Of the ten films nominated for Best Picture, nearly all feature Hollywood all-stars. With the exceptions of Winter's Bone and The Social Network, the 83rd Acadmey Awards displays many familiar faces in some very good films. The 2010 class for Best Picture is overall strong, but lacks a clear front runner. I have seen almost all of the nominated films, the exceptions being 127 Hours and The Kids Are Alright.
8. Winter's Bone
My least favorite film of the 2010 class is Winter's Bone. It's not a bad film, but of the nominated films, it left the least significant impression. The film follows Ree, a teenage girl who is forced to cope with the many problems her poverty-stricken world throws at her. She becomes the sole caretaker for her two younger siblings when her meth-cooking father disappears and her mother retracts into herself, refusing to talk and becoming another liability for Ree to deal with. Ree's difficult life threatens to fall apart when she finds that her father put the family's house up for bail and he missed his court date. The rest of the film follows Ree's search for her father, ending with the terrible but necessary retrial of his body. The film's muted colors make obvious the utter poverty that defines this part of the Ozarks. The cold and barren winter landscape coupled with the faded and dull colors make clear the harships that defines both the people and the region. The sun never shines on this forgotten world. Again, the film wasn't bad, but of the eight nominated films I have seen, it was my least favorite, mostly because I have so many unanswered questions and many characters seem only partially developed.
7. True Grit
I can't believe I ranked a Cohen Brother's film so low. The Cohen Brother's take on a traditional Western is in many predictable ways quintessentially Cohen Brothers, but deviates from many of their hallmark traits. The film follows young Maddie Ross, who seeks a brutal Texas Ranger to avenge her father's murder. She finds a man of "true grit" in Rooster Cockbern, previously played by John Wayne is is only Oscar-winning role. In Wayne's place is Cohen Brother darling Jeff Bridges who is perfect as the stumbling, gun slinging drunkard with a heart of gold. Bridges should be a favorite for Best Actor with his best performance since...last year. As Maddie and Rooster chase the murderer Tom Cheney, played by another Cohen favorite, Josh Brolin, they meet a host of colorful characters you would expect in Hollywood's Wild West. Most prominent of these is Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, played by Matt Damon, who tries to live up to his own self-construed idea of what a Texas Ranger should be, and far surpasses his greatest expectations. As with all great Western's, the wilderness becomes one of the stars. Some of the film's greatest scenes are the tiny dots of Maddie and Rooster against the backdrop of the endless and beautiful desert. I have no good reason for raking the film so low because I enjoyed it thoroughly, so I wont try to explain the madness behind my arbitrary rankings.
6. Black Swan
In the latest effort from underrated director Darren Aronofsky takes on the almost alien world of professional ballet. Aronofsky's last film, The Wrestler is one of my favorite movies of all time, and Black Swan is no let down. The duality between Mia's (Natalie Portman) transformation on the stage and within herself is subtle and gradual, making the audience question how her character became what it is. I have always been fascinated and slightly horrified by ballet: the self inflicted pain each dancer must endure to be successful, the intense discipline and history that make ballet like no other art form. Aronofsky takes a stylized approach not only to the ballet scenes, but to Mia's entire life. Aronofsky brings psychological elements to life by creating dream-like images devoid of color. Mila Kunis is a surprising standout. She is the exact opposite of Mia in every way. I enjoyed this film thoroughly, but it isn't quite as good as some of this year's other offerings.
5. The King's Speech
Colin Firth is amazing. There is no other way to put it.From Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice to George Falconer in A Single Man, Firth has become known as one of the best actors in the business. It is no mistake then, that his astounding portrayal of the stuttering King George VI in The King's Speech is the reason for the film's success. Firth isn't playing the role of the Price Albert, he is Prince Albert. The authenticity and emotion Firth brings to the film should have him going home with Oscar. Opposite Firth's Albert is Geoffry Rush, (he will always be Inspector Javert to me) who plays Australian speech therapist Lionel Louge. Louge not only helps "Bertie" overcome his stutter, but makes him confront his past so he can more forward. The film climaxes with the newly-crowned King George VI delivering a speech to the entire Kingdom, telling the world that Great Britain is now at war. I loved this film, and I hope Firth wins Best Actor because he truly deserves it.
4. Toy Story 3
I remember seeing the first Toy Story in theater when I was very young. My parents bought me Buzz Lightyear pajamas and a Woody doll, just like Andy's. In many ways, the story of Toy Story mirrors the development of all kids my age. Just like Andy, we leave for college soon and have to leave our childhoods behind. It is with this severe nistolgia lens that I watched Toy Story 3. I doubt anyone thought this movie would be anything short of excellent. Pixar has yet to make a bad movie, (Cars was mediocre, not bad) and with Woody and Buzz back together it was hard not to have fun watching the film. The Toy Story series has a knack for appealing to all age groups. It can appeal to my mom, and in a totally different way appeal to my younger sister. The Toy Story series is successful because we all can relate to it, and Toy Story 3 is no exception.
3. The Social Network
Jessie Esenberg (wait is that Micheal Cera?) takes on the role of the eccentric founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg in this timely cometary on the dynamic state of modern relationships. The film direction was both innovative and refreshing, and helped to underscore the fast pace life that seemly defies life at Harvard and in Silicon Valley - some young and smart people making boatloads of money very fast. The soundtrack, the best of the year, was also helped to create this atmosphere of money, intelligence and chaos.
I hope this doesn't win Best Picture. If it did, it would be because the Academy wanted to be current, which worked out so well when Kramer vs. Kramer won over Copolla's masterpiece Apocalypse Now. However it is till an excellent film.
2. Inception
Christopher Nolan, best known for his interpretations of our favorite caped crusader in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, makes maybe his best film to date with Inception. The film operates under a fantasy we all have experienced, what if we had complete control over our world? Like any heist film, the hero (Leonardo DiCaprio) assembles a crack squad of specialists. But this is no normal heist. The soundtrack and amazing special effects made the movie good, but it was the concept that anything could happen - a looming unknown, and that this mysterious and limitless power is inside everyone's own mind, is what made the movie great.
1. The Fighter
Best move of the year. Christian Bale deserves to win Best Supporting Actor. Watch it and see for yourself.
To quote Ebert,"2010 was not a great movie year, but it has many great movies".
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