Stage and Cinema continues its traditional mid-February publication of our Best(-and-then-some) Lists of the past year’s movies.
Here is my list. As always, I prefer to include every film I’ve seen, so if I name something as the worst of the year, you can check the list and say, “Oh, but he didn’t see Burlesque or Little Fockers.” (The former of which I actually want to see, despite or because of its reported ineptitude; the latter of which I’m glad I missed.)
By the way, you can click on the thumbnail images if you want to see the full, enlarged version of each poster.
BEST LIVE ACTION FILM OF THE YEAR
Winter’s Bone
.
.
.
.
BEST ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
The Illusionist
.
.
.
FUNNIEST FILM OF THE YEAR
Get Him To The Greek
.
.
.
MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY
Inside Job
Though it may require several viewings to comprehend thoroughly, it’s the clearest explanation of how The Recession happened and why we’re in our current mess
.
BEST GAY FILM OF THE YEAR
I Love You Phillip Morris
(er, uh, that is, best film of the year with characters who happen to be gay)
.
.
BEST USE OF 3D TECHNOLOGY
Jack-Ass 3-D
So wrong and yet, somehow, so right.
.
.
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE AND, AS IT HAPPENED, DID, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT I’M WAY SMART
Animal Kingdom
Most shocking non-violent opening scene of the year.
.
.
Another Year
.
.
.
.
The Ghost Writer
You go, Roman Polanski
.
.
A Prophet
Includes the best razor-blade-in-mouth scene of the year
.
.
FILMS I MOST ENJOYED ON A PURELY PLEASUREABLE LEVEL
Babies
“[fill in the blank] Porn” has become a sort of do-it-yourself catchphrase, having started (to my knowledge) with the influx of films that came to be known as “Torture Porn” (Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, etc., Hostel, Hostel II). You can apply it to anything you like to watch. For example, people who like charts now have their own website, Chart Porn (http://chartporn.org/). Having qualified that, I can now tell you: I am totally into Baby Porn, and this film is currently the king of it.
The King’s Speech
As filmmaking, it may be common; but as pseudo-high brow entertainment, it’s royal
.
.
Oceans
I am also into Ocean Porn and all such varieties of Nature Porn
.
.
Toy Story 3
The feature as well as the delightful opening short, “Day and Night”
.
.
True Grit
Jeff Bridges is at the top of his form.
.
.
.
FRESHEST SURPRISE
Tiny Furniture
.
.
.
BEST BOXING PORN
Boxing Gym
.
.
.
MOST OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
Mother and Child
.
.
.
BEST ITALIAN FILM
Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo Di Ferragosto)
.
.
.
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE BUT WHICH I WAS KIND OF NEUTRAL ABOUT, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT I’M PRETTY MUCH A BONEHEAD
Blue Valentine
.
.
.
.
The Social Network
.
.
.
.
White Material
.
.
.
.
A FILM THAT PROBABLY NO ONE BUT ME LIKED
Enter The Void
.
.
.
MOVIES I LIKED UP UNTIL THEIR EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING ENDINGS
The Kids Are All Right
Why is Mark Ruffalo cast as the villain at the end? Damn you, Lisa Cholodenko, for absorbing me into the story and then kicking me in the balls.
.
,
The Last Exorcism
Funny because, while watching it, I recall thinking that it was superior to The Blair Witch Project, which brought to mind Blair Witch‘s cop-out ending, and then what do they do but end it the EXACT same way.
.
.
MOVIES I CAN’T REMEMBER WHETHER I LIKED OR NOT
The Extra Man
.
.
.
.
Greenberg
Though I do remember being glad that Ben Stiller is stretching beyond the stupid kiddie comedies he usually does (at least this one time).
.
.
Life During Wartime
Though I do remember that I liked it MUCH more than Happiness, the film to which it is sort of a sequel
.
.
MOST LITERATE FILM OF THE YEAR
My Dog Tulip
That is, it’s almost like reading a book and watching a movie at the same time, as it relies heavily on the source material. Still, it works, though the heavy narration may leave some perplexed.
hh.
DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW IT HAD I NOT PREPARED MYSELF IN ADVANCE TO CONCENTRATE
Inception
.
.
.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL FILM IN TERMS OF
(1) GETTING YOURSELF UP,
(2) BRUSHING YOURSELF OFF,
(3) STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work
.
.
.
I JUST LOVE THAT PAUL GIAMATTI
Barney’s Version
.
.
.
I JUST LOVE THAT EDDIE MARSEN
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
.
.
.
BEST TSUNAMI SCENE IN MOVIE HISTORY SO FAR
Hereafter
.
.
.
YOU WILL LIKE OR DISLIKE THIS PROTOTYPICAL LATE-STAGE WOODY ALLEN FILM WITH A LONDON LOCALE DEPENDING ON YOUR OPINION OF OTHER LATE-STAGE WOODY ALLEN FILMS WITH LONDON LOCALES
You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger
.
.
.
WAS 3D REALLY NECESSARY?
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
.
.
.
THE YEAR OF JAMES FRANCO
127 Hours
As the marquee of the Nuart in Los Angeles put it: “The most disarming drama of the year.” I didn’t care much for the film, but Jimmy Francs was terrific
.
Howl
The other James Franco movie in 2010, and in which he was equally wonderful. As poet Allen Ginsberg, it is at least his second time playing a gay character. It was watching him in this film, seen by most people before 127 Hours, that I first thought he might be nominated.
He is an excellent actor and so imminently watchable and likeable.
On the other hand …
PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES, BEN AFFLECK!
The Town
People are taking this film seriously? Seriously? Come on, it was mediocre at best.
.
.
The Company Men
Okay, so this is among his best performances, but dammit, that doesn’t make it okay. The film itself would have been better as a cable special than a theatrical release. Terrible ending, which even the film’s defenders agree upon.
Okay, now, listen to me, Ben. Go ahead and direct as much as you want; and please DO make more appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher; but please please PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES!!
Wouldn’t you rather do TV, anyway? You’d be perfect for it!
TOOK THE LONGEST TO SURRENDER TO ITS STYLE
I Am Love (Io sono l’amore)
.
.
.
MOST “WHAT THE FUCK AM I WATCHING?” OF THE YEAR
Dogtooth (Kynodontas)
By the end, you do piece together what the fuck you’re watching, and it’s some pretty fucked up shit, indeed.
.
BEST SCHLOCK THAT KNOWS IT’S SCHLOCK
Piranha 3-D
Intentionally funny, but if only it had been intentionally even funnier
.
IT’S FRENCH; IT’S CUTE
Micmacs
.
.
.
MOST DEPRESSING FILM OF THE YEAR
Biutiful
Butt finaly sumwon maid a moovie that spelt carrectly!
.
SOMETIMES A PLAY SHOULD SIMPLY REMAIN A PLAY
Jack Goes Boating
.
.
.
THE MOST EXTREMELY WELL-MADE “HO HUM” FILM OF THE YEAR
Tangled
.
.
.
ADD IT TO THE “NOT SCORSESE’S BEST” PILE
Shutter Island
.
.
.
A FILM I DIDN’T LIKE, BUT WHICH NONETHELESS HAD SOME THOROUGHLY ENGAGING SEQUENCES
Love & Other Drugs
.
.
.
THE FILMS I LIKED THE LEAST
Alice In Wonderland in IMAX 3-D
.
.
.
.
The Fighter
.
.
.
.
Never Let Me Go
But I recommend the book.
.
.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
The worst Santa Claus movie ever, though possibly tied with Santa Claus – The Movie
.
.
Tron: Legacy
The worst look of a film ever
.
.
MOST RIDICULOUS FILM THAT’S INEXPLICABLY BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Black Swan
Unlike Piranha 3-D, this is schlock that thinks it’s art. Wake me up when the critics confess that they were just kidding.
.
.
