Me and You and Everyone We Know

To me this creative artsy indie comedy is about as close you can come to a perfect and complete film. This is my fifth time watching it and I can confidently say it’s in my top ten favorite films of all time but I am apparently not alone. Roger Ebert said it was the best film at the Sundance festival in 2006 and recently listed it as one of his top ten films of the decade.

There Will Be Blood

It is impossible to describe There Will Be Blood in one word but if forced to, I would say powerful. If I had to further describe in using just single words they would be; politics, greed, religion and morality. It’s a true instant American classic film whose technical aspects far exceed that of most other films out there.

Cashback

The storyline of Cashback is nothing unique; an art student named Ben has a falling out with a longtime girlfriend and is devastated. Still, Cashback is a smart and funny indie film that nearly everyone can relate to. Also the camera work is impressive enough to make the story that has been told a thousand times, interesting.

The Dark Knight

You know it’s a good movie when you have such high expectations for it and after seeing it, it surpasses what you expected. In fact, it made me want to go see it again in the theater, something I never do. Thanks to the brilliant director, Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight is easily one of the best superhero movies of all time.

Oldboy

Oldboy is a powerful Korean film that is as mesmerizing as it is disturbing. It is one that would not be able to be distributed in America because of the nature of it’s sexuality and violence. It is about a man who seeks revenge after being captured and imprisoned for 15 years without knowing why. When released he is given 5 days to figure out why. They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, I think after 15 years his dish was still frozen. The plot may seem simple but it is told in a sophisticated, and at times extreme, manner.

Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky does it again. If you thought a film about ballet could not possibly be entertaining, think again. Black Swan overcomes the hype that surrounds it, a difficult and rare feat. It is a seductively sophisticated film with many layers that transforms from innocent to darkness.

Carlos

I knew half way through the first part of the excellent film Carlos, that it would be the best film I would see in 2010. Carlos is at the apex of filmmaking, a true juggernaut of a film. It commands your attention for over 5 hours and is never boring. Edgar Ramirez gives a standout leading performance as The Jackal and he is on screen for nearly every second of the epic film. All the weight of the material is on him and carries it with ease. Which is why I think Carlos is the best film of 2010.

Dogtooth

Dogtooth is disturbing anti-social satire that is shot in an art-house sort of way. After the conclusion of most films, you can form an opinion fairly soon after the final credits roll. But there are some films that are so unique and different that you must let them sit with you for a bit before you can approach a final opinion. Dogtooth fits in the category of the latter. It is possibly the most original movie of the year, perhaps only second to Enter The Void.

The Skin I Live In

The Skin I Live In is a psychological thriller from the highly acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. His work is often compared to Alfred Hitchcock’s and it is easy to see why. Even though it was shot and set in present time the film looks like it could be from the 60’s when Hitchcock was around. As the title slightly suggests, the film is about how you still remain the same inside even if your outside has been completely changed.