Let the trumpets play and the virgins cry. I have returned.
I blamed being too busy with my new born son as the reason for not putting together the year end list, but in retrospect that was just a pile of malarkey (yup, I just wrote that…in 2011 I’m bring the word “malarkey” back). Truth is, I was just too lazy, and now that I look back at my past “year end” posts, I can honestly admit I wouldn’t want to read ALL that either (man I wrote A LOT).
Also, this year was easy. Since I started putting these lists together I can’t recall another year where there was a clear-cut #1 film and TV show. Both The Social Network and Breaking Bad were so far ahead of everything else that all the other films and TV shows just fell into place.
So for this year I’m going to keep it simple. Just the lists, with a few scattered comments. No full write-ups on each film and TV show.
Enjoy!
THE TOP 15 FILMS OF 2010 (ranked in order)
1. The Social Network
It’s Fincher’s best and most mature work. Mostly because it’s his most visually restrained film. He forced himself to tell a good story, and as a result brought Sorkin’s screenplay and the actors to the forefront. All of this is complemented and heightened by Trent Reznor and Attis Ross’ foreboding score. The Social Network focuses on a time, a world, and characters which don’t deserve a scripted movie treatment. But The Social Network is like a perfect storm of “film things”, and finds a way to connect with audiences. The film has hints of Citizen Cane, Wall Street, and The Graduate. And like those films, in time it will be thought of as an American Classic.
2. The Fighter
3. 127 Hours
For the vast majority of 127 Hours all the audience sees is James Franco immobilized and struck in one place. And yet, the film is as taught a thriller as I’ve seen in a long time. It’s unheard of in cinema to cut from a subject’s face…to the exact same face, but that’s all director Danny Boyle had. James Franco and a rock. And yet, Boyle found a way to cut from Franco, to Franco, and back to Franco for close to 80 minutes. Boyle was lucky though, he did have James Franco, who goes through almost every emotion possible in this film. It’s a stunning performance. 127 Hours is perfect collaboration between director and actor. Finally, too much has been made about “the scene”. For me, “the moment” is treated with respect and is never played for shock or gore. Boyle carefully uses all his tools as a director (particularly sound design) to constructs the scene to be a maximum release of tension.
4. Inception
5. Toy Story 3
6. The Kings Speech
This is a really nice “feel good” film. As expected the performances are terrific, but it’s Tom Hooper’s direction which makes this film great. As he did with HBO’s John Adams, Hooper has found a way to shoot “period” or “historical” films with a modern day filmmaking eye. He moves the camera, goes hand-held, and uses an array of different lenses. I’m a big fan of this guy and can’t wait to see more from him.
7. Blue Valentine
8. True Grit
9. The Town
Affleck is awesome. I hope he gets the opportunity to keep growing as a writer and director. He has a wealth of talent. The Town gets better every time I see it.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
11. Jackass 3D
This is the most fun I had in the theater all year, and is easily the best use of 3D since Avatar. Some of the sequences are damn near cinematic. Steve-O in the Porta-Potty is seriously gorgeous.
12. How to Train Your Dragon
13. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
I’m immeasurably disappointed in all of you for not seeing this film in the theater, and thus letting it tank at the BO. Name one other film which was more creative and daring. Edgar Wright is a genius.
14. Easy A
I love Emma Stone. She’s suuuuper talented. Nuf Said.
15. Kick Ass
Honorable Mentions
The A-Team (yes, that one)
The Kids Are All Right
Year End Awards
Actor: James Franco (127 Hours)
Actress: Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Supporting Actress: TIE - Annette Bening & Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right)
Director: David Fincher (The Social Network)
Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)
Original Screenplay: Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3)
Cinematographer: Jeff Cronenweth (The Social Network)
Honorable Mentions
Actor: Mark Whalberg (The Fighter) & Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Director: David O. Russell (The Fighter) & Danny Boyle (127 Hours)
Supporting Actor: Andrew Garfield (The Social Network)
THE TOP 15 TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2010 (ranked in order)
1. Breaking Bad
I have nothing to add to the praises heaped on Breaking Bad. This show is The Wire worthy for me. When Breaking Bad finally concluded, I’m excited to follow everyone’s career, and will get excited to see them in other shows. I’m still tickled that this show was created by a former X-Files guy.
