Top 10 Movies of 2010

In honor of the closing of the decade, I'm going through and making some lists from these past ten years, and I'm starting it all off with some countdowns of my favorites of each individual year. It's been a pretty great decade for movies, but you won't necessarily be seeing the overall "best" movies on most of these lists...because I like some weird stuff. As usual, this is all opinion based, so keep that in mind. Now onto the first list, my top 10 favorite movies of 2010 this list is. Plus some extra ones.



Honorable mentions (A - Z):

2019 in review

I've not done so much critical writing over the past year, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to throw a few words at the movies I've seen from this year. 2019 was, for me at least, a great improvement over 2018, which lacked quality movies on the high end (I didn't give a single 10/10 that entire year).

Okay, now to the movies.

200 Items Or Less - Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat (1989)

A few thoughts: A really corny, over-the-top vampire western with enough humor to keep it afloat during the slow parts, and good enough of a cast to make me care about what was happening regardless of who it was happening to. Obviously the main highlights of the cast are bound to be the known actors, like David Carradine, M. Emmett Walsh, and (of course) Bruce Campbell, but this isnt the kind of movie you watch just for one performance or anything like that. There are so many moving parts, and the plot itself is actively engaging. Sure, it's goofy crap from start to finish, but the personal stories of some of these characters actually had me caring about the outcome, and seeing the reformed vampires face off against the killer vampires worked really well for a final act. If I could make a major complaint it would probably be that I wish Campbell had more to do, as his Van Helsing character had several wonderful moments and a solid backstory that might have given the movie a little more depth. But as it is, I enjoy this movie quite a bit and feel it's really underrated and overlooked.

200 Items Or Less: Highlander (1986)

A few thoughts: A bloated and odd action/adventure/sci-fi/fantasy where a Frenchman plays a Scot, and a Scot plays a Spaniard. Also, Mr. Krabs plays an immortal warrior bent on killing said French-Scot and Scot-Spaniard in order to win a cosmic competition and reign terror down on mankind. Needless to say, this movie is pretty insane, and that's without taking into account the even more ridiculous and nonsensical sequel. Overall, this movie is a bit of a mess, but it's of the fun variety that I can't help but to enjoy. In spite of some lousy casting, the acting is fun, with Clancy Brown's over-the-top villain in particular standing out. There are some truly awesome set pieces and visuals to accompany the insanity of the plot, and the filmmakers did a great job at highlighting scenery and changing things up to keep each action scene individeal and memorable. It's no surprise at all that this movie had some success and spawned sequels and spin-offs, but it isn't quite the cult classic I feel it had the potential of being.

200 Items Or Less: The Stepfather (1987)

A few thoughts: The first thing any classic horror movie needs is that one great character/performance that everyone can point to and remember. Nearly every major horror franchise has one, and this one is no different -- with the single exception being an emphasis on the quality of the performance and less on the character itself. The positives of this movie pretty much begin and end there. Terry O'Quinn gives one of my favorite film performances ever here, in a role that's so unsettling and absorbing it's hard to take your eyes off him. It's the rest of the movie that has difficulty keeping up, but avoiding the need for a twist ending and laying it all out from the beginning helps keep it from being a bore. I hate when movies feel the need to throw in obvious twists, but this one does away with that and this allows O'Quinn to give the best performance of his career as someone not held back by the clumsy direction of the plot. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find it very engrossing.

200 Items Or Less: The Terminator (1984)

A few thoughts: One of the first films ever directed by James Cameron, this first Terminator movie (that's birthed a handful of sequels and TV spin-offs) is a very flawed but still impressive and exciting sci-fi action thriller. While many of the effects are, of course, slightly dated, there's still a timeless quality to this movie that makes it hold up better than nearly any of its sequels -- perhaps even all of them. With an intimidating performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a frazzled Linda Hamilton, and some solid support from Michael Biehn and Lance Henriksen (who sadly was given close to no material to work with here), there can be few complaints about the cast. While there are some obvious issues with the writing and time travel mechanics that originated here, flaws of the sequels shall not deter me from enjoying the first movie. It has great action, fun performances, plenty of great quotes, iconic moments, and some (mostly) impressive visuals. It isn't a masterpiece, but it has all the pop culture influence of one.

200 Items Or Less: The Pit And The Pendulum (1991)

A few thoughts: Stuart Gordon is one of those directors who you can always count on to deliver the goods -- if by "goods" you mean exploitative trash. This time he takes on the Spanish inquisition, which was very unexpected, bringing tons of gore into the fold. This is where I'd usually talk about Jeffrey Combs, but his role was small. Lance Henriksen as the grand inquisitor, however, was a huge part of this movie, and roughly 80% of the reason to watch it. If you ever doubted why he's such a massive cult actor, just watch this movie. He's ridiculously over the top, creepy, and perfect for the movie surrounding him. I was also pretty surprised by how good the movie looks. Solid attention to detail with the sets, costumes, and even more subtle touches in makeup and hair, but the way the film is lit really makes it pop. This is a striking movie, and with all that blood, it's hard to look away. This is by no means high art, but Henriksen brings it, and the movie actually works pretty well.

