MrMovieETC's TOP 10 FILMS of 2007

Greetings, Movie Lovers!

I hope you all had a fan-and-filmtastic Father's Day last weekend. I'm returning to my Top Ten film lists after taking last weekend off to spend time with my family and to not take away time from yours by posting stuff on Facebook.



2007: Finally, back to a year in cinema that left plenty of films to consider for the Top Ten.

After 2008 and 2009 left more rhinestones than gems, it was refreshing to see the superbly-acted, character-driven dramas that 2007 boasted, that, dare I say, were some of the best of this decade. In addition to that, this year had a plentiful serving of decent horror films to choose from; certainly something I will not find myself complaining about.

Outside of that, I don't have much a preamble for this post, so I'm going to go ahead and get started on my Top Ten Films of 2007:





10. EASTERN PROMISES

To no real fault of his own, I don't find myself watching or actively searching out films with Viggo Mortensen in the lead role. It's not because I dislike him as an actor, but rather the opposite in that I feel he's quite underrated. Nevertheless, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was a one-and-done affair for me, and films like "Hildago" are not my cup of tea, generally-speaking. "A History of Violence", on the other hand, is definitely up my alley and Viggo was damn near perfect in that movie (don't be surprised to see that title turn up later in this series). As far as this film is concerned, it takes the typical adjectives of "dirty, "gritty", and sometimes outwardly "repulsive", and cranks them up to a 10. While the film has plenty of bright spots, so to speak, in the story and acting department (particularly by Mortensen), the tone maintains a dark and tense nearly from beginning to end. Let's be honest, rarely does a feature paint a positive light when it comes to the subject of Russian mob families.

The true nature of the sinister plot may not be for everybody, but if this is your type of film, I highly recommend it.





9. THE ORPHANAGE

This Spanish ghost story was easily my favorite at the time and may even still be so today, mainly for what I was hoping it would be and for the multiple surprises that I was not expecting. In truth, it's been a few years since the last time I've seen "The Orphanage" and I intend to revisit it again in the near-ish future, yet at the same time, I can still remember how inspired and satisfied I felt after watching this film for the first time. In the beginning, it's exactly what you'd expect a horror story about an orphanage to be. Personally, I'm rather surprised we don't get horror attempts like this more often, because, c'mon, ghost children - they're bloody creepy. The filmmakers did a great job of capturing the essence of that atmosphere and, needless to say, they had me hooked from the start. I won't get into spoiler territory, but the unexpected turn of the film comes about halfway through in a way that introduced a lot of emotional heart; that's about the best way I can describe it, and as I said at the beginning, I love this ghost story.

Horror fans will likely get their fill with the little scares that come with this movie, and the story is definitely one to appreciate in the years to come!





8. RATATOUILLE

Surprise, surprise - another year, another Pixar film in the Top Ten. What can I say? Good movies are good movies, and in my opinion, Pixar's niche is creating great movies. I wouldn't say "Ratatouille" is my favorite of that particular bunch, though it was still one of my favorite films from 2007, because, obviously, it's Pixar and has that signature Pixar story and humor, but most importantly, it's about great food! It's hard to dislike a movie about the culinary arts as it is, and when adding in an underdog story about a mouse dreaming to be a master chef in Paris, well, you get wonderfully entertaining films like this. Of course, the animation was still ahead of its time, with the creme de la creme being a near breathtaking shot of Paris at nightfall. The color practically radiates off the screen. Everything else pretty speaks for itself. "Ratatouille" is another fine entry in the Pixar catalog.





7. THE MIST

Wouldn't it be ideal if just about any Stephen King film adaptation at least went across the desk of Frank Darabont? I mean, from what I've seen, the guy doesn't seem to miss that often. "The Green Mile", while not exactly horror, is currently my favorite film of all time; "The Shawshank Redemption" is on-screen storytelling at some of its finest; and then came "The Mist" that does see Darabont treading to the horror territory of King where a small mountain community gets terrorized by mutated monsters that appear out of a mysterious mist that then, in turn, bring out the monsters in the townspeople that cannot figure out how to cope with this new panic. Sometimes all it takes is a Bible and an overzealous attitude to push people over the edge. I wouldn't say I enjoyed this film as much as the other two efforts by Darabont, but a really well-executed Stephen King story brought to film is tough to find, and Darabont brings this one to the screen with enough finesse to truly stand out.

Obviously, for me, "The Mist" comes recommended. If you've seen it before but haven't yet ventured to the black & white version, I think I'd recommend that even more.





6. GONE BABY GONE

If Ben Affleck's most recent effort, "Argo", brought the suspense, and "The Town" before that brought the captivating and violent underbelly of Boston, then his director debut of "Gone Baby Gone" brought the grit. Much like "Eastern Promises" earlier in the list, this film crawls in the darkest corner of suspense and natural fear, but instead of the mob, this story revolves around child abduction - yeah, always a soothing, chipper topic. Affleck does get the comfort of having family on top of the acting bill, and Casey does a sincerely great job as Investigator Patrick Kenzie. What I also love about this film is how consistently it continues from point to point, slowly sinking in the mire of helplessness as you become more and more positive that the child in question has been killed. Every character interrogated is more sleazy than the last, and even Kenzie has trouble keeping his cool by the end.

For a first film behind the camera, this is about a strong as they come - especially in the modern era of Hollywood.





5. JUNO

Perhaps it's not as much the case anymore, but it seemed like the initial buzz surrounding "Juno" when it was first released was about if it was morally misdirecting for young women/teenagers. One side of the fence, the "pro" side, stated that it's a film that young women should watch because it shows the consequences of one's actions and the heartache that comes with it. The "con" side were baffled by the film's popularity and that all it teaches teenagers is if you make a mistake, like getting pregnant, you can just dump your problem onto someone else and move on as if nothing happened. I suppose, technically, both side have strong points to bring to the table; for me, I tried my best to block all of that out and simply enjoy "Juno" for what it is - an outstanding dramedy. The performance by Ellen Page is still a standout tour de force to this day, and J.K. Simmons as her father lends a dry sense of humor and compassionate comfort that adds to their terrific chemistry on screen. If I were to choose a side, I'd say this film lands more accurately on the "pro" side of the argument as the story and tonality place a heavy hand on how lives are forever changed when new life is created too soon.





