Top Ten of 2010

Usually these fall into one of three categories: movies that I felt were unjustly overlooked, movies that I feel will stand the test of time and be remembered instead of fading into obscurity, and movies that are just plain great.

Warning: lots of spoilers below!

My top ten of 2010:

"127 Hours" – Aron cuts his arm off, and there’s a beat where he almost can’t believe that he’s actually free, and says thank you.

"Buried" – The shock of the final twist as the voice on the phone apologizes and we are left with black immediately before the credits.

"Exit Through the Gift Shop" – Banksy showing us/Thierry his counterfeit currency.

"Four Lions" - The rap and "bombing" at the lecture.

"The Kids Are All Right" – Annette Bening realizes she’s being cheated on, comes back to the table, looks around with all the sound muffled.

"Lemmy" – Lemmy in a tank.

"The Social Network" - The regatta sequence.

"Somewhere" - Johnny Marco drives his Ferrari around a track in the desert, over and over and over again.

"Toy Story 3" – The toys realize they are goners, and accordingly band together right before they are to be incinerated.

"Winter’s Bone" – Ree Dolly cuts off one hand, and it is explained to her that she must cut off the other. The sound of the chainsaw.

Ten more great moments:

"Black Swan" - The final dance, where Natalie Portman sprouts wings.

"The Fighter" - Dickie watching "Lost Lives in Lowell" while in prison.

"Harry Potter 7" - Harry and Hermione's dance in the tent.

"I Am Love" - Tilda Swinton eating a prawn, literally lighting up as she chews.

"Incredibly Small" - Amir gives Anne his key to the apartment and they hug for too long, almost kissing, almost reconciling, before he finally leaves.

"Lovers of Hate" - Chris Doubek taking a bath at a car wash.

"Marwencol" - Mark Hogancamp lamenting not wearing heels, before finally putting them on and returning to the gallery.

"Pirahna 3D" - The fish eat Jerry O'Connell's dick and then burp it up.

"Putty Hill" - The shock of hearing the offscreen interviewer's voice for the first time, right after a rousing paintball match.

"The Town" - Jeremy Renner, knowing he's about to die, takes one last drink of a soda he finds on the street.

Edit: Movies I wanted to see but haven't yet

"The American"
"Animal Kingdom"
"Carlos"
"Dogville"
"The Illusionist"
"Never Let Me Go"
"Restrepo"
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"
"Sweetgrass"
"The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia"