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Every year around this time, movie blogs publish their TOP TEN lists for the movies to come out that year. Some hit before Christmas, and some just after. I thought since the official last day of 2010 was Friday, December 31st, that would indeed be the day this should go up. So we’ve assembled our regular writers here at Bigfanboy.com, and they along with myself have come up with our top ten favorite movies of 2010… and in the case of myself and Gary, we’ve added a few extra categories in there as well. This was an interesting year for movies, as while going back through the list, I noticed there are a lot of films that easily could have made it into my top ten, and therefore made narrowing it down a little tougher. If there’s any you think are missing from the lists below, or just severely disagree with us on, feel free to say so in the comments… just please be nice.

Up first, our regular and longest-contributing film critic Mr. Gary Murray, who starts with his #1 Best Film pick and goes from there – as you can see, Gary added a few extra picks under his best/worst choices, including actor and actress appreciations, and even best director, cinematorgraphy, etc.

1 The Fighter–a Shakespearian drama in the milieu of lower classes. The leads all deliver Oscar caliber performances with Christian Bale turning into Robert De Niro — hidden in the inner folds of his character. To call this a boxing movie is to call Tolstoy an adventure writer. It has so much depth that it will be studied for years in film school.

You can read Gary’s review of THE FIGHTER here.

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2 The King’s Speech–The only truly serious contender to The Fighter for the Best Picture. It is both a drama about the rumors of war and the friendship between to very misplaced individuals. Strong acting and solid directing.

3 How to Train Your Dragon–I have always felt that Dreamworks was a distant second to Pixar. This film proves that the ‘second best’ studio can produce first class work. It is touching and funny, with 3-D that actually works

4 True Grit–As a kid, I loved Westerns and as a teenager I hated them. Now, I love them again and this is a fine example of the genre. The Coen Brothers never make a bad film and this is one of their finest. Little Hailee Steinfeld is just a perfect undiscovered actress

5 Waiting for Superman–This is a film what will irritate you, enrage you and finally break your heart. It comes across as heavy handed at times but the kids are deserved better than the system they are stuck in. It shines a light at a broken education complex.

6 Inception–A challenging film that lost some people. Visually it is an amazing work and it does make one consider the possibilities of what is real and what is dream.

7 Made in Dagenham–A British import that is Norma Rae for the country. It a simple film about basic rights that cuts to the bone. Sally Hawkins again proves she is the best working actress in England.

8 Red–Have you ever had so much fun at a movie? This film just flies across the screen with a pace that never lets up and a cast of strong performers just giving it its all. It is a simple, popcorn chewing bit of action that is just to be enjoyed.

9 Tangled–As my god-daughter said, “This is the best movie EVER!” Walt Disney Animation is back in a big way with a little film that combines all the magic of the Mouse Studio with the whacked out images of the best of Warner Brother’s Looney Tunes. This flick is just a gem.

10 Tucker and Dale VS Evil–This film was only screened once during the Dallas International Film Festival and deserves to be seen by a much wider audience. It is the tale of two simple country boys who are mistaken to be 1970’s style redneck mutant killers by a group of not too bright college students. It plays on all the genre stereotypes while making it all seem fresh. Flat out–it is a hoot to watch. It is a much sharper comedy than any of the studios have produced this year.

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5 WORST

1 Somewhere–Stop giving Sofia Coppla money to make movies! This is a dreadful waste to time in a meaningless story about nothing. Ignore that smattering of good reviews, you would rather haveyou teeth pulled out via the backside than see this excessive drivel of cinematic masturbation.

2 The Last Airbender–Can we also stop giving M. Night money to make movies?! He is a one hit wonder who keeps subjecting the audience to crap year after year. The 3-D was awful. Even worse it was dark, dull and boring.

3 Grown-ups–Never have so many comedy talents been wasted in such a short time. It is a film about almost nothing with a group of those ‘man-child’ idiots who should never have been allowed to procreate.

4 Clash of the Titans–As much of a disappointment the first film was, this is about 1000 times worse. The 3-D is yet another example of spending more and getting less. But it made so much scratch that a sequel is being planned. The gods help us all.

5 Splice— The best way to describe it–stupid, Stupid, STUPID! This Frankenstein story had such a promise but morphed into some kind of sick, psychological drama with and incestuous edge.

