2010 Summary

Hollywood is back!

Now don't get me wrong; there have been some good movies over the last ten years. But I have to go back to 2001 to find a year that I consider to be on par with 2010.

Put it this way. If I could award the Oscar awards, any of the movies in my top five would have won the Best Picture category in any of the previous four years. I have to go back to 2005's Crash to come up with a movie that is worthy of competing with my top five.

But what makes 2010 unique, compared to recent years, is that critically acclaimed movies also fared extremely well at the box office. Consider this: In 2005, the five Best Picture nominees averaged $49.07 million domestically. My top five for 2010 averaged $130.39 million (as of 2/9/11). Does Inception pull up the 2010 average? Certainly. But four of the five movies grossed more than the 2005 highest grossing nominee. The one that hasn't— The Fighter— is only $2 million from making it five for five.

Compare the average for the 2005 nominees against all ten 2010 nominees, and it's a similar story. The average for all ten 2010 nominees is $126.52 million (as of 2/9/11). The latter half is propped up by 2010 box office champ Top Story 3 and True Grit. The other three of those movies did gross a lower amount than any of the 2005 Best Picture nominees. And yes, I know that inflation and ticket prices prop up the 2010 figures, but not enough to significantly close the gap.

(Note: 2009 would also fare well at the box office, but Avatar pulls the average up so far that it is not a worthy comparison.)

I cannot wait for the night of February 27. A night when the bitter taste in my mouth, caused by last year's award show, is removed. Not that many of the other Best Picture nominees would have been better than The Hurt Locker, a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed the first half and then found the second half so absurd that I was in shock that it received such high praise. But 2010 was such a year that, in reality, it is impossible for the Academy to screw this one up.

Best Picture

If you have read my summary on the left, then you already know that I consider this to be an extremely strong field. While the below rankings are in order of my preference, I should mention that I did enjoy all ten Best Picture nominees to varying degrees. After the list, I have some final thoughts on what picture should win — this would be my selection if I had a vote — and what picture will ultimately win.

Without further ado, here is my top ten in reverse order.

10. True Grit

This film may be victim to the fact that it is a Coen's brothers film. That's not to say it's a bad movie. But it feels like the Coen brothers went mainstream on this one, and that is not their style. In the past, the Coen brothers were very careful in choosing locations for filming to ensure the look of the film was right. From the beginning scenes in Western Arkansas to eventually crossing into Oklahoma, the juniper and ponderosa pines were out of place. The wide shots later in the movie showing towering mountains in the background confirmed my suspicions: the film was shot somewhere out west (I later found out it was mainly filmed in New Mexico). It would be like shooting Winter's Bone in south central Los Angeles. For me it changed the entire feel of the movie.

Hailee Steinfeld was deserving of a Best Actress nomination; after all, the entire movie revolves around her character, and she is in every scene except one. She made the movie for me. That being said, I'm happy that she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination rather than no nomination at all.

The ending of the movie left much to be desired as well. Perhaps this was done to show the transformation of Jeff Bridges' character. I'm not sure if this ending was true to the original novel or not; however, I would have handled it a little differently.

9. Winter's Bone

Out of all the Best Picture nominees, this movie felt the most real to me. I loved the relationship between the main character Ree, played by Best Actress Nominee Jennifer Lawrence, and her younger siblings. While I believe there were some other stronger performances (most notably Julianne Moore in The Kids Are All Right), I was happy to see her recognized for her performance.

A wonderfully shot movie, I would have preferred a little more closure with John Hawkes' character at the end of the film. Then again, this film was about Ree, so closing that storyline might have felt out of place. Besides, I think we all know what happens next.

8. The Kids Are All Right

Featuring two outstanding performances by Annette Benning and Julianne Moore, this movie resolves around a family's changing dynamics when the son and daughter of a Lesbian couple seek out their sperm-donor father. I don't have much else to say about this film, as I would probably give additional plot lines away. Let's just say that this film really is about the performance by Benning and Moore, and to a lesser extent Mark Ruffalo.

7. Toy Story 3

I consider this to be a good movie up until the last five or ten minutes. Up to that point, it was enjoyable to watch, but I certainly didn't get why the movie was being talked up as much as it was.

