Films 2010 - Count Ten to Six Down

I’m not particularly a fan of a Top Ten – a selected seven, or a random list maybe – but when I got to thinking about my films of 2010, there were ten standouts. The guardian called 2010 a ‘widely underrated year for film,’ concurring, I really hope there will be a something surrounding one of the films in this list that drives you to see it for yourself. It makes me very happy to think you may.

There are many ways to respond to film, critically, viscerally, comparatively and most often emotionally. This list quite honestly is just my first thoughts of what was my film 2010 – there may well be great work missing, but if it hasn’t stuck with me, it’s not here. Welcome, to my interesting world.

TEN
Panique au village.
I look forward to seeing this again when I’m less tired. It’s an absolute ball of random. And some of the most wonderful, ingenious and wistful animation you’d see this side of Creature Comforts (Aardman produced the original mini puppetoon series from birth in 2000). Take the ten most awkward unlikely things you would see together in one film – because they do not, would never, should never belong together – and you have Town Called Panic. That anything that occurs in this feature does so from a cautionary tale of forgetting birthdays, planning barbeques and accidentally ordering 6 million (billion?) bricks just makes it all the more angular in its perfection. Look it up – and make sure you’re well rested and ready to be confused with Cowboy, Indian, and Horse.
Dir. Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar http://www.atowncalledpanic.tv/
Viewed October.

NINE
Social Network.
There is always something satisfying about a film that leaves you feeling something tangible other than grief or cheer or cynical about over sentimentalised happy ever everything. Social Network sends you off into the world thinking like a crack whore in the dome at the end of crystal maze; if the dome was filled with crack and none of the trippy time trials had induced a trance. You get the picture. The casting is tight and the scripting is slick. Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg is funny, and it doesn’t matter if that’s true to the real one as the creations of West Wing’s Aaron Sorkin are so fascinating to watch. Armie Hammer’s Winklevoss twins almost become an apelike Jedwood, not getting the point and expecting the world. The real Winklevoss twins, not Jedwood, are a little frustrated by this portrayal to say the least. A smart and well timed piece of work about creation and personal demise – log this off Facebook and call it a tragedy.
Dir. David Fincher http://www.thesocialnetwork-movie.com/
Viewed October.

EIGHT
Kick Ass
It has been noted my interest in having a baby is based purely on playing dress up. A little ballerina one day, batman the next, super hero weekends, the options are endless – just imagine the fun! This film therefore, works for me on two levels. One: Kids playing dress up. Two: Kids being bullied. Sorry little Miriamus’ - both are on the cards. But you’ll look freekin’ cool. And maybe one day we can go into the lucrative crime fighting business.
Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Viewed April.

SEVEN
Toy Story Three
Surely, this film couldn’t be any good? It darned well is. It just is. Congrats Pixar.
Dir Lee Unkrich
Viewed November

SIX
L'arnacoeur (Heartbreaker)
On a good day I fall in love roughly five times. Once with either Robyn or Janelle, the second time with a new musical discovery or moment, the third time could be someone on a train with lovely eyes or someone looking wistful in the queue for coffee. I may fall in love with a place, or an idea, a tree or a pathway (an actual path), a type of cheese, all cheese, a beer freshly tapped from keg land, a glass of pinot noir, a beautiful tomato, a firm rounded merlot. I may fall in love with a moment, a joke or a funny quip. I fall in love with at least one cup of perfectly timed tea, every day. On the day I saw L’arnacoeur, I fell in love with it.
Dir. Pascal Chaumeil http://www.arnacoeur-lefilm.com/
Viewed September.