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ACTORS
1 Mark Wahlberg–The Fighter
2 Jeff Bridges– True Grit
3 Colin Firth–The King’s Speech
4 Robert Duvall–Get Low
5 Leonardo DiCaprio–Inception

ACTRESS
1 Natalie Portman–Black Swan
2 Michelle Williams–Blue Valentine
3 Sally Hawkins–Made in Dagenham
4 Anne Hathaway–Love and other Drugs
5 Nichole Kidman–Rabbit Hole

SUPPORTING ACTOR
1 Christian Bale–The Fighter
2 Bill Murray–Get Low
3 Geoffery Rush–The Kings Speech
4 Matt Damon–True Grit
5 Michael Douglas–Wall Street II

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1 Amy Adams–The Fighter
2 Melissa Leo–The Fighter
3 Juliette Lewis–Conviction
4 Helena Bonham Carter–The King’s Speech
5 Diane Weist–Rabbit Hole

DIRECTOR
1 David O. Russell–The Fighter
2 Coen Brothers–True Grit
3 Christopher Nolan–Inception
4 Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders–How to Train Your Dragon
5 Tom Hooper–The King’s Speech

ANIMATED
1 How To Train Your Dragon
2 Tangled
3 Despicable Me

FOREIGN
1 The Girl with Dragon Tattoo
2 Micmacs

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1 Inception
2 Scott Pilgrim VS the World
3 Tron: Legacy

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Next we have the lovely Gwen Reyes, who (like myself) chose to start with #10 and work her way up, and had some rather interesting choices, particularly her #1 pick… I didn’t see that coming! Gwen’s diversity and unique tastes make her one of my favorite contributing writers for the site.  You can see more from her at her blog HERE.

2010 was definitely a diverse year in movies. We saw the requisite sequels in IRON MAN 2, ECLIPSE, and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, dud follow-ups to 2009 blockbusters (DUE DATE), and a few refreshing deliveries near the end of the movie season. Some of my favorite movies this year were not the most critically successful or widely attended, but I loved them for their freshness and heart. It’s always tough to pick a favorite, but if Sophie can do it, so can I.

10. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
This documentary about artist Mr. Brainwash “directed” by notorious street artist Banksywas the first in the wave of questionable documentaries that havedefined this year. Told through the extensivevideo archive of Mr. Brainwash’s search to meet Banksy and break into the underground art scene, GIFT SHOP questions the validity of the filmmaker and leaves the audience guessing the entire time. I loved the twists the movie takes, truly feeling like two movies in one once Bansky takes over the editing process from Mr. Brainwash.

9. BROTHERHOOD
I saw BROTHERHOOD at the DALLAS International Film Festival in April hot off its win at SXSW. I always support local filmmaking, but I was overwhelmed by this intense little film shot in Arlington, TX. The story of a fraternity prank gone wrong is the only way to describe BROTHERHOOD without spoiling too much, but just know that if you get the chance to see this movie take it. You will not regret the ride.

8. THE TOWN
Ben Affleck is proving to be a stronger director than he is actor with his second feature film THE TOWN. He not only crafted an exceptional story, he also stars in this powerful, yet sort of forgotten, movie about a bank robber trying to break out of the business. Jeremy Renner, who I’ve been watching since DAHMER, demands attention in every scene and Affleck looks and acts better than has ever before. I’m sad to see THE TOWN didn’t get Golden Globe attention, but I’m thinking the stars might align for The Academy Awards.

7. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Do I really need to say more than 3D beards? Oh, I do? Well, DRAGON was far and away the best adult friendly kid’s movie of 2010. You’ve got Vikings, war, dragons, and a hero who loses his leg. If that’s not seriousness wrapped in a friendly package, then I don’t know what is.

6. BURIED
Some might say in the war between solo actors trapped in an uncomfortable situation that 127 HOURS was the winner, but I disagree. Ryan Reynolds was a tour deforce in BURIED while he juggled acting alone, facing almost every fear imaginable (if you didn’t think you were afraid of being buried alive before, you will be after you watch this), and proving that he isn’t just a good looking goofball. Dear Ryan, we want more from you. Please and thank you!

5. GET HIM TO THE GREEK
Russell Brand and Jonah Hill have great chemistry and I’m glad Nick Stoller noticed. This loose follow-up to FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL centers on musician Aldous Snow (Brand) and his record label handler Aaron Green (Hill) as they race across England and America to get Aldous to his comeback concert. Simple plot, but around every corner is another hilarious scenario that left me with side stitches. Life lesson: if someone hands you a Jeffery just rub the furry wall.

