special effects (Joseph Gordon-Levitt's convincing performance as a young Bruce Willis being the most special of all), futuristic guns, gadgets and modes of transportation, not to mention mind-bending, time-travel noir, and on all accounts, Looper delivers. And that's just in Act One. By Act Two of Johnson's inventive sci-fi caper, we're thrown by a dramatic tonal and thematic shift, plucking us from the crowded chaos of the future and placing us in a quiet rural farm home. Here we are met with a new story so intimate and unexpected the hover cars zipping by become irrelevant. I expected Looper to be original, brainy, and satiate my hunger for good sci-fi, but the emotional pay-offs were far deeper than any Bruce Willis movie has any right to deliver.
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild
The central character of Behn Zeraasd's remarkable film debut is a sever-year-old girl called hushpuppy. Impressively brought to life by newcomer Quvenzhane Wallis. Hushpuppy is a fierce, fiery force of nature, and is swiftly becoming something of an iconic movie character. I'm talking Apple Bee's wall art iconic. After storming Sundance early last year, Beasts has gone on to solidify itself as more than just your run-of-the-mill art house drama, but a truly captivating and curious slice of poetry. It snaps, it sparkles, it snarls and it ensnares, Beasts of the Souther Wild is a vivid fantasy that will stampede you with its transfixing truths about childhood, innocence, and a country in desperate need of such a story.
4. Lincoln
For a movie comprised of two hours and thirty minutes of talking, contemplating, debating, deliberating, and more talking,Lincoln is truly transfixing. Kudos to screenwriter Tony Kushner for penning a script so textured with history, heart, and--believe it or not--humor; the film never lulls or feels self-important. Spielberg characteristically showcases his keen eye for storytelling and produces his best film in over a decade. But Kushner's spry screenplay and Spielberg's stalwart direction aside, nothing would be said of Lincoln without the truly astonishing portrayal of the titular character by two time Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis, likely to win his third prize come February. It is a performance for the ages. The way he slouches, the subtle gait in his walk, his quirky sense of humor, his paternal instinct, the loss of a child, the struggle with his tortured wife... Every tiny detail and nuance of Lincoln's final years is vividly brought to life by Day-Lewis' complete metamorphosis. He is Lincoln, there is no doubting it. And for that alone, the movie is a historic achievement in every sense of the word
3. Silver Linings Playbook
How do you craft a complex romantic dramedy about mental meltdowns, budding love, and dysfunctional families without coming off cliche or heavy-handed? Do as David O. Russell did and entrust such material in the hands (and eyes) of great actors. Bradley Cooper establishes himself as a "serious" actor with his impressive portrayal of recently-released mental patient, Pat, who is trying to regain his footing in life, only to be completely blindsided by Tiffany, an equally disturbed and disoriented young widow, played by the mesmerizing Jennifer Lawrence. This is her movie and she lights up the screen, delivering an electric, Oscar-worthy performance. Even Robert De Niro can't keep up. Silver Linings Playbook is a crowd-pleasing, laugh-out-loud funny foray into crazy people's attempts at love, not to mention one of the warmest, oddest, and very best pictures of the year.
2. Amour
On paper, a movie about two 80-somethings confronting death doesn’t exactly sound like entertaining fare, yet somehow the film, despite its grey and gloom, captivates throughout. The material is difficult, the pacing tedious, and the dialogue often indistinct, but the end result is nothing short of stunning. Amour is richly realized in humanity, featuring two of the most nuanced and powerful performances this year from the likes of Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva. Amour does not promise thrills or edge-of-your-seat entertainment, but it does provide a contemplative and altogether stirring portrait of life, love, and the brittleness of mortality.
1. Zero Dark Thirty
Kathryn Bigelow's latest Middle East-set black-ops procedural is an unshakable experience; it snares you in its unrelenting grip from those haunting first minutes of blackness right up to its thought-provoking and conflicting final frame. WhereZero Dark Thirty could have easily become fact-heavy drudgery, Bigelow intervenes and does what she does best: steadies and steers a complex story into a heart-pounding, high-octane thrill ride, verging on docu-realism. She meticulously documents the ten-year needle-in-a-haystack manhunt the CIA performed following 9/11, and through the eyes of protagonist Maya (based on a real and unnamed CIA operative), we witness the torturous interrogations, intelligence gathering, setbacks, and ultimate breakthroughs leading up to that fateful day of May 2, 2011. With Bigelow at the helm and Jessica Chastain as its heart and soul--once again proving why she's the best actress working today whose name isn't Meryl Streep--we're given a one-of-a-kind movie experience, one that asks some rather prickly questions: now that that's over, where do we go from here? And was it worth it?
