Movie Mom’s Top 10 of 2010 (And the Hall of Shame)

Posted on December 28, 2010 at 3:52 pm

1. Toy Story 3: The best movie of the year was Pixar’s tribute to the power of imagination and story-telling, even after you grow up. The first five minutes are one of the most joyous ever put on screen, the moment when the toys hold hands one of the most touching, and the end just, simply, heart-wrenchingly, perfect.
2. The Social Network: An absorbing story, brilliantly scripted and performed that illuminates the way its moment — and ours — re-interprets the need for connection and meaning.
3. The Fighter: Two of the best performances of the year by Melissa Leo and Christian Bale and stunning work from director David O. Russell make this real-life story of welterweight champion Micky Ward and his brother Dickie electrifying.
4. The King’s Speech
5. True Grit
6. How to Train Your Dragon
7. Exit Through the Gift Shop
8. Inception
9. Fair Game
10. Inside Job
Honorable Mention: Love and Other Drugs, The Kids Are All Right, Shutter Island, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Illusionist, How Do You Know, Black Swan, Blue Valentine, 127 Hours, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Catfish, Tiny Furniture, A Film Unfinished, Casino Jack and the United States of Money, The Other Guys, Four Lions, Rabbit Hole, Waiting for ‘Superman,’ Secretariat, The Tempest
The Top 10 for Families:
1. Toy Story 3
2. How to Train Your Dragon
3. Despicable Me
4. Beezus and Ramona
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6. Megamind
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
8. Tangled
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
10. Shrek Forever After
Hall of Shame
Furry Vengeance
The Virginity Hit
Gulliver’s Travels
Alpha and Omega
Dinner for Schmucks
Cop-Out
I’m Still Here
Killers
The Last Airbender
Grown-Ups

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6 Replies to “Movie Mom’s Top 10 of 2010 (And the Hall of Shame)”

  1. Agreed on Toy Story 3, Inception, The Social Network and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I’d also add Edge of Darkness (even if it didn’t do justice to the series) and I did enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when I wasn’t distracted by its incoherence compared to the book. And I cannot sufficiently recommend Tomorrow When the War Began.

  2. Nell,
    I FINALLY got around to watching ‘Fair Game’ last night…LOVED IT! Is Sean Penn phenomenal or what? Great story. I’ll have to look up how much of that is true and how much was ‘Hollywoodized.’ There are 2 sides to every political drama/thriller/scandal so you always have to be careful when watching films about them.
    Other than that…definitely agree with your Top 10 and recommendations…all great films.
    My only deviation from your lists is in the ‘Hall of Shame’…I thought ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ was ‘mildly amusing,’ the kind of film you’ll never want/need to watch again, but you won’t feel like it was a complete waste of time (as a rental though, don’t spend theater money on it). And, ‘Cop Out.’ Ok, so I’m a bit biased as a HUGE Bruce Willis and Kevin Smith fan. I will admit, not Smith’s best work and not a great role for Willis, but again, same category as ‘Gulliver’s’ in my book.
    A few I would put up there instead (shame list): ‘The Back-up Plan,’ ‘Skyline,’ and ‘Lottery Ticket.’
    But, those are just my thoughts…great list.
    Tom
    http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-baltimore/tom-clocker

  3. I cannot believe how the movie world has neglected “Hereafter” . For me, this is the best movie of the 21st century so far. Clint Eastwood, who directed, has to be considered one our greatest artistic treasures. Is the neglect due to the subject matter which is the afterlife?

  4. I believe that no Hall of Shame list for 2010 would be complete without the inclusion of “jackass 3D.” To me it is as despicable as “I’m Still Here.”

  5. I haven’t seen any of the Jackass movies, so I can’t include it on my list, Tim. I admit the appeal of those films eludes me entirely, but they do have a large and very appreciative audience. And, unlike many of the films in my Hall of Shame, they never pretend to be anything other than what they are.
    Thanks for the comment and all best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful new year.

  6. Thanks, Gracious. There are many movies about the afterlife that are acclaimed by critics among my own favorites, but as you can see from my review, I was disappointed by this film. But I am always glad when someone sees more in a film than I do, and appreciate your comment.

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