Secretariat (2010)

It's impossible not to compare Secretariat to Seabiscuit; they're both about underdog horses who persevere at the races. This one, however, has a few more cards up its sleeve: it's also a feminist tale of courage in addition to being a refreshingly charming sports flick. Even if you're not much of a racing fan, the plot really draws you into all the hubub of the gambits. The soundtrack is subtle yet effectively used during key moments and the great casting and direction means the pacing is a little friendlier this time around. On the flip side, Seabiscuit's strength is that it has a more historical slant and there's a bit more to learn from it. On the whole, I enjoyed both flicks and think they both have their place being re-watched in filmdom.

8.5/10

127 Hours (2010)

A gritty, based-on-a-true-story drama, 127 Hours follows Aron Ralston, a reckless outdoorsman who journeys to a great canyon in Utah - alone. He is then trapped by a large boulder crushing his arm and is forced to survive 5+ days with only a few protein bars, a bottle of water and a backpack of basics. Aron is an engineer so it is surprisingly compelling watching his thought process while trying to free himself. It is also elevated by a fantastic soundtrack (composed by A.R. Rahman from Slumdog Millionaire) and some genuinely human - and even funny - moments with his camcorder. Much better than it sounds and worth surviving through a couple of viewings (even if the artsy direction is a bit off-putting at times).

8/10

The Kids are All Right (2010)

A decent drama about a lesbian couple raising a teenage son and daughter conceived by each of them via the same anonymous sperm bank donor, The Kids are All Right is really about the normalcy of gay/atypical family structures. Boosted by the solid performances of Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, it heats up when their children decide to track down their biological 'father' placing strain on their mothers' relationship. The soundtrack's a bit sparse and the story is a bit too lean at times and this ties up with a somewhat flat ending. Worth a watch or two anyway to get you thinking about some of the dilemmas.

7.5/10