MY TOP 20+ FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2010 (SO FAR)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

YEAR 2010 was officially over. It has been a wonderful year with so many excitements and enjoyments in the cinema. A year that I have watched so many movies, so that enable me to keep writing and updating this blog. I never thought of writing a blog. Never even dreamed of writing a single critic and post it to the 'virtual' world. It was just something popped-up in my head sometimes in February 2010, after watching My Name is Khan. The movie was so inspiring (actually many movies did) that made me asking myself, "Why don't I write a movie blog, so that I can pour out all what I feel about movies?". And 'MyMovie Critic' blog was born in March 2010.

FROM 'MyMovie Critic' Facebook, I came to know that there are so many people who passionately love and craze about movies. So I am not alone. I believe this is something running in our blood that we cannot do anything about it. And I am fortunate to know you guys. I have to admit that writing and maintaining a blog is not easy and sometimes quite tiring, as it needs consistency and a lot of time, especially as I am a perfectionist. But I have a great time and fun writing this blog, and I plan to keep writing.

NOW, it is time for me to pick some of my favorite movies of 2010 that I have watched so far. This list is based on how I enjoyed the movies, and the movies that I thought were 'Very Good', which I gave 4 stars or above. I am such bad in the 'Top 10' things, so my list is finally becoming a long one, and I decided to not restraint myself to 'Top 10'. I believe this list will be expanded as time goes by, as I have yet to watch movies like The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Fighter, 127 Hours, Winter's Bone, True Grit, Blue Valentine, and many other movies. Enjoy my picks. Hope we share some of the same movies in our favorite list this year.

21) EASY A

MyRating : YYYY

Emma Stone lost her virginity in high school and her promiscuity is becoming the No #1 word of mouth. But all in lies! Stone was perfectly fit in her role as a 'nobody' who suddenly becomes the most popular girl at school and becomes the dreams of every guy. And she enjoys to become an imaginary bitch. A funny and smart teen romantic comedy.

Read my complete review at: EASY A (2010)

20) TOY STORY 3

MyRating: YYYY

It's the movie that everybody loves. Pixar comes back with a charming, with their most beloved toys on earth. And the toys still haven't lost their magic touch after 15 years. Entertaining story, sophisticated graphic and lovable characters made this movie a winner. It's merrier, and it's messier! One thing I love the most, it's touching!

Read my complete review at: TOY STORY 3 (2010)

19) LETTERS TO JULIET

MyRating: YYYY

Amanda Seyfried never looks so beautiful and lovely in one of the most delightful romantic comedy of the year, as an American girl who goes on vacation to Italy with her fiance, just to find out that he might not be her true love. And that all starts with one letter, which has been forgotten for 50 years. A charming movie.

Read my complete review at: LETTERS TO JULIET (2010)

18) SPLICE

MyRating: YYYY

Two genetic scientists, Adrien Brody & Sarah Polley, did the cardinal sin in science when they blended human DNA in their experiment on splicing animal genes. The result is a new hybrid animal that they named Dren, who grows to become like a human girl. But when the animal instinct inside the girl bursts out, the unthinkable happens. This is a sexy and twisted thriller with interesting storyline.

My Review: Coming Soon

17) OCEAN HEAVEN

MyRating: YYYY

Jet Li shows his softer side as a terminally ill father who has to find his autistic son a suitable home and to teach the son all the necessary basic skills in order to survive in life, before death picks him up. A touching human drama that may cut your heart with tears on how unjust life could be. Great chemistry between the father and son. A beautiful movie about love, sacrifice, and hope.

Read my complete review at: OCEAN HEAVEN (2010)

16) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

MyRating: YYYY

A smart drama comedy about a lesbian family, Annette Bening & Julianne Moore, whose peaceful family life is at threat when the anonymous sperm donor father of their children, Mark Rufallo, appears in their life. Not only they fear that the guy may steal the loves of their children, but also he may cause the couple to lose the love to each other. A moving drama with good performances by Bening and Moore. And a sexy one.

Read my complete review at: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (2010)

15) THE EXPENDABLES

MyRating: YYYY

Sylvester Stallone proved that he is the master of action movies in this awesome, brainless, and brawn-fully old-school action film, about a group of mercenaries hired to overthrow a dictator in a South American island. Plus Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and many other old timers, you will be served with a show that need not to be intelligently brilliant to become entertaining. Just throw some good kicks and punches, and you will call it brilliant!

