Sarah Jesse watched 125 films in 2010 and set the new record for films watched with me in a year with the sparkling total of 96. She's director of education and public programs at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa and maintains the blog Twin Pique with her sister Amanda. These are her favorite releases from 2010 in alphabetical order.
Biutiful (Mexico): Javier Bardem blew me away in this intense, visceral, tour de force film that will stick with you for weeks. As much as I love Colin Firth in The King’s Speech, I will be disappointed if Bardem’s unforgettable performance is slighted for the Oscar.
Exit Through the Gift Shop (England): Taking his message from the street to the movie house, elusive graffiti artist Banksy proves once again how duped we all are by bad, derivative art. In this “prankumentary,” the art world appears silly, gullible and impressionable—perhaps not totally off base!
Greenberg (USA): Sadly, it seems I’m in the minority for loving this movie. Though bleak, it’s honest, and the excellent, natural performances of Ben Stiller and Greta Gerwig often made me forget I was watching a movie.
Heartbreaker (French): One of the most charming, intoxicatingly sweet, funny movies I’ve ever seen. American filmmakers take note: this is how romantic comedies are done! I have a new celebrity crush in the adorable Romain Duris who has a knack for lighting up every scene he is in.
Inside Job (USA): I’m with Dylan on this one, it’s one of the best "horror" films I’ve seen in a long time besides Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. Gutsy filmmaker Charles Ferguson is particularly adept at embarrassing the crap out of these once-invincible men. Thank god these creeps are finally getting what they deserve—obliterated reputations and jail time.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (USA): Rivers has got to be one of the hardest-working women in Hollywood and I respect her for that. Seeing her card catalog of jokes and learning about some of the more painful aspects of her life will convert even her most staunch haters. Also, she has a great line from the film that I still remember: “Bad things can happen, even in a pretty house.”
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (Canada): Before I saw this documentary I couldn’t identify a single Rush song. While I’m still not into their music, it’s impossible not to appreciate their musicianship, work ethic and their charming personalities. Unlike most rock docs, this one didn’t include any mention of drug addiction, rehab, sex with groupies, inter-band fighting and compromising standards for a record label. These Rush guys are class acts!
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (USA): Why don’t more people acknowledge the sheer creativity of this film? Everyone’s talking about James Cameron inventing a new kind of film, but what about director Edgar Wright’s unique perspective that throws all film conventions out the window? It’s cool, fast-paced and I love it.
Social Network (USA): Like everyone else on the planet, I loved this fast-talking, timely film. Eisenberg hits a home run.
The King’s Speech (England): Again, like everyone else on the planet, I loved this film and think Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush’s performances are impeccable. Its 12 Oscars nominations are well deserved.
6 comments:
I really enjoyed "Greenberg" too. My friend and I both liked that Gerwig's character was not some boundlessly charming manic pixie girl (like Natalie Portman in "Garden State") and that Stiller played it straight.
I saw Heartbreaker a few weeks ago and
loved the Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go in the car!
loved the Dirty Dancing dance scene, and if a guy pretends he really loves George Michael songs for you he is great (nobody has ever done that for me, by the way I prefer "Freedom" thank you very much - however if you like "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart", you're not breaking my heart but are going out the window straight into the rubbish bin)
Rumblefish: Amen for real-ish women! I think Stiller is a great actor. Wish he wouldn't do such stupid movies like the Focker series- ugh.
Eva, the Dirty Dancing thread throughout the movie was super funny. Just when you thought the references might end, there is an amazing dance scene!
i want to see banksy and colin firth still and you made me want to check out the RUSH doc.
rented 'heartbreaker' from scarecrow and although i didn't love it, you are right that romain duris lights it up. he danced well, although i could really do without hearing the DD music ever again, ha!
did you see him in 'gadjo dilo'? if not SJ...you will have to watch it with joshua...one of his faves! i liked him in 'moliere'...
and joshua, you will have to do a top 5...then SJ can add mr. duris to her list!
I can not stand DIRTY DANCING [I've always dubbed it "Dummies Dancing"], but the scenes of it in HEARTBREAKER make it a lot more bearable.
GADJO DILO doesn't seem to be out on DVD at the moment and your right, that's a beloved movie of mine.
Top 5 needs to make a comeback!
scarecrow does an actor (one female, one male) spotlight section (in the front of the 'second take' area) and last time included 2 rows of films with romain duris! SJ you would have loved it!
Post a Comment