200 Items Or Less: The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

A few thoughts: Shane Black is a writer who can't help but to be in love with himself, and that comes through with every movie he's ever written. Full of "witty" dialogue and general smarminess, this forgettable '90s action movie is no exception. While his directorial efforts generally suit his screenplays better, with Renny Harlin taking on this role, the result is less than satisfying. Geena Davis is solid in the main role, if slightly uneven, but she along with Samuel L. Jackson give it their best. Too bad for both of them, they have terrible on-screen chemistry. The way these two characters interact and develop is clunky, awkward, and rings false. Additionally, this movie commits the sin of casting both Brian Cox and David Morse in roles so small, they feel almost entirely wasted. The action is fine, but it's very cheesy and not terribly impressive. Overall I found this movie very uninteresting and quite disappointing.

200 Items Or Less: Bad Ass (2012)

A few thoughts: Followed by two cheap VOD sequels (that I can pretty much guarantee I'll never watch) and based on a video that made some old dude internet famous for about a week, Bad Ass is pure, unadulterated, cheap trash. It's also starring Danny Trejo, which is pretty much the most perfect casting choice imaginable. So, what could I possibly think about a movie based on a viral video starring Danny Trejo? It's garbage? It's fun? It's stupid? All of the above. There no way anyone could go into this movie expecting a legitimate movie, and while the screenplay takes every standard avenue, the ultimate appeal of this movie comes from watching Danny Trejo give one of his more entertaining performances, beating up bad guys and quipping his way through the film like a Mexican Schwarzenegger. But much like Hobo With A Shotgun, Machete, and other modern grindhouse movies, not even a fun leading performance can lift it up to levels higher than just passable. It's very cheap, but Trejo makes it work, even when the plot slows down and relies on his odd sort of charisma.

Top 10 Jeffrey Combs performances

It's been a while since my last of these lists (Nathan Fillion, I think?), but that doesn't mean I've given up on them or my site completely.

200 Items Or Less: The Thing (1982)

A few thoughts: One of those instances where I really have nothing new to add to the conversation, but I love this movie and feel it deserves every voice available to join in the chorus of praise. As much as I enjoy the 1951 version, John Carpenter's vision is very obviously superior, amping up the tension and paranoia by making the monster into a shape-shifter. The practical effects here are some of the best of all time, and the fact they were done on such a modest budget, and in some cases with serious time restraints, just proves once again how much better they are (and how much better they hold up over time) than CG. The cast is terrific, with Kurt Russell and Keith David in particular giving some of the best performances of their respective careers. The music is awesome, the setting is isolated and atmospheric, the acting and effects are amazing... There's really nothing about this movie that doesn't work. It may not be the greatest horror or science fiction film of all time, but it's damn close.

200 Items Or Less: Graveyard Shift (1990)

A few thoughts: I really enjoy the campiness of a lot of '80s and '90s Stephen King horror adaptations, and while I wouldn't quite put this on the same level as the killer washing machine movie 'The Mangler', it does stand as one of the more entertaining ones. As usual, the Maine accents are strong with this one, with Steven Macht in particular standing out as the most committed to hamming it up in that department... and everywhere else, for that matter. He's tons of fun as Warwick, an insidious and violent boss who treats his workers like a prison warden treats inmates. Also, there's a small performance by Brad Dourif, whose twitchy weirdness is never to be overlooked. In just a few small scenes he leaves a strong impression and is one of the best things about the movie. The set design is nice and grubby, and the way they shot the film really showcased it well. I like this movie, and I also feel the practical effects deserve a mention -- they were pretty awesome. It's messy and simple, but it works, and manages to be pretty entertaining.

Top 20 Favorite Movies of 2018

Alright, I think waiting until it's almost 1/3 of the way through 2019 is long enough to postpone my yearly countdown of my favorites of the past year, yet I still find myself thinking I haven't seen nearly enough movies to really do a solid list. This is partially due to the fact that, as a whole, I've found 2018 to be one of the worst years for movies in probably a decade -- or even longer. Not a single movie I could give a top rating without any reservations, but plenty that slide into that B+/-, 8/10, very-good-but-not-great range. So here goes nothing.

Oh, and I'm gonna throw out a few titles that didn't make the cut, but I'll save those for the end. So maybe your favorite just barely missed the cut. Or I hated it. That's also quite possible, since I pretty much find myself disagreeing with most everyone on what makes for a movie good anymore. Now list.


22. Upgrade

I forgot to mention I cheat when I make lists sometimes.