Read my complete review: THE EXPENDABLES (2010)

14) BURIED

MyRating : YYYY

Ryan Reynolds gave a groundbreaking performance in this one-man-show terrifying thriller about a guy trapped inside a coffin and buried somewhere below the earth in Iraq. When he knows that help may not come for him, he has to find the way to get out. But how? A very original story with a new and unique movie experience, that may seal you together with your claustrophobia. Brilliant and breathless!

Read my complete review at: BURIED (2010)

13) STEP UP 3D

MyRating: YYYY

A dance movie has never been so impressive, mesmerizing and mindblowing like this one. Script as thin as paper, but what you get is a thick entertainment due to the awesome dance moves, that you never realize are existed, and the jaw-dropping real 3D. It was highly entertaining that made me impossible to hate this movie. Just impossible, no matter whatever the logic I use. Just sit down, relax, and enjoy the fun. It was just charming! That simple.

Read my complete review at: STEP UP 3D (2010)

12) THE LAST EXORCISM

MyRating: YYYY

A creepy and scary horror movie about a losing faith priest, who decides to make a documentary film while he performs his last exorcism, just to prove to the world that the exorcism practice is a scam. What he doesn't expect is, the girl that he is about to perform the exorcism has the true powerful evil forces inside her. And the job that is suppossed to be his last may be his first encounter with the devil. The handheld camera works made this movie so scary, wondering what was about to come out on screen next. Good story, great and realistic performances, with disputable ending that will split audiences. Overall, a great one for me.

Read my complete review at: THE LAST EXORCISM (2010)

11) SALT

MyRating: YYYY1/2

Angelina Jolie was awesome and kicked ass in this fully packed action movie of the year, with intriguing story about a CIA Agent, Evelyn Salt, who is suddenly being accussed as a Russian spy. As the result, she becomes the No. 1 target of the U.S. Counterintelligence. But to chase her is not an easy job as she is a well trained agent with high survival skills. And to catch her? Maybe you have to die first. A highly entertaining action movie that showed the greatness of Jolie. Just a perfect role for her.

Read my complete review at: SALT (2010)

10) PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME

MyRating: YYYY1/2

The best game movie ever made. Jake Gyllenhaal, as the prince, is being accused of a big crime that forces him to run away from his kingdom. Together with a beautiful and slick princess, Gemma Arterton, they have to find the sands of time, which if being filled into a dagger, can turn back time. A rock solid entertainment with very enjoyable story, breathtaking actions and amazing parkour stunts, plus charming performances by Gyllenhaal and Arterton, especially the lovely Gemma Arterton.

Read my complete review at: PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (2010)

9) MY NAME IS KHAN

MyRating: YYYY1/2

Shahrukh Khan gave a heartfelt performance as a Muslim Indian, who suffered from an autism disorder and has to face racial hatred in the United States after the 9/11 event. For the love of a woman, Kajol, he has to set a journey across the states to meet the President of the U.S. in order to clear his name, that he is not a terrorist. A touching and amazing human drama with a powerful and memorable performances by the two leads. Highly recommended.

Read my complete review at: MY NAME IS KHAN (2010)

8) IP MAN 2

MyRating: YYYY1/2

An awesome martial arts movie by the great Donnie Yen in his most memorable role as the legendary Ip Man, who has to start a kung fu school all over again in Hong Kong, but faces tough times with the local grandmaster, Sammo Hung, and his men. But his real challenge is to fight for the honor of his country against the cruel and big-mouthed British boxing champ named Twister. A great movie with top-notch martial arts choreography. A total excitement and one of the best martial arts movies in years.

Read my complete review at: IP MAN 2 (2010)

7) TANGLED

MyRating: YYYY1/2

A delightful and magical Disney's musical animated movie based on the fairy tale of Rapunzel, a princess with long magic hair, who is locked inside a tower by a wicked woman for 18 years. But her world is about to break free when a handsome bandit named Flynn Ryder accidentally breaks into her hidden tower, and into her heart. A funny and charming story, lovable characters, and beautiful songs, made this one an instant Disney's classic.