4. AMERICAN GANGSTER

I wouldn't say I put "American Gangster" this far up the list solely due its technical merits, because it's not without its flaws and holes; although, referring back to the introduction, this was one of those superbly-acted dramas (made all the better by Ridley Scott at director) that showcases Denzel Washington in his finest performance from that decade, in my own opinion, as drug dealing kingpin Frank Lucas. Often compassionate in his family life but no nonsense and tough as nails on the streets, Lucas brought back that classic gangster intimidation factor, and strangely enough, classy style that has felt missing since mobster flicks ruled supreme in the 1950s and 1960s. Russel Crowe also turns in a solid performance as Detective Richie Roberts, and being not the biggest fan of Crowe, I do recognize his authentic talents and to see him take a role that doesn't display his character at the top of their game was refreshing to say the least. Running at almost 3 hours, the film does have its lags, but overall does maintain an engaging enough pace to keep you intrigued until the final credits role.





3. ONCE

On my A Journey Through Film page, I posted a full-length review a while back for "Once" praising it as the best modern musical I've seen, if not the best musical of the 2000s. At a modest $150,000 budget, this story tells about the heartbreak of "Guy" (played by real life musician Glen Hansard) and how he dreams to make it big in the music world despite currently playing for loose change on street corners with his warped and damaged guitar. With the help of "Girl" (Marketa Irglova), Guy is able to display his talents to a group of musicians to join in his cause, and eventually, to a music producer to create his album about a lost love. The musical chemistry between Hansard and Irglova is second-to-none as they create absolutely beautiful melodies from one song to the next. The film teases a possible romance blooming between the two characters, but you'll have to watch the movie for yourself to see how that plays out.

You don't necessarily have to be a fan of musicals to appreciate "Once", mainly because it does not play out like the stereotypical Broadway dance and sing affair with all the bells and whistles. "Once" sides more with the understated approach, and the result is fantastic.





2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

The Coen Brothers can always be counted on to bring forth bizarre, yet oddly entertaining comedies and/or noirs to the big screen; everything from "Blood Simple", "Fargo", "Raising Arizona", and "The Big Lebowski" has the signature taste that only the Coens can seem to master. "No Country for Old Men" sees them bring a more serious approach, and the result is probably the finest film in their catalog to date. From the now iconic role from Javier Bardem and the fine supporting cast work of Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, the Coens bring the story of a drug trade gone horribly wrong to a wide spread chase that leaves multiple dead bodies in its wake. As stated, Bardem brings a master craft to this film as the terrifying Anton Chigurh, a hitman that uses a cattle gun as his weapon of choice - you know, just in case you needed something to grab your attention towards viewing this film. Brolin's Llwelyn Moss is the unfortunate target of Chigurh, and Tommy Lee Jones plays the near-retired Sheriff stuck in the middle of it all and is none-to-pleased about it.

One thing you may have heard about "No Country", especially if you have yet to see it, is how much the ending has a tendency to piss people off. It's a little strange to be sure, but give it a chance as it does have a subtle punch to it.





And finally, my #1 film from 2007:





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1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

If you ever wondered why the name Daniel Day Lewis gets mentioned with such rigorous enthusiasm about every 4 to 5 years, then "There Will Be Blood" would be as good a place as any to find out. In the last 20 years, I've yet see an actor embrace a role has absolutely as Lewis, and his role as Daniel Plainview in this film is nothing short of perfect. Seeing his evolution from a broke silver minor to a wealthy oil driller that succumbs to his own ego and alcoholism on the road to bitter madness, Plainview manages to become more memorable than the portrayal of Abraham Lincoln that Lewis did 5 years later (and he was also ridiculously good in that film). In fairness to Plainview, he had help being nudged in that direction by a cynical false prophet, played with a certain subtle menace by young Paul Dano, looking to use the townspeople against Plainview to coax more money to his own cause with the insurance that it'll keep Plainview's business afloat. For a film that runs well over 2 hours, that doesn't seem like a lot to run on, and yet Director Paul Thomas Anderson literally makes every frame drip with personality and character that all you'd want to do as a viewer is soak it in minute by minute. In fact, watching Plainview's slow decent from a business man with good intentions to a bitter drunk that has a growing disdain for everyone around him is captivating enough to watch all on its own. I believe there are performances that deserve the Oscar without a shadow of a doubt, and this was the one from 2007. To you, Mr. Lewis, I say "Bravo!"




Thank you very much for reading! Please feel free to share this and/or comment.

See you next for my Top Ten List of 2006.

MrMovieETC's TOP 10 FILMS of 2008

Wow, has it already been a week? I guess time flies after having taken a month off.

But I digress.

Needless to say, 2008 had a large impact on the current modern big-budget cinema landscape; more specifically, the easily largest uprising of comic book adaptations in nearly two decades for both DC and MARVEL. That's not to say there was a lack of some decent offerings in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but this was the year that, economically, the surge was truly felt and superheroes were here to stay. The year also posted some memorable animation and drama that either put careers in the fast lane for newcomers and peaks for the veteran crowd. However, it did also have a similar feeling from 2009 where the gap between average and great seemed distant in-between, causing the structuring of the list to have a smaller field of nominees of which to choose from.

Before I begin the list, and I do not usually do this, but I will note a few films that I have unfortunately not seen yet that could have made an impact on this list - Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" and Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" - both of which I own, but have not gotten around to yet.

Otherwise, here is my Top Ten list of 2008. I hope you enjoy!





10. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL

Much like "I Love You, Man" in 2009, "Sarah Marshall" had the right balance of heart and humor when it mattered. Before comedies became more monotonous than not, the mid-to-late 2000s had comedies that, while silly at times, were also something you could relate to in terms of heartache and the denial that comes with it. Jason Segel carried this vehicle seemingly without effort, and Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell both made entertaining leading ladies. It also doesn't hurt to have Hawai'i as the film's location backdrop to make it all the more appealing.

There are just as many one-liner gags as there are circumstantial laughs, and this is another comedy that I didn't have trouble putting in my Top Ten because it still to this day makes me laugh out loud. I'm not saying it's a perfect film by any stretch, but it also has a charm that's undeniable.





