The Best Films of 2010

What 2010 lacked in truly monumental films, it made up for in a deep pool of really, really good films. Below are the best of the best. Enjoy! And thanks for reading.

Honorable Mentions: The American, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1, How to Train Your Dragon, Inside Job, Waiting for “Superman”

10.) Get Low – From rookie director Aaron Schneider, this film is a fascinating character study anchored by an absolutely sensational performance from the great Robert Duvall. Its trajectory is familiar and predictable, but it overcomes that with charming characters, some sly humor, and genuine pathos.

9.) The King’s Speech – The film does everything right—amazing performances, beautiful sets and photography, a dynamite script. I felt there was a little something missing, as if it was just a little too polished for its own good, but its strengths are just impossible to ignore.

8.) Fair Game – Sometimes a film doesn’t need a unique look or style to succeed, and Doug Liman’s take on the Valerie Wilson Plame/Scooter Libby saga is evidence of this. The material is inherently compelling—full of government intrigue, lies, corruption, personal strife, and a David vs. Goliath struggle—and it’s all smartly written and assembled. Plus, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts just knock it out of the park.

7.) Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky's ballet horror film represents the kind of ambitious, stylish filmmaking that’s easy to admire, tough to love, and impossible to forget. It’s a very visceral film that gets under your skin and stays there. It’s bold, brash, and in your face, and while I took minor issue with its tendency to go over-the-top on occasion, I still think it’s worthy of all the praise it has so far earned.

6.) Shutter Island – I think it’s a shame how easily this early-year gem has been forgotten. Martin Scorsese steps out of his comfort zone in a big way to present us with a film worth exploring and studying again and again. It’s technically brilliant and features the better of two sensational Leonardo DiCaprio performances this year.

5.) The Kids Are All Right – Lisa Cholodenko’s dramedy resonates so strongly because she manages to make this “non-traditional” family incredibly relatable. I found myself taken aback with just how insightful it is, how clever the writing is, and how strong the performances are.

4.) Exit Through the Gift Shop – Speaking of taken aback, I had no idea just how bizarre yet intelligent Banksy’s street art “documentary” would be. Is it all true? Who knows. But I can say it’s highly entertaining and raises some impossible questions as to what art really means to different people.

3.) The Social Network – It’s number one on a whole bunch of people’s lists, and it’s easy to see why. It’s smart (the screenplay has to be the strongest of the year), engaging (thanks to some very effective performances), and insightful (dissecting a topic that’s very 2010). David Fincher will likely take home his first Oscar, and I have absolutely no qualms about it. He’s brought considerable skills home to tell a small-scale story in a very appropriate, nearly flawless way.

2.) Inception – The film blew me away the first time I saw it, and it got even better the second time. Christopher Nolan has quickly become our generation’s go-to action filmmaker, and it’s not hard to see why. He takes chances and crafts unique, challenging stories. This one, a cerebral heist film, is action-packed and, despite what many others say, very emotional. It’s assembled incredibly, and the ending is perhaps the most audacious and talked-about in years.

1.) Toy Story 3 – There really was little doubt since I saw this film back in June that it would top this list. I tweeted after seeing it that it would take something monumental to top it, and as good as some of these films are, none could match what Pixar accomplishes here. The film is as insightful and emotionally satisfying as any. It perfectly captures the loss of one’s innocence and the conflicting feelings one has when it’s time to grow up and move on. Throw in some genuinely exciting action and more smart humor than Pixar has ever thrown our way, and you’ve got a recipe for a modern masterpiece and the best film of 2010.