My Favorite Film of 2010

After the fact/Honorable Mention: Black Swan
The only, ONLY, reason this film did not make my list was because I had seen this film this past Saturday, long after I had made my list. But Darren Aronofsky, the remarkable director of Requiem for a Dream and the Wrestler, delivers yet again with another brilliant psychological film. This time, he teams up with the always wonderful Natalie Portman, who truly delivers as a social awkward ballerina who goes to every measure to be the best. The cast is amazing, the visuals are astounding, this film is fantastic.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for, my favorite film of 2010 is:

1. 127 Hours

For awhile, the Kid’s are All Right was my favorite for the year and it couldn’t be beat. Then I saw 127 Hours. I sat not only throughout the end credits, but for a couple minutes after that. I was simply amazed at what I saw. James Franco gives one of the best performances I have seen not only this year but in a long, long time. Danny Boyle, who is one of my favorite directors (quite possibly my most favorite), crafts such a beautiful film based on a screenplay by him and Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy (which Boyle also directed). This, to me, tops Slumdog Millionaire and will probably make my list for not only the best film of 2010, but for the entire decade.

This is not simply a story about Aron Ralston's struggle to survive an accident pinning him into complete isolation with his hand caught under a boulder. This isn't simply a biopic of the man, but more so a movie about the human psyche being pushed to the limits under horrible circumstances. In the end, Ralston does the unthinkable and cuts off his own arm in order to survive (not much of a spoiler, trust me). People will find the ending to be a bit grotesque and unwatchable, but I feel that the scene isn’t worth overlooking this film. Five minutes of gory dismemberment, which I personally found nothing wrong with, shouldn’t dissuade you to see such a terrific film.

The story shows not only the extent a man will go in order to survive, but how dependent we truly are with everyone around us. In the end, without telling anyone where he was going, Ralston realizes that he truly needs people in his life. There is an ascending shot in the film, focused squarely on Ralston, which truly shows his isolation and struggle, only adding to the films strength. In the end, Aron learns that without friends and family, then when something befalls us, we are truly alone, which the film shows flawlessly.

This film is utterly fantastic all around. Boyle, Franco, they are at the top of their games. The scenery is gorgeous, the visuals are amazing. This is also one of the only films, Black Swan being the other, in which I really felt the pains and emotions being represented on screen, which is no small feet. All in all, its a true masterpiece, and very deserving as my choice for best film of 2010.