.
johntopping @ stageandcinema.com
Read Kevin Bowen’s list
Read Harvey Perr’s list
BEST LIVE ACTION FILM OF THE YEAR
Winter’s Bone
BEST ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
The Illusionist
FUNNIEST FILM OF THE YEAR
Get Him To The Greek
MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY
Inside Job
Though it may require several viewings to comprehend thoroughly, it’s the clearest explanation of how The Recession happened and why we’re in our current mess
BEST GAY FILM OF THE YEAR
I Love You Phillip Morris
(er, uh, that is, best film of the year with characters who happen to be gay)
BEST USE OF 3D TECHNOLOGY
Jack-Ass 3-D
So wrong and yet, somehow, so right.
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE AND, AS IT HAPPENED, DID, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT I’M WAY SMART
Animal Kingdom
Most shocking non-violent opening scene of the year.
Another Year
The Ghost Writer
You go, Roman Polanski
A Prophet
Includes the best razor-blade-in-mouth scene of the year
FILMS I MOST ENJOYED ON A PURELY PLEASUREABLE LEVEL
Babies
“[fill in the blank] Porn” has become a sort of do-it-yourself catchphrase, having started (to my knowledge) with the influx of films that came to be known as “Torture Porn” (Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, etc., Hostel, Hostel II). You can apply it to anything you like to watch. For example, people who like charts now have their own website, Chart Porn (http://chartporn.org/). Having qualified that, I can now tell you: I am totally into Baby Porn, and this film is currently the king of it.
The King’s Speech
as filmmaking, it may be common; but as pseudo-high brow entertainment, it’s royal
Oceans
I am also into Ocean Porn and all such varieties of Nature Porn
Toy Story 3
The main attraction as well as the brilliant opening short, “Day and Night”
True Grit
Jeff Bridges’ is at the top of his form.
FRESHEST SURPRISE
Tiny Furniture
BEST BOXING PORN
Boxing Gym
MOST OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
Mother and Child
BEST ITALIAN FILM
Mid-August Lunch
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE BUT WHICH I WAS KIND OF NEUTRAL ABOUT
Blue Valentine
The Social Network
White Material
A FILM THAT PROBABLY NO ONE BUT ME LIKED
Enter The Void
MOVIES I LIKED UP UNTIL THEIR EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING ENDINGS
The Kids Are All Right – most disappointing ending to an otherwise first rate film
The Last Exorcism – funny because, while watching it, I recall thinking that it was superior to The Blair Witch Project, and then thought about that disappointing ending to TBWP, and then what do they do but end it the EXACT same way.
MOVIES I CAN’T REMEMBER WHETHER I LIKED OR NOT
The Extra Man
Greenberg
Life During Wartime
MOST LITERATE FILM OF THE YEAR
My Dog Tulip
DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW IT HAD I NOT PREPARED MYSELF IN ADVANCE TO CONCENTRATE
Inception
MOST INSPIRATIONAL FILM IN TERMS OF (1) GETTING YOURSELF UP, (2) BRUSHING YOURSELF OFF, (3) STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work
I JUST LOVE THAT PAUL GIAMATTI
Barney’s Version
I JUST LOVE THAT EDDIE MARSEN
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
BEST TSUNAMI SCENE IN MOVIE HISTORY SO FAR
Hereafter
A PROTOTYPICAL LATE-STAGE WOODY ALLEN FILM
You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger
WAS 3D REALLY NECESSARY?
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
THE YEAR OF JAMES FRANCO
127 Hours
As the marquee of the Nuart in Los Angeles put it: “The most disarming drama of the year.” I didn’t care much for the film, but he was terrific
Howl
The other James Franco movie in 2010, and in which he was also wonderful. As poet Allen Ginsberg, it is at least his second time playing a gay character. It was watching him in this film, seen by most before 127 Hours, that I first thought he might be nominated.
He is an excellent actor and so imminently watchable and likeable.
PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES, BEN AFFLECK!
The Town
People are taking this film seriously? Seriously? It was mediocre at best.
The Company Men
Okay, so this is among his best performances, but dammit, that doesn’t make it okay. You can still see him thinking about his acting and not being in the moment. The film itself would have been better as a cable special than a theatrical release. Terrible ending, which even the film’s defenders agree upon.
