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.

(more…)

Big Stars. Huge Budgets. Disastrous Results.

In a tough economic climate, Hollywood still managed to waste colossal amounts of time and money in the hopes of suckering the American public. Save yourself the headache and avoid these 10 awful titles released in the last 12 months.

The Bounty Hunter

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler star as bickering exes in the most broadly-drawn and unwatchable “romantic romp” to come along since, well, whatever movie Jennifer Aniston or Gerard Butler made last.

Jonah Hex

Clocking in at a trim 70 minutes, this DC Comics Western makes no sense whatsoever. Josh Brolin emerges from this mess relatively unscathed, but Megan Fox’s hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold has likely sent the actress careening into a Lindsay Lohan career trajectory.

(more…)

Big acting talent, unfortunately, doesn’t always transfer into quality entertainment. “Little Fockers,” the third installment in the popular comedy franchise, takes a once-fresh idea and smothers it to death.

After eight years, Robert De Niro still questions Ben Stiller’s position in the Byrnes Family Circle of Trust. He spends most of the film “watching” poor Gaylord Focker as he deals with a new house, a feisty work associate (Jessica Alba) and getting his kids into a posh private school.

The plot strands in “Little Fockers” are more frail than ever, with the titular kids only making token appearances. The remaining cast, including Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Barbara Streisand and an overreaching Owen Wilson, can’t do much with their reduced roles. Worst of all, Dustin Hoffman, the saving grace of “Meet the Fockers,” only appears in 10 minutes of this outing.

There are occasional funny bits, most in which Stiller and De Niro manage to break through the lazy plot contrivances. The rest, however, is a deflated rehash of franchise greatest hits.

Known for quirky comedies (“The Big Lebowski”), dark dramas (“No Country for Old Men”), and sometimes both combined (“Fargo”), the Coen Brothers have crafted “True Grit” as their most straightforward and mainstream film to date. It’s an entertaining yarn that executes all the classic Western elements and adds distinct Coen dialogue alongside a trio of great performances.

Based more on the Charles Portis novel than the 1969 film adaptation starring John Wayne, “True Grit” follows 14-year-old Mattie Ross as she hunts down the man who killed her father in cold blood. The tough-talking Mattie is played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in a firecracker of a performance. She’s the highlight in a movie populated by Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and a one-eyed Jeff Bridges.

(more…)

Following in the footsteps of last year’s holiday feast, “Avatar,” Disney’s reboot of “Tron” tries for the same overstuffed helping of bright, shiny eye-candy. One thing is certain: The neon-infused action sequences must be seen on the big screen.

Also like “Avatar,” the storytelling is decidedly less successful.

“Tron Legacy” provides enough recap of the original film to bring newbies into the world. Years ago, computer programmer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) created a virtual world that a person could physically enter and compete against the master program in gladiator style games.

(more…)

Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” mixes the classic beauty of ballet with the disturbing imagery of a sudden and debilitating mental illness.

Natalie Portman agonized through months of rigorous training to play Nina, a veteran dancer who unravels emotionally after she earns the coveted lead in “Swan Lake.” She’s got the innocence of the Swan Queen, but her director (Vincent Cassel) doesn’t believe the dancer can handle the seductive danger of The Black Queen.

Enter rival Mila Kunis and the forceful hand of an overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), and Nina starts tripping out, first noticing some especially scary stuff in the mirror.

Nina’s mental breakdown stretches the plotting of “Black Swan” into repetitive oblivion, but through those occasional plot missteps shines Portman’s unforgettable performance. The physicality of the role is a marvel, and her descent into insanity remains believable even as she literally begins transforming into a giant bird.

It might be best to carve her name on the Oscar statue right now.

Grade: A-

Nobody can deny that most animated movies are made for kids. As adults, we’re supposed to ignore “Looney Tunes” and engage in more “intellectual” fare. For most of Americans, that means “CSI: Miami” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

Pretend those social norms don’t exist for a minute. Because when it comes to truly memorable onscreen characters, animation is the only consistent place to find it. Since we all, to an extent, grew up with certain cartoon personalities (be it Mickey Mouse or Shrek), they tend to leave a much stronger impression than most other fictitious characters.

