Alan's list of likes from 2010........

It's been a while.  All I can say is, that's full time employment for you!  I thought that since 2010 was drawing to a close, that now would be the perfect time to throw out all of the things I have enjoyed this year.  Here are the movies that floated my boat in 2010.........

Inception

Otherwise known as the movie that inspired me to start this blog.  Undoubtedly Christopher Nolan's masterpiece (at least, hopefully, only until The Dark Knight Rises comes out), this is the best movie of the year.  In a summer packed with Reboots, Sequels, Comic Book movies and throwbacks to the 70's and 80's, here was a movie that managed to appeal to both the arthouse and the blockbuster loving crowds.  Nolan dared to treat his audience with respect, and not spoon feed them every last bit of information.  This was a movie dealing with the concept of dreams, what it means to be human, how to deal with loss, the idea of kindred spirits, of eternal love, of what limbo means, of what the human mind can achieve and more.  I'm willing to bet that almost everyone who saw this movie took something different from it, and immediately wanted to watch it again.  I'm currently at 3 cinema trips and 2 viewings of the excellent blu ray.  I think that number will increase in the next month or two........

Toy Story 3

What is it about Pixar?  How do these guys consistently deliver the goods and stir up more emotions than most live action films can only dream of?  It took me a while to watch this.  As I say, full time employment has led to less trips to the cinema.  But I watched it on blu ray two weeks ago and it was outstanding.  It actually led me to believe that Toy Story may be the best trilogy of films ever made (though Back to the Future and Bourne are definitely good shouts).  Toy Story 3 is special because adults will get just as much out of it as kids.  For the kids, there's the fun visuals, Spanish Buzz and the joy of seeing all our beloved characters work as a team.  For the adults, there's the themes of loss, of growing up and that one, horrible moment where we thought they were going to send everyone off in a blaze of glory.  I still think Up is the most heartfelt of all of Pixar's output, but when Andy had one final play with all his toys before letting go, there was definitely a lump in the throat.

Shutter Island

Possibly Scorsese's most out and out fun film.  That sounds like a strange statement to make given the dark subject matter and the weighty themes at play.  But this is definitely his 'Haunted House' movie.  It's all about what evil lurks around the next corner, or in the dark, or in our minds.  The plot is straightforward, and a lot of people have said that they saw the twist coming (I actually knew only because I had read the book months earlier), but the film was so visually interesting, and the actors so well cast and operating at the top of their game, that I enjoyed the hell out of it.  I said when it came out that lifelong Hitchcock fan Scorsese had finally made his Vertigo.  I think that statement sums it up.

Knight and Day

Just a damn entertaining movie.  But hey, I'm a fan of the Cruiser.  There's a reason why he's a movie star and in this, both he and Cameron Diaz have charisma to burn.  It is by turns predictable and generic, but at least it knows what it is.  It feels like the filmmakers are constantly having a nudge and a wink at the audience and asking them to buy into the outlandishness of it all.  The locations are varied and interesting, the action scenes original and visually spectacular, and everyone just looks like they are having fun.  And by the end of it, that list included me.

Kick Ass

Otherwise known as the movie that showed Scott Pilgrim vs the World how to do it right.  Kick Ass was awesome.  Characters you cared about, interesting and original action, a sharp, funny and zany script and Nicolas Cage reminding you why you liked him in Con Air and Face/Off so much.  Unfortunately, it didn't set the box office alight, but hopefully the blu ray and DVD sales will convince the studio to greenlight a sequel.  In the meantime, at least Mark Millar has started to release a follow up in comic book form, so we can continue to enjoy the ridiculous world he has created.

The Ghost

Roman Polanski is not necessarily the nicest person to have ever lived.  But I'm not hear to judge his morality, simply comment on his movies.  The man made Chinatown, so any new output always peaks my interest.  This taut little thriller really struck a chord with me.  It's just a well made, well told yarn about an ex British PM (clearly modeled on Tony Blair), and the ghost writer assigned to write his memoirs.  Once he starts the research into his subjects life, what he finds could possibly kill him.  Again, the two leads are having fun, Pierce Brosnan clearly reveling in a smarmy role, the standout.

The American

The very definition of old school moviemaking.  One main plot, one main character having a mid life crisis, one exotic location equals one streamlined film.  Despite being a slow burner, there is never a wasted frame.  George Clooney (who is more and more like a modern day Cary Grant with each passing role) plays an assassin, sent to complete one last job before he is allowed to slip off into a life of normality.  It's a story that's been told a million times before, yet there is a depth and humanity to this movie that helps it stand out.  Similar to Tom Cruise, it's roles like these that remind you just why Clooney is a movie star.

The Town

Proving that Gone, Baby Gone was not a fluke, Ben Affleck's sophomore effort is arguably even better than his first.  The fact that he also heads up a cast including Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Chris Cooper, makes it all the more impressive.  Similar to The American, this is a very old school movie, relying on such crazy notions as good characters, good storytelling and clear motivations.  It reminded me a lot of Michael Mann's masterpiece Heat, and any movie that can invite comparisons with that is doing something right.

Back to the Future

I know, I know.  How can I include a film that was made 25 years ago?  Well, I had the pleasure of catching a showing of a newly restored, digital print on the big screen, and it was one of the best cinematic experiences of my life.  This movie, like Inception, is the result of a perfect storm.  When the creative minds, actors, writers and director all come together to create something truly special.  What strikes you first about BTTF, is how unbelievably fresh it appears.  It could have easily been made yesterday and you wouldn't know the difference.  That's what makes something good, truly great.

Well, there you have it.  I know there are some big releases missing, such as The Social Network, Black Swan et al, that are appearing on other people's lists.  But I have yet to see these films, and can't possibly comment until I do.

If I have missed any of your favourites, please feel free to comment below.  I hope to follow this list up in the next few days with my most disappointing cinematic experiences of the year.  Hopefully it won't take me another month and a half!

Until next time.........