Okay, now, listen to me, Ben. Go ahead and direct as much as you want; and please DO make more appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher, but please please PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES!!
Wouldn’t you rather do TV, anyway? You’d be perfect for it!
TOOK THE LONGEST TO SURRENDER TO ITS STYLE
I Am Love
MOST “WHAT THE FUCK AM I WATCHING?” OF THE YEAR
Dogtooth
(By the end, you mostly realize what the fuck you’re watching, and it definitely stays with you)
BEST SCHLOCK THAT KNOWS IT’S SCHLOCK
Piranha 3-D
Intentionally funny, but if only it had been intentionally even funnier
IT’S FRENCH; IT’S CUTE
Micmacs
MOST DEPRESSING FILM OF THE
BEST LIVE ACTION FILM OF THE YEAR
Winter’s Bone
BEST ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
The Illusionist
FUNNIEST FILM OF THE YEAR
Get Him To The Greek
MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY
Inside Job
Though it may require several viewings to comprehend thoroughly, it’s the clearest explanation of how The Recession happened and why we’re in our current mess
BEST GAY FILM OF THE YEAR
I Love You Phillip Morris
(er, uh, that is, best film of the year with characters who happen to be gay)
BEST USE OF 3D TECHNOLOGY
Jack-Ass 3-D
So wrong and yet, somehow, so right.
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE AND, AS IT HAPPENED, DID, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT I’M WAY SMART
Animal Kingdom
Most shocking non-violent opening scene of the year.
Another Year
The Ghost Writer
You go, Roman Polanski
A Prophet
Includes the best razor-blade-in-mouth scene of the year
FILMS I MOST ENJOYED ON A PURELY PLEASUREABLE LEVEL
Babies
“[fill in the blank] Porn” has become a sort of do-it-yourself catchphrase, having started (to my knowledge) with the influx of films that came to be known as “Torture Porn” (Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, etc., Hostel, Hostel II). You can apply it to anything you like to watch. For example, people who like charts now have their own website, Chart Porn (http://chartporn.org/). Having qualified that, I can now tell you: I am totally into Baby Porn, and this film is currently the king of it.
The King’s Speech
as filmmaking, it may be common; but as pseudo-high brow entertainment, it’s royal
Oceans
I am also into Ocean Porn and all such varieties of Nature Porn
Toy Story 3
The main attraction as well as the brilliant opening short, “Day and Night”
True Grit
Jeff Bridges’ is at the top of his form.
FRESHEST SURPRISE
Tiny Furniture
BEST BOXING PORN
Boxing Gym
MOST OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
Mother and Child
BEST ITALIAN FILM
Mid-August Lunch
MOVIES I WAS SUPPOSED TO LIKE BUT WHICH I WAS KIND OF NEUTRAL ABOUT
Blue Valentine
The Social Network
White Material
A FILM THAT PROBABLY NO ONE BUT ME LIKED
Enter The Void
MOVIES I LIKED UP UNTIL THEIR EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING ENDINGS
The Kids Are All Right – most disappointing ending to an otherwise first rate film
The Last Exorcism – funny because, while watching it, I recall thinking that it was superior to The Blair Witch Project, and then thought about that disappointing ending to TBWP, and then what do they do but end it the EXACT same way.
MOVIES I CAN’T REMEMBER WHETHER I LIKED OR NOT
The Extra Man
Greenberg
Life During Wartime
MOST LITERATE FILM OF THE YEAR
My Dog Tulip
DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW IT HAD I NOT PREPARED MYSELF IN ADVANCE TO CONCENTRATE
Inception
MOST INSPIRATIONAL FILM IN TERMS OF (1) GETTING YOURSELF UP, (2) BRUSHING YOURSELF OFF, (3) STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work
I JUST LOVE THAT PAUL GIAMATTI
Barney’s Version
I JUST LOVE THAT EDDIE MARSEN
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
BEST TSUNAMI SCENE IN MOVIE HISTORY SO FAR
Hereafter
A PROTOTYPICAL LATE-STAGE WOODY ALLEN FILM
You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger
WAS 3D REALLY NECESSARY?
