Best Films of 2010

2010 started with James Cameron's "Avatar" dominating the box-office and the attention of moviegoers all around the world. As the year progressed, the 3D films kept on premiering, but sadly all of them were quite mediocre (including Tim Burton's interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland"). The end of the year as usual saw a plethora of good and great films coming out. Here is a list of films that made a striking impact and that prove the great talent of acclaimed directors, such as David Fincher and Darren Aronofsky, to name but a few.

Io Sono L'amore/I Am Love
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Marisa Berenson, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Alba Rohrwacher, Diane Fleri, Maria Paiato, Pippo Delbono, Gabriele Ferzetti, Mattia Zaccaro

The Social Network
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Joseph Mazzello, Rooney Mara, John Getz, Rashida Jones, David Selby, Brenda Song

Black Swan
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway, Mark Margolis

The King's Speech
Director: Tom Hooper
Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Eve Best, Anthony Andrews

The Fighter
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mickey O'Keefe, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Jill Quigg, Dendrie Taylor, Kate B. O'Brien, Jenna Lamia, Alison Folland

Inception
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Dileep Rao, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, Pete Postlethwaite, Lukas Haas

Shutter Island
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Max Von Sydow, Jackie Earle Hayley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Christopher Denham

Ghost Writer
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, Eli Wallach, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pugh, John Belushi

127 Hours
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clemency Poesy, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, Sean Bott, Lizzy Caplan

Special mentions should go for the following films. "Fair Game" from Doug Liman, "I Love You Philip Morris" from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World" from Edgar Wright, "Never Let Me Go" from Mark Romanek and "Hereafter" from Clint Eastwood.

The King's Speech

Movie name: The King's Speech
Year of release: 2010
Director: Tom Hooper
Stars:Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Eve Best, Anthony Andrews
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
Tom Hooper has made his name directing TV shows and mini series that have been showered with awards, namely "Elizabeth I" and "John Adams". "The King's Speech" is another period piece and follows the (true) story of King George VI and his relationship with his speech coach, Lionel Logue. King George VI, also Duke of York had stuttering problems and after trying to get help from a considerable number of specialists, with the aid of his wife, he decided to follow the unusual methods of Lionel Logue, an Australian actor. With a lot of perseverance and with the unusual dynamics between these strong personalities, the Duke starts making progresses with his speech impediments. When the Duke is forced to become King, after his brother's decision to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson, it's up to Lionel to provide all the assistance and help to the King's speeches in a time of war.
Tom Hooper is clearly someone with a keen eye for good performances and for period pieces. "The King's Speech" is fantastic in the details of the time period and excels in the performances of the actors. Hooper smartly lets the actors be the main thread of the film, in particular Colin Firth's King George VI/Bertie - he creates a man who has a speech impediment, due to his own insecurities, to his emotional losses and who with the help of his loving wife, is trying to overcome his limitations. Bertie is trying to overcome a life ruled by some fears, things that are confronted dramatically when he becomes King and needs to make public speech his second nature. Geoffrey Rush creates a great character in Lionel, a man who looks to find the person behind the impediments, someone who is fearless in his approach, but also sensitive and inquisitive. Helena Bonham Carter is, as always, fantastic, creating a Queen who is loving, supportive and fierce in her approach to her new found position. The cinematography of Danny Cohen is fantastic as is the music of Alexandre Desplat. This is a great film, of triumph of the will over adversity and the meaning of friendship in odd circumstances.

