So, we finally close the book on 2010. Now, as we turn to the new year, this is when most people reflect back on the previous year. In the world of cinema, this is also the time critics and film lovers take the time to review last year. Not to mention, it\u2019s awards season. With the Critics\u2019 Choice Awards in just a few weeks and the Oscars less than two months ago, it\u2019s suffice to say the red carpet is officially out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, I\u2019m going to throw myself into that ring as we bring you the 2010\u00a0Movie\u00a0Awards from the Couch Potato Club.\u00a0But up front, I want to go ahead and say, I\u2019m going to do this differently from that big award show.\u00a0First, you\u2019ll see some typical categories, but there will also be some unusual ones.\u00a0Also, call me crazy, but I believe the biggest factor in judging a movie is its entertainment value.\u00a0Sure all the other little aspects of making a movie help make a movie better, but I believe entertainment manages the technical prowess of a movie to determine if it\u2019s good or not.So you won\u2019t see me awarding these \u201cart\u201d movies just for their \u201ccinematic achievements\u201d (whatever it is).\u00a0Instead, I<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, without further ado, here are the winners of the first annual Couch Potato Club Movie Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me it comes down to\u00a0\u00a0Inception\u00a0\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0Black Swan\u00a0.\u00a0Honestly I\u2019ve spent days thinking in my head what will be my movie of the year.\u00a0However, in the end,\u00a0\u00a0Inception\u00a0\u00a0won.\u00a0birth is\u00a0also perfect in a certain sense.\u00a0With clever writing, good acting, fun action, great cinematography, and so on, this film proves to be of an amazing style with great substance.\u00a0Nolan proves once again here why he is one of (if not THE) eel filmmakers sought after today.\u00a0A narrative genius.After watching this movie, I realized how great nolan God sent to hollywood.\u00a0Everyone in Hollywood should take notes.\u00a0This is exactly how a\u00a0blockbuster movie\u00a0should be done.\u00a0Don\u2019t kid yourself, blockbuster action movies will continue to be the bread and butter of hollywood for some time to come.\u00a0While these are fine, the problem usually lies in that they are super shallow and corny and just \u201cuh\u201d.\u00a0They usually just rely on reverse action sequences and special effects that look awesome.\u00a0Not\u00a0\u00a0Inception\u00a0, though.This film provides all that, but then it really brings substance to that style which gives us an interesting and astounding\/intelligent storyline to go with it.\u00a0This perfect combination makes\u00a0\u00a0Inception the\u00a0\u00a0best movie of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: You want to test an actor\u2019s abilities? Throw him in a movie where he\u2019s the only one ever on screen and he has to carry the whole movie himself. Where the entire burden of the entire film most definitely rests on his shoulders. Will he shine? Will he be destroyed? This is a test. Others have proven themselves in the same way (Will Smith, Tom Hanks). And I truly believe this (and \u201creverse roles\u201d) is one of the greatest ways to test an actor and see if he\u2019s a great one. So put in James Franco and 127 Hours . Playing a mountain climber trapped under a boulder and alone, Franco is left with the entire movie alone. Did he succeed?so true. With flying colors at that. Still engaging, conveying a variety of emotions throughout the film and sucking you all in alone, Franco clearly shows that he has the courage to tackle such a daunting task and come out on top. For that reason, he\u2019s my best actor of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Natalie\u2019s performance in the psychological thriller Aronofsky was absolutely brilliant. His best work so far in my opinion. Playing a role that requires her to eventually transition from a naive little princess to a wild girl (on the dark side), she hits every beat without missing a single step. I believe the biggest factor for a good actor\/actress is reach. Anyone can shine in a part made for them (according to their natural personas), but reaching out and playing different personas\/characters is where an actor\/actress can show their true prowess. In the Black Swanalone, Natalie Portman has shown, in just 2 hours, that she has more reach than most actresses around. He shows more reach in one show than most people do in their entire career. For a brilliant performance, Natalie Portman got my vote for best actress of the year. I don\u2019t think this is even up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s another one I feel is just given and not up for debate. Bale really stole the show in every scene he featured in The Fighter . The weight loss alone shows Bale\u2019s dedication to his craft. Furthermore, the way he was able to lose himself in his crackhead persona and become the role of Dicky Eklund further proves what a great actor Bale is. To really show you how brilliant his performance is, a real-life video clip of Dicky during the credits shows you how well Bale nailed the performance. It was almost like looking in the mirror for Dicky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, the supporting cast of The Fighter is great. They are the ones who make this film last. Leo\u2019s turn as the snobby \u201cwhite trash\u201d mom is great and is another one (along with Bale\u2019s performance) that really helps this movie shine. Without both, The Fighter will Bomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like I said, the best movies are Black Swan and Inception for me. Aronofsky\u2019s work here is nearly perfect. This is a brilliantly directed film. From the camera shots to the music to the storytelling to what he gets out of the