Mid-Year Top 5 - 2010

Article by Todd Plucknett

Written – 7/1/10

This year had been a somewhat slowly-developing year for film. There have been a very select few great films, and the summer blockbusters have been mildly disappointing thus far. It seems to be a down year in general, since there just does not seem to be the same amount of films generating the massive buzz that years past have had. It has been a fairly standard crop for the beginning of the year. The disappointments include Robin Hood and The Ghost Writer, while the surprises have been The Crazies, Kick-Ass, and The Runaways. Very few films with any significant hype have gotten released, however.

So, here are the best films so far. As you can see, three of them are mysteries, one is a comedy-drama, and one is animated. It is an interesting mix of films, I must say. These five films are a solid start, but I doubt that any more than one or two of these will end up anywhere near my top 10 by the year’s end.

5. Greenberg (directed by Noah Baumbach). This film was essentially in a tie for fifth with The Runaways, but the only reason why I chose this one is because I know how much Zach hated it. It is a poignant little film about a Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) who moves to Los Angeles to housesit for his brother. The reason why Zach hated it is because Greenberg is emotionally and mentally unstable. He has random outbursts of fury that really make the audience detest his demeanor. Unlike every other film about a mentally unstable character, this one does not ask for sympathy. None of his actions are just brushed off simply because he cannot help it. Rather, the audience identifies with him and his situations. The storytelling by the brilliant Noah Baumbach is rich and intelligent. The acting is top notch, reminding us that Stiller really does have dramatic talent. There are also a fair amount of laughs to be had as well from the dark and biting humor. It is an extraordinary film, and one that will rank with the best of Baumbach’s underrated career.

4. Shutter Island (directed by Martin Scorsese). You can never go wrong with a Scorsese film. Granted, this is probably his weakest film in about 15 years, but it still ranks with the best films that will come out this year. It centers on Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), a US Marshall investigating a mysterious missing person from a hospital for the criminally insane. The film is all about mood. The film is darker than Scorsese’s other films, reminding me mostly of his previous feature Cape Fear. This is a slightly better film than that, and the story is much more compelling. The story is filled with twists and turns like any other adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel. It is bound to be a forgotten work of the greatest director in the world, but it is still well worth the watch for anyone who loves a detective story and/or psychological thriller. In lesser hands, this film could have been a disaster. Instead, it is a fascinating character study that is among the most satisfying films that I have seen this year.

3. The Secret in Their Eyes (directed by Juan Jose Campanella). This is a terrific mystery that many people probably recognize as the Best Foreign Language Film winner at the Oscars last year. It is about Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin), a detective who decides to write a book on a cold case he investigated many years ago. Throughout the process, he begins to rediscover and unravel new details of the case that has haunted him since. This may remind the audience of television shows such as Law and Order or CSI at their absolute best. It is so much deeper and more compelling than anything that could have been represented on those shows, however. The film is moving and undeniably thrilling. The turns that the story takes are unexpected and brilliantly realized. It also features the best scene of the year so far, which is a chase sequence at a soccer stadium. This is an astonishing mystery and one that will remain in the audience’s memory for a long time.

2. Mother (directed by Joon-ho Bong). The third mystery-thriller on the list is the brilliant and insane film Mother. This film is about a woman who is searching for the truth in a case for which her son has been falsely accused and jailed. This is unlike any film I have seen. There are some crazy and haunting scenes that are both hilarious and breathtaking. The acting is among the year’s best, and the tone and atmosphere just immerse the audience in its mystery and flawlessly-written story. This is a must-see, just like the other films of Joon-ho Bong. Memories of Murder and The Host were both two of the best film of the past decade, and this ranks right with those two films. He is possibly the most creative auteur in Asia, and one of the most interesting filmmakers working today.

1. Toy Story 3 (directed by Lee Unkrich). There is no real surprise by my number one of the year so far. The third installment in the flawless Toy Story saga is among the best animated films ever put on screen. The story is about Woody, Buzz, and the gang trying to cope with Andy getting ready to leave for college. The writing is hilarious, but that almost takes a back seat to the beautiful and unusually-strong emotional impact that this film lays on the audience. The final scenes of this film are as perfect and satisfying as any that I have come across. It is the most flawless end to a franchise that anyone could have asked for. It is a celebration of film, life, and the importance and joys of using your imagination. Unless something unexpected comes about, this will remain my number one film of the year for quite some time.