It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

A charming dramedy, It's Kind of a Funny Story is about a suicidal teen who commits himself to an adult psychiatric ward and has a profound effect upon its patients. As he realizes that his problems aren't as bad as some of the others', our protagonist, Craig, starts to confront his issues all the while helping the ward deal with all of theirs. The soundtrack is mostly old-school/excellent and hints of decent comedy are sprinkled frugally throughout. The film does its best to dispel the unavoidable schmaltz but sticks to being a feel-good movie about acceptance and growth and that's okay. The main actor helps to elevate the film and is reminiscent of a young Keanu Reeves (if Keanu had a soul). Rewatchable: thanks to the music and the message.

8/10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I (2010)

Deathly Hallows is the seventh installment of the series and, unfortunately, it languishes a bit. There's a lot of foreboding and stressed relationships amongst our heroes but the plot seems aimless at times. We're thrown into the midst of a confusing horcrux hunt coupled with a story that is obviously holding back for the sequel. Emma Watson is noticeably grating this time around and the director fails to capitalise on allusions to racial conflict which would add depth and purpose to the oncoming war. That said, it's visually appealing and does leave you looking forward to the finale. Will see it again.

7/10

The Best and the Brightest (2010)

A goofy rom-com about the struggles of parenthood, The Best and the Brightest follows a couple trying anything to get their kid into a prestigous pre-school. With the ever-awesome Neil Patrick Harris as the husband and a no-nonsense 'trainer' upselling their qualities to the school, it nonetheless falls flat and languishes in silly, unbelievable plots and characters. The soundtrack is dull yet suitably highfalutin and the climax did very little for me. Sparse jokes are hidden throughout (but you may lose interest and stop looking for them) so this is definitely only worth a single shot. 

5/10

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

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

This one is unique: it's a thriller filmed in documentary style and is a direct descendent of The Blair Witch Project. Genuinely scary at times, it employs repetitive sequences in which the viewer starts expecting something to happen but never knows exactly what will happen or when it will. Paranormal Acitivity 2 is not as slick as the original, however, as it is too slow and withholding while the story gets very messy when they try to link it back to the original. This makes it probably worth skipping ahead to halfway through and the movie is definitely a one time thing (it's not really a soundtrack kind of movie but the atmosphere is definitely there all the same).

6.5/10

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Easily the greatest animated series of all time, Toy Story 3 completes the journey of Andy's childhood and does it with just as many layers as its predecessors. The finale continues to offer an action-packed tale of friendship for the young while maintaining its Peter Pan Syndrome ethos for the old: reminding us of our old toys and the pure joy that is youth. Packed with laughs and the occasional tear, again for both young and old, Pixar Studios have once again proved their mettle when creating truly all-ages entertainment. The soundtrack is reflective and fitting and the voice-acting and animation exemplary. Watch it again and again; it never gets old.

10/10

The Social Network (2010)

Well-acted and armed with an almost too-good script, The Social Network traces the baby steps of the online phenomenon we now know as Facebook. From the numerous law suits wanting a piece of the pie what's clear is that nothing is straightforward. While Zuckerberg may have wrote and developed the code other key players funded it and made it  possible, while others may have come up with the idea in the first place. Beneath all the framing, this is a story about money/success and how a highly intelligent yet naive twenty-something year old becomes star-struck and then sort-of alienates and betrays his best friend. The soundtrack is young but doesn't inspire a film which still lacks emotional punch and purpose in the end. Informative, sharp but probably not worth more than 2 watches.

7.5/10

Due Date (2010)

An occasionally slow, road‐trip comedy Due Date follows a 'normal' jerk named Peter who is shafted by an abnormal and misunderstood stranger eventually leaving them with no option but to drive home together. The two men almost kill each other several times but the story remains par for the course throughout as they head to their respective destinations. There are some laughs scattered here and there and it benefits from Robert Downey Jr's personality (as Peter) and a generally fun soundtrack. But there's nothing really new here, aside from an awkward masturbation scene that noone wants to see again. Watch it once, maybe twice after you've forgotten it all.

6.5/10

Eat Pray Love (2010)

A flimsy chick‐flick, Eat Pray Love follows Liz (Julia Roberts) on a journey of self‐discovery. After realising how unsatisfied she is with her current marriage and life in general, Liz goes on a world trip through Italy (where she eats too much); India (where she prays too little); and Indonesia (where she finally finds just the right amount of love). The film has the maturity of Goldilocks & the Three Bears too as she blitzes through a series of meaningless relationships along the way. The decent soundtrack and charming visuals can only lift the film so far out of its shallow script and storyline. One viewing is more than enough.

5/10

Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010)

This film is the next installment in a strange new genre that overlays a fantasy element upon an otherwise indie dramedy, much like Kick Ass and even The Fall. This time around, our protagonist meets a new girl but must defeat all her prior 'exes' before they can move on and form a relationship. These duels consist of a ‘real' version of Guitar Hero/Rock Band, where each contestant battles it out to be the best musician. The film is interestingly set in a video game itself, complete with nostalgic Zelda sound effects, 1UPs and other gaming antiquities that appeal to 20-something year olds. The transitions are not as slick as Kick Ass and this is to the detriment of the story. But, there’s some quick-witted puns and a pretty solid (original) rock soundtrack in there to keep you interested. Worth a watch or two.
 

7/10