Read my complete review at: TANGLED (2010)

6) SHUTTER ISLAND

MyRating: YYYY1/2

Leonardo DiCaprio gave a powerful performance in this gripping mystery-thriller by Martin Scorsese about a U.S. Marshall who is trapped in a criminal mental asylum in Shutter Island. When he finds out that there is a dangerous experiment held in the island towards the patients, at the same time he starts to questioning his insanity, whether he is still sane in that insane island. Another great collaboration between Scorsese & DiCaprio. A good twisted movie that makes you think.

Read my complete review at: SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

5) THE SOCIAL NETWORK

MyRating: YYYYY

A smart movie that came just in the right time, about Mark Zuckerberg and his phenomenal Facebook, following all the controversies behind the creation of the most popular social network in history. A solid story, clever dialogues and brilliant script by Aaron Sorkin, an excellent direction by David Fincher, and great performances, including Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg. Even though people use Facebook everyday, it was not an easy movie to make, but the result was easy to enjoy. That's the greatness.

Read my complete review at: THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)

4) AFTERSHOCK

MyRating: YYYYY

A touching and tearjerker Chinese movie about the fate of a family that is destroyed by the catastrophic earthquake in Tangshan, China, in 1976. A mother is forced to choose to save only one of her twin children, the boy or the girl, who are both trapped below a concrete slab. And she has to bear the choice that she made for years to come. Beautifully and emotionally written drama, superb performances by the actors, plus surprisingly very good earthquake special effects, made this one an outstanding and memorable movie.

Read my complete review at: AFTERSHOCK (2010)

3) HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

MyRating: YYYYY

DreamWorks finally gave a top-notch and high quality animated movie, about a Viking boy who becomes an acquaintance with a dragon, while dragons are his tribe's No. 1 enemy for generations. When their relationship bonds stronger, the boy knows that he has to find a way to end the long animosity between the Vikings and the dragons. This movie was an absolutely charming that has a lot of heart, with excellent 3D and great fun actions. For me, this is the best animated movie of the year.

Read my complete review at: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2010)

2) THE TOWN

MyRating: YYYYY

Ben Affleck is brilliant when it comes to directing a movie, as well as writing a script. This is another great piece by him, about four robbers, led by Ben Affleck, who find out that the woman that they took hostage in their last action is happened to live in the same town with them. To find out what she knows, Affleck starts a personal relationship with her. But as their relationship gets closer, so as his troubles. A very enjoyable and clever story with good performances. A well crafted crime drama of the year.

Read my complete review at: THE TOWN (2010)

1) INCEPTION

MyRating: YYYYY + A CROWN

My most favorite movie of the year is to see Leonardo DiCaprio leads a bunch of mind thieves, goes from one layer of dream to another layer of dream, and into another one, in order to do 'inception' into the mind of the heir of a dying business Mogul. A wild and original idea, brilliant script, and a superb direction by Christopher Nolan, plus great ensamble cast and good actions, will make you want to be part of their dream itself. And the ending is still twisted. Did it stop spinning or did it not? This is a masterpiece!

Read my complete review at: INCEPTION (2010)

AND this ends the list of my favorite movies of 2010. Do you share some of the same favorites? Hope you enjoy the movies too. Thank you for reading.

MYMOVIE CRITIC - REVIEWING MOVIES FROM THE AUDIENCE'S STANDPOINT

2010 - Albums Of The Year (Top 10)

Numbers 20 - 11 are here...

Now prepare yourself for the horror that is my Top Ten...


10. Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man

I really do not get "embedding disabled by request" on youtube. Why would the record companies not want me to cross-promote their songs? Could they be scared someone might hear it and actually want to buy a copy? It's another ridiculous example of copyright law being used to shoot yourself in the foot, and I expect more from the Manics. I reckon there's more chance of you clicking play on an embedded video than clicking a link to that video - it's only a couple of extra clicks, but we all have such a fast-paced, "feed me now" lives, those two extra clicks are a great big wall of stop. I mean, you've already quit reading this paragraph because it's gone on for more than 5 lines, haven't you? Your granny's a whore. See? Nobody even flinched.

Anyway, the new Manics album. I liked it much more than the last one (the one all the real Manics fans loved because it used up all Ritchie's old lyrics) but not as much as the one before (the one with tigers).

9. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

No, I never wanted to change the world,
But I'm looking for a new New Jersey
Because tramps like us, baby, we were born to die

Any band that quotes Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen within two consecutive lines... well, you know they've got me, right?