Zero Dark Thirty is American cinema at its most ambitious, most audacious, and ultimately, most vital.
TOP 10 of 2011
10. Melancholia
Bride-to-be Justine (playing with astonishing force by Kirsten Dunst) suffers from depression. That is made clear in Melancholia's meticulous, and at time, tedious first half. The film then examines the end of the world in its latter half. Naturally. Lars von Trier is known for being ballsy and overdramatic, and Melancholia is both. But despite its tricks, it's also a stirring piece of vibrant, often genius visual storytelling that left me reeling for days after. The aptly titled film is not an easy ride -- it's harrowing to watch an almost lifeless Justine be bathed by her sister (Charlotte Gainsbourg) -- but it's a picture that haunts, that stirs, and examines the culmination of all things right up to its apocalyptic final frame.
9. Like Crazy
Sure, Like Crazy isn't the most original film on this list, but despite its familiar premise and indie-soaked style, it's an earnest emotional affair. Its two lead stars deliver breakout performances and breathe fresh life into the familiar struggles of first love burdened by distance. Some of my favorite movies are the most intimate and simple, told through character reactions and interactions. Like Crazy is a beautifully rendered study of love and the fragile, fleeting human experience that it is.
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II
Finales don't get much better than this. Soundly capturing the scale and scope of the latter half of the final Harry Potter novel, David Yates (helming his fourth Potter film) delivers the most grandly operatic Potter picture yet. The slower, but emotionally rich Part I sets up the finale perfectly, getting the exposition and character development checked off, making way for a magical and surprisingly affecting finale. Dazzling set pieces, best-of-franchise effects, and a brisker pace, Deathly Hallows, Part II allows for each of its veteran actors to shine briefly, and serves as a perfect conclusion to its three young stars' ten-year journey. The books might be masterful pieces of young adult fiction, but seeing the films and their young actors become standalone pieces of artful, beautiful storytelling has been enchanting.
7. Poetry
From acclaimed Korean director Lee Chang-dong, Poetry is a wonder. Lead actress Yun Jeong-hie portrays an elderly woman who in the early stages of Alzheimer’s must confront a serious family crisis, and amidst the controversy, endeavors to tackle the art of poetry. The film itself is crafted as beautifully as a sonnet. It is a thoughtful, unhurried film that isn’t afraid to let some of its central character’s conflicts go unresolved. Yun Jeong-hie’s heart-rending performance is simply unmissable. Without question, one of the finest achievements in cinema this year.
6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
David Fincher is an impeccable craftsman and visionary director (see Fight Club, Se7en, The Social Network). His films are lit, scored and mixed to paint a picture, create a mood (usually gray, usually grim) that lives and breathes like an ominous presence hovering over its characters. Dragon Tattoo is no exception. In fact, it may be his most visually dazzling, well-crafted pieces of cinema to date. With its muted blue-gray color palate and Trent Reznor's thrumming score, Fincher produces the most brutal and engrossing murder mystery thriller in years. The source material is effectively adapted into a sprawling landscape for its characters to navigate. Rooney Mara, as the titular character, completely owns the iconic character of Lisbeth Salander. Mara has the daunting task of being unflinchingly unlovable while conveying childlike vulnerability and unharbored sexuality. She succeeds and then some. This is her breakout movie and she revels in it.
5. Martha Marcy May Marlene
Elizabeth Olsen. Remember that name. In her debut film, Olsen delivers a mesmerizing, powerful performance as a troubled girl who flees the tangling lifestyle of a cult. Handled carefully by first-time director Sean Durkin, the film seamlessly weaves in and out of memory and reality, almost like a dream. A haunting, at times chilling nightmare of a film, Martha Marcy May Marlene is a psychological mystery, anchored by Olsen's remarkable debut turn, one of the most captivating screen performances and directorial debuts this year.
4. A Separation
Coming into my viewing experience of A Separation (yes, it was an experience), I didn't have much exposure to Iranian cinema. But after being pummeled emotionally by this unassuming force of a movie, I am intrigued to discover what other treasures Middle Eastern cinema is hiding. A Separation is a shoe-in for Best Foreign Film at this year's Oscars and frankly, it should probably be a contender in the Best Picture race as well. It tackles some heavy material with an almost documentary-style eye, thrusting its viewers in the lives of its complex characters and their conflicts. The movie instantly and completely had me transfixed, balancing its themes of family, divorce and an unruly justice system with incisiveness. Although it's set in Iran, A Separation is an poignant commentary of universal and direct truths, told with unprecedented intensity. This movie will challenge you, to say the least.