Presented here are the 50 favorite animated movie characters from one lifelong kid-at-heart. The only limitation to the list: Characters needed to be featured prominently in at least one theatrically-released, feature-length film. While this lone rule knocked a few television favorites out of contention, there were still plenty of characters vying for a spot.

1. Buzz Lightyear & Sheriff Woody – “Toy Story,” “Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3”
No reason to split up this dynamic duo. Pixar’s “Toy Story” films take on many of the biggest complications associated with growing up, from issues of abandonment to even gloomier notions of life and death.

Woody is the emotional center of the trilogy. In every movie he faces a problem that tests his loyalty to owner Andy and his fellow toys. It’s a testament to Tom Hanks that Woody never loses his charm through every selfish mistake.

Buzz always brings the bullheaded comic relief, but in the original “Toy Story,” he also faces a major identity crisis. When Buzz discovers he isn’t a real space ranger hero, he is forced to adjust to a life of smaller pleasures.

And just for fun, “Toy Story 3” presents a greatest hits of Lightyear personality: Lovable leader, delusional ranger-wannabe and, a new one– sophisticated “Spanish Buzz.”

(more…)

You’ve already burned through multiple viewings of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Ernest Saves Christmas” still sits with a “very long wait” in your Netflix queue. Luckily, the bandwidth-sucking empire also offers several holiday streaming options to tide us all over until Dec. 25. Get these yuletide offerings in your Instant Queue today.

Movies

A Christmas Carol (1984)

One of a billion adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic, this George C. Scott version is the streaming pick (unless you adore the “All Dogs Go to Heaven” franchise, in which case there’s the “All Dogs Christmas Carol.”

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus

The long-running comedy franchise lampoons this bizarre 1959 movie about Santa Claus battling the evil El Diablo. The MST3K edition of “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” sadly, is only available on disc.

A Christmas Tale (2008)

For the art house crowd, this acclaimed French-language drama concerns a dysfunctional family coming together for the holidays.

Meet John Doe (1941)

Lesser-known Frank Capra drama centers on a journalist who cooks up a hoax concerning a hobo (Gary Cooper) planning to commit suicide at City Hall on Christmas Eve. (more…)

Count me as one of the “Harry Potter” fans firmly against splitting the final book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” into two movies. There are seven books, so there should be seven movies. Period.

Sure, important details can be lost when translating a plot-heavy book to the big screen. But movies are a completely different medium and shouldn’t be expected to translate every word to the screen. Nobody wants to sit in the theater for seven hours anyway.

There are legions of Potter fans who must be happy to see “Deathly Hallows” split to include more details from the final book. But at the end of the day, when you buy a ticket to “Deathly Hallows Part 1,” no matter the quality, you’re only seeing half of a larger, better story.

Now the good news. “Deathly Hallows Part 1” delivers quite a few big thrills and powerful movie moments. More importantly, the young cast led by Daniel Radcliffe give their best performances of the franchise. (more…)

In an effort to reach my goal of seeing at least 100 movies released in 2010 before Dec. 31, I’ve had to clog my Netflix queue with some real stinkers. These films just aren’t worth full-fledged reviews, so here’s a brief overview of the bile you should most definitely avoid:

The Last Airbender

Once the most promising director of his generation, M. Night Shyamalan is fast becoming a modern-day Ed Wood. His recent movies, especially “The Happening,” are so laughably bad, you have to wonder where he’s getting the financing.

“The Last Airbender,” based on the popular cartoon series, isn’t quite as terrible as that Mark Wahlberg-talks-to-plants disaster. Nevertheless, it’s still pretty dull and clunky. The child actors should go back to grade school, and considering Shyamalan’s recent screenwriting techniques, maybe he should join them. Grade: C

(more…)