While The Gaslight Anthem sounded more and more like a Bruce tribute act this year, Titus Andronicus took the Born To Run spirit and fired it with a punk ethos that... shit, I hate it when I sound like a music journo.

This is ace. Click play now.



8. Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - The Logic Of Chance

What's this? Hip hop? Electronica? Rap? In my Top Ten? Surely this is taking up space that could be given to more landfill indie or another sad old bastard songwriter? What the fuck is wrong with me?

I first became interested in the songwriting of Scroobius Pip with his masterful list song Thou Shalt Always Kill. It made me laugh and touched a nerve, but I really didn't expect to enjoy a whole album of this stuff.

Guess what?

(The song below offers further explanation.)



7. Babybird - Ex-Maniac

Babybird? Ah, that's more like what you expect. Obscure one-hit wonder Britpop losers long past their sell-by date. From Sheffield too!

Actually, I was never a huge Babybird fan. I've liked a few of his songs, but never fallen for a whole album. This one took me by surprise. I liked the lead single, Unlovable, enough to give it a shot - and boy, was I glad I did. There's honesty, wit and a refreshing lack of cliche about his songwriting, particularly on tracks like Failed Suicide Club, the heartbreaking Rest Of Our Lives (one of my Songs of the Year) and the Daily Mail-baiting Like Them...



6. Justin Currie - The Great War

More mature songwriting and world weary cynicism from the ex-Del Amitri bloke, now writing the strongest material of his career.

I stand on a mountain of pitiful prose
My mind is a fountain that pointlessly flows
They give you a trophy if you make the kids scream
But it's such a joke to me; how insipid I've been.

I hate the world they gave me,
I hate the world they gave me

In Morrissey's absence, Justin Currie will be writing the story of my life this year.

Sigh.



5. Eels - Tomorrow Morning

More and more artists are shaking off the shackles of big corporate record deals (a new album every two years, please) and catering to a smaller, loyaler fanbase with far more frequent releases. E has released two albums this year (three in the last 18 months), and like James before him they were thematically linked. While Tim Booth & co. gave us an upbeat Saturday night record followed by a laid back Sunday morning, E gave us an album of heartbreak (End Times) followed by this... his most positive and forward-looking record to date.



4. Frank Turner - Rock 'n' Roll / Poetry Of The Deed

My most important musical find of 2010 (Amanda Palmer was second), Frank Turner is another artist who combines the fire, lyrical nous and inspirational self-belief of young Bragg and Springsteen to show-stopping effect. He sings every song like his life depends on it. Our lives too. The sort of artist who doesn't need to carve 'For Real' into his forearm... he just is.

Strictly speaking, Poetry Of The Deed was released in 2009 (though Frank was still promoting it and releasing singles from it in 2010) and Rock 'n' Roll is a mini album, what they used to call an EP. But Frank Turner has been such an important discovery for me this year (his previous albums Sleep Is For The Week and Love, Ire & Song are also worthy of investigation), he deserved a place on this list. Very excited to hear what he does next.



3. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise

Another record that, strictly speaking, shouldn't really be here. After all, the tracks on this double album were mostly recorded in the mid-70s in preparation for Bruce's follow-up to Born To Run, Darkness On The Edge Of Town. You know the story by now... and if you don't, I doubt anything I say will make you care.

What strikes me most about listening to this record is how much bigger a pop star Bruce could have been in the 70s (prior to his eventual worldwide breakthrough in the 80s). Rejected songs like Fever, Because The Night and Someday We'll Be Together would have been massive radio hits, far more so than any of the tracks he actually chose to release. But that just wasn't where he wanted to be at that point in his career... you've got to respect that.



2. Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue

These days, Ben Folds seems to do his best work when he's working with somebody else. The Shatner album was inspired insanity, but hooking up with author Nick Hornby gave him possibly the strongest record of his solo career. A selection of short stories, from the heartwarming biog-song of Doc Pomus to a blues track based on Sarah Palin's unwanted son-in-law Levi Johnson ("I'm a fuckin' redneck, I live to hang out with the boys, Play some hockey, do some fishin' and kill some moose") to the self-loving/self-loathing delights of A Working Day ("Some guy on the net thinks I suck and he should know - he's got his own blog.")

And then there's this... Belinda... my song of the year...




1. The Indelicates - Songs For Swinging Lovers

They did it again.