cast, Aronofsky does a great job of delivering this thriller with pinpoint accuracy on all levels. As one of my favorite modern directors, it\u2019s no surprise that Aronofsky continues to impress year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, the screenplay\/story is probably the biggest factor in determining whether a film is entertaining. After all, without an interesting and entertaining story, your film will just suck. Therefore, it is not surprising that this, to me, comes down to Black Swan and Inception again; two movies competed for my best picture award. However, in the end I had to go with the Black Swan fall out of this category. The story is very good in my opinion. A very thrilling and engaging story that keeps you in your seat all along. To top it off, though, all the subtext is present throughout the film. From \u201clife imitates art\u201d to \u201cgreed can eat us all\u201d to comments about how much pressure can be placed on an entertainer and the risks they face when losing themselves in a show to be \u201cperfect\u201d. This script has it all and fires so many cylinders. Really great story and I love how the main character\u2019s life begins to reflect the character he is trying to play on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I guess after the previous supporting award this should come as no surprise. However, I will say that I am also seriously considering The Town for this award which has an excellent performance from all the players. However, the cast of The Fighter performed well on all fronts. Even Mark Wahlberg is quite nice (and I don\u2019t really care about him). In fact, he is a weak link and the original character is boring. However, everyone puts on good looks which, on the whole, really draws you into the family in the movie. Then Bale and Leo\u2019s performances really pushed the whole ensemble on top.Meanwhile, Amy Adams put on a very good performance and also stood out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The movie itself, in my opinion is quite excessive. However, Jennifer Lawrence in Winter\u2019s Bone did an absolutely amazing job playing the role of Ree Dolly. If it weren\u2019t for him, the whole movie would be laundry. However, the performance is very good to watch. It made it even more valuable because I got to witness that this girl was actually a very skilled actress. Prior to this, I had only seen her on \u2018The Bill Engvall Show\u2019 where she played a clich\u00e9d teen girl. Which, frankly, there are a million and one girls in this country who can do it. Watching him go from that stupid teenager to this convincing and convincing performance was definitely a treat for me and showed me his worth. For that, he received my Breakout Performance of the Year award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inception wins here. Of course being Film of the Year, it would also win in its genre specific category. The film fires on all cylinders for an almost non-stop joyride, especially for the latter half of the film. The last act in particular, with gunfights and chases and fights, etc. proved to be an adrenaline-pumping action. Once again, this is a Hollywood action blockbuster perfected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, here\u2019s where some people might disagree with me (if they haven\u2019t). However, I believe that Best Comedy films should be based on which films are the funniest. Granted, there are films I like more overall that fall into the comedy category (Scott Pilgrim), but on the laugh scale they don\u2019t touch Get Him to the Greek . Russell Brand is just hilarious. And his role as a typical rock star is great and funny. Even \u201cP Diddy\u201d (which I hate) made me laugh out loud during this movie. To me, it really is the funniest movie of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, I\u2019m doing it. I kicked Pixar to the curb this year and let someone else get the Best Animation prize. Granted, I really enjoyed Toy Story 3 , but for me How to Train Your Dragon is a better and more enjoyable film. It\u2019s funny, funny, inspiring in its own way and refreshing. I really enjoyed the movie. How to Train Your Dragon is one of those that has heart and depth and is incredibly beautiful (both story and animation-wise). One that really appeals to both adults and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I loved the first one and the sequel proved no different. Paranormal activity has become a savior for the horror genre I believe. and part 2 made it a saving boon for hollywood as the franchise went mainstream. With good tempo and \u2018telling\u2019, Paranormal Activity 2 , like its predecessors, brings the art of suspense and suspense back to a seemingly empty genre. It does a great job of really getting into your imagination and letting it run wild, terrorizing yourself in turn. Truly a refreshing film in this genre, I can\u2019t wait for part 3 this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, I realize Black Swan is a thriller, and I totally agree that it is a better film. However, like comedies, I feel that Best Thrillers should be judged solely on the \u201cthrill\u201d aspect. And while Black Swan totally swallowed me up and kept me going, The Town pulled off that aspect a bit better. Maybe it\u2019s because his actions fulfill that, I don\u2019t know. However, The Town kept me really on the edge of my seat from start to finish pretty much. The action is great, the film is so intense and the whole thing never stops once it starts running, that I couldn\u2019t help but be mesmerized as I went on that thrilling ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Docudrama: Social Networks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Social Networking has spread like wildfire in recent years, so it\u2019s no surprise that it will eventually become the basis of a film. Social Networking is not just any movie. Being one of the most talked about films