2010 has been a sensational year for everything Film so I thought that I should share my Top Ten Favourite Films of 2010 so far, since it’s about 5 pages long I decided to break it into two parts. Now before a raging debate starts, I may have missed one or two as I was trolling through release charts dating back to January. In Part 2 I’ll go through my next Five but also list some Notable Mentions through the year of 2010. So Read and Enjoy, Would love to see your thoughts below…
Film: Up in the Air (Paramount Pictures)
Release Date: 14th January 2010
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Synopsis: From Jason Reitman, the Oscar® nominated director of “Juno,” comes a comedy called “Up in the Air” starring Oscar® winner George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he’s met the frequent—traveller woman of his dreams.
Notes: First of all I will say this film should have won some awards, it was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and didn’t win one of them and I felt that was the biggest let down of this years Oscars. I’ve always loved the way Jason Reitman directs movies he’s also been responsible for Juno and Thank You for Smoking.
Trailer: Up in the Air
Film: The Blind Side (Roadshow)
Release Date: 25 February 2010
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins
Synopsis: “The Blind Side,” which depicts the remarkable true story of All—American football star Michael Oher. Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, virtually homeless, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael—wearing shorts and a t—shirt in the dead of winter—come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness becomes much more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. And as the family helps Michael fulfill his potential, both on and off the football field, Michael’s presence in the Tuohys’ lives leads them to some insightful
Notes: As most of you know I’m a sucker got a good true story and this one really does take the cake, Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award for it, which was extremely deserved even though she nearly didn’t get the role Julia Roberts was offered it originally so lucky for Sandra Julia turned it down!
Trailer: The Blind Side
Film: Brothers (Lionsgate)
Release Date: 18th March 2010
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire.
Synopsis: When a decorated Marine goes missing overseas, his black—sheep younger brother cares for his wife and children at home—with consequences that will shake the foundation of the entire family. BROTHERS tells the powerful story of two siblings, thirtysomething Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) and younger brother Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal), who are polar opposites. A Marine about to embark on his fourth tour of duty, Sam is a steadfast family man married to his high school sweetheart, the aptly named Grace (Natalie Portman), with whom he has two young daughters (Bailee Madison, Taylor Grace Geare). Tommy, his charismatic younger brother, is a drifter just out of jail who’s always gotten by on wit and charm. He slides easily into his role as family provocateur on his first night out of prison, at Sam’s farewell dinner with their parents, Elsie (Mare Winningham) and Hank
Notes: Brothers is an extremely strong movie, I felt it was really well written with strong characters and an even stronger story. Unfortunately it was a limited release and was only showing on 22screens in Australia and grossed barely $220 thousand dollars. Tobey Maguire was impressive in this film, it really showed his range in a role that I feel was tremendously challenging.
Trailer: Brothers
Film: How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount Pictures)
Release Date: 25th March 2010
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig
Synopsis: From the studio that brought you “Shrek,” “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda” comes “How to Train Your Dragon.” Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and based on the book by Cressida Cowell, the action comedy tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges he and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.
Notes: As far as Animated Films go, I can’t go past this one. The Story was great, the visual’s plus animation were amazing and the film as a whole was extremely fun and entertaining! Definitely on my to buy list.
Trailer: How To Train Your Dragon
Film: Kick-Ass (Universal Pictures)
Release Date: 8 April 2010
Starring: Nicolas Cage , Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong
Synopsis: A twisted, funny, high octane adventure, Matthew Vaughn brings KICK ASS to the big screen. KICK ASS tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who decides to take his obsession with comic books as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem – Kick Ass has absolutely no superpowers
Notes: This film was very much anticipated for me, from when the first Teaser hit the net I got excited, when the full trailer hit the net, I got even more excited and when I got invited to go watch it I was blown away by it. Funnily enough the director Matthew Vaughn completely independently financed Kick-Ass, there was no studio attached at all. Vaughn initially went to Sony but supposably they wanted the violence toned down so he passed and some other studios expressed interest but they wanted to make the characters older! So right there he just decided to raise the money, lucky for him Universal jumped onboard for distribution and by what I have read there was no cuts.
Trailer: Kick-Ass
