Welcome Stargazers, one and all, to the seriously overdue...
I usually unfurl my Best of series in January, but it seems the universe has been working against me. The weak offerings from 2010 combined with my innate talent for procrastination made for one helluva hurdle to overcome. Add to that a pesky rootkit hitting my PC and we're all lucky I didn't have to scrap the whole ceremony! Speaking of which, let's get this party started, shall we?
From January 1 to December 31, 2010 nearly 650 films were released into U.S. theaters according to The Numbers. That's not counting how many films went straight to DVD, but who has time to figure that out? Of the hundreds of 2010 releases, my confessions are limited to the 98 films I viewed in theaters or from my couch (including straight-to-DVD releases). That's just a tad short of last year's total; surprising considering how underwhelming the majority of same said releases were. To the best of my ability, my year in review ONLY counts 2010 releases.
The reference is a bit dated, but appropriate nonetheless. As with my previous Confessions, I organize my picks into a Top 7 where the #1 choice is the hands-down winner and the remaining six nominees fall a close second. Why 7? “Seven’s the key number here.” Who has time for eight in this day and age? And six?! I can’t even break a sweat with six! It’s gotta be seven, man, seven!
In the spirit of all things 7, I have divvied my list of movies into 7 categories. You may not agree with every designation, and that’s your prerogative. What is important is each category has all the films that will vie for the titles of Best and Worst. That major announcement, dear readers, will be saved until the finale. I now present the full listing of every 2010 release in the running.
Reel Whore’s
Total Tricks Turned in '10
Total Tricks Turned in '10
Action (15 films)
Bitch Slap; From Paris With Love; Iron Man 2; Kick-Ass; Machete; Red; Robin Hood; Salt; Takers; The A-Team; The Book of Eli; The Expendables; The Losers; Universal Soldier: Regeneration; Unstoppable
Comedy (15 films)
Cop Out; Date Night; Dinner for Schmucks; Due Date; Get Him to the Greek; Grown Ups; Hot Tub Time Machine; MacGruber; Micmacs; Our Family Wedding; Sex and the City 2; The Other Guys; Wild Target; You Again; Youth in Revolt
Drama (24 films)
127 Hours; Brooklyn's Finest; City Island; Defendor; Eat Pray Love; For Colored Girls; Get Low; Greenberg; Hereafter; My Name is Khan; Never Let Me Go; Paper Man; Please Give; Rabbit Hole; Terribly Happy; The Eclipse; The Fighter; The Kids Are All Right; The King's Speech; The Secret in Their Eyes; The Social Network; Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps; Why Did I Get Married Too?; You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Horror (8 films)
30 Days of Night: Dark Days; A Nightmare on Elm Street; Daybreakers; Piranha 3D; Predators; Splice; The Crazies; The Wolf Man
Romance (13 films)
Barry Munday; Cyrus; Easy A; Going the Distance; I Love You, Phillip Morris; Jack Goes Boating; Just Wright; Love & Other Drugs; Scott Pilgrim vs. The World; She's Out of My League; The Switch; Valentine's Day; When in Rome
Sci-Fi/Fantasy (9 films)
Alice in Wonderland; Clash of the Titans; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I; How to Train Your Dragon; Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Resident Evil: Afterlife; The Last Airbender; The Sorcerer's Apprentice; Toy Story 3
Thriller (12 films)
Black Swan; Chloe; Inception; Shutter Island; The Ghost Writer; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl Who Played With Fire; The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest; The Killer Inside Me; The Town; True Grit; Winter's Bone
With that out of the way, let's move on to the first of my confessions. The #1 position is the film I consider to be, hands-down, the best of 2010, while the remaining six nip closely at its heels.
Award #1: Best Cameos of 2010
I've decided to mix up the award order this year. First up, this award recognizes actors or famous personalities who pop in for a brief grin-and-wink as themselves or some minor character. When done properly, a great cameo might be the best (or only) moment you remember about a movie.
Warning! Announcement of the following nominees may spoil some shocking and/or hilarious moments in a movie. If you don't like spoilage, consider yourself warned!
The Sloppy Seconds:
 | Cloris Leachman- This venerable lady of laughs elevated You Again to new heights of hilarity when she popped in for a brief bout of wits opposite Betty White. She also came closest to knocking out the Best Cameo front runner, and not just because of my love for Raising Hope and her role as Maw Maw. |
Will.i.Am- This is about as 'cameo' as an artist can get! In Date Night, it's a true celebrity sighting as Tina Fey's Claire snags a candid snap of her alongside 'Will.i.Am from Fergie.' No lines, just his presence... nice. |  |
 | Matt Walsh- Some of you make say his inclusion is debatable, but Walsh appeared briefly in both Cyrus and Due Date and both films were better for it. Granted, neither role could top his character Joshua on Community, but few can play a wise ass the way this man can. |
| Dwayne Johnson-While his role in The Other Guys is a tad too substantial, he was unleashed as pure man candy in both You Again and Why Did I Get Married Too?. The man may still be struggling to lead in Hollywood, but when he flashes those pearly whites, the ladies will follow. |  |
 | Arnold Schwarzenegger- The Expendables lauded its all-star cast of action heroes. However, seeing Ah-nold saunter onscreen flaunting his Hawaiian shirt and hiked-up, old-man Dockers reminded me that we are, indeed, at the end of an era. |
The Wrestlers- Chris Jericho, Kane, Mark Henry, MVP, The Great Khali, and The Big Show (not pictured) played MacGruber's old team. While their inclusion probably doesn't make this film a must-see event, you oughta know they were fucking great guys.
And the award for Best Cameo of 2010 goes to:
The big event is officially underway! There are more awards yet to come. Join me tomorrow for Day 2 of Confessions 2010: Reel Whore vs. the Movies!
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