4. GOING THE DISTANCE
Some of you might agree that long distance relationships are hard. They take patience, communication, and lots of dirty messages to keep them going. September’s GOING THE DISTANCE revived the romantic comedy as it detailed the budding romance between Drew Barrymore’s Erin and Justin Long’s Garrett. The real life couple defy the odds when their chemistry translates beautiful onscreen, and they are perfectly paired with foul mouthed co-stars in Christina Applegate, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis. This is a romantic comedy for the romantic comedy hater.

3. GHOST WRITER
Roman Polanski’s most recent offering reminds audiences that the auteur is a true artist. An author hired to write the English Prime Minister’s biography begins to unravel the mysterious past of his subject and his involvement with a murder. The quick pace and single person point of view keeps the audience delightfully unaware of the movie’s conclusion right up to the end. It’s a shame it came out in the winter, THE GHOST WRITER deserved more attention than it got.

2. TRUE GRIT
Jeff Bridges rivals his own award winning performance in last year’s CRAZY/HEART in TRUE GRIT. The western is not a remake of John Wayne’s 1969 classic, but rather an adaption of Charles Portis’ novel. Equal parts dark and hilarious, TRUE GRIT shined in a season of winter movie duds. If you haven’t seen it already, stop reading and get yourself to the pictures!

1. DAYBREAKERS
Yes, stop laughing, I chose DAYBREAKERS as my favorite movie of the year. Seriously, tell me this doesn’t sound like a great concept: Earth has become overrun with vampires and their human food source has almost run out. They have corrupt corporations developing synthetic blood so they can traffic human blood to the rich vampires. It’s incredibly scary, well acted, and a thought provoking idea for a genre film. What happens when your food supply is gone? In DAYBREAKERS we get a chance to see a dark, diseased world trying to make amends for its poor decisions.

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And finally, here is my TOP TEN OF 2010, followed by HONORABLE MENTIONS, followed by TOP FIVE WORST OF 2010. It’s always tricky trying to define the “worst” movies in a year, as you know not everyone is going to dislike (or in some cases like) a film to way you do. Again, if my decisions conflict with your own, by all means tell us in the comments.

Best of 2010

10. A tie! LET ME IN and THE BOOK OF ELI – This was tough, as I really enjoyed both of these films greatly for different reasons.  Being a huge fan of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, I (like many) was nervous to see what director Matt Reeves would do with an Americanized version of what I consider to be one of the greatest vampire stories ever told.  He did not disappoint.  LET ME IN is superbly acted and directed, and lovingly pays homage to its source film, while allowing Reeves to add his own touches here and there.  It’s great horror, and a great love story, and is absolutely worth a look.  I also really enjoyed THE BOOK OF ELI, which surprised me as an early 2010 release, delivering a solid action story that was a unique look at post-apocalyptic earth, giving Denzel Washington to play the tough guy on a respectable mission.  We also get Gary Oldman returning to the power-hungry bad guy role he does so well, a rather serious Mila Kunis, and a few surprise performances from likable big screen faces.  THE BOOK OF ELI is one of those movies that shouldn’t be overlooked.  It’s nowhere near Oscar-worthy, but it’s a lot of fun.

9. TRUE GRIT – The Coen Brothers doing a western?  With Jeff Bridges?  How can it go wrong?  Apparently it can’t.  The updating of TRUE GRIT is taken more literally from Charles Portis’ novel than the popular John Wayne film, but still has many similarities to the original.  Thankfully, newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is terrific as Mattie Ross, really ramping up the effectiveness of that character.  Bridges is also magnificent as a strange but likable Rooster Cogburn.  This is about as far from “The Dude” that he’s been in a while, but it’s a welcome change in a splendid modern day take on the western.

8. TANGLED – This was a good year for animated movies.  You may notice I didn’t include TOY STORY 3 anywhere on here, which is not to say I didn’t like it, but these days Pixar movies have become formulaic and kind of predictable… not in a bad way, just a “that’s pretty much what I expected” sort of way.  We saw two rather original takes on animation this year, the latter being with Disney, but in a way we’re not used to seeing from the Mouse House.  TANGLED combines computer animation with traditional cel animation styling, and delivers a breathtaking look at the magical world of Rapunzel and her long flowing hair.  But this is Disney greatness on just about every level.  Strong vocal casting, fun action, and toe-tapping songs.  It effectively recaptured the feeling I had when I was a kid watching Disney movies, and that’s saying a lot.

7. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – the second animated film to blow me away this year came early with the fantastic HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.  Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois(who also gave us LILO & STICH) crafted and funny and heartwarming tale that also displayed some of the best 3D I’ve seen on the big screen to date.  While interviewing them, I learned they hired the amazing Roger Deakins (awesome cinematographer who frequently works with the Coen Brothers) to advise on lighting in each scene.  That’s brilliant, and gives their film (which is already so fantastic) a polished look of perfection it so greatly deserves.