9. THE STRANGERS

As creepy as it is understated, "The Strangers" plays the kind of horror that can effectively hit home in ways that other horror cannot. I, personally, have a deep-seeded desire to believe that there is a possibility of the paranormal so that isn't to say ghost stories/films aren't without legitimate fright, but monsters, vampires, etc., feed upon a person's imagination more than reality. "Strangers", on the other hand, shows you that, yes, masked creeps can break into your house and terrorize the shit out of you with lethal weapons, and locking your doors and windows and possibly keeping a baseball bat close at hand wouldn't be a terrible idea. What I also enjoyed about the film is that it does not allow itself to become convoluted. Running at a lean, slick pace, "The Strangers" successfully cut out all the access and kept the suspense at front and center. The acting was decent as well considering the most that was asked of the few actors on the bill was too act horrified.

This little horror film does live up to the hype it receives from the horror community and you should definitely check it out if you haven't done so already.





8. TROPIC THUNDER

If "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was one of the better adult-yet-charming comedies of the year, then "Tropic Thunder" was its evil sibling that was as morally wrong as it was comically right. The film plays off as an action movie in the making with a handful of jaded "actors" that turns out to be a literal hostage situation in foreign territory, except it takes the crew longer than it should to figure it out and have nothing to survive with other than their acting chops. The circumstances alone are funny enough and Downey Jr., Stiller, and Black make for a great combination; however, for me, the best jokes were the more subtle tongue-in-cheek gags aimed directly at big-budget Hollywood. Downey Jr. was also nominated for an Oscar for this film, and while the actual role was cringe-worthy in how politically incorrect it was, the honor was certainly earned. On a final note, "Tropic Thunder" was the first time in a long time that I thoroughly enjoyed watching Tom Cruise.





7. GRAN TORINO

Back when this film was considered as the final bow for Eastwood's acting career, I couldn't have honestly pictured a better way to end as "Gran Torino" was easily one of his greatest modern performances as a grieving widower that has not become too keen on the direction his neighborhood has gone and the thugs that have begun to overrun it. Let's be honest, there are only a handful of actors that can make "Get off my lawn" sound convincing enough to make your blood turn to ice - in other words, Clint can be in his late 70's and still tear you apart. Of course, there's more to the film than Dirty Harry beating punks into the ground, and the amount of character growth that you see in this film makes it as embracing as it is brutal.









6. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

I will admit up front that when this film first came out, my initial reason for accepting it was "Hey, Stephanie Meyer, these are what vampires look like!" Although, once I got over that brief jubilation and watched the film a few more times, I began to appreciate it for it truly was - a really damn good horror movie. It is difficult to recall a time where a film like this put most of its efforts into the story instead of the monster. Truthfully, the overall effect this movie has is challenging to put into words, because, while it is scary in its own way, the story of the young girl and boy and the strength of their bond is more endearing than anything blood-splattering gore can offer. I was also a big fan of the American remake "Let Me In" due to it being very faithful to the source material and had some familiar faces, though if I had to choose, I would likely go with this feature as the acting by the two young leads are equally as good as their American counterparts, and I feel that giving credit where it is due for the overall concept is just as important.

I know that some movie lovers aren't too big on subtitles, but please, if you've seen the American version, give this one a try!





5. THE READER

This was one of the accidental finds where I had not even heard of the film until I stumbled across the blu-ray release. I'm not one to typically go overboard on blind buys, but with a cast consisting of Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, it seemed like an obvious choice. Luckily, my gut instincts served me well and I ended up loving "The Reader". Part romantic-drama and part tragedy, this is a film that is simple on the surface, yet keeps the viewer engaged throughout with the nagging feeling that a significant truth about the two characters is hiding just beneath and one wouldn't be able to be satisfied without knowing what that mystery is about. Truth be told, it's been about 4 years since the last time I've seen "The Reader" so I'm basing this on long-term memory and the general praise I felt for the film when it ended. Be that as it may, I'll refrain from going into too many plot points as I would regret being misleading by mistake. It's been on my agenda to revisit and I am greatly looking forward to it. I would definitely consider this 2008's "Diamond in the Rough".





4. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

I had debated on whether or not I should have placed "Benjamin Button" as high on the list as I did because it undoubtedly had its fair share of flaws, but, despite that fact, between the sharp-eye direction of David Fincher and the terrific acting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, I enjoyed this film entirely too much to keep it out of the Top Five. At first glance, this isn't the type of film that one would think of when it came to exceptional visuals, and yet between the reverse aging of Benjamin Button and the overall cinematography, this film was immersive not only in tale but also has a certain gusto in its display execution. True to form when it comes to most things Fincher, "Benjamin Button" does have a lengthy run at nearly 3 hours, so one's enjoyment level may also depend on level of patience. For those willing to give it a try, I cannot recommend this film enough. The aging process of the titular character is an attention-grabbing mechanism to be sure, but truly it's his adventures around said transformations that make this story as good as it is.





3. IRON MAN

Indeed, my introduction including the rise of comic book adaptations did serve a purpose as I felt that said resurgence was highly earned. MARVEL had attempted to bring their vast arsenal of characters to the big screen in previous years but had often fallen mostly short. When "Iron Man" was first announced, it felt like one I may have typically passed on, mainly due to the fact that I had little working knowledge of who he was outside of a suit of armor. Be that as it may, the trailers leading up to the film offered some promising visual effects and I've had a soft spot for Robert Downey Jr., which, by the way, could not have been a better choice for the role of Tony Stark. I've often reflected on how accepting said role may have been an elbow to the rib at his own expense given his fast and loose rockstar lifestyle in his younger years. I decided to take a gamble and see "Iron Man" in the cinema, and if you've read anything of mine at all, you'll know that I've been hooked on MARVEL ever since. True, the theme of this first entry in the series was just slightly pro-American and gave the Middle East a less-than-flattering light, but thankfully, Jon Favreau focused more on the morally grey Tony and his plight with the sinister Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) than using the film as personal propaganda.

The current MARVEL cinematic universe, and especially this series in general, are not in need of my endorsements at this point, but if you are still on the outside looking in, check this one out!