Scoring my favourite album of 2008 with their debut, American Demo, the Indelicates returned to prove there's no such thing as Difficult Second Album Syndrome (and they're already working on their third). Broadening their musical horizons in all kinds of different directions (if I were a true muso, I'd namedrop Kurt Weill and the like - but what do I know about these things?), this is further proof of their genius. Witty, angry, iconoclastic, tender, surprising, joyful, intense, uncompromising... etc. etc. etc.

The most exciting band of the 21st Century.

Why aren't you listening to them?

Download the album direct from their website - you can even choose how much you pay. Anything less than the entire contents of your bank account and you're getting a bargain.









Happy New Year, folks - see you on the other side.

2010 - Albums Of The Year (20 - 11)

And so I conclude the 2010 review with my customary countdown of my favourite albums of the year. The usual provisos apply... including the one about me no longer caring about being seen as remotely cool, so nyah nyah if you don't like Meat Loaf, get over it, you fake hipsters... and the one about me not having heard every single record that was released in 2010 - not even every single one I might actually want to hear, and there being loads of stuff I'm either just getting round to or haven't even bought yet that may well blow some of the albums listed below completely out of the water...

But really, if you need all that spelling out to you... what are you, an idiot?

These were the records that kept me from ploughing into the back of countless Audis throughout the course of 2010...



20. Everybody Was In The French Resistance... Now! - Fixing The Charts Volume 1

With no new Art Brut record to big up, Eddie Argos teamed with his girlFREN, Dyan Valdes (of The Blood Arm) for an album of amusing answer songs. It filled the gap till the Brut get back.



19. The Courteeners - Falcon

Difficult second album syndrome plagues the Courteeners - yet that debut really took some beating...



18. Superman Revenge Squad - Dead Crow Blues

A songwriter I seriously learned to love in 2010, though his latest release wasn't quite as marvellous as the previous three. Newbies should start with 'This is my own personal way of dealing with it all' and work their way up. The older records are available for an insanely cheap £3 (inc. P&P) from Ben's website.



17. James - The Night Before / The Morning After

Tim Booth and the gang came back with a bang with two themed mini albums, the first an upbeat Saturday night record, the second a thoughtful and touching comedown. Stand out track of the latter is told from the perspective of Booth's elderly mother, now living out her twilight years in a retirement home. It's a choker.



16. Meat Loaf - Hang Cool, Teddy Bear

Meat Loaf without Jim Steinman is like toast without butter, but as it's unlikely those two will ever kiss and make up, Marvin's latest stab at OTT immortality manages better than most. As you'd expect, he throws in everything it can get its hands on - from Justin Hawkins to Jack Black to the kitchen sink - turning it all up to 11 and praying. One track even features Hugh Laurie on piano. If we can't have Jim Steinman... this is about as good as it gets.



15. The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

Now officially a national treasure. So treasure him!

This video features Neil and his blow-up doll. A love story for the ages...



14. Thea Gilmore - Murphy's Heart

Still the greatest contemporary British female singer songwriter... still criminally unappreciated.



13. Lloyd Cole - Broken Record

Another national treasure, though he long since deserted us for the States. Growing old gracefully, he even brought a proper band along with him for his latest album... but stopped just short of causing a commotion.



12. The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever

The best and worst that can be said of this is that it's just another Hold Steady record. Hardly groundbreaking, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.

She said I just can't sympathise with your rock 'n' roll problems...

11. Evelyn Evelyn - Evelyn Evelyn

My second best new musical discovery of 2010 (the first will be revealed tomorrow), Amanda Palmer's debut solo record was one of my top five most listened to discs this year. Unfortunately, it was released in 2008. This is the record she did release this year, a cabaret concept album that tells the story of two Siamese twins, Evelyn and Evelyn, their circus life and tragic romantic demise. It's unlike anything else I heard this year, which is always a good thing.



Tomorrow... the Top Ten (d'oh!).

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

MyRating: YYYY

Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta
MPAA: Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use

The peaceful family life of Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), a long term lesbian partner, is at test and stirred when their two teen children, Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (John Hutcherson) contact and meet their anonymous sperm-donor father, Paul (Mark Rufallo). Paul, who donated his sperms some years ago to both Nic and Jules to each given birth to Joni and Laser, is a successful entrepreneur but lives a Bohemian lifestyle and avoiding a committed relationship. However, when he learns to know about his biological children and their moms, Paul starts to enjoy to be in their lives and to become part of their family.

