The 10 Best (recent) Movies I Saw in 2010

A friend of mine was recently telling me about his new 55-inch flat-screen with 3D. I told him I didn't really need a 3D screen - most of the movies I watch are just barely 2D, as will be obvious to anyone who reads my list of the 10 Best Movies of 2010. These are actually the 10 best (recent) movies I saw in 2010, some of which were made or released in 2009 - but mere mortals, as opposed to film critics and industry insiders, can never see all or even most of the good movies in the year of release. Note the NYT recent 10-best lists: how many of those movies are not yet released? How many have opened in NY and LA only? Also, like most people these days, I see most of my movies @ home on DVD. Anyway, this list does not include a few of the true classics and recent classics that I saw this year, which may be topics for a future post. Here are the 10 best movies I saw this year, none in 3D, listed alphabetically:

Headless Woman. Argentine. It's a story of fate and of moral and ethical decisions. Short, not pretty, totally compelling, and haunting.

The Hurt Locker. One of the few American movies on my list, and one of the few "hits." 2+ hours of complete tension and engagement, without a sense of exploitation, gratuitous violence, or video-game extravagance. It feels totally real, genuine, as if you're in the boots of the men on the ground in Iraq.

Mother. Korean. It's a great movie because of its exploration of characters and relationships, and because of the mother's gradual and surprising awakening as the movie progresses. Great movies (and novels) are about crisis, collision of forces, leading to growth, change, knowledge - and this is the epitome.

Precious. Here's one I liked much more than I thought I would. Really strong acting by the leads, and for once a movie doesn't blame everything on the unfeeling social workers and the crushing bureaucracy of the system. The social agencies do help, and Mariah Carey, surprisingly, is terrific as a thoughtful but tough social worker.

Revanche. Austrian. Though this sounds like an action picture - and it does have some very tense scenes, a robbery, a chase, a lot of graphic sex - it is a surprisingly deep and thoughtful movie, with a lot of exploration of the spiritual angst of the characters (obvious echos of Bergman) and a very credible portrait of a criminal couple who are obviously losers.

The Secret in Their Eyes. Argentine. Definitely jumps to the top of the list as the best movie I saw in 2010, even one of the best of the decade - a totally compelling story with lots of surprises and an absolutely terrifying ending.

The Social Network. The only big-budget film on the list. It's as good as the hype. The tone and the playing is exactly right, down to the small scenes - the two rich jocks coming to Larry Summers and expecting his help is a great moment, as is the already-famous first scene of the movie.

Summer Hours. Very French. A beautiful film, and not only because of La Binoche - the whole movie, the look, the acting, the very smart script, just loose and open enough to keep you thinking and guessing, but very nicely structured to bring you through the course of a year, summer to summer, in the life of one family. This one struck many personal notes for me.

The White Ribbon. Austrian. A geopolitical allegory, without the allegorical trappings. Beautiful to watch in a strange and mysterious way (it's in b/w), and some of the scenes of nastiness and marital strife and verbal cruelty are painful to watch and powerful and make Bergman look like a Disney cartoon.

Winter's Bone. An American indie makes the list. A totally captivating movie especially because of the work of its star, Julie(?) Lawrence, young actor who captures the plight of this 17-year-old nearly overwhelmed by the responsibilities of her life - invalid mother, two young sibs, dad on the run, no money, no social or family supports (at least so it seems). You'll never again, when visiting the Ozards, wander unannounced into a meth lab.


The also-rans, in no particular order, include: The Maid, 35 Shots of Rum, District 9 (waiting for the sequel), Gomorrah (The Wire via Italy), In the Loop (very funny! - wish I had a comedy for the Top 10, but this isn't quite up to the level), Lorna's Silence, Ajami, and the strange Mexican-made Silent Light.