2. WALL-E

I would dare anyone to look either myself, or anyone else for that matter, in the eye and say that Disney is incapable of playing a heavy hand; not just in terms of mortality or heartbreak, but bleak scopes of the future. An adorable robot named Wall-E cleaning up garbage on an abandoned and desolate planet Earth - yeah. Wall-E then ventures into outer space, finds the humans that abandoned said destroyed Earth, and have all become so lethargic that they no longer have the muscle or bone mass to walk under their own power - yeah. "Wall-E" could be considered Pixar's biggest gamble to date, and the result is a visually beautiful, yet, dare I say, horrific red flag to a young generation that says "You better take note of this." If it weren't for the titular character being so lovable, this wouldn't even be able to be called a Disney film, and for that, I give them kudos. I have a high appreciation for films that dare to go into this territory knowing that their largest audience do not have the ability to drive and paints a picture vivid enough to make the viewer think outside of the lines.

It's hard for me to choose a favorite Pixar film, although I would have to put "Wall-E" pretty high up on the scale.





Now, my #1 film of 2008 is:



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1. THE DARK KNIGHT

I know, slightly anti-climactic considering I probably could not even come close to guessing how many movie lists this beast of a film topped. It was an easy choice for myself as well since this film also lands in my Top Ten Favorite Films. Between Nolan's mastering of Gotham's gritty and realistic atmosphere, to the grandiose performance of Heath Ledger as The Joker, Aaron Eckhart's portrayal of Harvey Dent, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and so on, I will firmly state that I feel this to easily be the best Batman film ever made to date, and possibly best comic book film to date, and that's not praise I often dish out. You can tell that each individual actor were so bought into their roles that it's difficult to find a singular flaw. There are conveniences in the plot, no doubt about it, but how many
billionaires do you know that chase after psychotic clowns in a rubber suit? I fear sometimes audiences become almost too immersed in what they're watching that they forget what they're watching. Rules can be bent in a world outside of reality.

I'm hoping Christopher Nolan will be able to outdo himself in the future, but just in case that doesn't happen, I know I'll have this film (series of films) to lean back on. Again, I don't say this much about any movie, but here it goes - "masterpiece".



Thank you very much for reading! I'll see you next week for my Top Ten of 2007!

MrMovieETC's TOP 10 FILMS of 2009

Greetings, Movie Lovers!

I'm glad to be back after another 4 week stint of absence. Being a new player in this game of Parenthood will do that. Not to confuse that with any sort of complaint as I've enjoyed every moment immensely! Now I feel is the time to start integrating my (previously) normal life into this new one, and I thought getting my Top Ten Film series up and running again was the best way to break the seal.

Moving back to the main subject of my favorite 2009 films, I remember looking back at this timeline with fond memories only to review the list of theatrical releases and found that, while there were some exceptional films, the gap between that and "meh" felt vast. There wasn't anything that particularly jumped out me as a decent buffer between the two sides. That being said, that did make formulating this list a more simple task than expected.

So, without further delay, here is my Top Ten Film List of 2009:

*Disclaimer: No, Avatar is not on the list. Burn me at the stake, if you felt so inclined. It was an achievement, and, hell, my first ever blu-ray purchase, so I'm not trying to take anything away from it. In truth, though, still not my favorite.




10. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

This spot on the list was the most difficult one to place. I had "(500)" on there initially, then switched it out for another, then placed it back again, and that went on for a few more rounds. All in all, I couldn't let it go; this film, for me, is simply too much fun to let slide. It's a rom-com in a basic sense, although with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as the two leads, it's not going to be your typical rom-com. I found this film had a good balance between the laughs and the heartbreak, and to my utmost advocacy, a not-so-telegraphed or cliche ending to a story about two lovers that found and lost each other. A decent soundtrack never hurt matters either, and I can thank this film for introducing me to the wonderful Regina Spektor.

I had picked this up as a blind buy in the beginning and I'm glad I did. It's a keeper!





9. ZOMBIELAND

Personally, there was no way "Zombieland" was going to avoid making it on my Top Ten. It's been an annual staple in my Halloween checklist since I've owned it, and in my mind, really helped cement the horror-comedy craze that "Shaun of the Dead" help create the foundation on a few years prior; not to mention it reviving Woody Harrelson's career and putting both Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone into the limelight more permanently. Otherwise, it's everything you could want for its particular genre: Great gore and makeup effects, well-timed laughs, a great cast sold on the concept, and finished off with one of the best celebrity cameos this side of the new millennium.

When I first saw the posters for this, I shrugged it off as another production company trying to cash in on the already tired "Scary Movie" spoof trend. Sadly, that prevented me from seeing it in the cinema, because I'm sure that would have been a great atmosphere for the first watch.





8. I LOVE YOU, MAN

Ok, I'm aware this is not the most original or thought-provoking pick to ever make a list like this. Although, what can I say? The Judd Apatow generation of comedies was still evolving, and I've almost run out of enough fingers to count on the number of times I've seen this film. Whether it was the first time, or the eighth time, "I Love You, Man" still thoroughly cracks me up. Jason Segel and Paul Rudd have a great chemistry, the script was well-written and the jokes never stopped coming. What easily separates this from many of its imitators is that it doesn't live and die on raunchiness and bathroom humor. This movie knew how to be smart and "bromance" goofy all at once, and that's not really too much to ask from an adult comedy. If you haven't checked it out before, I'd highly recommend doing so!





7. MOON

I first encountered "Moon" on my inaugural 24-hour movie marathon last year and it was later on the agenda that day, so I'm sincerely hoping my brain wasn't too washed out by that point. All of that aside, I felt this film deserved to be on a Top Ten list for Sam Rockwell's performance alone. He's a genuinely talented actor that I feel gets often overlooked, and one thing "Moon" certainly proved is that he can handle the screen on his own - literally - the whole film is him and Kevin Spacey's voice. What also drew me in was the stress factor of the story's circumstance, or even more specific, the claustrophobia. Watching a one-man crew on a space station on the moon slowly starting to lose his mind was effective enough to make my pulse raise a few notches and squirm restlessly on my couch. If a film can get that sort of rise out of me, I'd say it did the job and then some.





