On...Top 5 Films of 2010

BEST FILMS OF 2010

I watched 19 films that were released in theaters between Jan 1, 2010 and the end of the year. This is certainly down from the late 90s where I viewed between 40 and 50 per year. Not too bad considering I have a few more responsibilities now. I didn't get a chance to see The Fighter, Black Swan, or The Kids Are All Right that have gathered a lot of buzz, but those are the breaks. I limited it to 5 since movies like The Other Guys would have probably sneaked in (funny film but should not find itself in such company).

So here are the TOP 5 FILMS of 2010:

5) True Grit By Joel & Ethan Coen.
I don't know where this film will end up on the list after it settles. I just viewed it today and Coen Brother films tend to need repeat viewings to fully appreciate. I have to admit I wasn't originally taken with either Big Lebowski or Oh, Brother Where Are Thou? Boy has that changed. That aside, True Grit is a solid movie: funny, hard edged, a fabulous yarn from beginning to end. Best western since Open Range.

4) Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part I by David Yates.
Raw and stunning. After rewatching Half-Blood Prince a few nights ago I have even more appreciation for the latest Potter film. Deathly Hallows is richer and darker and takes care of the characters on a deeper level than the previous films. Maybe this is because they have more time to nurture Rowling's prose with two movies. Either way it is a great introduction to the coming finale.

3) Inception by Christopher Nolan
The last 30 seconds deny this film the number one spot, but from beginning to end it is a visual treat and I can't complain in the face of such layered filmmaking. It also proved that you don't need 3D to blow an audience away. I don't know how Nolan and his brother pieced this dream-factory together, but the sheer audacity is breathtaking.

2) Toy Story 3 by Lee Unkrich.
Pixar makes cathedrals out of digital film. This company is the Babe Ruth of motion pictures. One home run after another. I haven't cried and laughed so much since, well, since Up.

1) The Social Network by David Fincher.
Never has a film gripped a viewer and flung them roaring for an hour and a half with nothing but dialogue, acting, and multiple lawsuits. Fincher has come a long way from Alien 3. This is a tour de force on numerous levels. (It even made Justin Timberlake a real actor) It may leave you with more questions than answers, but this movie is immensely enjoyable. A time capsule of the mid 2000s.

On...Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats - ...

Really neat. The 4 minutes fly by.

On...Fallen Indian

RIP Indians Legend Bob Feller

Bob Feller footage from OleMissCub on Vimeo.

The more I read about him the more I'm impressed. So much that this is my first post in 2 months. I wish I had more good news about the 2011 Indians. Boy could they use a Bob Feller. Once in a century product however.

From Cleveland Plain Dealer

An American Icon

War Hero

ESPN's Collection of articles and videos

New York Times and all the Bob Feller related Links

On...The Shovel Incompetent

Jonah Goldberg digs up the non-sense, flim-flam that was the Obama "shovel-ready" dream. He also lays out more evidence of what many of us already knew: he was woefully unready for President. Unfortunately the PR President's ego is so huge I don't even think the Nov. Mid-terms will wake him up.

A Shovel-Unready President

On...Losing the Political War

From Time Magazine. A decent breakdown of the POTUS's slide.
Why Obama Is Losing the Political War

On...Political Tornadoes

Peggy Noonan examines the political winds and the internal struggle of the Democratic Party caught in stagnation and cynicism. The Twister of 2010

On...Blind Men ignoring the masses

Jonah Goldberg and Charles Krauthammer are very succinct in breaking down the real problems of our present administration. Sadly, the Left is blind to it. Again I hope the GOP shapes up and doesn't run the victory into the ground come next term.

Jonah Goldberg in the National Review
Dorsal Fins Surround White House

Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post
The Last Refuge of the Liberal

On...Babies

Robert Samuelson continues to make great arguments. This time is demographics. Solid Americans need to have children to maintain the Republic. However, modern society is often against it.

The Parent Trap

On...5 Books with Mitch Daniels

Here are 5 recommended books by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.
Mitch Daniels Books

I hope to post on other GOP potential 2012 candidates in the near future.

On...Retirement Savings

My good friend Jeff was just on FOX 2 here in Detroit talking about retirement plans. Check it out below.

On...Daddy's Credit Card

Nolan Finley: Big spending 'has to stop' but when? | detnews.com | The Detroit News

My one question to Nolan is when he says each person's chuck of the debt is $42,000, he doesn't mean per family but per individual, right?. So between my wife and kid we're talking $126,000.
I'll trade them our townhouse and call it even. :)

On...Tough Talk

Is Obama's Tough Talk Serious?

Jonah Goldberg enlightens us with the rhetoric of the POTUS and his growing lameness. Goldberg doesn't use that word, but I am. Obama is lame and on the verge of pathetic. Especially when he can't let Bush go. He's been the savior-in-chief for almost 18 months. When he's a one-termer and writes his memoirs I'm sure the overarching theme will be Bush screwed up so bad, James Buchanan bad, that even the audacity of hope himself couldn't fix it. He will tether himself to W for the rest of his life. Fun times.

On...7 New Rules For Getting Ahead - Rick Newman (usnews.com)

As the Recession trudges on (especially in Michigan) I thought this article was especially useful to Generation X and Gen Y.

7 New Rules For Getting Ahead - Rick Newman (usnews.com)

On... The Marines

With the increase of soldiers in Afghanistan in preparation for the summer offensive and the conclusion of the HBO miniseries The Pacific past, Victor Davis Hanson has Marines on the mind. And rightfully so. Even with all their peculiarity and bravado, the Marines are useful and their style is useful. Perhaps not the best in all situations but there are times when Marines do what they have been bred to do. Yes, bred. But not always liked. See the article below

Marinestan

John Kass: Mitch Daniels the Un-Obama in 2012? - chicagotribune.com

John Kass: Mitch Daniels the Un-Obama in 2012? - chicagotribune.com

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The (Fantasy) World According to Contessa Brewer

It is amazing that people (especially people who get paid in a media career) can think in such a way. Who thinks this way? And who actually states it out loud? This is a mindset that I can't wrap my head around. What world are they living in? This PC fantasy world where they wish 9/11 (and every other conflict/prejudice between races, religions, etc. )never happened and everyone holds hands and sings and embraces each other and compliment are showered all around about their awesome differences is such mawkish tripe. Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid.

The (Fantasy) World According to Contessa Brewer

On...illegitimate arguments

I was listening to NPR when this story first came up. I haven't really followed the Banking Bill that closely but I usually take notice when the NYT and NPR challenge President Obama's "facts."

But the central point of the article below is what really bothers me about the POTUS. The way he asks for an open forum then tells the opposition that their ideas and beliefs and concerns are illegitimate. How would he like me running my classroom like that? What a role model.

Too Big to Fail: Obama vs. NPR & the NY Times - Real Clear Politics – TIME.com

The Traditional High School : Education Next

The Traditional High School : Education Next

This article gives a nice historical overview of High School history since the 1890s when Americans started to embrace such a creation.

How Big a Government Do We Want?

How Big a Government Do We Want?

Robert Samuelson continues his roll. These are the real questions that every American has to ask. What size of government do you want and what do you want it to do? It cannot be everything to all people. There needs to be a real message and desire to change and it has to be more than anger and elitism.

The Reality of Obamacare

The Reality of Obamacare by Jonah Goldberg

I know I really don't have time to blog anymore, but of the many Health Reform articles out there Jonah here has nailed it better than most. This is totally a trojan horse. It's how the Democrats work, Best of Intentions Security rhetoric with a heaping boulder of government bureaucracy to create an ever-lasting patronage system for their own political power. They've been milking it since 1933, sad really, but it works and they slowly take our liberty and gives us back mediocrity.

On...Why Democrats Are Doomed if ObamaCare Passes

Just some insight from Dick Morris.

Why Democrats Are Doomed if ObamaCare Passes