Favorite (and Hated) Films of 2010

My 20 Personal Favorites

No particular order here, kids. Why 20? Well, I was tempted to say that this was a horrible year, but then I started typing out films I enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised that the list, in length, started to resemble my 1986 list to Santa. So, in keeping with this initial surprise I figured I would take this opportunity to remind you that last year ain't that bad cinematicalfilmically speaking. 'Twas pretty, pretty, pretty, prrrreeeeeetttttyyyyy good.

I would like to be as clear as INCEPTION in saying that I make no claims that these are the "best" films of the year (whatever that means... because if art should be anything, it should be a competition). These are simply films that either tickled me, made me laugh, made me cry, made that 3 legged hamster hustle it up on that rusty wheel in me noggin or that just simply "did it for me". I'm not going to write blurbs for them... Frankly, because I'd rather be writing other stuff and leave the smart, filmy writing to the pros that do it ever so much better than I.

(In no particular order)

SOUL KITCHEN
SCOTT PILGRIM
GREENBERG
VINCERE
I AM LOVE
MOTHER
SOMEWHERE
THE GHOST WRITER
A PROPHET
CARLOS
DOGTOOTH
SECRET SUNSHINE
I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS
SHUTTER ISLAND
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
ENTER THE VOID
EVERYONE ELSE
THE KILLER INSIDE ME
BLUE VALENTINE
WINTER'S BONE

I also liked these, some of them I liked in spite of them not being terribly good, and they may have infuriated me along the way. (In no particular order).

ANIMAL KINGDOM
RED RIDING TRILOGY
THE AMERICAN
ECCENTRICITIES OF A BLONDE-HAIRED GIRL
RABBIT HOLE
TOY STORY 3
TRUE GRIT
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
MID-AUGUST LUNCH
BLACK SWAN
FISH TANK

Unseen
(Not saying these would make it, but these have a chance as some smart folk with good taste - very few of those - dug them).
RESTREPO
AMER
ALAMAR
NIGHT CATCHES US
BOXING GYM
SWEETGRASS
SAMSON AND DELILAH
HADEWIJICH
AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE
BLUEBEARD
MARWENCOL
LOURDES
MESRINE
FOUR LIONS
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
LET ME IN
THE ILLUSIONIST
VALHALLA RISING
THE OATH
THE KING'S SPEECH (I only place this here because it seems like the kind of perfectly well made film that will kill me with its antisepticness and attempts to be the perfect film that can offend no one and dares for nothing. The kind of film made with a lack of passion that would probably make my hated list for the year.)
HUMAN CENTIPEDE (This would never make the list but Santa Clarita Lanthier tells me I would like this. I'm disturbed he he had this thought.)
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (I'm just putting this here because it is missing from my hated list, which I'm pretty positive it would make.)
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (This is another one I would probably hate due to the fact that it deceives people into believing a false reality and is already fatally flawed from the inception of the project. I find these kind of films dangerous.)

Least Favorite / Outright Hated (In some kind of meaningful order.)
TINY FURNITURE
I'M STILL HERE
IRON MAN 2
INCEPTION
WALL STREET II
BLACK SWAN
SHUTTER ISLAND
ENTER THE VOID
CATFISH
NEVER LET ME GO

Films I saw and loved that didn't come out last year:
CERTIFIED COPY (May top my next year list)
13 ASSASSINS (First hour was ugh, but that final hour was absolutely guerilla-tastic)
THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER (Most likely will make my favorite of next year list)
TWO GATES OF SLEEP (Bravura direction searching for a little more substance. Similar to my feelings of another film I love AFTERSCHOOL.)
BEDEVILLED (I need another viewing as I was exhausted, but enjoyed it nonetheless even with dozing eyes)
BABNIK (Thanks to the last 5 minutes, this film will probably have to fall on the hated list as well as the favorite list... whenever it comes out. Mind you, everything else was so strong that it will surely make my best of the year list in spite of the ending. Which, I think, says enough. Seek this film out, kids. I'd buy the DVD and so should you.)