Years from now, esteemed film scholars will decide the true great films from 2010. Until then, critics’ awards and Top 10 lists only give us an impulsive view of cinema in the past year.

A Best-of list so soon after the new year can only be a gut feeling. With limited time and opportunity for repeat viewings, the selections that make up this list are the movies that made the strongest first impressions. Some are technically dazzling. Others explore wrenching human emotions. Some just put a smile on your face– a tall order these days.

Here, out of the 110 films from 2010 I saw last year, are the 20 (ish) movies more than worth a second experience.

Editor’s NOTE: This is the first edition of my list of the best movies of 2010. Stay tuned for updates as I get around to seeing more of the late-2010 contenders (including “The King’s Speech” and “Blue Valentine”).

1. 127 Hours
Based on the incredible true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, “127 Hours” is an exhausting moviegoing experience that, by the end, makes you feel lucky to be alive.

Director Danny Boyle, while still utilizing his dynamic photography and editing style, has crafted a more cohesive narrative than his Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire.” The script by Simon Beaufoy turns what is essentially 90 minutes of a man stuck on a rock into one of the most enthralling tales of survival to ever be put to screen.

The key to the experience is James Franco in an Oscar-worthy, one-man show. He makes you feel stranded on that rock alongside him, exhausting every last ounce of water, levity and hope. He’s so good, you even feel the sting in the arm when it comes time for one final choice.

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