This year, we watched more films than we can ever remember watching in any one year . Every week we’d made an effort to watch new releases and keep up with what was going on. I wasn’t overly impressed by 2010′s film releases but I thought I’d do a round-up below of the good, mediocre and terrible ones, in no particular order…
I still want to see Inception, Tron, Buried and The Expendables – that’ll be good Christmas viewing.
Surprisingly Good
Shutter Island
I wasn’t expecting much from this film at all and I’m not a big Leonardo Dicaprio fan but this film is definitely 2010′s most memorable. The story unfolds and unnerves you at the same time, the film noir-esque quality is superb and the twists and turns are subtle but brilliantly executed.
Cyrus
I was happy (and surprised) to see this was directed but Jay and Mark Duplass. Mark Duplass happened to be in one of my favourite little underground bands of the naughties – Volcano! I’m Still Excited. I was expecting this to be another stupid comedy but I found a well developed, succinctly written story about the strange relationship between a Mother and son and what happens when someone comes between that relationship. It reminded me a lot of my own Mother and my brother and raised some good points – I really enjoyed this.
Catfish
A friend had told me about this and I managed to watch it just before it’s UK release. After The Social Network, I was a little skeptical about yet another film about social networking in the modern age. However, this was gorgeously directed and the story was a compelling journey of what happens when the lines are blurred between on and offline reality.
Predators
I don’t care what anyone says – I really enjoyed this film. Let’s face it, Alien vs. Predator and Requiem were just awful. It was like Hollywood came knocking at the Alien / Predator franchise’s door and unashamedly gang banged it into something that was flimsier than a wet rizzla (sorry – my original analogy was a lot ruder). This, however, returned to form as a gang of tough guy weirdos found themselves back in the jungle. This is all you need from a Predator film, enough said.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
I’ve no concept of how the comics are and I’ve no notion to read them either. I prefer my comics / graphic novels with some hair on their balls so the bug-eyed quirky nature of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World never appealed to me at all. However, I really loved the film and it’s made me a little more than curious about the comic now. It’s directed perfectly and it’s definitely not a matter of style of substance but rather the two working in tandem to create something brilliant and fresh.
REC 2
The horror genre is pretty much tired. I’m fed up of zombies wandering around groaning in a post apocalyptic setting. 28 Days Later proved that the zombie genre can be much more than a cliche and REC did the same too. REC 2 “fleshes out” (excuse the pun) the story a little further taking a strange twist, moving this away from the usual “viral outbreak” vibe that many other zombie horrors have adapted.
Greenberg
Very much like Funny People – we see comedic heavyweight Ben Stiller step out his comfort zone and attempt a proper indie drama. There’s something still very “Stiller” about him throughout though – he’s awkward, slightly needy and highly irritable except, this time, it’s minus the comedy aspect. Some nice points are raised about life when others move on, those who are stuck in limbo and the way opportunities come and go and the effect our past choices have on us and how we can create new choices for ourselves. I liked this a lot and it made me think about where we are with our own lives right now.
The Book of Eli
Denzel Washington in a post apocalyptic thriller you say? Not sure the two go together all that well but, actually, this wasn’t too shabby. It has the right amount of action, drama and ridiculousness to keep you going for a few hours – really entertaining but I still prefer 2009′s The Road.
Repo Men
With the exception of Existenz, none of Jude Law‘s films have ever struck me as anything special at all. Repo Men was really fun though and Law’s annoying acting was kept at a bare minimal. I think the best thing about this is the fact that it doesn’t end the way you think it will and that’s what I think gives this the edge.
Hot Tub Time Machine
I’m a real fan of these daft comedies. A group of friends find themselves transported back to the 80s after a drunken night in a hot tub (yes, hence the title Hot Tub Time Machine… get it?). It’s silly, ridiculous and doesn’t take itself too seriously so you shouldn’t either.
Mildly Mediocre
The Social Network
After Fight Club, I was a big David Fincher fan but since then, his movies seem a little like two hour long MTV commercials. The Social Network feels very much like this. I had no idea about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) but if Fincher has anything to do with it, by the end of the film, he’ll have you believing that Zuckerberg is probably the world’s biggest wanker. This was slick, fast paced and stylish but in no way deserves the praise it’s been getting at the box office.
Iron Man 2
Jon Favreau‘s direction in the first film was ace and he’s definitely adept to rolling out the big budget action films, especially since Marvel’s film adaptations have been terrible thus far (with the exception of the first two Spiderman films). However, this fell short and felt like a watered down version of the first film. Robert Downy Jr. is always ace but the plot just didn’t grab me enough to love it like the first installment.
The Crazies
I must say, I’m not a huge zombie fan and certainly not a George A. Romero nut by any means but I’d definitely take something like this over the mind numbingly awfulness that was The Walking Dead TV series this year.