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
THE YEAR OF JAMES FRANCO
127 Hours
As the marquee of the Nuart in Los Angeles put it: “The most disarming drama of the year.” I didn’t care much for the film, but he was terrific
Howl
The other James Franco movie in 2010, and in which he was also wonderful. As poet Allen Ginsberg, it is at least his second time playing a gay character. It was watching him in this film, seen by most before 127 Hours, that I first thought he might be nominated.
He is an excellent actor and so imminently watchable and likeable.
PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES, BEN AFFLECK!
The Town
People are taking this film seriously? Seriously? It was mediocre at best.
The Company Men
Okay, so this is among his best performances, but dammit, that doesn’t make it okay. You can still see him thinking about his acting and not being in the moment. The film itself would have been better as a cable special than a theatrical release. Terrible ending, which even the film’s defenders agree upon.
Okay, now, listen to me, Ben. Go ahead and direct as much as you want; and please DO make more appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher, but please please PLEASE STOP ACTING IN MOVIES!!
Wouldn’t you rather do TV, anyway? You’d be perfect for it!
TOOK THE LONGEST TO SURRENDER TO ITS STYLE
I Am Love
MOST “WHAT THE FUCK AM I WATCHING?” OF THE YEAR
Dogtooth
(By the end, you mostly realize what the fuck you’re watching, and it definitely stays with you)
BEST SCHLOCK THAT KNOWS IT’S SCHLOCK
Piranha 3-D
Intentionally funny, but if only it had been intentionally even funnier
IT’S FRENCH; IT’S CUTE
Micmacs
MOST DEPRESSING FILM OF THE YEAR
Biutiful
Butt finaly sumwon maid a moovie that spelt carrectly!
SOMETIMES A PLAY SHOULD SIMPLY REMAIN A PLAY
Jack Goes Boating
MOST RIDICULOUS FILM THAT’S INEXPLICABLY BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Black Swan
THE MOST EXTREMELY WELL-MADE “HO HUM” FILM OF THE YEAR
Tangled
ADD IT TO THE “NOT SCORSESE’S BEST” PILE
Shutter Island
A FILM I DIDN’T LIKE, BUT WHICH NONETHELESS HAD SOME THOROUGHLY ENGAGING SEQUENCES
Love & Other Drugs
THE FILMS I LIKED THE LEAST
Alice In Wonderland in IMAX 3-D
The Fighter
Never Let Me Go
Rare Exports, A Christmas Tale –
The worst Santa Claus movie ever, though possible tied with Santa Claus – The Movie
Tron: Legacy
The worst look of a film ever
YEAR
Biutiful
Butt finaly sumwon maid a moovie that spelt carrectly!
SOMETIMES A PLAY SHOULD SIMPLY REMAIN A PLAY
Jack Goes Boating
MOST RIDICULOUS FILM THAT’S INEXPLICABLY BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Black Swan
THE MOST EXTREMELY WELL-MADE “HO HUM” FILM OF THE YEAR
Tangled
ADD IT TO THE “NOT SCORSESE’S BEST” PILE
Shutter Island
A FILM I DIDN’T LIKE, BUT WHICH NONETHELESS HAD SOME THOROUGHLY ENGAGING SEQUENCES
Love & Other Drugs
THE FILMS I LIKED THE LEAST
Alice In Wonderland in IMAX 3-D
The Fighter
Never Let Me Go
Rare Exports, A Christmas Tale –
The worst Santa Claus movie ever, though possible tied with Santa Claus – The Movie
Tron: Legacy
The worst look of a film ever
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Mr Topping, is (no surprise) more entertaining than most movies I’ve seen,
Thanks, Michael!
127 hours “disarming” – ha
Tee hee!
LOVE THIS SITE!
…but what you didn’t mention about the Black Swan was the incredible camera operating and focus pulling.
…and how craaaazy cute Natlie is.
Gooooooooooooooo John!
Tim
I did think about how impressive the focus pulling was. The camera operation was nothing less than genius; the only reason I didn’t walk out altogether.
I actually liked Mila Kunis even more than Nattie Ports.
Thanks!