6. THE ROAD

I tip my hat to any filmmaker that wants to take on the daunting task of the post-apocalyptic genre, mainly because there aren't many moods that are well-suited outside of grim, dour, bleak, grey - you get the picture. "The Road" mixes all of those into the pot, and then for added flavor, tosses in some cannibals. Honestly, though, anyone whom has heard any brief description of this film has already made up their mind as to whether or not it's a movie they want to try and get through. It really goes without saying that this isn't the type of adventure you want to go on during a rainy Sunday after your goldfish just died. That being the case, if you care anything about good filmmaking, this is the type of film for you; it's bold, it's honest, and puts to shame even decent similar films like "The Book of Eli" and really shames the marshmallow fluff the cinematic world was offered with "The Giver" last year that felt more like an insult than honesty.

Highly recommended for sure to fans of the genre.





5. ORPHAN

I've said this multiple times in the past and I'll say it again - there are 2 main things I ask for from horror: Suspense and a good story to feed that suspense. To you, "Orphan", I say thank you for understanding! For a film I didn't think much of when I first saw it advertised, this little horror flick continues to entertain time and time again. It does not rely on jump scares, it maintains a healthy pace, and most importantly, as aforementioned, keeps this subtle eerie tone that slowly and faithfully builds upon it from the beginning to the climax. Speaking of which, maybe I missed all the telltale signs, but said climax did provide a decent twist that I did not see coming.

I won't get into spoiler territory, but if you couldn't guess already, I do recommend "Orphan". Besides, horror films based on kids are bound to be effective anyway, right?





4. FANTASTIC MR. FOX

In other words, the film that forever sold me on Wes Anderson. I suppose that was easy enough since I had not really seen a Wes Anderson film prior to "Fantastic Mr. Fox"; however, on the other hand, I've always been a sucker for stop motion animation, and to have the great voice cast that this film boasts and the masterful job of said animation, it was impossible for me not to love this cussing movie with a story ultimately about settling down in life yet still yearning for one's own "heyday".

Without going into full review territory, there's not much more I can really say about the film on this platform. I love it, and while Wes Anderson is not a taste that suits everyone, I'd still like to think a majority of viewers will still get the charm. Fair warning, the antagonists' theme song will get stuck in your head; there's no avoiding it.





3. DISTRICT 9

There have been times in the past where I've talked about the enjoyment of being humbled, especially when it comes to judging a book by its cover, or in this case, a film by its premise. This film did not look particularly interesting to me at first, friends that I spoke to didn't give me anything more than lukewarm reception on it, so until last year, I had gracefully ignored the existence of "District 9" - well, feel free to smack me on the forehead (giving me a V8 afterward is entirely up to you). I loved this movie! The special effects were ten times better than I was expecting, the social/political commentary was on target, and I was hungry for more when the end credits rolled through. I'm certainly hoping Blomkamp is not a one-hit wonder with "Elysium" not really piquing my interest currently (ironic, isn't it?), and "Chappie" giving me the same type of vibe.

I do make an honest effort not to drink from the same water cooler as the reviewing majority and make up my own mind as to whether a film looks worthwhile or not. Maybe those latter two are and I'll figure that out later on? Until then, I know Blomkamp has the talent that is elegantly on display in this feature.





2. UP

An animated adventure with Pixar's trademark color palette, humor, and enough emotion in the first 10 minutes alone that makes it feel like your heart and soul were just drop-kicked? Please, you had me at "Pixar", no need to oversell it. In all seriousness, this is the type of Pixar that I hope we start seeing again. I have no issues with "Cars 2", "Brave", or "Monsters University", but they did lack that signature combination that "Up" had enough of to spare for a few more films. Action, heartache through loss, resistance and resolution to the ultimate friendship - that's the kind of story I can get behind and the type of film that I find gets better with each re-watch. Naturally, there's a comedic silliness to it that draw in the youngsters, but this and "Wall-E" had that feeling of being aimed towards the slightly older demographic. Either way, I rank this towards one of Pixar's best and I don't foresee that changing anytime soon.





And finally, my #1 film from 2009:

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1. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Truthfully, how could it not be? A fictional revenge tale against one of the most easily hated group of antagonists in the history of mankind - for the most part. Admittedly, Christoph Waltz made that difficult due to his chillingly effective performance as SD Standartenfuhrer Hans Landa. I could watch that character all day long. This is also the point where I feel Tarantino begun to hit his true stride. Nothing at all against the "Kill Bill" duo and "Pulp Fiction" - both classics in their own right - yet "Inglourious Basterds" felt like a refined focus of what he does so well with violence, gore, humor, and memorable characters.

Again, not to leave this overview short, but this is a movie that is best served to speak for itself. I loved it from the first time I saw it, and I enjoyed "Django Unchained" even more, so here's to Quentin continuing on this upward scale!




Thank you for reading! See you next week for my Top Ten List of 2008!

MrMovieETC's TOP 10 FILMS of 2010

While 2011 was a year dominated by comedies, in my opinion, 2010 offered a nice mixed bag with drama ultimately ruling the day. Really, 2010 was a pretty outstanding year for film overall. It had its fair share of blockbuster sequels and remakes to be sure, although some of its best came from new and upcoming directors that each made the most of their particular styles. Another thing that 2010 lacked, and what worked in its favor, was the absence of superhero films. Don't get me wrong, I've loved what MARVEL has done the past few years, but that being said, I'd be perfectly content to have another year like 2010 where other filmmaking ideas get to shine. Looking ahead at Disney's future menu, that's not going to happen anytime soon, though, again, no serious complaints on my end.

I don't really have much more of an intro to include here, so I'll get write to business!

Here is my list of Top 10 Films of 2010:





10. KICK-ASS

This was one of those films where I saw the initial trailers online and thought it was a spoof in the same family as "Scary Movie" or "Freddy vs. Jason". It wasn't completely without merit as spoof comedies were still a thing at the time and the comic world was still having its giddy soul massaged by "The Dark Knight" from a few years prior (and the film was probably still cutting a profit in 2010). I was not aware or familiar with "Kick-Ass" as its own comic series, and in some ways, I assume it could be considered as somewhat of a riff on comic film adaptations due to the series creator being compared to that of a cynic as I understand it. As far as the movie itself, it's one of those that is so nutty that it works. C'mon, Nicholas Cage plays a Batman look-alike, what's not to love? More importantly, cynical or not, the film knows what it is and that's a quality that always positively gets my attention. A group of teens take their superhero geekdom to a lethal level and try to clean up the streets of their city to mostly adverse results. The film is often times hilarious, and yet, knows how to punish to keep the adrenaline pumping. All of those combined, to me, made it worthy of a Top Ten spot.