Rabbit Hole

Movie name: Rabitt Hole
Year of release: 2010
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Stars:Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Sandra Oh, Tammy Blanchard, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Mike Doyle, Colin Mitchell
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
John Cameron Michell is one of the most interesting directors working these days. He made his feature debut with the fantastic "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", based on his play (and the songs of Stephen Trask), followed by the equally good "Shortbus" and his third feature, "Rabbit Hole", is also the first one to tackle a story that is not originally his. The film is an adaptation of the play with the same name from David Lindsay-Abaire (the play won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for Drama, as well as the Tony award). The film follows the story of Becca and Howie, a young couple whose young son tragically died in a car accident. They are both trying to resume their lives after that tragic accident, with their families and friends, each one of them reaching out differently. While Howie tries to be more expansive with his pain, Becca takes a more painful and self contained approach, one that at times explodes in confrontations with family, friends and even strangers.
John Cameron Mitchell takes his unique point of view and adapts it to the intimate and painful story of a couple, dealing with the pain of a loss that is unspeakable. His work is discreet but never trivial or cliche - he allows the silences and the spaces to speak of the loss. The distance between the characters also explains how they relate to each other. It's also a film that is driven by the performances of the main actors. Nicole Kidman uses her icy persona and demeanor to build Becca as a woman shattered by pain and guilt, for a child that she lost, for a life that can never be regained. Aaron Eckhart makes Howie a man who is desperately trying to rebuild his life, whose grief is ever present, as is his love for Becca. Dianne Wiest's Nat, Becca's mother, is a person who has been through loss and tries to reach out to her daughter, but realizes that there's a huge gap between them both. All the actors are fantastic and help create a film that is humane, heartfelt and deeply touching. Also worth highlighting, the cinematography from Frank G. DeMarco, that is warm and captures the actors very naturalistic-style. Worth watching.

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Boogie Nights

Movie name: Boogie Nights
Year of release: 1997
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Heather Graham, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Melora Walters, Luis Guzman, Nicole Ari Parker, Joanna Gleason, Thomas Jane, Ricky Jay, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Penn, Alfred Molina, Nina Hartley
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:
Paul Thomas Anderson's second film definitely placed him on the map, with a risque screenplay, that probed the porn world of the 70s and was inspired by the life of adult film star John Holmes. The film follows the story of Eddie Adams, a young man who is finishing high school and working some small time jobs in order to make some money. Eddie catches the attention of Jack Horner, a director and producer of adult films, and following a dramatic exit from his house's parents, ends up being part of Horner's group of actors/performers who live under the same roof. Eddie experiences a meteoric rise to popularity in the adult films he performs, thanks to his natural endowments, but that crescendo starts to crack rapidly.
Paul Thomas Anderson's ode to the 70s, specifically to the adult movies from that era, comes with an aura of nostalgia - those were the days when the directors working on those films believed they were doing something for the sexual liberation, where there was still a concept of film on the big screen, before the video emerged and pushed adult films to specialized ghettos. The film shows the group within Jack Horner's house as a family that he built - Horner's films were for all intended purposes a family affair, all starring emotionally damaged people, from the beautiful Rollergirl, trying to finish her highschool certification, to Amber Waves, trying to get visitation rights to see her child. Though Mark Wahlberg's Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler is our narrator, the mosaic structure of the film, allows a glimpse into all the lives of the family that Jack Horner built. The film also perfectly captures the transition of the 70s to the 80s and how mentalities started to change. The film boasts fantastic performances from the entire cast, but the hightlights are mainly Julianne Moore who does a remarkable job playing Amber Waves, creating a woman who is vulnerable, trying to transfer her mother instincts to others since she can't do it with her own child, Heather Graham playing Rollergirl, a young woman who is just trying to find her own place in the world and Burt Reynolds, as Jack, the old patriarch who sees his empire changing but who tries to adapt to the world around him. The cinematography from Robert Elswit is simply stunning. A modern classic worth watching anytime.