of the year and making a real film the best film of the year, this film is a versatile film that everyone should see. And it\u2019s probably one of the most significant films of modern times (it or its \u2018Catfish\u2019 counterpart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thriller that just keeps you captivated throughout (yes I think I have something for thriller type movies). With a minimal set and minimal story and cast, Buried is likely to disappoint. Despite all these risks though it worked and became a very thrilling and captivating movie, with Reynolds carrying it well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The visuals and special effects are just one aspect of what makes Inception so Awesome to me. And this fight scene is one that stands out above the rest. Creative, Cool to watch, full of action, it\u2019s really a really fun fight and very Awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am I personally crying? No. However, Toy Story 3 in my opinion is the best movie of the year that will most likely make someone cry. Maybe it\u2019s the connection after growing up with the series. Maybe it\u2019s just the depth of emotion created in some of the scenes that touch home for most people in real life. either way, Toy Story 3 is sure to get the waterways going for some. With scenes like the incinerator scene and Andy\u2019s last time with his toys (especially when he realizes Woody is there and he ends up parting ways with the toy that started it all), Toy Story 3 is sure to have some really-true moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Screen Couple: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams \u2013 Blue Valentine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These two actors are some of the better young actors right now (Gosling being my pick for best actor under 30 even). They really show their worth here in this film as well. Putting on a great and powerful show, the two shone on the screen together. The chemistry between them is absolutely amazing and the genuine\/true emotions they convey during the film make for a great spectacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jason Schwartzman is so funny every time I see him. His performance in Scott Pilgrim was just the icing for an excellent movie. The classic Schwartzman brings humor and wit to the role, standing out as my favorite villain from a movie full of villains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I won\u2019t even say anything. Everyone knows it sucks. Shyamalan is proving again, that despite his last movie ( The Happening being terrible) that he can still beat himself and make a worse movie than he\u2019s ever had. The person spiraled out of control straight into the drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forgive me. It is not good. The acting is decent. Mark Ruffalo is the saving grace of the film. Other than that this movie is so pretentious and contrived and just boring. Not as good as people make it out (not even the show). Not funny or funny at all. And the film definitely doesn\u2019t deserve to even be considered a Best Picture nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, the film got decent reviews, even quite well in its opening weekend. However, I feel Kick-Ass is underappreciated for this year. Honestly, the movie, well\u2026. kick ass. In fact, it might even rank as one of my 10 or 15 favorite movies of the year. This is one of the best comic book adaptations I\u2019ve seen in a long time. To me, it\u2019s even better than its competitor Scott Pilgrim . A truly excellent and enjoyable film that should be given more credit. Very entertaining and more people should try it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Granted, my TV shows usually consist of sitcoms\/comedies. However, there are some dramas that I watch here and there. This year The Walking Dead proved to be one of those new shows that cures me and makes me love it. Makes me want to see next season, then disappointed I had to wait so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a hilarious ensemble cast and insanely hilarious writing, Modern Family has proven to be one of my favorite new TV shows recently. And with \u2018The Office\u2019 being another hit or miss, Modern Family is one that consistently makes me eel laugh. Most notably, Eric Stonestreet as \u201cCam\u201d always makes me laugh and literally steals the show almost every time he appears. Its appearance is what puts this one over the edge for me. Though, the Big Bang theory and Jim Parsons\u2019 performance really came second to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, we finally close the book on 2010. Now, as we turn to the new year, this is when most people reflect back on the previous year. In the world of cinema, this is also the time critics and film lovers take the time to review last year. Not to mention, it\u2019s awards season. With the Critics\u2019 Choice Awards in just a few weeks and the Oscars less than two months ago, it\u2019s suffice to say the red carpet is officially out. Today,…<\/p>\nBest Indie Movie: Buried<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Battle: Zero Gravity Battle \u2013 Inception<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tearjerker of the Year: Toy Story 3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Villain: Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) \u2013 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Worst Movie of the Year: The Last Airbender<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This Year\u2019s Excessive Eel Movie: The Kids Are All Right<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Movie Eel Underrated This Year: Kick-Ass<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best TV Show (Drama): The Walking Dead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best TV Show (Comedy): Modern Family<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n