9. THE CRAZIES

One may not find it all difficult to find something more terrifyingly enticing in the horror genre than the remake of Romero's "The Crazies", and I wouldn't have much to stand on to argue the contrary, but I'd also be making a liar of myself if I didn't say that I love this movie. Timothy Olyphant was a strong choice for the lead, the filmmakers took a novel idea and minimized the use of cliche and telegraphed jump scares, and it has the nice government conspiracy to tie it all in. The latter, I feel, is what garners the majority of the suspense and terror - the feeling that something like a contamination cover-up is not beyond the realm of possibility and that you'd be screwed no matter how fast or far you run. What I also feel raises this film a few pegs above many of the rest is its well-played double threat; not only is there the shady government tactics to keep the main characters trapped, but they also must escape the not-so-dead, yet complete murderous hordes that have gone mad from said contamination.

It's not very often there's an opportunity for horror to break my Top Ten list, so I really didn't have to grapple with adding "The Crazies" to the prospects. Definitely check it out if you haven't done so!





8. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

Speaking in terms of financial success, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is the epitome of a fun, creative idea that was a little too late to its own party. Many blamed it on the "World is tired of Michael Cera" Syndrome, and that could partially be true, but, in my mind, this film was a victim of bad marketing. I was aware of its existence when the film began its theatrical run, but there was little word of mouth or legitimate advertising on its behalf. All of which is a shame because "Scott Pilgrim" is a hell of a good time to watch. Built upon a sort of colorful, comedic "Mortal Kombat" staging, Scott Pilgrim (played by Cera) gets a chance to win the girl of his dreams. And if you want to talk about the ideal role for somebody like Michael Cera, this would be that role. His character is nerdy, naive, and yet has that sort of asshole-esque attitude that makes him entertaining.

That's really all I can say about it. The movie transitions from straight up romantic indie comedy to a romantic indie comedy video game. It certainly has a cult following by now, and for good reason. It's a winner.





7. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

I may have mentioned in one of my previous lists that back in 2010 I was a bit of a Pixar snob and scoffed at anything DreamWorks Animation has to offer because it seemly had nothing better to do than drag every last penny out of the Shrek series. Ironically, I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that we're getting "Toy Story 4" and how that will possibly be any different. Anyway, with that kind of attitude, you can imagine my skepticism after seeing a title like "How to Train Your Dragon". I do like my dragons, but that sounds like something a parent would take their 5-year-old to see on a rainy Sunday. The other half of that story is that I actually love being humbled, proven wrong, and having my preconceived notions put to shame when it comes to movies. Why not? I want all movies to be good, and "How to Train Your Dragon" shames the definition of good to the degree of putting it in the dirt. I'm a sucker when it comes to gorgeous animation and "Dragon" has that in spades. It's additionally nice to have a competent story and characters to go along with it and, guess what, this movie has all of those, too. Like I said, the animation is its own wow-factor, the comedy is on point, the story has feeling in all the places that it should, and in my own perspectives, this series beats anything "Shrek" had to give. It was inventive. It was well-made. It was fantastic!





6. SHUTTER ISLAND

This film is still somewhat notorious from being ragged on by audiences for what they felt was a lackluster ending and having a twist that "everyone could see coming". You know what? Some of that is fairly true. You know what else? I do not care. "Shutter Island" is easily one of my favorite suspense thrillers from the past 10 years. It has Scorsese written all over it - from the gritty to the emotion - yet it's not signature Scorsese. It's certainly not a huge sidestep like "Hugo" a few years later, but refreshing just the same. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingley were terrific as the leads, the atmosphere kept the tension in full-throttle mode throughout the whole duration, and I personally thought the ending was exceptionally fitting to the text of the story of paranoia and delusions. Sure, if you pay attention, you can see it coming from a mile away, although in the way it was delivered, I don't think it really hindered the overall outcome. The bullet was in the final message, and for me, that bullet was right on target.





5. BLACK SWAN

Comparing this to "Noah" may not be entirely fair to Aronofsky, mainly because they're not remotely alike, but I cannot help but believe that "Black Swan" and how much I enjoyed the hell out of it had something to do with my feelings of disappointment toward "Noah". This film is absolutely stunning; everything from the cinematography, to the superb and well-earned award winning performance from Natalie Portman, and how Aronofsky was the perfect director to bring an already dark story of "Swam Lake" to the big screen. Truly a horror film in its own right, "Black Swan" tells of a star ballerina that pushes her limits to achieve perfection to the point of borderline psychosis, and then full psychosis as her instabilities begin to project on to the world around her. Of course, it's not all her own doing with an overbearing mother and sadistic dance instructor that typically lead to a disastrous recipe. I realize many people do not care for Aronofsky with his unique style, and sometimes undeniable sense of self-importance; however, if he can make films as engaging as "Black Swan", I'm willing to forgive the flaws. I wouldn't recommended "Noah", but this one is certainly a keeper.





4. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

I vividly remember when I saw the first trailer for "The Social Network" in the theater. First, there was the slideshow of random Facebook posts, then quickly followed a haunting choir rendition of Radiohead's "Creep" in the background, and wrapped up with the film's title and my immediate thought of "A Facebook movie? Good God, why?" Remember when I said a few paragraphs up that I like being humbled? Well, a funny thing, or string of things, happened. As more information came out, I found out that this was being directed by David Fincher. Hey, I really like David Fincher. Shortly after, I learned that the score was being written by Trent Reznor. I love music by Trent Reznor. Those two facts took me from skeptical to sold, followed soon by seeing the film, which naturally, led me to loving the film. It's rather difficult to explain too, because a *mostly* factual biography about Mark Zuckerberg should not be that interesting, yet somehow it totally was. It doesn't hurt that the story unfolds the slow decline towards disaster for a guy that's hard to cheer for because he's an egotistical prick. One can't help but get behind him a little bit, however, because he's so good at it. A genius that is confident in said genius and makes those not-as-smart feel like insects does make for some genuine entertainment. The film is not for everyone, I can safely assume, but I highly recommend it nonetheless.





