With huge releases such as Toy Story 3, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1, the Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Alice in Wonderland, Inception, and Shutter Island 2010 was always going to be an incredibly good year for film. When it finally drew to a close and we welcomed in a whole new year for Hollywood I began to look back and realise just how many amazing films had been released throughout 2010 and some hadn’t always got the publicity and recognition that they deserved. So, here is my five star five of 2010…
5. The Expendables(15) “We are the shadow, the smoke in your eyes, the ghosts that hide in the night.” UK Release Date: 19th August 2010 Director: Sylvester Stallone Writers: Dave Callaham, Sylvester Stallone Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li
A lot of people may not believe The Expendables worthy of a place in the top five films of 2010, but let’s face it, it’s just totally awesome. The film does have a vague plot to it, about a group of mercenaries who are sent to a remote island to overthrow a dictator, not to be rude, but who cares! There’s explosions, fights, witty banter, more explosions, tattoos, car chases, unbelievably cool one liners, Jason Statham on a motorbike and yet more explosions which makes it no surprise that it was written and directed by one of the most iconic action stars of all time, Sylvester Stallone, that teamed with a cast made up of almost every legendary action star, Stallone, Statham, Li, Austin, Crews, Couture, Rourke, Lundgren, Schwarzenegger and Willis, let’s face facts it was always going to be an incredible and totally fulfilling dose of good old-fashioned action.
4. Kick-Ass(15) “A superhero never reveals his true identity.” UK Release Date: 31st March 2010 Director: Matthew Vaughn Writers: Jane Goldman, Mark Millar, Matthew Vaughn Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz
Kick-Ass is a fresh, funny and plain fantastic story about a teenage boy who makes the simple decision to become a superhero and gets a lot more than he bargained for. This film adaptation of Mark Millar’s comics is bursting full of biting wit, bone crunching action and a ridiculous level of violence. Aaron Johnson gives a good performance as the wannabe superhero Dave Lizewski, but the gold star definitely has to go to Chloe Moretz who is outstanding as Mindy Macready/Hit Girl, an 11 year old assassin with a mouth like a sailor and who without, the film wouldn’t have quite made into my top 5. Your love of this film will depend on how much you can appreciate its defiant shamelessness, gleeful violence and utter wrongness. For me it’s an enjoyable and fun homage to both the superhero and action genres that acts as a wish fulfilment for wannabe superheroes everywhere.
3. Shutter Island(15) “Sanity’s not a choice.” UK Release Date: 12th March 2010 Director: Martin Scorsese Writers: Laeta Kalogridis, Dennis Lehane Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Shutter Island is the fourth collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio and just like the other three it doesn’t disappoint. They have managed to create an intensely provocative film experience based on the brilliant book of the same name written by Dennis Lehane. The film revolves around a female patient who has gone missing from a prison for the criminally insane and whose disappearance is being investigated by US Marshal Teddy Daniels, played by DiCaprio who executes the role perfectly and who is excellently supported by Ruffalo as his partner Chuck Aule. The film draws you in from the outset using a carefully structured plot, superb characterisation, breath-taking performances and incredible music choices throughout to completely entice and involve you in the plot. All this makes the twist ending even more shocking and unbelievable, guarantees a second viewing from each audience member and shows that after almost 40 years in the business Scorsese hasn’t lost it.
2. Toy Story 3(U) “What a nice bear…And he smells like strawberries.” UK Release Date: 19th July 2010 Director: Lee Unkrich Writers: Michael Arndt, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack
When the third Toy Story was announced, I think everyone was a little nervous. The first two Toy Story’s are among the best movies ever made, so Toy Story 3 had some majorly big shoes to fill. But right from the opening scene it was clear that the third instalment was going to be as impossible not to love as the first two. With its mixture of all new toys, Big Baby, Lots-o-Huggin’ bear, Chatter Telephone and the original gang of Woody, Buzz and Co. Toy Story 3 managed to continue to create the magic for those who grew up with the films whilst still appealing to an entirely new generation. Toy Story 3 is warm, exciting, clever, emotional, insightful and hilarious with its coming of age storyline and probably the most original prison-escape plot ever produced. This final instalment, of a young boy growing up with his toys and learning friendship and imagination from them, is a last blast of childhood joy and the perfect goodbye to characters who truly have earned a place in a whole generation of hearts.
1. easy A(15) “A is for awesome.” UK Release Date: 22nd October 2010 Director: Will Gluck Writer: Bert V. Royal Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Amanda Bynes
This sparkling moral tale about a small lie that quickly multiplies and gets out of control has it all; it’s smart, sassy, sexy and surprisingly emotional. With its incredibly witty dialogue, “And if there’s one thing that’s worse than chlamydia, it’s California”, its’ interesting premise which is drawn from literary roots (the film is (very) loosely based on the book The Scarlett Letter), its exceptionally charming cast, Olive Penderghast is definitely Stone’s best role to date and secures her as this generations best hope for a lovable comic lead actress, Amanda Bynes excels as Marianne, the uncompromisingly religious and overbearingly opinionated Jesus-Freak that annoys the hell out of everyone and Thomas Haden Church shines as Mr Griffith the charismatic and captivating literature teacher who cares, its homages to high-school comedies gone by complete “with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason” and tributes to the legendary John Hughs, easy A is without a doubt at the top of its genre. As soon as the lights went up at the cinema I couldn’t stop smiling, gushing about how amazing it was, how much I loved Emma Stone, singing ‘I gotta pocketful of sunshine’ and demanding that I see it again right there and then, it’s clear to say that easy A is definitely my top film of 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment