My top 5 movies of 2010

I can’t believe 2010 is already over. Unlike the movie, 2010: A Space Odyssey, we are still no closer to interplanetary travel and discovering new life forms- so disappointing. Another disappointment was this years selection of movies. There were way too many films that didn’t meet expectations like Ironman 2, TRON, The Expendables, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Jonah Hex and much more. I even had a tough time assembling my list for the top 5 movies. That’s pretty sad. However, after trudging through the sea of mediocrity, this is what I compiled for the ‘best of the best’ in mainstream for 2010.

5. Toy Story 3
While I wasn’t too gaga over this third installment, I still have to recognize its technical and story telling achievements. Pixar, of course, did it again. As great as it was, I believe the story of these toys should have concluded with T-2 making this sequel superfluous. If the year was more fruitful, Toy Story 3 would not have made it on my top 5 list. But with that said, it was still a great film. My review here.

4. True Grit
I just watched this a couple of days ago so I haven’t had a chance to write a review nor full process it. But I can say that this is a brilliant film. I am unfamiliar with the original but this Coehn Bros remake is sharply written, masterfully performed, and was filled with rich characters. I normally don’t like movies unless it contains malevolent martians or flesh-eating robots, but True Grit was the right stuff.

3. Scott Pilgrim
Sadly, my number 3 was one of the biggest box office disappointment of 2010. After exceptional hype and promotion at the San Diego Comic Con, the nerds failed to support this video game genre love story. Despite its performance I thought Edgar Wright made one of the most original and innovative movies I have ever seen. Sure it’s not Oscar worthy material but I thought it was one of the creative experience I have had in a movie in a long time. Hopefully, Hollywood won’t just Mr Wright too harshly for the monetary loss.  

2. The Social Network
I don’t think anything can characterize the past few years of our culture than the rise of social media. So to get a behind the scenes peak at the formation of Facebook is like getting to witness the courtship of your own parents. This is another witty film that made a simple software project brilliant and engaging. Perhaps director David Fincher’s next movie should be a movie about Microsoft Word or YouTube.  My review here.

1. Inception
And finally, the jewel of 2010, Christopher Nolan’s Inception. As I shared in my earlier review, Inception was one of the rare films that reminded me of ‘why’ I review films. Mind bending in multiple ways, this film once again proved that Nolan is a genius and rightfully deserves an Oscar after being robbed for the Dark Knight. I really loved this film but really came to appreciate it after reflecting on the rest of the lack luster of ’10. Creating a masterpiece is truly near impossible work, but Nolan seems to make it look easy after Memento, DK, and now Inception. My review here.

The Town get’s an ‘honorable mention’ since it single-handedly restored my faith in the smug Ben Affleck. It’s not included because there were a grip of inferior heist movies that counted against the originality of The Town. I also didn’t count great documentaries like Restrepo on this list. 

Let’s be hopeful for 2011. It’s a new year of creativity, innovation, and story telling. While 2010 yielded a few phenomenal films, I am hoping my 2011 top 5 list is over crowded with great competitors. Thanks for following BabbleOn 5 and Happy New Year!

Be sure to check out our Annual Report and listen to our 2010 Year in Review podcast!

Inception

*spoiler free*
Wow. I don’t even know where to start with Inception. I can’t help feel a little inadequate trying to review this film with only one viewing but here goes. Inception is the latest masterpiece to emerge from the mind of Christopher Nolan. With a lineage of impressive movies like Memento, Prestige, and Dark Knight, Nolan was sure to wow viewers with this mind bending tale which is a mix between Dreamscape and Oceans 11. In many ways, this is also like a ’fixed’ version of the  Scorsese’s awful mess of Shutter Island. Looks like for Leo that 2nd time is a charm.

Inception is about a team of dream ninjas led by Cobb (Dicaprio) whose job it is to steal corporate secrets by entering via dreams. A heist is presented to Cobb which involves a high risk procedure called ’inception’ which is planting an idea instead of stealing it. This is a much more complicated process which involves entering multiple layers of the sub-conscience and potentially could result in becoming a brain-dead vegetable for Cobb and his team.  

First of all, Inception is the reason why I started reviewing movies in the first place. It’s a film that truly stretches the imagination and possibilities way beyond the 2 hour viewing time in the theater. Nolan beautifully displays how to tell an innovative story that is very complex but not incomprehensible. Inception is basically a high-brow bank heist with multiple layers for the team to navigate. There is a genius plot device of how each layer of consciousness translates into longer stretches of time than the previous layer. So an hour in one layer may feel like a week in the layer below. This formula would exponentially multiply the deeper you go in. It’s strange to comprehend but Nolan uses it to brilliantly unfold the story with gripping tension. There is a scene involving a falling van which I thought was one of the most simple yet creative sequences in decades.

The only way to make a movie like this work is with a lot of exposition which is allowed through the eyes of newcomer Ariadne (Ellen Page). Because of the unfamiliar territory of this reality, the ‘rules’ of this world have to be clearly explained and must be dogmatically committed. Normally, I have a strict ‘show don’t tell’ policy but surprisingly, the screenplay does an excellent job at working through the layers and layers of exposition early on in the story. With the precision of an instruction manual, it is clear what you can and can not do while dreaming- and for the most part it works with satisfaction. Nolan does a thorough job reinforcing all of these strange ideas and making sure that it matters to the plot. It particularly builds to the final scene which leaves you wondering (and dreaming) what really happened.

The images crafted for this movie are truly ground breaking. It’s low tech compared to Cameron’s Avatar which shows you the importance of ‘practical’ effects rather than CGI. Joseph-Gordon Levitt’s ‘wire-fu’work was some of the most convincing effects I have seen in a long time.

There are many other strengths to list too. Leo spits out another excellent performance as his typical tormented, self loathing anti-hero type.  The supporting cast is strong, the music is even stronger, and the pacing is almost perfect.

I had some minor quibbles, like the final action sequence feeling a little bit too much like an uninteresting James Bond film with all the skiing. Nolan’s continual weak link is his female casting. I love Ellen Page but she can’t quite match the emotional force of the movie. There are also a lot of loose ends which isn’t necessarily bad but I felt I wasted some emotional energy trying to sort out all the rabbit trails. Perhaps a second viewing will help it.

All in all, Inception is the stuff that we only dream of. I think it is the best movie of 2010 and only makes me anticipate Nolan’s future work. If Nolan were to steal anything in my dream, it would be my wish that he make the next Superman movie

I give Inception a VERY rare 5 Babbles out of 5.

Inception Trailer

From the creator of the Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan brings a sci-fi, action drama this summer called INCEPTION. A summary from IMDB:

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved.

Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

Christopher Nolan, Dicaprio, and a great supporting cast could make for one of the biggest unexpected surprises for this summer. Inception reaches conception on July 16th.