3. Bridesmaids
From its irreverent and unexpected first frame to its gag-inducing epilogue, Bridesmaids succeeds on every level. It's laugh-out-loud hilarious (maybe the hardest I've ever laughed?), unapologetically outrageous, and most surprisingly, poignantly honest. Watching Kristen Wiig (star and co-writer) finally make the transition from SNL scene stealer to big screen comedy queen is 2011's most blessed gift. Wiig obviously has the chops for comedy, but who knew she could layer a script so relentlessly raunchy with so much humanity and heart? A landmark comedy event and one of the best movies of the year.
2. Beginners
Beginners might possess the quirky, twee-ness we’ve come to expect from indie dramedies, but it also might’ve changed my life. Despite its cliches, it reveals itself with earnestness and richly realized characters. Christopher Plummer stands out, playing a terminally ill man in his 70s who finally embraces his sexuality and enjoys his final years of life as an openly gay man. A superb Ewan McGregor, playing his son, deals with his ailing father’s new beginning and looming end, then explores his own as he pursues a new relationship (with the mesmerizing Melanie Laurent). Poetic, humorous and often heartbreaking, Beginners is a moving homage to family, and a celebratory look at love, life, and new beginnings.
1. Drive
Drive is a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. Not only is it a sleek, stylized action flick, it’s also a taut thriller about fate, coincidence, and love. Gosling is riveting in an unusually taciturn role, delivering some 20 utterances of dialogue throughout the entire film. An 80's-inspired neo-noir art house action thriller, Nicolas Winding Refn’s breakthrough feature delivers the most hypnotic scenes of heightened drama (enhanced by one of the slickest soundtracks) in recent memory. Already acquiring an impassioned cult following, Drive is a shocking, violent, visually polarizing, and indisputably hip piece of American cinema.
TOP 10 of 2010
10. Winter's Bone
Dark and moody, quiet and unsettling. Breakout performance of the year from Jennifer Lawrence in a complex and difficult role. Harrowing, at times horrifying. (Best movie title of the year, too)
9. The Kids Are All Right
Hilarious, heartfelt and honest. Most refreshing depiction of a modern family in years. Fantastic performances throughout; Moore and Bening prove why they are two of the greatest actresses to ever grace the screen.
8. Animal Kingdom
Grim and relentless. A top-notch ensemble of Australian actors, an unforgettable story of crime and family. Jacki Weaver, as a grandma from hell, delivers an unforgettable performance laced with fury and evil. You won't soon forget this almost Shakespearean coming-of-age story; it will pummel you for days after.
7. The Fighter
More than a boxing movie, a powerful portrait of family. Bale, Leo, Adams and Wahlberg are incredible; gripping and emotional story telling. Much like its protagonist's road to victory, this movie will sneak up on you. Tackling a recycled genre, it is both emotionally satisfying and surprisingly fresh.
6. 127 Hours
Paced with static energy and Danny Boyle's trademark kinetic film making, an adrenaline rush of a film. Franco, filling nearly every frame of the picture, gives a tour-de-force performance, making an already great film a exhilarating movie experience. Equally gut-wrenching and inspiring.
5. The King's Speech
A soaring achievement. Stunning production design and cinematography. Unforgettable central performance from Firth, sure to earn him a much-deserved Oscar. Rush delivers yet another award-worthy supporting turn. In the beginning, it's simply about a man's speech impediment, but soon becomes a rousing story worthy of a crown.
4. Toy Story 3
A near-perfect finale to a near-perfect trilogy. Surprisingly affecting; packs an emotional punch. When it's not laugh-out-loud funny or wildly entertaining, it's heart-wrenching, wonderfully nostalgic. Pixar's most detailed and breathtaking animation to date.
3. The Social Network
Best screenplay of the year; the brisk and cool dialogue delivered by its impeccable cast (especially Andrew Garfield) truly sets this film apart. Timely and relevant, undoubtedly the movie of the moment. Riveting, entertaining and masterfully constructed. Fincher achieves a film so modern, it will serve as a time capsule of our time for generations to come.
2. Black Swan
Mesmerizing. Dark and elaborate, a provocative look at obsession and perfectionism. Natalie Portman astounds; performance of the year. The final ten minutes of this film are the most thrilling cinema of 2010; a dizzying piece of genius.