2. Community
Out of respect for all of you, I’m not going to even get started on Community. Those who know me are well aware that I bleed and sweat my love for this show…plus and I promised to keep this posting simple. I will say this though, my feelings for Community are getting close to Arrested Development levels.
3. Louie
I disagree with those who said the first season of Louie was uneven or meandering. To me, Louie is as close to a perfect show as there is on TV. It’s short (30 min programming slot) and each episode narratively travels on a razor thin line between hilarious comedy and raw drama. When in-season, Louie was always the first show to be watched on the DVR. I can’t wait for season 2.
4. Friday Night Lights
FNL had the toughest task of any show on TV this past season. It had to intorduce new main characters while phasing out old, and dearly beloved ones. And personally, I think they did a great job. The new students at East Dillon High are unique, nuanced, and real as the their predecessors. It also doesn’t hurt to have Coach Taylor and Tammie Taylor still around to anchor the show. I am going to truly miss this little slice of Texas when it’s gone.
5. Sons of Anarchy
6. Terriers
If you thought I was disappointed in you for not seeing Scott Pilgrim in the theater, well…don’t get me started on Terriers. With each passing episode this show became more engrossing. Creator and producer Ted Griffin along with series EP Shawn Ryan rolled out the season’s underlying plot organically. It was a beautifully paced build, which ultimately led to a very fulfilling climax. Terriers also featured the incredible chemistry between the main characters played by Donal Lougue and Michael Raymond-James. Although I am sad this show was cancelled, I’m going to be happy to think back at its thirteen episodes as one of the best mini-series I’d ever seen. Now, if someone could only tell me if they turned left or went straight.
7. Parks and Recreations
8. LOST
I liked the finale. I liked it because it allowed Damon and Carlton to go out the way they wanted. After 6 seasons of a show as detailed and dense as LOST, they deserved as least that. More than this, I think people’s complaints about not having all their questions answered is BS. If you really spend time connecting the dots, there was more revealed than one would think. It just wasn’t “talked about”, but many answers were given and the right connections were made.
9. Fringe
This show finally hit it’s stride with the alternate reality plot. It’s just too bad it happened so late. The show’s about to be moved to the Friday night death slot.
10. Boardwalk Empire
11. Modern Family
12. South Park
13. Party Down
Hey Starz. Are you really bursting at the seams with high quality (semi cheap) original programming to justify taking this show off the air? No? I didn’t think so. Then WTF?
14. Archer
I laughed out loud watching this show, than any other this year. When Archer is funny, it’s really really funny.
15. Justified
Year End Awards
Dramatic Actor: Brian Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Dramatic Actress: Katey Segal (Sons of Anarchy)
Supporting Dramatic Actor: TIE Michael Pitt & Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire)
Supporting Dramatic Actress: Jurnee Smollet (Friday Night Lights)
Comedic Actor: Steve Carrell (The Office)
Comedic Actress: Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreations)
Supporting Comedic Actor: Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreations)
Supporting Comedic Actress: Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)
Writing Dramatic: Nicholas Griffin (“Asunder” – Terriers)
Writing Comedic: Louis C.K. (“Double Date/Mom” - Louie)
Directing Dramatic: Allison Liddi (“The Son” – Friday Night Lights)
Directing Comedic: Justin Lin (“Modern Warfare” – Community)
Honorable Mentions:
Mini Series: The Pacific
Dramatic Series: Rubicon (Cancelled too soon)
Comedic Series: Cougar Town, Raising Hope, The League
Actor: Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Actress: Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Supporting Dramatic Actor: Joseph Mazzello (The Pacific) & Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights)
Supporting Comedic Actor: Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope)
Well...that's it. Short and simple. So until the end of 2011, this is Lieutenant Ripley, the last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off. (click)
