As for my picks of the year, I tried my best to include a little bit of everything: both mainstream and indie, box office successes and failures, from all kinds of genres, etc. But ultimately, it comes down to two criteria: what films were (in my opinion) the best executed of the year and, of course, which were my personal favorites. Those that managed to fit under both categories came out on top and although tastes always change, this list looks pretty fitting for now. Below, I have 10 runners-up listed alphabetically (all of which just missed out, but still rank high in my mind) and then my ranked list from 10 to 1. Enjoy.
RUNNERS-UP
(Listed Alphabetically)
EASY A
One of the most pleasant surprises of the year, Easy A was a hilarious and smart teen comedy that earned its success mostly because of the brilliant lead performance of its star Emma Stone. It's not quite Mean Girls territory, but it's something highly enjoyable in its own right.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
One of the best animated films of the year and one of the most delightful films period. How To Train Your Dragon is clever, funny and beautifully animated. It features an excellent voice cast, a premise far more interesting than it sounds, and a top-notch score, all of which put together make one of the most entertaining family films in a long time.
INCEPTION
Just missing out on a spot on the top ten, Inception cannot be denied as the summer blockbuster of the year. And one that was smarter than practically all of its competition combined. It's exhilarating, perfectly executed, confidently acted, and possibly Christopher Nolan's best since Memento.
NEVER LET ME GO
I was initially disappointed with Never Let Me Go after I first saw it because of my love of the book that its adapted from. But upon rewatching it, the film more than holds up on its own because of its beautiful imagery and excellent leading performances. The book remains superior, but the film still contains a power that breaks your heart and captures much of its sources's spirit.
RABBIT HOLE
Rabbit Hole is a very good film pushed to greatness by its lead performance, but that's not an insult, because the film itself is powerful and moving all on its own. It's a smart and realistic adult drama that touches upon some serious topics, but handles them effortlessly and deeply effects you in the process.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
Possibly the funnest movie i've seen all year, and easily one of the best, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was not a movie I expected to like much. But I loved it. A fun film that is unabashedly hip and action-packed, it's also smart, funny and features some excellent special effects. It's also one of the box office disappointments of this year, and that is an injustice that I still cannot comprehend.
THE CRAZIES
Of all the movies on this list, here we have the absolute least prestigious, and the furthest one from an Oscar bait picture. I'm not entirely sure why this zombie horror film has held up so well for me, but even almost a year after its release, this film is still one of my favorites. Smarter and better executed than the average horror film these days, The Crazies more than earns its spot.
THE GHOST WRITER
Another movie that I unexpectedly enjoyed even more the second time, The Ghost Writer is one of the best political thrillers i've seen in a while. The movie is tightly executed and filled with the right amount of tension. Even the beautiful dark rainy beaches seem to understand the plot of the movie, as do the actors, all of whom come together to make The Ghost Writer's most unbelievably plot twists completely realistic. That last shot will get you.
THE TOWN
Another surprise of the year, Ben Affleck's The Town was not only a worthy follow up to his first feature Gone Baby Gone, but a thrilling crime film on its own. Perhaps a little too long, but consistently entertaining and confidently directed, with more than a few great performances, The Town is another worthy Boston feature in the growing collection.
TRUE GRIT
The Coen brothers made my favorite film of last year, A Serious Man, and this year they've made another gem with True Grit. It doesn't have their signature wit, but it is still one of their most satisfying films yet, with excellent performances and gorgeous cinematography. It may not be my number one again, but the Coen brothers still manage to keep great films coming.
THE TOP TEN
10. ANOTHER YEAR
Being the most recent film i've seen on this list means it could grow or decrease in my mind upon future viewings. But as for right now, i'm sure its one of the best i've seen, and that earns it a spot on my top ten. One of the more underrated films of this year, with a brilliant performance at its center, Another Year is the kind of marvelous film that sticks with you as it should.