The Fighter

Movie name: The Fighter
Year of release: 2010
Director: David O. Russell
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mickey O'Keefe, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Jill Quigg, Dendrie Taylor, Kate B. O'Brien, Jenna Lamia, Alison Folland
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
David O. Russell is a director who has thus far managed to create a very interesting career, directing films that are personal, even if sometimes a bit flawed. After the debacle that was "I Heart Huckabees" (with his aggressive rants with Lilly Tomlin hitting YouTube) and the problems surrounding "Nailed" (who is still waiting completion and release), Russell decided to tackle the true story of Mickey Ward, a boxer, in a film made with a very small budget (and his third collaboration with star/producer Mark Wahlberg). The film follows the story of Mickey Ward and his family, brother Dicky Eklund, his mom Alice and his sisters. Mickey is a boxer, much like his older brother Dicky, who is now his trainer (while his mom works as his manager). Dicky had his moment of glory some years ago and is now a pale shadow of his former self, always doing drugs and involved in schemes that land him in prison. Mickey on the other hand realizes that for him to have a final shot at reaching something as a fighter he has to navigate his life outside of his destructive family ties. Mickey with the aide of his girlfriend Charlene, manages to start climbing with victories in successive combats.
David O. Russell managed to create with "The Fighter" one of his best films. The screenplay itself is not much different than any boxing film ever done, however Russell manages to infuse the film with an air of authenticity, almost documentary, that gives the story a breath and an energy that are gripping. Most of the film's strength lie in the actors, and this film packs a great punch in that department. Mark Wahlberg does a good job, underacting and making his Mickey a humble and strong person vying for a last chance. Amy Adams shows her range as a person with a strength and character that are truly admirable, but the film really belongs to Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. Christian Bale disappears beneath the character he's creating, showing the vulnerable side of someone who knows his chance has gone by, someone broken by life and by drugs. Melissa Leo also creates a matriarch with a strength that is ferocious, even to her own children. A great film, worth watching.

The Tourist

Movie name: The Tourist
Year of release: 2010
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Stars:Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Rufus Sewel, Steven Berkoff, Christian De Sica, Alessio Boni, Daniele Pecci, Giovanni Guidelli, Raoul Bova
Genre: Action, Romance
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:
Following his fantastic debut with "The Lives of Others" (winner of the foreign Oscar film in 2006), Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck decided to tackle "The Tourist", a project that went through quite a few number of directors. The film is a remake of the french counterpart, "Anthony Zimmer" that starred Sophie Marceau and Yvan Attal, in the parts now taken by Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp respectively. The film follows Elise Ward, a beautiful English woman who is being surveyed by the police, since she has a connection to a man who stole a huge sum of money from a gangster. Trying to elude them, she strikes a conversation with a man she meets in the train, an American tourist, Frank Tupelo, a math teacher who is trying to overcome the grief of losing a woman. Elise is also following the indications of her former lover, trying to discover where he is and uses Frank to distract her followers. The relationship between Elise and Frank however leads them in a different direction and forces Elise to make some choices.
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is clearly trying to capture the glamour and sophistication that Alfred Hitchcock captured to perfection in "To Catch a Thief" (with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly), however, the film falters in the screenplay. The story is clearly overly simplistic and though the actors are stupendous, there's nothing much they can do when the screenplay is very limited to usual cliches. Johnny Depp gets to be a subdued character with none of his usually eccentric elements, whereas Angelina Jolie is simply stunning as a woman in love, quite different from the characters she usually portrays (either strong or emotionally damaged women). The film also boasts a stunning cinematography from John Seale, but no matter how much everyone tries, the film simply feels like something that has been done before, with more ambition and dazzling results. As is, the film is simply watchable but quickly forgettable.

Tron: Legacy

Movie name: Tron: Legacy
Year of release: 2010
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, Owen Best, Cillian Murphy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:
"Tron: Legacy" is a sequel to the seminal "Tron", directed by Steven Lisberger in 1982, which even though not a major critical and financial success, went on to enjoy a long life as a cult movie, due to the stunning visual work (from the minds of fantastic artists such as Syd Mead and Moebius, to name but a few). "Tron: Legacy" picks up only two characters from the original film, Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, respectively played by Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner. Kevin Flynn was, at the end of of the first "Tron", the new CEO of the company Encom. He disappears when "Tron:Legacy" begins and his son Sam grows by himself. Sam, now an adult, makes his presence felt in his own company, through carefully planned boycotts he deploys every year. Upon investigating his father's former game arcade, Sam gets inserted in the game world, where he finds out that his dad's creation, Clu, has been ruling the network of programs and games and his father has been a prisoner for years. It's up to Sam to rescue his father and alter the network.
The film is devoted to it's original counterpart - visually the film picks up a lot of the elements the original one had, but polishes it. All the surfaces are glossy, the costumes are impeccable. The film visually is simply arresting - the cinematography of Claudio Miranda is stunning, the soundtrack from Daft Punk adjusts itself perfectly, however the screenplay simply isn't as equally compelling. The situations are overly simplified, as are the characters. Jeff Bridges performance manages to bring some depth to both Kevin Flynn and Clu, but it's simply not enough. The film is nonetheless, an interesting action/sci-fi film, one where the action flows and the visuals are compelling. Hopefully next sequel will bring more substance.