This computer animated film is a prime example of how an ending can overshadow the rest of the movie. A bad ending, even in a movie that is very good up to that point, will leave a sour taste in the movie-goer's mouth. An exceptional ending will do the opposite. Toy Story 3 features as strong of an ending as any movie ever made. I won't give it away, except to say those that are parents will likely need a box of tissues nearby.

6. 127 Hours

By all accounts that I have read, this was likely the final picture to make the top 10, as many experts had The Town receiving a nomination instead of this drama that tells the story of Aron Ralston, the avid hiker that cut one of his arms off after having his right arm pinned in a narrow canyon by a dislodged boulder. While there are other characters in the film, about 90% of it acts out like a one-man play.

James Franco is superb as Ralston. Several scenes stand out for me. First, as Franco makes his way toward his hiking destination, first by truck and then by bicycle, Franco does well to paint a picture of Ralston being a adventurer with little fear (you have to have very little sense of fear to do what Ralston must eventually do to survive).

Next, a few days into his ordeal, Ralston interviews himself. While I had seen clips of this scene when Franco made the talk show circuit, it is significantly longer in the film. While the dialogue is entertaining, Franco's facial expressions are not to be missed as his character starts to come to grips that his chances of survival are grim. Also deserving praise for this scene is director Danny Boyle. The way Boyle shot the scene reminded me much of the Gollum/Sméagol scene from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers where Sméagol briefly banishes Gollum after speaking back and forth in rapid succession. However, Boyle does enough with the scene to make it feel fresh and original.

Finally, the scene that everyone knows is coming, when Ralston severs his arm to free himself. I mainly focused on Franco's facial expressions during this scene, as I wasn't too interested in seeing what I knew to be happening.

The filmmakers did an exceptional job with the technical aspects of the film. I did feel the split screen was used a bit too much, but other than that minor complaint I have nothing but praise for Boyle. After seeing this film, I do believe there were two snubs in the Best Directing category (we'll get to the other snub in a bit).

5. The Fighter

Aside from it being a very entertaining film that appeals to a broad audience, The Fighter is really a study in acting. It's a shame that Mark Wahlberg did not get as much credit as the other performers; someone has to play the straight man, and he did a fine job with the roll. I think this is the main reason why The King's Speech received the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. My vote would have gone for The Fighter.

Christian Bale received a lot of hype for his roll as Dicky Eklund, the older half-brother to Wahlberg's Micky Ward. Far too many times has something been hyped to the point of where it then feels a little flat. Not with Bale's performance. It was everything it was hyped to be and more. I'm sure this will open additional doors for Bale, and I expect that in ten years time he will be considered as fine an upper-tier actor like a Tom Hanks or George Clooney.

The next two great performances are by Amy Adams as Micky Ward's love interest, Charlene Fleming, and Melissa Leo, Alice Ward. Leo looks to be cleaning up during the award season, but I was more impressed with Adams' performance. This may have been because Adams was playing a complete opposite character compared to her previous roles. Commenting about her performance, director David O. Russell said, "There are very few things that a director can have at his disposal better than an actress who's dying to break type and is extremely motivated to break type."

Without these performances, including Wahlberg, The Fighter is a very entertaining movie but certainly not a Best Picture nominee. The acting performances, combined with an entertaining and inspirational storyline, not only makes it a Best Picture nominee, but in my opinion makes it the first of five 2010 movies that are superior to any of the Best Picture nominees from the past few years (see my 2010 Summary at top left).

4. The King's Speech

Based upon the real-life story of King George VI's ascension to the throne just prior to the outbreak of World War II, this movie chronicles George VI's difficulty in overcoming a stutter speech impediment.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the first part of the film was establishing how media was playing into the changing times. Perhaps 20 years earlier, and certainly 40, King George VI's speech problem would have been a nonissue. However, radio addresses, both live and prerecorded, were becoming a part of the monarchy's way of communicating with the general population.