09. THE FIGHTER
Another surprise, and another worthy Boston film, The Fighter stands out this year because it takes an overly familiar story and makes it something unexpectedly great. The uniformly great acting, the funny writing, and the exciting directing make the film into something thrilling fun. And the cast of characters are so entertaining to watch, they could each carry their own film.
08. 127 HOURS
Admittedly, this film could have easily been a future classic and a number one on my list if it weren't for Danny Boyle's occasional distractions as director, which add too much visual flair to a simple story. But when Boyle calms down, and James Franco's brilliant lead performance takes charge, the film is stunningly effective, brilliantly real, and thrilling.
07. BLUE VALENTINE
Another late release, but one that i've managed to see again since my first viewing and has only grown in stature. Blue Valentine is heartbreaking and will almost certainly too much to take for some people, but that doesn't stop it from being a stunning accomplishment for both its actors and its new director. It's last scene ranks as one of my favorite and one of the most haunting scenes of the year.
06. ANIMAL KINGDOM
This superb crime drama is not getting half as much attention as it should. Released in the summer to much acclaim, it should have endured even longer because of its stunning direction and smart script that take the standard crime family saga and make it into something new and refreshing. In addition, the ensemble cast is almost entirely excellent, especially the haunting matriarch of the group Jacki Weaver in a role that deserves to become iconic.
05. WINTER'S BONE
All of the attention from Winter's Bone seems to have been focused on its breakthrough lead performance by Jennifer Lawrence. It's a stunning turn, but its also surrounded by a brilliantly gritty movie that makes the most of its minuscule budget and produces a truly striking and haunting journey. The film is gritty when it needs to be, but manages to be uplifting and important by its end and leaves you with a stronger impression than most other films this year.
04. TOY STORY 3
Pixar's near-perfect streak of animated masterpieces continued this year with Toy Story 3, the culmination of what may seriously be one of the greatest film trilogies of all time. Toy Story 3 managed to be hilarious, smart and finally, a little heartbreaking, while still being a successful children's film. Regardless of whether Pixar will continue this streak, they've now provided a consistent decade and a half of entertainment, and we all should be grateful.
03. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
The perfect mix of comedy and poignant family drama, The Kids Are All Right is a wonderful little film that delights from start to finish. The writing is confident and real, and the wonderful ensemble of actors all manage to work off each other effortlessly, creating an unconventional family that nonetheless feels entirely authentic. The movie is refreshingly real and deals with a number of modern day issues without ever becoming preachy or melodramatic, instead working as a perfect examination of a family we all can recognize.
02. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Are you bored with this selection? Well, it's understandable. The Social Network is the most critically acclaimed film of the year and has been decorated with awards for the past few months. But guess what? Each one of those has been deserved. The Social Network is a perfectly constructed film that is acted, written, filmed and scored flawlessly. Its a clever drama that's nonstop entertainment, but also poignant in ways you might not realize. Sometimes the most rewarded film of the year is deserving and this time is certainly the case.
01. BLACK SWAN
Anybody who knows me, and has been hearing my interest in this film for the past half a year, won't be surprised with this selection. But what is surprising is that after so much endless hype, Black Swan lived up. Making lists like this may be pointless because tastes are always changing, but it should ultimately be a personal selection as to what has the greatest impact on you as a viewer. For me, not only was Black Swan excellently crafted and constructed, it was also consistently a thrill to watch.
Black Swan is the perfect mix of psychological thriller, backstage drama, and campy horror. It's never afraid to embrace its melodramatic roots, but it never crosses the line into absurdity, instead taking the audience on a journey into the troubled mind of its main character, who transforms from an annoying one-dimensional girl into an iconic film character before our eyes. Not to mention Darren Aronofsky's ambitious direction which leaves no stone unturned. The film is exciting and tense, but also beautifully executed and thrillingly plotted, making one of the most satisfying film experiences of the year, and my personal favorite.
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