As Paul's relationship with the entire family grows, Nic, a physician and the breadwinner of the family, who used to control the life of their family, begins to feel annoyed and threatened as she thinks Paul has slowly infiltrated into her family and tried to grab her children away from her. Things are getting even shakier when Paul hires Jules, who just starts her own landscape business, to do the landscaping for his back yard. As a result, not only Paul and Jules start to become closer because of their working relationship, but also they start to attract with each other sexually. A time bomb is right on their front door and about to tear the family apart!

A moving drama comedy with a good and fresh script about a lesbian family that is being threaten by the appearance of a guy, who is happened to be the father of their children. An interesting premise, right? It was indeed an interesting film. Even though I was not feeling much 'comedy' out of the film, as it was more to the 'drama', but the film was actually presented in a light tone (not that of a heavy drama), which smartly teased us about the fact of life that may screw the already supposed to be settled family, no matter you are a normal heterosexual family, or a same sex family.

A quality performance from Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as the couples and moms (who also share some kisses in the film). Annette Bening gave her realistic acting as the 'father' figure of the family, who is also a control freak as well as a perfectionist. She has that posture and authority to be the protector and the voice of her family, and who is always suspicious to the external threats. While Julianne Moore, the stay at home mom, is more an obedient and docile 'wife', who uses more of her emotion side to see and approach things, not as 'logical' as her 'husband', Nic. Jules has more heart, but also more labile. And both Bening and Moore played their characters well. Mark Rufallo gave a decent performance as the easygoing Paul, smiled a bit too much, but that was also the legitimate of his tend to be laid back character. While the kids, Mia Wasikowska and John Hutcherson, also gave good performances to add the dynamism to the family.

Even though there is a word "KIDS" in the title, this movie is definitely not for kids, as there are some very strong sexual scenes, including the quite brave and vulgar sexual scene involving Julianne Moore. Can't stop wondering why a 50-year old and a calibre actress like Moore is still willing to do such scene. In my opinion, if the scene was reduced to a minimal vulgarity, it still will not affect the whole story.

This is a beautiful movie, even though I might say that the ending was not 100% perfect, but it was one refreshing and meaningful story to be remembered. (MJ)

2010 - TV Of The Year

"I don't watch a lot of TV but..." could well become a catchphrase round these parts. Here's what's kept me glued to the idiot box this year...

15. Castle

Castle isn't great TV. It's formulaic as hell. The scripts rarely get beyond workmanlike. It has none of the sparkle of Moonlighting or even Remington Steel, which it so carefully models itself on. And yet, I can't stop watching it - for two great reasons. The main one being Nathan Fillion, who - after Firefly and Dr. Horrible - I have a heckuva lot of time for. He's one of those actors who can make even the corniest of lines raise a smile, and who has more charisma in his eyebrow than I have in my whole body. And then there's the improbably named Stana Katic who's grown beyond just another unbelievably pretty American TV cop to develop actual chemistry with her goofball co-star that often goes beyond what the scriptwriters can bother to deliver. They make an engaging pair... to the point where I'm also tempted to check out Ms. Katic's previous role...

...but I just know I'd be disappointed.

I've always been a sucker for quirky detective shows and now Monk has hung up his OCD mac (though we've still to see the final series in the UK), Castle fills that gap nicely.

14. La La Land

In which guerrilla comedian Marc Wootton takes his hideous creations Gary Garner (a wannabe Jason Statham), Brendan Allen (a kamikaze documentary maker with no ideas of his own) and Shirley Ghostman (a disgraced psychic) to Hollywood... where everyone takes him far too seriously.



13. Luther

Stringer Bell escapes Baltimore and comes home to London where Idris Elba's maverick cop teams up with a cold-as-ice murderer (an inspired, nutty-as-a-fruitcake turn from Ruth Wilson) and tries to keep his job while his best friend goes mental, his wife shacks up with a one time Doctor Who, and everyone wants his badge. This show got better the more extreme it became, leading to a genuinely exciting climax. Disappointing then that the Beeb seem to committed to only two new episodes next year.

