TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2010

2010 just means the time frame I happened to see the movie. Some are dated 2009. I have yet to see “The Kings Speech”, “Rabbit Hole” or Mike Leigh’s “Another Year” that made several top ten lists this year. They may end up on my 2011 - then again, maybe not :). My hope is that my list might have one or two you didn’t see, and in turn I might hear about some worthwhile ones that meant something to you.

A Serious Man – A modern day Job parable that is one of the few movies that offers a window into one man’s pained dialogue with God. The Coen Brothers weave in the music of the Jefferson Airplane (1967) along with Jewish customs– a very clever movie. Every dentist has to see the Hebrew text on a patient’s teeth acting as a kind of mysterious encryption, all set to Jimi Hendrix.
Facing Ali- I’ve liked Muhammad Ali since I lived in England, where he had his 2 famous bouts with Sir Henry Cooper. Ali is a remarkable human being & this movie explores his deep impact on his opponent’s lives. Seeing Joe Frazier cry was astonishing. Directed by Vancouverite Peter McCormack.
Invictus - Rugby players may be yobs, but in this Clint movie they’re ‘gentlemen’ largely because of remarkable leadership understated acting by Matt Damon. There are still some accusative rumours flying around about that last game with The Blacks!
The Maiden Heist - My favourite comedy of the year, told from the unique point of view of three nutty Art Gallery security guards, playfully acted by Christopher Walken, William Macey and Morgan Freeman. Art can be obsessive!
Please Give - A quirky exploration of charity, family, wealth, neighbors, old age and more. A superb script by the writer/director (Nicole Holofcener) and top notch acting all round. Hard to find fault with this movie. If you liked the indie “Pieces of Alice”, go for it. Trivia: what Canadian city was Oliver Platt born in?
Inception – Labyrinthine plot, intelligent dark thriller, Martin Escher like sets, a convoluted Jungian myth (of course) about descending and “the kick” in dreams. I think God has done the descending and the awakening first, subconscious and dreams are second, but He sometimes uses them in our lives---still the movie begs: what is real? My latest totem symbol telling me I’m in the real world is a small coloured rock from the beach. That and holding my wife, my grown up kids, my guitars… even my Bible.
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler – A female Austrian Shindler from WW2 –a phenomenal true story - hats off to the gritty Anna Paquin. Risk-taking at a whole other level compared to our steps out of the comfort zone.
Whip It - a surprisingly good movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet manages to straddle two opposite poles of femininity i.e. beauty and toughness - within respective competitive worlds. Marcia Gay Harden is great as the conflicted mom (she’s also fabulous in The Maiden Heist). Ok, I admit… I like Ellen Page too.
The Damn United (UK)– Hmm, my 3rd movie with a sports theme (unintended), about "the greatest soccer coach England never had" - Brian Clough. Starring the brilliant Michael Sheen (a Yorkshire accent = not easy), & Timothy Spall as his assistant coach. There’s more on hand than soccer and masculinity here: leadership (deconstructing and rebuilding in the leaders’ image), partnership, motivation and the near twins of arrogance & humility. Colm Meany (The Commitments) as Leeds' coach is fab as always.
Departures (Japan). Facing death’s rite of passage, finding what’s important about life. This movie has some valuable comments about food as solace for the journey. There’s some gorgeous cello playing scored for this film. Slow moving and beautifully done, unsentimental. Best foreign movie seen this year.

Notable mentions:
Best B&W classic: Umberto D (1952 neorealism). Same director with a big heart as the must-see “The Bicycle Thief”(1948). Vittoria de Sica understood how the times ‘they were a changin’, and took an accurate pulse on being human as well as the effects of dehumanisation resulting from post war modernisation in Italy.
Best documentary (France): Man on Wire (2008) – tightrope artist walking the line between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. How the heck did they get it up there? The surprise kicker is the theme of trust between close working comrades, and the consequences of trust being broken.
Best romantic comedy/date movie: Did You Hear About The Morgan’s? It’s been slammed at Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB but for me it was the kooky cowboy chemistry on marital relationships from Sam Elliot/Mary Steenburgen that got my funny bone (more than the duo of Hugh Grant/Sarah Jessica Parker). Maybe I was already in a giddy mood b4 I saw it!
2nd best foreign movie: The Secret of Her Eyes (Argentina) – Maybe you’ll want to fast forward the disturbing rape scene at the beginning, which is the murder mystery crime to be resolved, but this movie has a lot to offer on so many levels. I first came across director Juan Jose Campanella with “Son of The Bride” (2001) – also starring Ricardo Darin – a lighter movie that also bore multiple levels, as in the leading man’s unwillingness to admit his love for a woman.
Best 11th movie that was in many top ten lists: The Social Network was very enjoyable – but you knew that already. Genius has a price.