3. THE TOWN

Come now, Ben Affleck was hanging onto his career for dear life and him getting behind the lens and making a great drama like "Gone Baby Gone" was pure luck - one time luck for that matter - and there's no way he can do it again, right? Well, the best way I describe "The Town" in a few words is "Here is Ben's middle finger". I could not care less that this almost dangerously panders to Scorsese's signature style, because you know what, "The Town" is outstanding. The characters are well-developed, the climatic suspense easily rivals "Argo", and it maintains a gruesome pace that never really relents. I don't know where this version of Affleck was during the 90s and early 2000s, and where and when he discovered he had a talent for this, but all I can say is "Keep it coming!" It's been a few years since I've revisited this film, and the timing is good because I've got a serious itch to watch this one again. I remember walking into the theater with high expectations of whether or not Affleck would make lightning strike twice, and he did that and then some. Many film fanatics are more than familiar with the bank heist scenario, but Affleck did the concept justice by tapping into his own Boston background to make this easily one of the best thrillers in recent years.





2. INCEPTION

Or as I like to call it, "The film that Nolan has yet to top." No disrespect to "The Dark Knight Rises" or "Interstellar"; both films have that trademark Nolan ambition, it's just that they were not executed quite as well as "The Dark Knight" or "Inception". I realize that "Inception" is mainly a fancy-dressed heist thriller. What I fail to understand is why that matters in the first place? A straight forward heist film can easily be entertaining, there's no serious debate there; however, taking an idea that simple and giving it a fresh perspective is one of the true definitions of creative thinking, is it not? Acknowledging the fact that it's impossible to make every viewer see it that way, for the more positive way of thinking, "Inception" is one of the more creative endeavors in recent years and is completely suited to Nolan's style of filmmaking. Emotional impact is not his strong suit (See: "Interstellar"), although there is just enough of it here that Nolan is able to make the audience care about the plight of the characters. DiCaprio once again does a great job in the lead role, and Nolan makes the most out of his supporting crew as well.

To me, the twists and turns that "Inception" offers takes something ordinary and makes it extraordinary. By now, I've seen this film multiple times and have enjoyed it more with each repeat.





And finally, my Top Film of 2010 is:


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1. TOY STORY 3

What very well be the first and only time I would give a second sequel the top spot, "Toy Story 3" was a fairly easy decision for me. The first installment broke new ground in the animation universe, the second one spotted noticeable improvements in the art, and this final one (for now) wrapped up the trilogy so perfectly that it deserved the #1 place for that only. This is also one of the few trilogies in existence where, try as I might, I cannot pick a favorite. Each one has an absorbing story, the characters get more lovable with each production, and all 3 films go for the gut emotionally each time and always lands the punch. Why is that so impressive? The film(s) make you forget that the you're looking at toys - inanimate objects - and you care for them to the degree that during the climax of "Toy Story 3", you're trying not bawl like a toddler. Disney fan or not, animation fan or not, it does not matter in this case. This is filmmaking at its finest. I'm skeptical, and even partially pissed off, that Disney found a need for a 4th, but who knows, right? "Toy Story 3" did end the story arc but also left the door wide open to new adventures with new characters. I have a feeling I won't be able to stay away from it. The series is just that good.



Thank you for reading! I'll see you next week with my Top Ten of 2009!

MrMovieETC's TOP 10 FILMS of 2011

While it might not be made incredibly apparent by this Top 10 list, I've often referred to 2011 as the "Year of the Comedy". I suppose I could have called it "Another Year of Terrible Remakes", but that gets redundant after a while.

Seriously, does anyone even remember that they released a remake of "Straw Dogs" in 2011? I thought not.

Anyway, after a careful process of elimination, only a small handful of said comedies made it onto this list, because while I spent most of time in the theater or at home that year laughing my ass off to "Horrible Bosses", "Our Idiot Brother", "Friends with Benefits", "Paul", etc., that doesn't necessarily equate to being a Top 10 choice, in my mind. I felt it would be a disservice to the films that did make the cut to exclude them all together only for the sake of what made me laugh. I'm far too picky not to have variety.

So, before I ramble on, here is my Top 10 list of 2011!:





10. CEDAR RAPIDS

This is the sort of raunchy, yet sweet low budget comedy that cannot help but stand out because of its seemingly oddball premise and the experience of Ed Helms and John C. Reilly. The premise surrounds an insurance award convention at an upscale Motel 6 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the unexpected shenanigans that ensue. Again, a majority of the laughs stem from low-brow vulgarity, but the jokes connect nearly every time and all the main cast bring their own contributions of heart to a story that speaks to the bonds that are formed after allowing one's self to live a little outside of the box. I've watched this one a few times now and I feel it gets better with each viewing.





9. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

I know, I never would have thought that I would have a romantic comedy mentioned in the same breath as "Personal Favorites of the Year". However, I must give this film its due praise. The all-star cast doesn't phone it in with likable and characters that can be related to , the story strays enough away from cliche that it stays engaging, and the humor is on point situation-wise instead of relying on obnoxious one-liners to carry all the weight. The pace of the plot and editing were tied together smoothly which comes in handy for a film that has multiple story lines.

The downside is that it is difficult to speak at length about comedies, especially ones like this. "Crazy, Stupid, Love" is a great one, though, and I definitely recommend giving it a shot.





8. DRIVE

2011 was good year for comedies, and it also didn't treat Ryan Gosling too poorly either. I can assume that "Drive" drew a lot of attention because of Gosling's return to the spotlight with "Crazy, Stupid, Love", you know, "Dirty Dancing" reenactment and stomach veins, etc. I'm also fairly certain that those expecting the same cute womanizer in this film received a hefty dose of reality - Gosling's character in "Drive" says a lot without saying much of anything, especially since his form of communication is driving places in a short amount of time and, oh yeah, bashing peoples' faces in. I've yet to see a movie since "Drive" that turned such a gut-wrenching 180 so quickly. The film does a great job of building the suspense subtly if you pay attention to it with Gosling (his character's name is unknown) quietly starting to lose his patience for the scum-driven brutality surrounding him and decides to take matters into his own hands. The result - brain crushing beauty. This is a lean thriller that will likely continue to leave fists and jaws simultaneously tightened for years to come.





