1
“The Descendants”: This film brilliantly combined dark and light moments. It boasts an Oscar-worthy performance by George Clooney, great supporting work by Shailene Woodley and a powerful script by director Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The writing is almost flawless in the use of comedy to buffer the dramatic parts. Drama gives an edge to the comedy.
2
“Rango”: The film is as visually stunning as it is well written. Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp) is a chameleon that discovers a town that resonates so loudly of the Old West it should be called Zane Grey. Gore Verbinski’s first venture into animation is a rootin’, tootin’ good time. It offers the cheesiness of spaghetti Westerns with the offbeat attitude of “Blazing Saddles” — all in a spectacular computer-generated form.
3
“Tree of Life”: Few films were as polarizing as Terrence Malick’s free flowing visual bonanza that manages to be both a grand look at the beginning of life and an intimate tale of family. No other film invited us to think more about our place in the universe or at the dinner table. There are moments where it goes from compelling to confusing, but it’s the most fascinating filmmaking of the year.
4
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”: David Fincher’s adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s book is compelling as a chilling mystery and a brutal look at humanity. It works because he gets an Oscar-worthy performance out of Rooney Mara as the title character.
5
“Super 8”: Writer/ director J.J. Abrams culls the top paranoia-creating moments from ’50s sci-fi movies and mixes them with a strong family story that swirls around Joe (Joel Courtney), a teen trying to deal with the loss of his mother. The sci-fi elements create a metaphor for the emotional beast that dominates the teen’s life. It’s the best blend of sci-fi and family drama since “E.T.” called home.
6
“Beginners”: Writer/ director Mike Mills’ script doesn’t attempt to answer all the questions that come with love. But it is a smart look at relationships. It shows how love can bring comfort to a person facing his own mortality, or how it becomes a curse when two people begin to drift apart. The story works because of Ewan McGregor’s boyish charms. He goes from being the most interesting person at a party to someone who jets across the country for a chance at some insight about his future.
7
“Hugo”: This striking film reminds us the best movies are the ones that take us on a journey. And this particular story is pure wonderment. Director Martin Scorsese makes us believe magic still does exist in films. From its spectacular look to unforgettable performances, “Hugo” is simply spellbinding.
8.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)”: The long-running franchise got a proper ending because Director David Yates created a film finale that embraced deep emotions with the same passion that it celebrated huge action sequences. That combination made the final offering magical.
9.
“Martha Marcy May Marlene”: Elizabeth Olsen turns in a powerful performance as a woman who escapes a cult only to return to a world that in its own way is just as controlling and scary. Director T. Sean Durkin magnifies the emotional conflict through a film stripped of all trappings from credits to music. He just lets raw emotions carry the scenes.
10.
“Albert Nobbs”: Glenn Close turns in the performance of her career as a 19th Century woman who pretends to be a man to get work. Under that awkward wardrobe is an emotionally tortured soul looking to find a way to love and be loved without giving away her precious secret.
Honorable mention: “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “The Way,” “One Day,” “Horrible Bosses,” “The Help,” “50/50,” “X-Men: First Class.”
Honorable mentions
“Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol”
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
“The Way”
“One Day”
“Horrible Bosses”
“The Help” (Pictured above: Viola Davis plays Aibileen Clark)
“50/50”
“X-Men: First Class”
