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2010 has been an incredible year for films, featuring some surprises including an excellent monster movie that barely featured Monsters and two brilliant films featuring (of all people!) Nicholas Cage (Bad Lieutenant and Kick Ass). In all genres, audiences have had something wonderful - for animation there has been Ponyo and Toy Story 3, in documentaries we’ve seen the likes of Restrepo. And 2010’s dramas have featured some of cinemas’ most horrific families in Precious and Dogtooth. Indeed, in almost any other year films like these (or others, such as the wonderful Please Give and The Kids Are All Right) would make the list, but this is a different year, and here are the very best:
- 10. Up in the Air
George Clooney earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his understated performance as Ryan Bingham, a loner who begins to challenge his philosophy of self-alienation. Intelligent, meaningful and deeply affecting, this is a remarkable film that cements Jason Reitman’s growing reputation as one of America’s best young directors.
- 9. The Secret in Their Eyes
The winner of this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Juan Jose Campanella’s brilliant, dark and violent thriller is a remarkable and unique tale. A mixture of love and loss combine to make a powerful and intriguing mystery spanning over thirty years, detailing government corruption and personal suffering. A superbly acted and majestic tale, harking back to the sort of films they simply don’t make anymore.
- 8. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Edgar Wright’s bizarre mixture of gaming, music, action and other pop culture references is perhaps one of most the distinctive and inventive films of the year. Featuring everything from Sonic Yetis to Bollywood dance routines this unique, exuberant and highly entertaining tale is quite unlike anything else. Scott Pilgrim divided audiences and performed poorly at the box office, but now seems to be garnering the popularity it deserves and seems destined to become a glorious cult classic.
- 7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The first and best part of Sweden’s cinematic adaptations of Stieg Larson’s Millennium trilogy is an extremely dark and violent thriller. Having kick-started an international career for the star Noomi Rapace, the film’s brutality and intelligence make for an exquisite and unmissable thriller, though thanks to some rather unpleasant if brilliantly directed scenes - it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.
- 6. A Prophet
Jaques Audiard’s phenomenal prison drama sees new detainee Malik (Tahir Rahim) fight to the top of the criminal underworld in this savage tale of corruption and power. Slowly rising through the ranks with his ascension to power portrayed perfectly by the extraordinary Rahim, this film has a disturbing and vicious edge. Truly powerful and captivating cinema, quite simply an amazing spectacle.
- 5. The Secret of Kells
Finally released in British cinemas in October, this wonderful Irish animation had sparked enormous curiosity thanks to its awards nominations and praise stateside. It certainly did not disappoint - a beautifully crafted, visually stunning and unique animation that brilliantly tackles the transcendent power of art and its relation to human suffering. Short and sweet perhaps, but this is a truly magical and seemingly miraculous film that will enrapture the souls of both young and old and never let go.
- 4. Winter’s Bone
Jennifer Lawrence came from nowhere to give arguably the year’s finest performance as Rea, a wilful Ozark teen struggling to find her missing father and protect her kin, in this phenomenal drama. Tense, dark and with a strange almost fairy-tale quality, this incredible film from director Debra Granik is something wonderful to behold. Featuring outstanding cinematography, sound design and a wonderful cast it creates a fully believable living community to make the perfect setting for this dark tale that should be viewed by all.
- 3. Of Gods and Men
After the horrific brutality of Frontiers, I would never have expected such a sublime and simplistic work from French director Xavier Beavois, who manages to create an incredible and deeply spiritual tale of tested faith in the face of an irrational and uncomprehending foe. It is perfectly shot, with each actor’s face conveying the film’s astonishing vision and meaning. Deeply affecting and incredibly powerful, making for a remarkably simple drama.
- 2. The Social Network
David Fincher’s best picture front-runner took the world by storm, taking the creation of Facebook and making an extremely fast-paced and intelligent drama. It is a strangely tragic work following Mark Zuckerberg’s vast success and his even more extraordinary failures. A dark and twisted look at isolation, power and corruption, utterly compelling, powerful and extremely intelligent.
- 1. Inception
A big summer blockbuster yes, but one that bucks all the trends owing more to Ingmar Bergman than to Michael Bay. This multilayered and complex web dealing with the nature of reality, regret, loss, faith and far more, is the antithesis to your traditionally stupid money-spinning release. Nolan has arguably created his masterpiece - a stunning blend of a perfect cast with exquisite cinematography and special effects, to make a remarkably intelligent and affecting piece of work. To achieve what many considered impossible; a summer blockbuster that is also an outstanding work of art and cinematic excellence.
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