1. Inception
The most inventive, ground-breaking and original movie of the year. Christopher Nolan can do no wrong. A dream cast, particularly Cotillard in a haunting supporting role. Edge-of-your-seat entertainment, destined to become an iconic film. A commanding force, a cinematic marvel.
TOP 10 of 2009
10. Star Trek
Thank heavens for J.J. Abrams. Not since Spielberg has a director been able to infuse such spirit and intelligence into a summer Sci-Fi blockbuster. On top of birthing a new generation of Trekkies, Abrams provided a lucid reminder of what every other action blockbuster of 2009 was lacking: heroes with heart, and well-developed characters with substance (take note, Terminator Salvation), smart, driving dialogue (unlike G.I. Joe), tons of incredible visual effects, but never enough to shroud the story (see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Also, see my picks for '5 Worst Movies of 2009,' coming soon!). From the very first scene,Star Trek beams us in, and for a thrilling (and well-paced) 120 minutes keeps us pinned to our seats the entire journey.
9. Moon
I've always been drawn to small independent features with small casts. Movies that care more about character than computer-generated images. Combine that with a psychological thriller set on the Moon and you have one of the most intelligent, engrossing movies of the year. Sam Rockwell turns in a riveting, complex performance as astronaut, Sam Bell, virtually the only character in the movie, and reminds us why he's one of the most exciting (not to mention, most underrated) actors in Hollywood. Sam nears the end of a three-year stint of a lone mission on the Moon, and begins experiencing unsettling hallucinations. The story is dark, mysterious and thick with tension. And as it twists and turns, revealing deeper layers and inviting more tangled questions, Moon keeps you guessing until the last frame, resonating even after the credits have rolled. Psychological thrillers, Science-Fiction fare, and even traditional human dramas don't get much better than this trip to the Moon.
8. Where the Wild Things Are
Spike Jones' greatest feat in adapting this children's literary classic to the screen was the way he preserved the whimsy and wonder of the book. Easily some of the most stunning cinematography and production design this year, the world Jones creates is nothing short of breath-taking. The beautifully grotesque monsters (most notably, K.W., voiced by the divine Lauren Ambrose) were handled carefully and creatively, with the combination of CGI and puppetry utterly seamless. The story is quite simple, but anyone who leaves the theater thinking they just watched a kids movie clearly missed everything. It's been too long since I've sat in a movie and felt such distinct feelings of youthful wonder and discovery. Jones created a fantastic world for Max, our reckless dreamer, and granted us the rare privilege of tagging along.
7. Up In the Air
Coming into the awards season, Up In the Air was a clear front-runner in the Best Picture race. Director Jason Reitman (of Juno fame) can apparently do no wrong, and teamed with Hollywood favorite, George Clooney, it seemed like a match made in Hollywood Heaven. And the pair does not disappoint. The timely release of a film dealing with a crippled economy has allowed the film to succeed both critically and commercially, and has left a lasting impression on its viewers, to be sure. In a word, this film is very, very relevant. Clooney is devastatingly charismatic and funny, and although Anna Kendrick has been winning accolades for her supporting role, the true stand-out was Vera Fermiga, again showcasing her uncanny ability to turn seemingly empty roles into rich, layered ones. Up In the Air will definitely resonate with the everyday American, and has great things to say about connections, both human and not. Reitman tackles a rather depressing topic, yet somehow produces one of the warmest, funniest and most enjoyable pictures of the year.
6. Inglourious Basterds
If there is one singular quality of a Quentin Tarantino film that I could label as his trademark (there are dozens, I'm sure), it's his gutsy pacing. It takes an awfully brave director to create such long, nuanced scenes, swelling with tension and conflict. There were numerous scenes, often suspended in drawn-out silence or hushed dialogue, where I had to remind myself to breathe. The very first scene in the movie, in fact, may be the most daring, emotional 10 minutes of film this year. With characters so bold, brash and beautiful (most memorably, Christoph Waltz's dynamic performance as the villainous Hans Landa-- give him his Oscar already!), dialogue so sharp and relentless, music so wonderfully unexpected, this film is arguably Tarantino's best, his masterpiece even. I don't know another man who could take such a tired subject as World War II and create one of the most original, most polarizing films of the decade.
5. An Education
I think it's safe to say England produces the most exquisite female actors in the world; for every Alba, Fox, or Lohan we produce, the UK has its Winslets, Watts, and Blanchetts. We can now add Mulligan to that list of relentlessly beautiful, gifted, and versatile actresses from across the pond. And she's only 22. Playing the young Jenny, raised in a proper, middle-class family in England, Carey Mulligan is positively luminous in this role, delivering one of the most self-assured breakout performances in years. As the title suggests, the film is about education, in every sense of the word-- we follow Jenny through her schooling, her dreams of attending Oxford, her strained relationship with her overbearing parents, her blossoming sexuality and romance with an older man, her mistakes, her realized dreams, and her heartbreak. Jenny's eduaction is enchanting to behold, thanks to Mulligan's star-making performance. In fact, Carey Mulligan might have earned the honor of being my favorite performance of the year. It's a performance and a story I'll remember for a long, long time.
4. 500 Days of Summer
How refreshing it is see a romantic comedy that is off-beat, dysfunctional and real! Cleverly ditching linear story-telling, 500 Days of Summer ping-pongs from day 349 to day 2 to day 57 to day 16, etc, and does so in a most effective and surprisingly cohesive way (I foresee some love from Academy voters for some stellar editing), which makes for a beautifully scattered love-puzzle. Anyone who has been in a real relationship should see this movie because unlike most Hollywood rom-coms, it abandons the cliches and tells a love story that doesn't actually end in love (I'm not giving anything away; those are, in effect, the first lines of the movie.). The never more charming Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the adorably quirky Zooey Deschanel are a radiant pair, helped by zinging dialogue and an unforgettable soundtrack in their attempts at love. Deliciously indie, 500 Days of Summer is the best romantic comedy in years because it brings a welcome freshness to a genre prone to predictability.
3. Avatar
You've heard the reviews: "A game-changer!" or "You'll never look at movies the same again!" So does Avatar live up to the hype? Sure, the story wasn't terribly original, but rarely has a movie transcended everything human and earthly and transported viewers so thoroughly than Avatar. I place it near the top of my list for several reasons: 1) It really has set a new standard of film-making, especially large-scale epics; 2) It was easily the most visually stunning movie I've seen this year; and 3) It reminded me why I go to movies in the first place--to be transported, to escape. It's a story we're familiar with and its moral agendas were anything but slight, but as a whole, the movie was a defining moment in my movie-going life. It took me by surprise how absorbed I became, because I honestly can't say I disagree with the negative reception and criticism some have issued. But for me, it was an experience unlike any this year. Perhaps with script that wasn't an elaborate rehash of Fern Gully, Avatar might've topped this list. Alas, it was upset by two future classics:
2. Up
During the first 8 minutes of Up, Pixar's latest masterpiece, I was stunned; animated movies aren't supposed to be so touching, poignant, beautiful! I would've wept had I been alone. Those first few minutes were some of the most beautiful moments of film I've ever seen. The following 90 minutes may not have matched the beginning's brilliance, but it was definitely the most fun I've had at the theaters this year. Pixar's joyful storytelling is unprecedented. Carl and Russel become an unlikely duo and embark on a slew of wacky, outrageous adventures creating the most original story of the year, complete with talking dogs, a zany tropical bird (Kevin!), and a house suspended hundreds of feet in the air by balloons. But between the fantasy and playfulness, Pixar builds a beautiful story of love, life and fulfillment so human you can't help but believe every minute, every word. A feat only Walt Disney himself could pull off.
1. The Hurt Locker.
Did you know a female director has yet to win the Best Director Oscar in its 82 year history? Fortunately for aspiring female directors everywhere, that will all change this year. Kathryn Bigelow (ex-wife of potential fellow-nominee and box-office king, James Cameron), has displayed some of the finest directing I have ever seen. The Hurt Locker is a war drama so taut, so unyielding in its portrayal of the War in Iraq, it must not be missed. Never has war seemed so real. The beauty of the picture is that it isn't a story with rising action, climax, falling action--as stories are traditionally told--it is simply events, all tense and unnerving, with bomb-detonating specialist William James, brilliantly performed by relative newcomer, Jeremy Renner at its center. Putting our protagonist and his fellow comrades in situations commonly seen in over-stuffed Bruce Willis movies, the film is, in essence, an action flick, yet it resounds in its realism. Bigelow's confident directing places this film among some of the best war films in years, and almost indefinitely, the defining film of the War in Iraq. In the end, The Hurt Locker, driven by its acute intensity, emotional fury, and alarming realism, has changed the way I view war forever.