Black Swan

Movie name: Black Swan
Year of release: 2010
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway, Mark Margolis
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:Darren Aronofsky continues his triumphant path, following his fantastic last three films, respectively "Requiem for a Dream", "The Fountain" and "The Wrestler". "Black Swan" symbolizes in a way, a crystallization of his themes, namely the obsessions that people possess and for whom they are willing to sacrifice everything, including their sanity and sense of self.
"Black Swan" follows the story of young Nina Sayers, a beautiful ballerina who is the utmost perfectionist, always training and trying her best to be the absolute perfection in everything she does. Nina gets a spotlight when she is chosen by her company's arrogant and seductive choreographer Thomas, to be the Swan Queen in a new interpretation of Swan Lake. Nina starts pushing herself even harder, since Thomas believes she is far too uptight and sheltered to understand the sensuality and looseness of the Black Swan of the ballet. To further complicate things, Nina feels a new rivalry from another dancer named Lily, who has just arrived from San Francisco and to whom everything just seems to flow effortlessly. To Nina she embodies all that she is not - much to her despair, she starts to believe Lily is trying to destroy her. Her attempts to capture perfection lead to unexpected developments.
Much like "The Wrestler", where Mickey Rourke's character Randy tried to an extreme to force his body to be the entertainer he once was, Natalie Portman's Nina Sayers, goes out of her way to capture the Swan Queen she's portraying. The duality of the character starts reflecting on her personality itself, with Nina progressively altering her behavior, being consumed by a personal ambition and obsession that ultimately consumes her altogether. Nina's mother, who always has lived her life for Nina and who projects all her dreams and frustrations on her daughter, ends up being the distorted mirror of all that she once was - a little girl who never grew up. Darren Aronofsky showcases the darkness that progressively taints Nina's world, from her body bruises and changes, to the events that she witnesses, creating an atmosphere that is progressively tenser as the film progresses. The way he and his wonderful cinematographer Matthew Libatique capture the nuances of Nina's world, serve to emphasize her fears and self doubts. The performances from the film are also fantastic, from Vincent Cassel as the narcissistic Thomas, Mila Kunis who excels as the liberated Lily, the always excellent Barbara Hershey as the overbearing mother and Winona Ryder, who freezes everything as the jilted Beth (it's nice to see her in such a great, yet small role). The film however belongs to Natalie Portman, she carries it with such an amount of immersion, from the technique of the dancer, to the duality of her Nina, in the spurts of menace that erupt from within her, that is a true wonder to see her work in this film. A highlight should also be given to Clint Mansell's soundtrack. An altogether fantastic film!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Movie name: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Year of release: 2010
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, Rhys Ifans, Bonnie Wright, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jason Isaacs, Peter Mullan, John Hurt, Clemence Poesy, David Thewlis, Sophie Thompson, Toby Jones, Rade Serbedzija
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:As the "Harry Potter" franchise comes to an end, the final film has been divided in two halves, to allow for a richer story development. The film picks up where "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" left: with Dumbledore gone and Voldemort spreading panic and attacking in all directions, in the hopes of catching and killing Harry Potter, the tight unit of friends has to come together in order to protect Harry and their magic world from total annihilation. Harry, Herminone and Ron go on a quest, trying to find objects that are important for Voldemort and can help in his destruction. All the while Voldemort's influence starts to spread to the Ministry of Magic and to the order of their world.
David Yates has managed to hold the title for director who stayed with the franchise for the longest time, having directed two films before and now the final diptych. One thing has become more evident in his films - as the series has progressed in time, the heroes have matured, the danger has become more evident and the tone also has also become darker and more menacing. The first part of the last film, shows the young heroes on the run, literally, since their safety is threatened everywhere they go. They have to find objects that allow for the destruction of their opponent and, more than ever, rely upon each other to survive the whole ordeal. The film has a different pacing than the previous ones, a slower tone, that allows the young actors to show a bit more about their characters and just how far their talents have developed. However the striking parts as always get handled by the wonderful talents of Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, who excel as the villains whom everyone wants to destroy. The film boasts also a great cinematography from Eduardo Serra and a beautiful score from Alexandre Desplat. Though it's a truncated experience, it's still an interesting film worth checking out.