We have certainly had this debate in our country in regards to Franklin D. Roosevelt as to whether a man in a wheelchair would be elected president in today's age. However, in King George VI's case, he had no choice as to whether he wanted to be king or not. This was a problem he needed to overcome, especially during a time when inspiration was needed in the face of a rising and aggressive Germany.

Much like 127 Hours belongs to James Franco, The King's Speech belongs to Colin Firth. An amazing actor that tends to get nominated for awards but never wins, Firth will most certainly break that streak at this year's Oscar ceremony. While I can't imagine the difficulty in overcoming a stuttering problem, it is a truly remarkable performance that Firth is able to portray a person that stutters with such believability as he does.

Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter round out the main cast, Rush playing the speech therapist that helps George VI, Bonham Carter playing Princess Elizabeth (George VI's wife). Both do a fantastic job, but I've seen both in enough films to know that, for the most part, they have played these characters before. Again, that's not to slight their performances, but it's another reason while I feel the cast of The Fighter had the better ensemble performance.

There are many comedic elements scattered throughout the movie, and the film ends on the expected triumphant note. It's certainly the type of movie that the Academy loves to recognize. Although it is number four on my list, many industry insiders expect this film to take home the Best Picture award.

3. Inception

Prior to seeing Inception, I can't remember the last time walking out of a movie feeling so exhilarated. Not only was it a thrilling adventure while watching the movie, but there were so many elements of the movie that warranted further discussion. And the great thing about discussing the movie is there is no right or wrong answers.

Part of my fascination with this movie stems from being able to relate to one of the ways to make a "kick." I have intentionally woken myself from dreams by falling from a great height while in the dream. On those occasions, I remember being acutely aware that I was dreaming and that I wanted desperately to get out of the dream. Suddenly I would be standing on the end of a cliff or a high bridge. I would take that leap of faith, which is somewhat remarkable considering that the sensation of falling is one of my biggest fears.

But back to the movie. The movie is well acted, although none of the performances stand out like in many of the other Best Picture nominees. The original score for the film is my favorite of the year; it helps build suspense in all the right places. And many of the action scenes leaves the viewer asking, "How did they do that?"

With today's technology, it seems like anything is possible. But when you consider that director Christopher Nolan uses CGI only as a last resort, it makes the action scenes all that more phenomenal. From building an actual staircase that, if shot from the correct angle, resembles Penrose stairs to the fight scene is the hotel hallway where gravity is shifting to making characters fall in zero gravity, Nolan and his crew created innovation the old-fashion way. I still have yet to see any material reporting on how Nolan pulled off the zero gravity scene as he is not revealing all of his secrets. Hopefully, the crew will be rewarded by cleaning up in the Technical award categories.

I have watched the film a total of three times, which has confused me to the point where I just throw my hands up in the air in trying to figure out the ending. I'll just have to be satisfied with the fact that it was a thrilling ride.

2. Black Swan

A brilliant thriller with a perfect ending, I had a lot of admiration for this film before seeing it. In hearing about the training that Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis went through prior to filming, you couldn't help but admire their dedication to their craft.

And speaking of that craft, the film marvelously documents the pains that a ballet dancer goes through. From being cast aside because you are "too old" to the constant problems with feet and toes, the characters do everything they can to continue dancing each and every day. If they don't, there is always someone waiting in the wings to take his or her place.

And that's the main premise of the film. Portman's character, Nina, is selected to replace Winona Ryder's character, Beth, as the star in an upcoming production in Swan Lake. Beth's role in the film, while small, is not to be overlooked. After all, Nina constantly fears she is trying to be replaced, just as she did to Beth.

From there the film spirals into a psychotic thriller, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not real. At first, the moments called into question are brief and few. As the film progresses, Nina's hallucinations grow stronger and more frequent.

For her part, Portman will likely walk away with the Best Actress award. And while I have it as second on my list, the film does not seem likely to compete for the Best Picture award.

1. The Social Network

I'll admit it up front: I am a sucker for Aaron Sorkin scripts. No other writer, with the possible exception of Quentin Tarantino, seems to be able to write such witty dialogue. So when I heard there was a movie in the works about Facebook that was written by Sorkin, I was immediately interested.