7. WIN WIN

You'll have to pardon me on this one as I've only seen it once and that was back when it was new; however, I do have enough fond memories of how much I enjoyed that it still felt completely safe to put it on my Top 10. A financially down-on-his-luck wrestling coach (Paul Giamatti) mentors a rising wrestling superstar (newcomer Alex Shaffer) that comes from a nonsupporting home life. Fair enough, we've all heard plot parallels similar to that, but this is one of those dramedies loaded with passion from a cast and crew that sell that hell out of it. This is coming from a guy that has never enjoyed wrestling on any level, yet when I saw the previews for the film (prior to "Cedar Rapids", as it were) I knew that I had to see it and was glad that I did. I'll watch more than one film about the underdogs of life as long as they are done tastefully well. "Win Win" does that and much more, in my opinion, It is, for a lack of a better term, a win-win.





6. HUGO

This film is another that unfortunately falls into the same water as "Win Win" as I'm basing it off of one viewing over 3 years ago. Scorsese's adventure feature may not hold up steadily story-wise throughout its entire duration, but considering what he is commonly known for, this is a delightful film that should be given credit for its ambition alone. Truthfully, I'd find it hard to believe that any big movie fanatic would turn down a story that pays homage to one of the top silent film masterminds in history. Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz do a fine job of carrying a bulk of the film's load as the two young leads, and Sasha Baron Cohen adds a colorful effect to his character, Inspector Daste. I've been meaning to look back at some of these 2011 gems, this one included, if only to revisit one of the more awe-inspiring contributions to that year.





5. THE DESCENDANTS

A family drama set in Hawaii. A family drama set in Hawaii starring George Clooney. The only other selling point I can think of is making sure to get it on blu-ray because it's a family drama set in Hawaii and the setting is expectantly gorgeous. Seriously, though, I expected to go into this film and see a good movie with an honest performance from Clooney at a minimum; what I ended up seeing was an excellent drama about the pain of loss, power struggles created by the loss, and finding redemption again through those around you that were the ones that mattered in the first place. This film felt like one of those that slipped under the radar, and I cannot recommend "The Descendants" enough.





4. THE RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Based on a statistic that I completely made up just now, it seems like about 90% of series reboots fail to actually gain any tread  and make an impact on current moviegoers. I wasn't joking about the making it up part, but that's the sense that I'm getting over recent years when trying to turn old classics into something new - it hardly ever seems to work. Not so much the case for "Planet of the Apes", however. To say the series could have used a face-lift from its Charlton Heston glory days isn't as much a negative connotation as it is an honest observation. Be that as it may, an undertaking such as this is risky business due to the justifiable expectations of the fan base. All I can say to that is, thank goodness for Andy Serkis! The man's motion capture acting abilities are second-to-none, and this is true and all the more apparent with his work portraying Caesar. Oh, and the rebooted origins story isn't half bad either. The film knew what it wanted to be and did the best possible job bringing that vision to light. I hope the series doesn't hit a creative ceiling because the ride feels like it's only getting started.






3. 50/50

For the comedies that did end up making this list, I have already spoken in volumes about the importance of the care each story received, the comic veterans that lead them, and that they have more soul than just silly laughter. Each one of this has lived up to my particular criteria, although "50/50" I felt was the absolute epitome from 2011. I don't care what anyone says, it takes some brass to try to make cancer humorous, even though that is the motto society tends to lend out about such things. If anything, it's a fine line; make it funny without being impersonal, and don't make it overly dour with a few chuckles to lighten the mood. A lot of credit obviously goes to the gifted chemistry between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, but equally as much should go to director Jonathan Levine and writer Will Reiser for walking that fine line without wavering. The end result is the colorful sense of humor we have come to expect from the lead cast, but also a more sentimental side that is pulled off with a graceful wit.






2. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PT. 2

I realize that this looks like an overly safe pick, and it a lot of ways it is. If we're being honest though, to have a book series this big and influential on popular media turned into an exceptionally successful film adaptation series that spanned nearly a decade and managed to keep the same cast (mostly) throughout to a legitimately satisfying finale has to count towards honorable mentions. Granted, this is the series that spearheaded Hollywood's new annoying fascination with giving book adaptions unnecessary split finales, but in this case, I'm willing to forgive. All 8 films do feel like the best possible sum to a whole that could be made at this time, and while I would have been perfectly fine with a more drawn out battle of Good and Evil at Hogwarts, this version still fit the bill well enough to be enjoyed until the reboot.

Yes, I say that definitively because Warner Bros. is not above milking the cash cow.





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And finally, my Number One film for 2011 is . . .






1. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Oh yes. Ironic, isn't it? I take a jab at all the terrible remakes served cold and lifeless to the general cinema public on what seems like a monthly basis nowadays, and I go and choose a remake as my top film of 2011. You know what, though? I do not feel remotely guilty for doing so, because while my fan-crush on David Fincher is no secret by now, this was a film that was made with an abundance of style and panache that is custom to Fincher and makes "Dragon Tattoo" feel like a brand new film rather than something that was made in Sweden only a few years before. I've put it on my agenda to watch the original trilogy in the near future, especially since this version did not fare too well financially in the U.S. and the other two films are a mystery as far as any type of future. That being the case, I hope that doesn't lessen the value of this American take on the Stieg Larsson series because from the cinematography to the score, a sincere effort was put into this release and deserves more than the typical shunning a majority of remakes receive. For not having much prior experience, Rooney Mara completely owns the title role of Lisbeth, and Daniel Craig shows that he's more diverse than being just the new face of James Bond. In the end, even if its apples and oranges between the two trilogies, I do hope the American version gets rounded out because I feel these characters and the talented actors that play them have more to offer before all is said and done.




Thank you for reading, and see you next week for my Top 10 Films of 2010!