6. 127 HOURS – Danny Boyle’s tale of the true story behind thrillseeker Aron Ralston’s near-deadly mountain climbing accident is all at once terrifying and humbling.  We’ve all done stupid things in our lives, some of which give us pause to think about what led us to that moment.  James Franco is identifiable as Ralston, and despite commanding a majority of the screen time alone, he and Boyle manage to keep us glued to the unfolding events… no matter how horrifyingly real they may get.

5. INCEPTION – These days we don’t get a lot of “smart” movies… films that make you think, and more importantly make you pay attention.  Christopher Nolan showed us he can be a thinking man’s director with his gritty and realistic take on the BATMAN franchise.  With INCEPTION he practically blows our minds, which are working hard to keep up with the complex and layered storyline.  It’s a big screen puzzle done in amazing fashion, as long as you can keep up with it.

4. THE TOWN – Ben Affleck impressed me a lot with GONE BABY GONE a few years ago, but let’s face it, his recent acting credits have failed to truly wow audiences.  THE TOWN not only shows us that Ben has still got the acting chops, but that he’s grown into a helluva good director.  Crime hasn’t been this good on the big screen since HEAT.  Jeremy Renner is nothing short of perfection in his role, and the realistic depiction of the region makes this a modern day masterpiece.

3. THE SOCIAL NETWORK – The pitch: a biopic about how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, and pissed off others that were involved.  Sounds boring, right?  David Fincher is a director who knows how to make it exceedingly interesting, without ever seeming overly dramaticized.  In fact, it’s probably the most interesting depiction of online corporate legal battles you’re likely to ever see.  Jess Eisenberg sheds his comedic Michael Cera-ish persona to show disturbed death in his portrayal of Zuckerberg, Andrew Garfield is terrific as his jilted best friend, and even Justin Timberlake does a fine job selling the story.  But Armie Hammer walks away with the biggest kudos for his strong performance as the Winklevoss twins.  The only more impressive aspect of the movie is the superb score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

2. THE FIGHTER – this was so close to getting my number one spot.  The performance by Christian Bale in this movie as disgraced boxer Dicky Eklund is nothing short of incredible.  Couple that with solid supporting players like Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, and a rather impressive leading performance from Mark Wahlberg, and you’ve got an outstanding fight film up there with ROCKY and RAGING BULL… however, that familiarity to other films like it was the only thing that knocked it down a notch.  It’s a movie you’ll feel like you’ve seen before, but it’s still so, so great.

1. BLACK SWAN – Good Lord, where do I start?  Darren Aronofsky follows up his impressive film THE WRESTLER with this haunting portrayal of a ballet dancer obsessed with perfection has become the most beautiful horror film ever made.  Natalie Portman is (ironically) displaying amazing perfection with her performance, and the script will keep you guessing all the way until the end.  Strong supporting performances from Mila Kunis, Vicent Cassell, and rather creepy turns for both Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey make this a film that will stay with you long after the credits role.  In my opinion, it is… perfect.  My full review is here.

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Honorable Mention

CONVICTION – a very well put-together biopic about the real life Betty Ann Waters (played honestly by Hilary Swank), a woman who became a lawyer against all odds in hope of finding a second chance for her convicted brother (played by the always great Sam Rockwell).  Tony Goldwyn directs this moving story that was solid and entertaining, and also features good supporting performances from Minnie Driver and Juliette Lewis, the latter of which is a very unglamourous role.

THE GHOST WRITER – Roman Polanski’s film is a nice mix of political intrigue with murder mystery.  Ewan McGregor turns in another engaging performance, and Pierce Brosnan breaks away strongly from his James Bond persona.  Throw into the mix a strong supporting role from Olivia Williams, and you’ve got a surprisingly enjoyable thriller.

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS – The long-delayed Jim Carrey film (which also stars the aforementioned Ewan McGregor) is quite entertaining and much funnier than I expected.  Based on true events (seeing that a lot these days in the movies, eh?) Carrey stars as a con man who falls in love with a prison inmate (McGregor), and finds romantic happiness, but can’t shake his criminal ways.  Despite the heavy homosexual overtones (I’m guessing the reason this one had such a bumpy road), this actually plays out a lot like a standard Jim Carrey comedy, just darker and more adult-themed.  I was impressed by it.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD – Being a big fan of Edgar Wright’s work, and a fan of the Bryan Lee O’Malley comic book this was based on, I followed this film with great interest for almost a year.  The end result is a visual feast, and maxed out on the fun scale.  Sadly, the mass majority of moviegoers didn’t seem to know what to make of it, and the box office performance didn’t even come close to matching the hype.  If you like movies that allow you switch your brain off and just enjoy the ride, this one is definitely worth a look.

