Saturday, September 4, 2010

Catching Up

So remember that "most anticipated of 2010" list I made? Here's a round-up of the films I've seen, and the new order for "most anticipated" now that I have seen some of the films and my opinions have changed due to trailers, buzz, etc.

Eat Pray Love - B (Tied for number 10 on the former list) A solid Julia Roberts vehicle, but doesn't scratch the surface of the psychological problems and inner journey author Elizabeth Gilbert took to emerge a new woman.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World - A- (Number 9) A smart and eye-poppingly fresh take on a graphic novel I never had the fortune of reading. Cera is stellar as he tries to play against type as a womanizer, and the supporting cast (Culkin, Kendrick, etc.) is killer.Inception - B+ (Number 3) A big concept that isn't always as stable as Nolan would want it to be, but can't-miss-cinema nonetheless. Cotillard is radiant in her ever-growing niche of an abused wife, Mal.

The Kids Are All Right - A (Number 2) A film I went into with high expectations, and it didn't disappoint at all. Career best work from Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Hutcherson. It treats what could have been trivial plot points with unmatched sincerity and originality.

And now to revise the list.. the previous list looked like:

10. Never Let Me Go / Eat, Pray, Love
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
8. My Own Love Song
7. How Do You Know
6. The Social Network
5. Burlesque
4. Rabbit Hole
3. Inception
2. The Kids Are All Right
1. Love and Other Drugs

And the new list looks like:

10. 127 Hours
9. Fair Game
8. How Do You Know
7. Somewhere
6. Burlesque
5. Love and Other Drugs
4. Rabbit Hole
3. Black Swan
2. The Social Network
1. Never Let Me Go

Agree or disagree? Sound off in the comments, please!

6 comments:

  1. I liked The KIds Are All Right, but didn't love it. But no mention for Julianne Moore in it?

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  2. All the movies I was dying to see have gone, I don't know what to do with myself now.

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  3. I have this strange feeling that if the movies of 2010 continue to disappoint and lack, that Scott Pilgrim could have a shot at pulling off some Globe nods. Thoughts??

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  4. Somewhere and Black Swan are good to hear.

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  5. Joe - She's amazing beyond amazing, as Julianne always is. But I think she has played better parts that showed her off even more as an incredible actress.

    Simon - You can't muster up excitement for any of these? Not even Black Swan!

    James D. - Glad to hear that they're good to hear :)

    Luke - I almost totally dismissed your comment, but then again the Globes are a strange, strange beast. I think, if they were going to nominate the film, it could probably get a max 2 nominations. They aren't very keen on Michael Cera (no noms. for Arrested or anything he's done) so I doubt he could break in. The film itself might be able to land a nomination for Best Comedy, and maybe former Globe nominee Kieran Culkin could squeeze into the Best Supporting Actor category, but those are the only two I could see breaking in, and it seems unlikely at that. (Anna Kendrick, the other former Globe nominee, has no chance at making the shortlist for Best Supporting Actress.) But I feel like in a lackluster year they'll go to anything that was supposed to be good, even if it ended up being disappointing, rather than something of a smaller scale that was actually terrific.

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  6. We have such similar opinions on the year! I also loved Scott Pilgrim and TKAAR was great, Julianne Moore being my favorite in the film I think. Also, your thoughts on the Globe possiblities of Scott make total sense, I could see Keiran in there but it's unlikely.

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