Date Night
I really loved Steve Carrell in The 40 Year Old Virgin, which is one of my favourite comedies. Here with Tina Fey, he plays an akward version of himself (again!) and executes it just fine but there’s nothing much more to this.
Red
Love this for the fact that Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman prove that age is definitely just a number. Bruce Willis plays an ex CIA Black Ops agent – aloof, dangerous and irresistible seemingly to women of all ages in every film he’s in. I’d like to see him try something new. Average.
The Wolfman
This could’ve been as dark, spooky and wonderful as Sleepy Hollow but the average direction and lackluster story made it a bit of a flop for me. Not awful but not great either.
Chloe
A thriller starring Amanda “minge” Seyfried who plays a psychologically unhinged girl who becomes intent on unravelling a marriage and destroying a family. A total made for TV affair here.
She’s Out of My League
Dorky guy falls for hot girl. Oh, that age old tale then… Some nice moments.
The Other Guys
Ah, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg – what a crazy duo eh? Well, not really but this is mildly entertaining and if you’re already a Ferrell fan, this should still provide a few laughs as he bumbles he way through the film as an awkward cop.
Totally Terrible
Skyline
Anyone who knows me, knows I love a big budget action flick / sci-fi. Anything with spaceships, aliens and explosions is fine by me! This was, however, an action film for absolute dummies. I was really intrigued by the story and didn’t mind that you never really know where the aliens come from and why they’re intent on destroying us but this just went nowhere and was very flimsy.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Look, any author who suggests that vampires glow in the sunlight shouldn’t really be allowed to write stories in the first place. Yes, this isn’t a vampire story, it’s more of a love story for teenagers and desperate women but with a paper thin plot and characters flatter than a steam rolled crepe, this is a film for kids who’ve never left the safety of their poster-filled bedroom walls and those with an IQ of a walnut.
Sex And The City 2
I liked the TV series and I wasn’t overly enamored with the first film but this… well, this film is not only an insult to all women with half a brain but to anyone one with any sense about them. From the cliched big gay wedding at the start of the film, to the stereotyped muslim women and the fact that all the characters are unashamedly the worst, most deplorable parts of female kind – slutty, moany, spoilty and arsey.
The A-Team
I remember nothing of this film apart from Bradley Cooper‘s big tanned shiny face and a tank falling from the sky. I guess that says it all.
Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burton really needs to get new muse. Style over substance and a big disappointment. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter actually made him look like a bad actor, which he certainly is not.
Kick-Ass
I’m not a fan of the comic and wasn’t a fan of this either. Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) being a bad ass, sweary, violent type wasn’t all that amazing in the end (oh, she says a few naughty word… whatever) and the story was mildly amusing but really unmemorable.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Unless a remake is going to properly pay homage or supersede the brilliance of an iconic cult classic, I think it should be left alone. Some shiny young teenagers are in a spot of trouble, there’s some violence and an underwhelming story. It’s kind of like eating a bag of chips, it satisfies for a short while but there’s no nutritional value and you’re left with a bad taste…
Monsters
I had high hopes for this but I’ve had dreams that were more exciting than this two hour story of nothingness. This is really more of a love story than an alien adventure. Think Cloverfield with less action, set in Mexico. Seriously boring.
Frozen
Three people stuck in a ski lift. Bad stuff happens, some people die. I’ve never had a notion to work in the movies but this kind of yawnsome crap makes my farts seem more entertaining.
Splice
“Oh look we’ve created a freak child in a lab, we weren’t supposed to but let’s raise it as our child. Oh no, it’s growing at an existential rate and has turned out to be a dangerous but strangely beautiful humanoid animal that doesn’t understand who o what it is.” Then bad stuff happens. That is all.
Robin Hood
This is three long painful hours of nothing. Seriously, nothing happens! Russell Crowe rides around looking troubled and all grizzly-voiced, building-up the story of the man that was Robin Hood then it all ends. Turgid, overblown, rubbish.
After.Life
Anna Tayor (Christina Ricci) wakes up in a morgue and for an hour and half after that, we’re left wondering “is she or isn’t she dead?” A great chance for Ricci to show off her skinny body – she wanders around scantily clad or in the buff a lot. By the end you don’t really care who’s dead or alive but I was left wondering how long it took her to get that hot bod.
Clash of the Titans
You’d think that with Sam Worthington taking on the role of Perseus – one of mythologies greatest heroes – that he’d at least attempt an accent that didn’t resemble some Aussie guy down the pub. Worthington was fine in Terminator Salvation though as a robot. I guess that says it all.
Youth In Revolt
A cute indie flick starring Michael Cera who creates a cool / badass alter ego to win over the heart of a girl he falls in love with. Basically it’s Cera being er… Cera and then Cera being Cera with shades and a mustache.
Legion
Buff angels in metal armour? No thanks.
The Last Exorcism
Shaky cam? Check. Possessed farm girl? Check. There should be a ban on anyone making anymore films about vampires, zombies and exorcisms for the next few years. Period.