SPLICE – Unlike our Gary Murray above, I rather enjoyed SPLICE, director Vincenzo Natali’s low-budget sci-fi that dares to go places most films of its type won’t.  Natali won me over years ago with CUBE, and the guy (in this reviewer’s opinion) knows how to make interesting and conversational films.  It seemed like SPLICE fared better with film festival audiences than normal moviegoers, but don’t let that discourage you from checking it out.  Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley are doing some of their best work here, and the “creature” is one of the most unusual to hit the big screen since SPECIES… of which you could draw obvious similarities.

RED – while as a comic book adaptation (based on the mini-series by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner) this movie is nowhere near its source material’s tone, RED is an absolute blast as a movie.  Pairing seasoned actors like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren in an “old pros still got it” storyline makes for a tresure trove of moviewatching fun.  Add in Karl Urban as the guy chasing them down, Brian Cox as a Russian ally, Richard Dreyfuss as a thorn in their side, and Hollywood royalty Ernest Borgnine is a memorable appearance, and you’ve got a must-see action flick reminiscent of the good old days.

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Worst of 2010

CLASH OF THE TITANS – this is one of those films I expected to love the hell out of.  Instead I found it pretty boring, with only moderately impressive special effects, and yet another example of why Sam Worthington never deserved to be a leading man.  But perhaps the most disappointing apsect of the film was its horrible post-process 3D treatment, which was more of a frustration than an enhancement.  Even the highly-anticipated Kraken scene went over like a fart in church.  There’s supposedly a sequel on the way, WRATH OF THE TITANS, which Worthington promises will be better than the first outing… then again, he’s terrible, so you think I’m gonna take his word for it?

FURRY VENGEANCE – even as a “kid” film, this disaster tries so hard it’s embarassing.  Brendan Fraser and Brooke Shields make fools of themselves in this man vs. nature farce, in which the animals of a heavily wooded area rise up against the humans who threaten their way of life.  Maybe Fraser walking around in a pair of women’s underwear that say “Yum Yum” on the butt isn’t the worst part, but it’s pretty indicative of what a train wreck you’re in for.

THE LAST AIRBENDER – having never seen any of the AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER animated series, which I hear nothing but good things about, I went into M. Night Shyamalan’s newest effort pretty fresh-minded.  After his dreadful THE HAPPENING, Shyamalan really needed a comeback hit.  This ain’t it.  Lackluster post-process 3D did little to help the confusing script and flat acting.  Even some of the more impressive special effects and powerful score by James Newton Howard failed to add much to this underwhelming fantasy dreck.  The star of the film, young Noah Ringer, can  next be seen in Jon Favreau’s COWBOYS & ALIENS… let’s hope it does better for him, and for us.  Seriously though, is M. Night done in Hollywood?

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME – I’m starting to wonder if Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures are not the winning combination we all would expect them to be.  Granted, I really enjoyed the first PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN movie, but the sequels (in my mind) were pretty awful.  This film represents another collaborative effort by Bruckheimer and Disney, and doesn’t do much to win me back.  Some of the supporting cast like Gemma Arterton and Alfred Molina seem to be having fun, and even Ben Kingsley appears to be giving it his all, but Jake Gyllenhaal just stinks up the screen every time he opens his mouth.  He’s horribly miscast and flat as the hero, and drags down an already mediocre and predictable script.

THE TOURIST – sometimes pairing two of Hollywood’s biggest names in an exotic locale just doesn’t work, and in THE TOURIST is really doesn’t.  Angelina Jolie is playing the mysterious British woman you can’t take your eyes off of… but we’ve seen her do that with Lara Croft in the TOMB RAIDER movies, and it was infinitely more exciting.  Johnny Depp is horribly miscast as the bland and boring American suffering from a case of mistaken identity.  He practically sleeps through this role.  Even strong supporting cast members like Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton can’t do much to save the dreadfully predictable script and sleep-inducing directing.  This has now earned the dual title of “Johnny Depp movie I don’t want to ever see again” and “Angelina Jolie movie I don’t want to ever see again.”  Thankfully, it seems as if moviegoers are figuring it out too, as the film hasn’t done too well, despite its major star power.

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