12. True Blood

A curious show in which the main characters are also the least interesting and most annoying. If True Blood was just about Sookie and Bill, I'm not sure I'd still be bothered. Fortunately Season 2 brought other characters to the fore - notably Eric, Sam, Lafayette, Jessica and Jason. If they made Jason the star, I'd watch this show forever.

11. The Trip

Sending Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon off on a tour of the north's favourite poncey restaurants could easily have been a luvvie-fest of tedious proportions. Fortunately director Michael Winterbottom had other plans, playing with our expectations of both performers, letting them riff mercilessly, and revealing unexpectedly dark and touching aspects to their "characters" in the process. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at other times really quite sweet.



10. Nurse Jackie

Like ER's wicked step-sister, this is the show that proves everything you always suspected about hospitals. The staff are sicker than the patients. Edie Falco's philandering, pill-popping, mercy killing head nurse is scarier even than a Carry On matron.

9. Justified

When The Shield wrapped, it was a dark day for fans of Walton (Shane) Goggins. Apart from an amusing turn in the otherwise woeful Predators, where would we see our favourite bad boy again? Luckily he turned up as a thorn in Timothy Olyphant's side in Justified... then went and found God and got really messed up. Olyphant in a sheriff's hat is always good value, but it's Goggins who makes this show unmissable. Glad to see he'll be back for season two.

8. Sherlock

Everything that needs to be said has already been said, far more incisively, by others. Sherlock wasn't perfect (the middle episode sagged), but it really shouldn't have worked at all. Yet Benedict Cumberbatch's ADHD Holmes and (particularly) Martin Freeman's warm everyman Watson provided essential viewing, not to mention that sly but nail-biting Moriarty cliffhanger which left us all begging for more.

7. Fringe

This was the year that Fringe finally found its feet and stepped out of the knock-off X-Files box as alternate realities went to war, fake Olivia swapped places with real Olivia, Peter (Pacey) bedded fake Olivia by accident, and Walter Bishop - always the star of the show - offered his son some typically skewed words of comfort...

"In the seventies I innocently wandered in the wrong home and it was three days before I realized my mistake. And unlike Olivia, the woman I was sharing a bed with didn't look like my wife at all."

6. 24

For my full tribute to Jack Bauer, click the link.

5. Doctor Who

Finally, everything clicked with me and New Who. Mainly due to the departure of Russell T. Davies and the stepping up of Stephen Moffat, a writer who understands both sci fi and characterisation - and actually gets the possibilities of time travel too. Credit must also go to Matt Smith. Whereas Eccleston's Doctor was a little too reluctant and Tennant's occasionally over the top, Smith pitched it just right. And then there's Karen Gillen - the least annoying Doctor Who companion since Romana... and easiest on the eye since Peri Brown.

4. This Is England '86

Part hilarious nostalgia piece, part harrowing social drama... and featuring Flip and his gang of moped-riding goons: TV idiots of the year.



3. Mad Men

How could Mad Men top the assassination of JFK? Easy, by getting Don and Peggy to work through the night on a campaign while Don's world fell apart around him. Best single episode of any show this year - though the rest wasn't too shabby either.

RIP, Mrs. Blankenship.

2. Lost

It was never going to please everybody, but the Lost finale satisfied me, wrapping up enough of the mysteries, answering enough of the questions, and managing to give even long-dead characters a happy ending... of sorts. Plus, Sawyer got away. That'll do me.

1. House

House beat everything else for me this year, though admittedly I have been catching up. Season 6, starting with House in the loony bin, was the best yet... and while Season 7 (House in love!) isn't quite up to that standard, that's only because I'm scared that a happy House cannot last... and I care so much about this character, I really don't want to see him hurt any more.

Hugh Laurie is the highest paid TV star in the world? Hugh Laurie!?

Deservedly so.

2010 - Books Of The Year

As in previous years, I've divided my favourite books of 2010 into two blurry sub-categories. New(ish) ones and old(ish) ones. There may be a bit of crossover... but what do you really care?

(Click the links to read my full thoughts & reviews of each.)


