Top 10 Films of 2010 – Brandi’s Picks

December 30th, 2010 | POSTED BY Brandi Sperry

5. Toy Story 3
directed by Lee Unkrich
story by John Lasseter; Andrew Stanton; Lee Unkrich
screenplay by Michael Arndt

A very fine ending to a beautiful film trilogy. One of the best things about the Toy Story films is their ability to do great service to such a wonderful host of characters, even as they keep adding new ones. I loved the time we spent here with our old favorites, and with the new toys at the day care and in Bonnie’s room. This is a rich world, filled with many varied, deep emotions. An argument can be made for any of the three films as the best in the series, because, really, they’re all nearly perfect.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
directed by David Yates
screenplay by Steve Kloves, from the novel by J.K. Rowling

I wrote glowingly of “HP 7.1” on the day it was released, and have since seen it again. The second time through I was even more impressed (if possible) at the choices the filmmakers made to adapt the first half of this incredible novel so well. I am a deep fan of the books, but have been mostly a ride-the-wave fan of the movies, enjoying the phenomenon and hype more than the films themselves. This was different. This was the first time the storytelling techniques of the film version truly did justice to its source material (with apologies to the very good Prisoner of Azkaban—better acting here). It’s gratifying to know that the decision to split the book into two films was beneficial. I wouldn’t trade a moment of this one.

3. Winter’s Bone
directed by Debra Granik
screenplay by Debra Granik & Anne Rossellini, from the novel by Daniel Woodrell

There is a shot in this film of a garage door closing, from a distance, that is the most stressful moment I experienced while watching any film, new or old, this year. I struggle to describe adequately the vivid and severe atmosphere that Debra Granik creates as we follow 17-year-old Ree, who is on a mission to find her father and make him show at a court date, so that her family won’t lose the house he put up as bond. They live in the rural Ozarks, where everyone knows someone making meth. Hers is a world with certain rules that the viewer comes to understand very quickly. I am in awe of Jennifer Lawrence in the title role, and she’s surrounded by very fine actors such as John Hawkes (a personal favorite), Garret Dillahunt, and Dale Dickey, all contributing to the intensity at play here. Simply a great film-watching experience.

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A Prophet, Black Swan, Harry Potter, I Am Love, Joan Rivers, Restrepo, The King's Speech, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, Winter's Bone