2010 YEAR IN REVIEW

With 2010 now completely under wraps, I am in the unenviable position of ranking the best and worst of the year in film. Over the course of this year, I have seen over two hundred and eighty different movies, many of which I have thankfully long-since forgotten about. I would have to admit, however, this has been a good year for films. I have seen actors really surprise me by pushing the envelope such as Jesse Eisenberg in the Social Network.
Then there is the opposite end of the spectrum, where actors really scrape the bottom of the barrel as Brendan Fraser in Furry Vengeance. As the multitude of award shows begin to hit the airwaves this next week, you will have the opportunity to see and hear information about films you both have seen and never heard of. When the opportunity arises, check out some of these movies and see how they rate with you. I am anxious to see what the 2011 cinema masterpieces have in store, but until then, here is my list, ranked in order, of The Best and Worst of 2010.

Best Pictures:
1. The Social Network
2. Inception
3. True Grit
4. Black Swan
5. 127 Hours
6. Winter's Bone
7. The King's Speech
8. Toy Story 3
9. The Kids are All Right
10. Kick Ass

Best Actors:
1. Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
2. James Franco, 127 Hours
3. Colin Firth, The King's Speech
4. Jeff Bridges, True Grit
5. Robert Duvall, Get Low

Best Actress:
1. Natalie Portman, Black Swan
2. Noomi Rapace, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
4. Annette Bening, The Kids are All Right
5. Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Christian Bale, The Fighter
2. Jeremy Renner, The Town
3. Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech
4. Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
5. Bill Murray, Get Low

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
2. Jackie Weaver, Animal Kingdom
3. Melissa Leo, The Fighter
4. Julianne Moore, The Kids are All Right
5. Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

The Worst Films of 2010
1. Jonah Hex
2. Furry Vengeance
3. Sex and the City 2
4. Splice
5. The Last Airbender

Additional Award Winners for 2010:
Best Director - David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Animated Film - Toy Story 3
Best Cinematography - Wally Pfister, Inception
Best Documentary - Restrepo
Best Foreign Film - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Original Score - Hans Zimmer, Inception
Best Original Song - "We are Sex Bob-Omb!" from Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Until next time, have fun at the movies and try not to eat too much popcorn!

Back to Top

MOVIE REVIEW

THE COMPANY MEN

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers. After 12 years on the job at the company, the men are blindsided, though, and struggle greatly dealing with their mental recession. After some time spent with his family, Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) which does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells (the creator of "ER") introduces us to the new realities of American life.

For Gene (Jones), who was the company co founder with James Salinger (Craig T. Nelson) the transition has become someone confrontational and angry. Gene feels that his co-founder has made poor decisions with the company that essentially led to its less that positive financial situation. He goes off the preverbial deep end while leaving his materialistic wife and examines what he really loved about the job - and work - in the first place. Over time, all three men discover what is most important to each of them, their families and their individual existence.

Wow! If more films could take on this perspective! One of the best aspects of this film is that it cut out the fat. There isn't any droll B-roll, nor is there any problematic exposition. Just the facts ma'am, from one point to the next. This is unbelievably admirable in the film and most blatters will thank you for it. The performances of all involved were deep and very well done. The quality of Affleck's work of late, as well as that of Tommy Lee Jones, continues to impress me. The story, the charisma of the characters and performances and the cinematography of this film are brilliant. This picture provides a deep look into the lives of all echelons of society during these trying economic times. How the different classes of society deal with the stress of financial woes, the lack of self worth, and the triumph of the human spirit will no doubt make the viewer think about their own lives and the decisions we make to define us. Just out of the 2011 movie gate, we have an award contender right here.

The Company Men
Starring: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Maria Bello & Kevin Costner
Director: John Wells
Company: The Weinstein
Company
Now Showing:
in Local Theaters
MPAA Rating: R
Grade: A

Back to Top