I only saw Tangled last week, but it made quite an impression on me. What I loved most was how Classic Disney it felt. Yes, it was computer animated, but the character design seemed to fit the Disney canon, as it were. The king reminded me so much of a classic king, but I can't recall which one. Sleeping Beauty, perhaps? Particularly, I was struck by how perfect the songs were. I think that was the biggest failing of The Princess and the Frog - the songs were too jazzy and not catchy enough. The songs in Tangled were much simpler, and it may have been my imagination, but each one reminded me of an earlier Disney movie. "When Will My Life Begin" and "Mother Knows Best" evoked The Little Mermaid, and "I've Got a Dream" reminded me so much of Mulan. I loved the simplicity of the plot and the dialogue - funny, but not filled with pop culture references or cynicism like other recent animated features.
My love affair with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn continues. From the moment he takes a bite out the apple in her hand, I was hooked. Maybe I'm a little dense, but I genuinely wasn't sure they would get together in the end. Let's chalk it up to excellent writing. All around, a great movie.
I had got a little disillusioned with Wes Anderson's films recently - too twee and whimsical, sacrificing substance for detail. For me, this was the perfect project for him. Stop motion is a genre that benefits from an obsessive attention to detail, and Roald Dahl is always good for a little whimsy. I loved too much about the film to mention everything, but I can't leave out Jason Schwartzman's incredible voice work as Ash - his character design was also perfect. I know too many people who haven't seen this movie yet, and for some reason, they keep ignoring my incessant recommendations. Such a bummer because I don't know anyone who wouldn't love it.
7. The Godfather Part II (1974)
It's kind of funny to watch old movies and then gush to your friends - "I just watched this amazing movie. It's called The Godfather, you should check it out." But really, so good. I think I had more of an idea of the plot of this film than of the original, so it may have taken out some of the suspense. I was on the edge of my seat every time I saw Fredo, for example. Still, it's a beautifully made film and exceptionally well-acted. I even set aside my usual apathy about DeNiro. I think what I found most devastating was how much each character had changed since the first film, particularly Tom and Kay. Pretty much no one was likable anymore, so it became an interesting viewing experience. Can you still root for Kay when she does what she does? Just a great movie. I still haven't seen the third film, and I wish I didn't have so many preconceptions about it.
Another classic that I just got around to seeing, and it's every bit as funny and romantic as promised. I'm always sad that people seem to be afraid to try classic movies. The banter is as fresh as the dialogue in modern-day romantic comedies - probably more so, judging by the tired cliches I keep seeing in trailers. The chemistry between Gable and Colbert is great - he especially is the epitome of charm. I think this should be mandatory viewing for anyone involved in making a romantic comedy. Man, I sound old. They just don't make films like this anymore.
Does it have faults? Um, yes. Does it open the door for infinite terrible copycats? Absolutely. But it's also an incredible combination of film-making prowess, intelligent plotting and excellent acting that made me excited to watch films again. Inception was the first movie I had seen in theaters since January 1, and it was kind of a wake-up call (pun not intended): Movies are awesome! I had some initial mixed feelings about the film, but I think those have softened over time. I can't deny that it's been occupying my thoughts pretty consistently over the past few months. Even though it's still at #4 in my Nolan ranking (see link above), let's be honest: when I think back about 2010 in film, I'll think about Inception. For that reason alone, it deserves a spot on this list.
I wasn't expecting to like this film at all. Sometimes I get into a horror film mood, but I tend to prefer broader horror (slashers, vampires, etc.) to psychological themes. Obviously, I loved this one. It's so unusual to find a film that will terrify you and also reduce you to a sobbing wreck. Because yes, I was a total mess by the end. Belén Rueda was so convincing in her portrayal of a grieving mother that it broke my heart. And it was also a genuine horror film at the same time, with some real scares. I think this may have been the first Spanish film I've ever seen. I've heard some great things about Spanish horror as a genre, so this made me interested to see more.
I've been mostly unable to describe my thoughts about The White Ribbon since I saw it months ago. It was such a staggering film. Beautifully shot, directed and acted, with such powerful and often disturbing images. There was something about it that felt genuinely vintage - it was almost eerie how realistic it felt.
2010 was, for me, the year of Woody Allen. It was the year I was committed to figuring out why people loved him or just giving him up as a lost cause. I watched 5 films with only minimal success before I saw this one. Finally, it all made sense to me. I understood his blend of comedy and drama, and I actually felt for his characters instead of being vaguely annoyed by them. I attribute a lot of this to Dianne Wiest and to Allen himself - the Holly/Mickey subplot was my favorite part.
I'm not sure I could pin down exactly what it was I loved about The Great Escape. Brilliant cast, to be sure, but I think it was the writing. For a movie that's pushing 3 hours, it was very well-paced and taut. As the final credits rolled, I was really disappointed. I could have kept watching for at least another 3 hours, probably more. It's weird to admit this, but I love an unhappy ending. The film is based on a true story, albeit massaged into a more Hollywood-friendly form, but I appreciated that they didn't sugarcoat the ending. Some people didn't make it out - that's the reality of war, and it's important to remember that even with the levity of other parts of the film. Like I said when I first wrote about it, this film has secured a place in my nebulous top 5 - some days it's #1, some days it isn't, but it's definitely one of the very best movies I've ever seen.
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