Further fueling my desire to see this film was the trailer released set to the cover verison of the song "Creep". Now I usually cannot stand trailers; all too frequently they give the entire movie away. However, for the first minute of this extended trailer, there wasn't a single clip from the movie. It was entirely composed of Facebook images and postings. The feeling was the same as listening to The Police's "Every Breath You Take"; both sound beautiful, but if you are paying full attention the message is fairly creepy.

And that pretty much sums up Jesse Eisenberg's character, Mark Zuckerberg. Part genius, part creep, Zuckerberg sets out on a quest for revenge, from writing a cutting blog entry about a girl that breaks up with him to embracing the Harvard final club culture while simultaneously trying to make a mockery out of its elitist establishment.

The film is sublimely directed by David Fincher. In addition to Eisenberg, the other performances are solid all around. I will say that I was disappointed that Rooney Mara didn't have a larger role, as she did a magnificent job with the dialogue in the opening scene in playing Erica Albright (a scene that was reportedly shot 99 times, which does not surprise me considering the complexity of the back and forth dialogue).

How much of this is real and how much is fictional can certainly be debated. The main storylines are real, from Zuckerberg being approached to work on the Harvard Connection website to him taking a lot of the ideas from that project to create Facebook to him being sued by two different parties. Some details are certainly embellished, such as Zuckerberg seeming like the bad guy when he fires co-founder Eduardo Saverin (from what I have read, Saverin's actions in real life caused great danger to the company and fully justified his firing). Others may be entirely fictionalized. So I presume to know nothing more about the real Mark Zuckerberg after seeing the film.

And because of that, I'll take the film for what it is: an exceptional two hours of entertainment.

What should win: The Social Network

What will win: The Social Network. The Best Picture race comes down to two movies: The Social Network and The King's Speech. While many are reporting that the original favorite, The Social Network, has fallen behind The King's Speech, I still believe the Academy will give the award to The Social Network. The Academy loves to reward films that depict a certain time in our history (see last year's winner, The Hurt Locker). While The King's Speech also depicts a significant time in our history, I think the fact that The Social Network depicts a more recent time will help it.

What did win: The King's Speech

Additional Awards

The following symbols are used:
‡ — have not seen the movie

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfield (True Grit)
‡ Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
Who should win: Amy Adams
Who will win: Melissa Leo; Leo is winning every major award, and I don't see that changing on Oscar night.
Who did win: Melissa Leo

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)
Who should win: Christian Bale
Who will win: Christian Bale; this one was over the moment The Fighter hit the screens.
Who did win: Christian Bale

Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Benning (The Kids Are All Right)
‡ Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
‡ Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
Who should win: Natalie Portman
Who will win: Natalie Portman
Who should have been nominated: Hailee Steinfield should have received a nomination in this category instead of being relegated to the supporting category. Also, I thought Jullianne Moore's performance in The Kids Are All Right was stronger than Benning's performance (which isn't to say that I'd replace Benning with Moore; I'd have to see all five performances before I could make that call).
Who did win: Natalie Portman

Actor in a Leading Role
‡ Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
Who should win: Colin Firth
Who will win: Colin Firth; another category that was over the moment that this performance hit the big screen.
Who should be getting more mention: James Franco. I've heard Eisenberg mentioned as a dark horse in this category, but I could see Franco taking this award before Eisenberg...that is, if Colin Firth's performance was suddenly removed from our memory.
Who did win: Colin Firth

Animated Feature Film
Note to the Academy: if one animated film also gets nominated for Best Picture, it should automatically win this category. Any other film winning this category would be like saying the Academy doesn't know what they are talking about when nominating the Best Pictures. This one is even more of a lock than Christian Bale and Colin Firth in their respective categories.
Who did win: Toy Story 3

Directing
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (True Grit)
Who should win: Christopher Nolan (Inception)
Who will win: David Fincher
Who should have been nominated: Christopher Nolan; after all, you have to be nominated to win. Second, I would have given a nomination to Danny Boyle. Remove the Coen brothers and David O. Rusell in their places.
Who did win: Tom Hooper

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Normally, I wouldn't predict the writing categories, but I just have to give one final shout out to Aaron Sorkin. He should and will win this category.
Who did win: Aaron Sorkin