Seeing as it is the beginning of the year, I’ve decided to do a bit of research to compile a list of movies I might potentially want to see this year. My research came primarily from IMDb and Garth Franklin’s utterly epic list of 280 “notable films” for 2010. If you want to see this very comprehensive and amazing list and have the time to do so, click here.

My list will highlight just 5 movies coming out this year that I’m most excited about. I myself went through Garth’s list and compiled a large list of movies I plan on or would consider seeing this year. You can check out this ever-updating/expanding list on my spreadsheet, or just by clicking here.

One last thing before I begin. There are always a lot of movies that come out later in the year that you’d never even heard about at the beginning of the year. Luckily, Sundance just ended and I wrote down a lot of movies that screened there and were the subject of considerable buzz. So, this Top 5 list is based on what I know right now. So, without further adieu, here are my Top 5 Most Anticipated Releases for 2010 (in no particular order). You can click the title of each movie to check out its’ IMDb page...

The Social Network

Release Date: October 15

Maybe I’ll be better off updating every week.  That seems to be my trend.  Truthfully, I wanted to write something long and exotic for at least 2 movies but alas, laziness has set it.

#52 Redwoods

#53 Brothers

#54 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

#55 Robin Hood: Men in Tights

#56

When In Rome

#57 The Good Son

#58 St. Trinian’s

#59 District 13: Ultimatum

#60 Wet Hot American Summer

Just like CITIZEN KANE, this is my first viewing of another Hollywood classic: CASABLANCA. What makes CASABLANCA different than CK is that I can’t seem to understand what makes it so damn great. It’s a really stock, old-school Hollywood movie in that there’s more love story than event-based plot, war and soldiers, constant, unnecessary comic relief and stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The only thing I can tell separates this from other old-ass movies is that it takes place in pretty much one location, Rick’s saloon. I did, however, very much enjoy the side characters that support Bogie’s performance, like Carl the maitre d’, Ugarte the hustler, Sam the band leader and Sascha the bartender.

CASABLANCA is very well made and acted, but it’s just so blah. See it anyway.

BOOM!

This is sort of a double review of District B13 and the sequel that hits the States On February 5th, District 13: Ultimatum. Both of these movies are very similar in terms of plot, action, and style, so reviewing them together makes sense to me.

These are very well-done and entertaining French action movies with parkour as a very central part of the action scenes. If you don’t know what parkour is, youtube it, as it’s better to look at than read about. The inventor of parkour, David Belle is in both movies as the lead, and you get to see some pretty awesome parkour action on a big movie stage. They’re both written by Luc Besson (Leon: The Professional, The Transporter Series, Taken, etc.), which immensely helps the product of these movies.

Both movies are very normal as far as action movie plots and characters go. The thing I liked most about the writing/plot was how they didn’t just stop at “oh hey here’s a bad drug dealer guy, let’s fight him,” but it went a bit above and beyond and higher government officials become a central focal point of the evil/antagonism. I don’t give a shit about politics, I’m just glad they took it further.

As for the action, it’s really well-done in terms of filming, choreography, and stunts. Action can be bland and stock nowadays, but these movies have some really well-put-together action scenes involving parkour, car/foot chase, and hand-to-hand combat. It’s all pretty standard, but it works and it’s done well.

The thing about these movies is that I have no doubt that if they were done in America by some random American action director, they’d be really shitty and stupid. I guess I’ll give credit to Luc Besson, David Belle, and the French for churning out some really basic but well-done and effective action movies. Do recommend.

A Town Called Panic is a completely ADD-crazy, stop-motion madhouse of a movie. Every review, poster, and promotional cards says so, and for the most part, I think that’s a fair summation of the movie. The main characters in the small town go by very literal names. For example, the horse is called “horse,” the cowboy called “cowboy,” the Indian called “Indian,” etc. Normally I would go through plot elements and what happens in the movie, but there’s really no point. The point of seeing the movie is to watch and be completely overtaken by the barrage of fast-paced dialog, stop-motion animation, and general happenings in the movie. It’s really funny at times and pretty insane and nonsensical at times. All good things. Total fun.

My only gripe is that going into the movie, from all the quotes, posters, and reviews I’d seen/read, I was expecting a full-on barrage of what-the-fuckery thrown in my face at a breakneck pace for 75 minutes. For the most part, it happens, but there’s a pretty clear narrative thread. Now, that seems an odd thing to complain about, but I went in expecting scene after scene of nonsensical silliness, loose narrative structure, and just a complete lack of cohesion. There is definitely evidence of those things in the movie, but I guess it wasn’t to the extent I expected. I guess this is a really lame rant and complaint, but I feel it stopped just shy of full-on insanity.

That said, it’s still a really funny, great-looking, insane, sugared-out trip to take. The 75-minute run-time may seem short, but trust me, any longer and you’d go into complete sugar shock and not really feel that well afterward. So, check this out, as I know some of you won’t be so picky and stupid as me. It’s in French, by the way.

People dis this ‘ambulance-chaser takes on the man’ MOVIE starring John Travolta, but fuck them, I like it a lot. Johnny T is whatever, but William H and Robert Duvall are incredible. See it if you like THE RAINMAKER or MICHAEL CLAYTON.

THE GOOD SON is known for greatly stunting Macaulay Culkin’s career. I can easily understand why. He plays a foul-mouthed, cigarette smoking psychopath only a few short years after becoming humongously hugely big for starring as Kevin McCallister in the made-for-family HOME ALONE franchise. THE GOOD SON also followed other Macaulay family MOVIES such as UNCLE BUCK and the beautifully-crafted MY GIRL. People were just not ready to see him as such an evil beast. HOWEVER-I was. See this if you wanna see a psychotic kid, a la ORPHAN, THE OMEN, MIKEY or PET SEMATARY.

p.s. Macaulay’s co-child-star is Elijah Wood, who, ironically enough, had a much longer, more prosperous career after his teen years.

BOOM!

I do not hate this MOVIE. It’s just not good. Not my bag. That’s all.