My Top Ten Books Published In Other Years That I Finally Got Round To Reading This Year, Or That I Read Again


10. Stephen M. Irwin - The Darkening

9. LTC Rolt - Sleep No More

8. David Morrell - Black Evening

7. Robert L. Pike - Bullitt (Mute Witness)

6. Richard Blandford - Hound Dog

5. David J. Schwartz - Super Powers

4. Mark Sarvas - Harry, Revised

3. Lionel Shriver - The Post-Birthday World

2. David Mitchell - Ghostwritten

1. Stieg Larsson -
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo / The Girl Who Played With Fire / The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

It was obviously the year of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander for me. Gripping and intense crime / detective / procedurals from the late Swedish author whose trilogy dominated the bestseller lists all year, and rightfully so.




My Top Ten Books That Were Published In 2010 (maybe not first-published, but near enough to count as a "new" book for this list)


10. Leanne Shapton - Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection Of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion And Jewellery

9. George Pelecanos - The Way Home

8. David Eagleman - Sum: Tales Of The Afterlives

7. Joanne Harris - blueyed boy

6. Kate Atkinson - When Will There Be Good News?

5. Audrey Niffenegger - Her Fearful Symmetry

4. Scarlett Thomas - Our Tragic Universe

3. Stephen King - Under The Dome

2. Nick Hornby - Juliet, Naked

1. David Nicholls - One Day

I thought Under The Dome would walk it and I'd have to fight my corner against the haters again... then I realised there were two books I enjoyed even more than Stephen King's latest blockbuster.

This is actually the first of two occasions where Nick Hornby comes second in one of my 2010 lists...

...David Nicholls, meanwhile, delivered the most unputdownable, emotionally compelling read of the year... I can only hope the movie does it justice (it won't).

2010 - Films Of The Year

Let's be honest, it's not been a great year at the cinema. It has instead been a year in which most of the films I was looking forward to ended up disappointing. Hollywood's answer to a crap year at the box office appears to be to film everything in 3D next year... like that'll work!

Let's look at the biggest disappointments first... (click the links to see the individual reviews).

Rol's Worst Films Of 2010

5. Iron Man 2

I'm sure there were far worse films produced this year. But not many were quite so disappointing. Except maybe for this...

4. Paranormal Activity 2

3. Cop Out - No review, because I didn't catch it at the cinema. Instead I watched it on DVD. The first half hour, anyway. Kevin Smith... what happened? You've made some rubbish films in your time but I even found nice things to say about Jersey Girl. This though... this was just unwatchable. Mainly because the guy out of 30 Rock SHOUTED EVERY LINE HE HAD RIGHT IN MY FACE UNTIL I FELT PHYSICALLY ABUSED AND HAD TO SWITCH OFF AND WATCH HOUSE INSTEAD. Even Bruce Willis couldn't save this one.

2. The Expendables

Louise loved it. She thought it played as a spoof of 80s action movies. I thought Sly took it all way too seriously. Not the movie I wanted it to be.

1. Solomon Kane

Just shit.

Rol's Best Films Of 2010

10. Whatever Works - The Telegraph named this their worst film of the year. I've never been a huge Woody Allen fan, so I can't really compare it against his more critically acclaimed work. I am however a huge Larry David fan, and this made me laugh and warmed my cynical heart too.

9. The Social Network

Fincher & Sorkin - the dream team. A great movie, but it's still a great movie about flippin' Facebook... hence why slightly less accomplished films have beat it to the top spots.

8. Inception

Visually stunning yet cold, over-complex, and with a predictably annoying "is he really...?" twist.

7. The Disappearance Of Alice Creed

Gemma Arterton proves her worth. For this, I forgive her the dreadful Prince Of Persia.

6. Shutter Island

Another Leonardo DiCaprio film spoilt by its final twist. Still, as an actor he's far less annoying than he used to be.

5. The A Team

90% of the critics (and a good proportion of the public) hated this movie. I can almost understand why... but it made me smile more than just about anything else in the cinema this year.

4. Crazy Heart

Tries a little too hard to be feelgood and Oscar-worthy... but it's still got the World's Greatest Actor playing a washed up country star and Colin Farrell once again silencing the naysayers. Speaking of Oscars - it was about time.

3. Red

Flawed, like The A-Team... but still a hell of a lot more enjoyable than The Expendables. Bruce Willis shows Sly how to do the "old man action hero" genre properly.

2. Four Lions

Chris Morris. Genius.

1. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

If you'd told me at the beginning of the year - or the day before I saw it -that this would end up being my favourite film of 2010, I wouldn't have believed you. I'm still not sure I believe it. But good on 'em. This is how to do a comic adaptation - make it even better than the source material!