These are the voted top 10 movies of 2010
10. “How to Train Your Dragon”: The first must-see movie of 2010 was also
one of the year’s best surprises. What started off as an animated 3-D romp that
was aimed squarely at kids soon turned into a rousing, exciting and very moving
family adventure that adhered to the timeless sensibilities of
“boy-and-his-dog”-style classics like “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” and “The
Black Stallion.” With the “Shrek” series running on fumes after four
installments, DreamWorks Animation scored a fire-breathing hit that launched a
brand new franchise.
9. “The Town”: In Hollywood, everyone loves a great
comeback story (just ask Robert Downey Jr.). So after years of being better
known as a tabloid punchline than as an esteemed filmmaker, Ben Affleck followed
his solid directorial debut, 2007’s “Gone Baby Gone,” with this gritty Boston
crime drama that was gripping, entertaining and wholly engrossing from start to
finish. With only his second time behind the camera, Affleck proved that he was
as technically proficient at staging elaborate bank heists and intense car
chases as he was at crafting an engaging story with fully realized
characters.
8. “Kick-Ass”: Talk about a movie that lived up to its name,
“Kick-Ass” gave the superhero genre, which had been getting a bit stale and
formulaic in recent years, a swift kick in the you-know-what. Thanks to an
energetic vibe, a smart story and amazing performances from Aaron Johnson and
Chloe Grace Moretz (who stole the movie as the foul-mouthed Hit-Girl),
“Kick-Ass” did just that as one of the best superhero movies of all time.
7. “Waiting for Superman”: By taking an exhaustive review of the U.S. public school
system that was just as informative as it was infuriating, director Davis
Guggenheim did for education what his Oscar-winning documentary from 2004, “An
Inconvenient Truth,” did for the environment. Despite the efforts of a few
idealistic saviors who had brave ideas to restore the system to greatness, the
government, as usual, turned out to be its own worst enemy. If you still haven’t
seen “Waiting for Superman,” see it now; you might learn something.
6. “127 Hours”: Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy followed up their Oscar-winning Best Picture “Slumdog Millionaire” with another unforgettable
cinematic experience that celebrated the instinct to survive and the triumph of
the human spirit. But it was James Franco’s bravura performance as trapped
adventurer Aron Ralston that took the film to a powerful emotional level that
stayed with you for well over 127 hours.
5. “Inception”: If there was ever a
movie that absolutely needed to be seen twice, this was it. Actually, seeing it
just twice barely scratched the surface of writer-director Christopher Nolan’s
cerebral, mind-bending and mind-blowing puzzle, whereupon layers and layers of
dreams (many of them happening at the same time) made for a riveting and
all-consuming cinematic experience that duly rewarded moviegoers who were up for
the challenge.
4. “The Kids Are All Right”: Director and co-writer Lisa
Cholodenko drew upon personal experience for this smart, charming and ultimately
moving portrait of a lesbian couple whose kids meet their biological sperm-donor
father. But what really made it so refreshing was how ordinary it depicted the
same-sex parents (wonderfully played by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) as
they grappled with a variety of domestic issues, their frustration with the
careers and their never-ending challenge to keep the passion burning between
them.
3. “Black Swan”: It would have been easy to praise Natalie Portman for
her tour de force performance as a competitive ballerina whose obsessive
dedication to her craft had disastrous consequences on her sanity. But Mila
Kunis, Barbara Hershy and Vincent Cassel also gave Oscar-worthy performances in
this dark, twisted, sexy and altogether breathtaking psychological melodrama
that’s the best movie yet from director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”).
2. “The Social Network”: Director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin
seamlessly crafted a riveting and exceptionally well-written masterwork about
the formation of the most important technological phenomenon of the last 10
years. As for who really created Facebook, well, that’s the bone of contention,
and that’s why “The Social Network” brilliantly combined the tragic elements of
ambition, greed, betrayal, jealousy and loss of innocence to ultimately triumph
as the “Citizen Kane” of the 21st Century. “Rosebud,” indeed.
1. “Toy Story 3”: It took Disney-Pixar 11 years to get from “Toy Story 2” to “Toy Story 3,” but the third installment was all the better for it, so it was worth the wait.
It made the central focus of this otherwise clever, funny and exciting
masterpiece – about the relentless passage of time – so much more effective,
profound and ultimately moving. As Woody, Buzz and the rest of the “Toy Story”
gang learned to let go of the past and embrace the future, so we should all do
the same – especially since time really does fly by.
10
'Rude Boy'
Rihanna
'Rude Boy' is the third single (second
international single) from her fourth studio effort 'Rated R.' Driven by steel
drums, the ska and dancehall track's title references Jamaican slang --
specifically males who are continually in trouble. After all, who doesn't love a
bad boy?
iTunes Lyrics Top 10 Rihanna Songs
09
'Bad Romance'
Lady
GaGa
Beyond its 315 million (yes, million) views on YouTube and worldwide
multi-platinum status, 'Bad Romance' reached obsessive-worthy standing with its
grand intro and addictive rah-rah-ah-ah-ahs. The single was written by Gaga and
RedOne, reaching No. 1 in seven countries, and has become one of the most
definitive tracks on the pop star's EP 'The Fame Monster.'
iTunes Lyrics
08
'OMG'
Usher
Borrowing a
commonly-used text acronym to describe Usher's feelings for a girl, this best
song of 2010 features stadium cheering in the chorus and Black Eyed
Peas frontman will.i.am, singing auto-tune vocals backed by his own hip-hop
beats.
iTunes Lyrics Top
10 Usher Songs
07
'Break Your Heart'
Taio Cruz
This
R&B song -- with auto-tune vocals and a synth back-beat -- is the first
single from Taio Cruz's September-released album 'Rokstarr.' Originally penned
for UK singer Cheryl Cole, this No. 1 UK hit has been remixed in 2010 for the US
version that features rap sequences by Ludacris.
iTunes Lyrics
06
'Just the Way You Are'
Bruno
Mars
Bruno Mars topped the charts with his gushing debut single, which
tells every girl exactly what they want to hear: "'Cause girl, you're amazing
just the way you are." (Guys, take note.) Since its release on July 20, the song
has reached the No. 1 spot in eight countries, and was covered on the hit Fox
series 'Glee.'
iTunes Lyrics
05
'Need You Now (2010 Mix)'
Lady
Antebellum
This top song is about the longing of late-night
companionship. A beautiful ballad for a booty-call, the song reached No. 1 on
the Hot Country charts in November, eventually transitioning over to pop radio.
The 2010 pop mix version has electric guitar replacing the country guitar twang
in the chorus and the bridge. Subtle, but it does the trick.
iTunes Lyrics
04
'Airplanes'
B.o.B
Atlanta's
newest MC and producer recruits Paramore's tangerine bombshell Hayley Williams for this
hip-hop track, featuring piano melodies and prominent clapping backbeats as he
says, "I could use a dream or a genie or a wish / To go back to a place much
simpler than this." The 2010 song is off B.o.B's debut album 'B.o.B Presents:
The Adventures of Bobby Ray,' which topped the Billboard 200 in its first
week.
iTunes Lyrics
03
'Nothin' on You'
B.o.B
'Nothin' on
You' is the very first single by B.o.B. Featuring Bruno Mars (who sings the
catchy chorus about all the beautiful women uncomparable to "the one"), this
best song of 2010 is also included on B.o.B.'s debut studio album, 'The
Adventures of Bobby Ray.'
iTunes Lyrics
02
'Love the Way You Lie'
Eminem
The
blockbuster album 'Recovery' has been breaking records on the Billboard charts,
as well as its second single, 'Love the Way You Lie.' The mid-tempo rap track,
with melodic piano chords and a soaring chorus, has R&B diva Rihanna joining
Eminem to tell the story of an abusive couple who can't stay apart, despite
bringing out the worst in each other. "It's something that, you know, [Eminem
and I have] both experienced ... On different sides, different ends of the
table," Rihanna, recently told Access Hollywood.
iTunes Lyrics Top
10 Eminem Songs
01
'California Gurls'
Katy Perry
Featuring hip-hop star Snoop Dogg,the song includes Prince-sounding '80s guitar beats
and summer-ready lyrics: "California girls / We're unforgettable / Daisy dukes,
bikinis on top / Sun kissed skin, so hot, will melt your popsicle." Is it the
California version of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' 'Empire State of Mind'? We'll let
the fans determine that.
iTunes Lyrics
