Below is a list of all the movies I’ve watched in 2010 along with a rating on a five star scale and a brief review. This post will be updated and reposted over the course of the year as I see more films.

Jan 18 – Avatar | [slider title="review "]On pretty much every level I found Avatar to be a disappointment. The story was weak and mechanical, with undercurrents that call into question and undermine the very plot. I’m sick of CGI and 3-D is not at all what I’ve been led to believe it is. The movie made me feel like I was stuck inside World of War Craft for two and a half hours, a place I wouldn’t want to be for two and a half minutes. The more I reflect on the movie, the more of a disappointment it is. And the exact reasons I dislike it are the reasons it’s made millions–people are sheep.[/slider]

Jan 14 – The Fantasic Mr. Fox | [slider title="review "]Good movie, typical Wes Anderson, but the animation is no where near as good as the Wallace and Gromit films. [/slider]

Jan 12 – Good Dick | [slider title="review "]One of the most bizarre love stories I’ve seen in a long time. It was so weird and off kilter (not necessarily always in a good way) that’s it hard for me to whole heartedly recommend, but I love the voice and direction the film takes and definitely appreciated seeing something different.[/slider]

Jan 11 – Primary Colors | [slider title="review "]I was recently talking with someone about the book and so I decided to go back and watch the film again. I had totally forgotten what happened in the movie and was really surprised by how silly the film is, it really hams it up in a lot of places. The film is hugely successful at being a biting satire of Clinton, but beyond that I was let down.[/slider]

Jan 08 – Up in The Air | [slider title="review "]I was very excited to see this movie and was surprised by it’s mood (as the advertising made it out to be a comedy. It’s definitely one of the best pictures of 2009 and all of the performances are excellent. I love that Jason Reitman hasn’t fallen into any of the easy, movie cliches that the story so easily could have. At a time when our economy is a mess and hope for a brighter future is in short supply, it’s comforting to see a film that honestly reflects reality instead of ignoring the suffering the so many people face on a daily basis. [/slider]

Jan 07 – RocknRolla | [slider title="review "]Another run of the mill Guy Ritchie movie that doesn’t come close to matching Lock Stock.[/slider]

Jan 06 – Loren Cass | [slider title="review "]I had very high hopes for Loren Cass almost all of which were decimated when I saw it. I had read a review of it, I believe in Variety, that gave me a really strong impression. It’s a no budget, independent film made by a very young filmmaker and so looking back on it now I suspect that reviews were so strong because this had been taken into consideration. The film centers around a handful of misfit teenagers, each of whom are loners in their own right, who come to interact a bit throughout the movie. But there’s absolutely no dialogue and little story. As someone unfamiliar with the riots in St. Petersburg, Florida the movie is even harder to understand. However, it does have a few moments were wonderful directorial decision were made. It’s not a bad movie, it’s just not quite a movie yet.[/slider]

Jan 04 – Beautiful Losers | [slider title="review "]Even if you haven’t heard of a single one of the artists featured in this documentary you’re certain to recognize their work. Especially for me, it was touching and inspiring to hear the stories of friendship, success, and community that surrounded this group of artists that first met in New York. I highly recommend this documentary.[/slider]

Jan 03 – The Hurt Locker | [slider title="review "]I had heard a good deal of hype about this film before seeing it and yet I wasn’t disappointed for a second. It is definitely the best film I’ve seen from 2009. I highly recommend seeing it.[/slider]

Jan 02 – OSS 117: Le Caire, Nid d’Espions | [slider title="review "]Very funny, in fact it’s sillyness inhibited me from enjoying it more. However, what I loved was the production design which made it feel more like a classic 1960′s film stitched together with comedic outtakes from Hitchock’s films rather than a spoof on James Bond films. The film is in french, and I’m sure I missed out on a number of tongue in cheek jokes as a result, but I’m looking forward to the sequel that I believe is coming out this year. [/slider]

Jan 02 – Ne le Dis à Personne (Tell No One) | [slider title="review "]One of the most complex and interesting thrillers I’ve seen to date that doesn’t have huge gaping holes or rely on some clever (but unrealistic) plot device to tell its story. The acting is superb. Though, I’m still wondering, how did they fit that hunting rifle in a safe deposit box?[/slider]

Jan 01 – Friday Night Lights | [slider title="review "]As a fan of the television series I had to check out the film that preceded it. The film is far more cinematic than the television show and the stakes feel higher (the television show, especially in the later seasons, has many more aspects of teen drama than the film), but I have to say that I like the television show better. The characters in the film seem to have less depth than those in the television show, for example, characters like Tami Taylor and Buddy Garrity from the television show are glossed over in the film (even though the same actors play both rolls). Instead, everything seems focused on Billy Bob Thornton and, at least in this, he doesn’t seem that compelling.[/slider]