127 Hours

Movie name: 127 Hours
Year of release: 2010
Director: Danny Boyle
Stars: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clemency Poesy, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, Sean Bott, Lizzy Caplan
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:After the Oscar rain that fell upon his film "Slumdog Millionaire", Danny Boyle returns with another riveting film. "127 Hours" is based on the book by Aron Ralston, that details his harrowing experience of being trapped after a hiking excursion that went terribly wrong. The film starts by introducing the audience to Aron, a young hiker who is about to go explore the canyons near the Moab desert in Utah. During his excursion, he meets two young women, Kristi and Megan, with whom he has a fun time, showing them interesting places to explore. Upon following his solitary path, Aron unexpectedly falls off a cliff and gets his arm stuck and is unable to move. What follows are his desperate attempts to get off that predicament alive.
Danny Boyle is a very talented director: "Trainspotting", "Shallow Grave", "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine" alone proved long before his triumph with "Slumdog Millionaire". What he does with "127 Hours" is pretty riveting: he grabs a story that is told from the point of view of a sole actor/narrator, and he makes it engaging, dynamic and thrilling. Aron goes through a death-trap that is lethal, but we're embarking on that journey with him, thanks to the visual imagination of Danny Boyle, who makes Aron a real person, with aspirations, dreams, fears and regrets. James Franco gives a very good performance, imbuing Aron with an enthusiasm, joy and also fear, that is contagious. This is a film worth watching, not just for the testament to the perseverance of people, but as dazzling film filled with visual ideas.

The Next Three Days

Movie name: The Next Three Days
Year of release: 2010
Director: Paul Haggis
Stars: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Brian Dennehy, Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Helen Carey, Jason Beghe, Daniel Stern, Aisha Hinds, Jonathan Tucker, Lennie James, Kevin Corrigan, Allan Steele, Trudie Styler, Ty Simpkins
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:"The Next Three Days" is a remake of the french film "Pour Elle". Paul Haggis, known for directing the award winning "Crash" (and writing "Million Dollar Baby" and "Casino Royale" to name but a few), tackles the remake with an aura of suspense and drama, which comes in the tradition of his best work, specifically the wonderful and underrated "In the Valley of Elah".
"The Next Three Days" follows the lives of John, Lara, and their son Luke Brenan, whose every day existence is turned upside down when Lara is wrongly imprisoned for the murder of her boss/superior. John, a professor at a community college, becomes discouraged when he finds out the appeal for Lara's verdict can't be overturned, upon which he starts devising a way to liberate her from prison. Through a carefully devised plan, with lots of trial and error, John finally manages to put in action a way to make Lara's escape occur.
Paul Haggis has made a name for himself as a creator of stories with dramatic depth, where characters actually exist and are more than stereotypes. In "The Next Three Days", we watch the life of a middle class couple unravel, as Lara, an innocent woman, is thrown in a situation that is beyond anything she has ever experienced. That is what really interests Paul Haggis - the delicate balance that is life and how that is turned upside down quite unexpectedly. The film vividly depicts the family life of the Brenan's, but where the film falters is in giving Lara more than just a victim role. It would be interesting to see where Elizabeth Banks could take her character. The film bolsters good performances from Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson and a good soundtrack from the wonderful Danny Elfman. A good solid film worth watching.

