My 2010 Movie Awards
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’s awards season. With the Critics’ Choice Awards in just a few weeks and the Oscars less than two months ago, it’s suffice to say the red carpet is officially out.
Today, I’m going to throw myself into that ring as we bring you the 2010 Movie Awards from the Couch Potato Club. But up front, I want to go ahead and say, I’m going to do this differently from that big award show. First, you’ll see some typical categories, but there will also be some unusual ones. Also, call me crazy, but I believe the biggest factor in judging a movie is its entertainment value. Sure 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’s good or not.So you won’t see me awarding these “art” movies just for their “cinematic achievements” (whatever it is). Instead, I
So, without further ado, here are the winners of the first annual Couch Potato Club Movie Awards.
Best Movie: Inception
For me it comes down to Inception and Black Swan . Honestly I’ve spent days thinking in my head what will be my movie of the year. However, in the end, Inception won. birth is also perfect in a certain sense. With clever writing, good acting, fun action, great cinematography, and so on, this film proves to be of an amazing style with great substance. Nolan proves once again here why he is one of (if not THE) eel filmmakers sought after today. A narrative genius.After watching this movie, I realized how great nolan God sent to hollywood. Everyone in Hollywood should take notes. This is exactly how a blockbuster movie should be done. Don’t kid yourself, blockbuster action movies will continue to be the bread and butter of hollywood for some time to come. While these are fine, the problem usually lies in that they are super shallow and corny and just “uh”. They usually just rely on reverse action sequences and special effects that look awesome. Not Inception , 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. This perfect combination makes Inception the best movie of the year.
Best Actor: James Franco – 127 Hours
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You want to test an actor’s abilities? Throw him in a movie where he’s 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 “reverse roles”) is one of the greatest ways to test an actor and see if he’s 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’s my best actor of the year.
Best Actress: Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Natalie’s 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’t think this is even up for debate.
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale – The Fighter
Here’s 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’s 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.
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo – The Fighter
Yes, the supporting cast of The Fighter is great. They are the ones who make this film last. Leo’s turn as the snobby “white trash” mom is great and is another one (along with Bale’s performance) that really helps this movie shine. Without both, The Fighter will Bomb.
Best Director: Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
Like I said, the best movies are Black Swan and Inception for me. Aronofsky’s 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’s no surprise that Aronofsky continues to impress year after year.
Skenario Terbaik: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz then John McLaughlin – Black Swan
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 “life imitates art” to “greed can eat us all” 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 “perfect”. This script has it all and fires so many cylinders. Really great story and I love how the main character’s life begins to reflect the character he is trying to play on stage.
Best Ensemble Cast: The Fighter
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’t 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’s performances really pushed the whole ensemble on top.Meanwhile, Amy Adams put on a very good performance and also stood out.
Best Performance of the Year: Jennifer Lawrence – Winter Bone
The movie itself, in my opinion is quite excessive. However, Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone did an absolutely amazing job playing the role of Ree Dolly. If it weren’t 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 ‘The Bill Engvall Show’ where she played a clichéd 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.
Best Action Movie: Inception
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.
Best Comedy: Take Him to Greek
Okay, here’s where some people might disagree with me (if they haven’t). 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’t touch Get Him to the Greek . Russell Brand is just hilarious. And his role as a typical rock star is great and funny. Even “P Diddy” (which I hate) made me laugh out loud during this movie. To me, it really is the funniest movie of the year.
Best Animated Movies: How To Train Your Dragon
Yes, I’m 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’s 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.
Best Horror Movie: Paranormal Activity 2
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 ‘telling’, 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’t wait for part 3 this fall.
Best Thriller: City
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 “thrill” aspect. And while Black Swan totally swallowed me up and kept me going, The Town pulled off that aspect a bit better. Maybe it’s because his actions fulfill that, I don’t 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’t help but be mesmerized as I went on that thrilling ride.
Best Docudrama: Social Networks
Social Networking has spread like wildfire in recent years, so it’s 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’s probably one of the most significant films of modern times (it or its ‘Catfish’ counterpart).
Best Indie Movie: Buried
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.
Best Battle: Zero Gravity Battle – Inception
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’s really a really fun fight and very Awesome.
Tearjerker of the Year: Toy Story 3
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’s the connection after growing up with the series. Maybe it’s 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’s 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.
Best Screen Couple: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine
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.
Best Villain: Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
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.
Worst Movie of the Year: The Last Airbender
I won’t 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’s ever had. The person spiraled out of control straight into the drain.
This Year’s Excessive Eel Movie: The Kids Are All Right
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’t deserve to even be considered a Best Picture nomination.
Movie Eel Underrated This Year: Kick-Ass
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…. 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’ve seen in a long time. To me, it’s 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.
Best TV Show (Drama): The Walking Dead
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.
Best TV Show (Comedy): Modern Family
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 ‘The Office’ being another hit or miss, Modern Family is one that consistently makes me eel laugh. Most notably, Eric Stonestreet as “Cam” 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’ performance really came second to me.
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