Secretariat

Movie name: Secretariat
Year of release: 2010
Director: Randall Wallace
Stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Nelsan Ellis, Margo Martindale, Dylan Baker, Dylan Walsh, James Cromwell, Fred Dalton Thompson, Scott Glenn, Nestor Serrano, Kevin Connolly, Eric Lange, Drew Roy, Amanda Michalka
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:Randal Wallace is best known for having written the screenplays for "Braveheart", "The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Pearl Harbor", though as a director he has a few films on his resume as well. "Secretariat" follows the story of Penny Chenery, a housewife in Denver, who due to the death of her mother is forced to come back to her family's horse farm to help her dad and secure the financial stability of the farm. When Penny decides to race a horse whom she won in a toss, she secures the services of trainer Lucien Laurin to help her get some victories. Penny and her horse "Secretariat" end up becoming the underdog, the one no one expected to win, but who ends up winning races and people's hearts.
Randall Wallace treats this story quite conventionally, opting for a very traditional and family oriented film. None of these elements that he shoots in this film are particularly new, namely the underdog who beats all the odds, but thanks to the wonderful Diane Lane and the always great John Malkovich, the film ends up having some energy and spark, in what would otherwise be a very standard film. The Disney studio usually releases films very much like this with a certain frequency, but certain casts make all the difference - this is the case. Not an exceptional film, but still worth watching.

Fair Game

Movie name: Fair Game
Year of release: 2010
Director: Doug Liman
Stars: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Sam Shepard, Noah Emmerich, Michael Kelly, Bruce McGill, David Andrews, Brooke Smith, Ty Burrell, Thomas McCarthy, Tim Griffin
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:Doug Liman has made his name as a director of big budget action films, such as "The Bourne Identity", "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and "Jumper", but his initial roots were in independent films, where he directed the interesting "Swingers" and "Go". "Fair Game" his latest film, has a style that tends to be closely related to the one of Paul Greengrass (another director of the "Bourne" franchise), since the style is very much documentary style. The film follows the story of Valerie Plame Wilson and Joseph Wilson, between the years of 2001 and 2003. The story introduces us to Valerie, a CIA operative who is in the middle of trying to verify the escalating arms/nuclear problems in Iraq. Valerie leads a double life, since most of these are top secret operations, that obviously have to be secretive to the people in her life. Her husband, who had worked for previous governments, now works privately as a consultant. When the second invasion of Iraq occurs, propelled by wrongful information, Valerie's covert is blown. The aftermath puts her life and marriage spiraling downward.
Doug Liman has a gripping story in his hands and propels it forward, utilizing the solid and stoic performances from Naomi Watts and Sean Penn (both of whom are fantastic and have played couples before in "21 Grams" and "The Assassination of Richard Nixon"). The film mixes footage from broadcasts of the invasion of Iraq, with footage shot by Liman himself (who was the cinematographer also) in different locations, giving the film an authentic and gripping look and feel. The film is reminiscent of the conspiracy films from the 70s, in a contemporary setting, anchored by strong performances and a pacing that allows for the story and characters to truly exist. A solid film worth seeing.

Due Date

Movie name: Due Date
Year of release: 2010
Director: Todd Phillips
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Danny McBride, RZA, Todd Phillips
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:Following the huge success of "The Hangover", director Todd Phillips is back with another comedy, with one of the actors of "The Hangover", Zach Galifianakis, paired with the always great Robert Downey Jr. "Due Date" follows the story of Peter Highman, an architect who is in Atlanta on work and who's flying back to LA since his wife is having a baby that same week and he wants to be at the hospital for the birth. When he is boarding his flight, his luggage gets mixed with the one of Ethan Tremblay, a budding actor. Everything just goes downhill from there for Peter, since Ethan wreaks havoc in his life in every conceivable way. Peter ends up having to drive with Ethan across the country to see his wife, both experiencing different adventures along the way.
Whereas "The Hangover" had a fresh look at the dynamics of a group of friends, "Due Date" is a story that has been seen and done countless times. The two main characters are at odds with each other, one uptight and controlling, the other reckless and immature. The concept is widely know: both learn something from each other. Todd Phillips doesn't go for the moralistic side of the story thankfully, he aims the target at situations that are just over the top. Sadly, particularly because the film is presented as a comedy, they don't really work. The film does not have a screenplay that is irreverent and original, though the actors try their best to create some sparks. The film barely registers as a vehicle for the talent of Zach Galifianakis. A sadly missed opportunity.