Capsule Reviews from 2010

Vincenzo Natali's Splice (2010)

Natali deserves some praise for the unconventional and thought-provoking science fiction/sexual horror exploits of Splice. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley give satisfactory performances, and the creature effects are convincing and, at times, downright disturbing. French actress and model Delphine Chaneacis is Dren, the genetically engineered creation of Brody and Polley’s scientists. The film begins with a bang and continues along an interesting and enjoyable path until regrettably devolving into the standard horror chase film by the third reel. Worth seeing due to it’s bizarre and disturbing themes, but don’t expect much more. 3 out of 5 stars.

Lee Unkrich's Toy Story 3 (2010)

Woody and Buzz (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, as great as ever) are back in a near-perfect film that serves as the crowning achievement of what can now be called a classic trilogy. This time around, the toys end up in a preschool and must contend with unruly three year olds and tyrannical toys as they quest to return to their owner, the now college-bound Andy. In theaters, the film’s 3D was a wonder, but it is little more than extra incentive to see this great adventure of heartfelt storytelling. The funniest and also most harrowing of the three films, Toy Story 3 is able to make a deep emotional impact while entertaining people of all ages. The only thing that keeps this final adventure for a perfect score is an overly schmaltzy ending, albeit an ending that had the majority of the theater in tears, and rightly so. It’s been a great ride. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

David Fincher's The Social Network (2010)

David Fincher has done what I privately deemed to be impossible. He has taken the seemingly moribund subject of facebook and crafted what is perhaps the greatest film of the year. Technically perfect, The Social Network follows Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg (a pitch perfect Jesse Eisenberg) through the inception and initial trials and tribulations involved in creating the social media site. This is all quite effectively told through Rashoman-style flashbacks during the course of two separate depositions. Fincher’s films have always had style to spare and his usual brilliance, along with a fine cast including young Andrew Garfield and the surprisingly good Justin Timberlake, helps to create a mesmerizing tale of one man’s rise to power during the dawn of social media. 5 out of 5 stars.

Johnnie To's Vengeance (2009/U.S. release 2010)

The latest crime thriller from legendary Hong Kong auteur Johnnie To contains all of the existential angst, style, and moodiness of his past work. Notable for being To’s first primarily English-language film, Vengeance was jointly produced by To’s own Milkyway productions and a French studio. This French influence extends to the cast as singer and actor Johnny Hallyday occupies the lead role as a visitor to Macau looking to avenge the shooting of his daughter, and the deaths of his son-in-law and grandchildren. He hooks up with three hitmen (reliable To regulars Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, and Ka Tung Lam) in a bid to take down Simon Yam’s Triad crime boss and have—yes—vengeance. Balletic gunplay, gorgeous cinematography, and strong performances anchor this above-average entry to To’s canon. 4 out of 5 stars.

Jeff Tremaine's Jackass 3D (2010)

Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius and the rest of the beloved crew of idiots returns in this completely unnecessary third entry in the Jackass franchise. The big draw here is 3D and I must admit that the effect is often utilized quite well. Much of Jackass 3D was filmed with expensive phantom 3D cameras and the effects are stunning and a far cry from the shoddy post-conversion jobs appearing in theaters every Friday. Still, we’ve seen this all before and the bathroom humor and crotch hitting jokes have officially worn thin. The Jackass fellows remain likable enough, but it has been a decade now and their weariness is apparent. The film cleaned up at the box office, ensuring a sequel or two, but I can only recommended Jackass 3D for the diehards out there. 2 out of 5 stars.

Nimrod Antal's Predators (2010)

File this one under “useless” sequel. Director Nimrod Antal and producer Robert Rodriguez essentially recycle every halfway decent idea from the original film with less than satisfactory results. The film tells the story of several mercenaries and killers dropped onto a an alien planet game preserve as they are hunted down by the title creatures. Plenty of people die, the visual effects are lacking, and the whole thing seems like a waste of time. Kudos must be given to Adrien Brody, however, for effectively conveying an action hero without the usually requisite tough guy build. Still, he’s no Arnie or Carl Weathers. Through the film’s runtime, I continuously found myself wishing I could just watch the original. 2 out of 5 stars.

Ben Affleck's The Town (2010)

Ben Affleck returns to the crime genre that served him so well with Gone, Baby, Gone; the result is character-driven action film featuring a knockout cast led by Affleck himself and a superb Jeremy Renner as bank robbers run amok in Boston. The film reeks of authenticity (one character from the film would say it’s very authenticious). While lacking the emotional resonance of his first film, The Town still manages to make you care for the characters while providing some of the best action sequences of the year. The film hits all the expected beats - there’s really nothing new here; but damn, it’s well done. One of the better films this year. With Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite all joining in the drama. 4 out of 5 stars.

Neil Marshall's Centurion (2010)

Neil Marshall has yet to recapture the magic he so effortlessly displayed with The Descent and unfortunately, Centurion is another missed opportunity. Offering his take on the fate of the mysterious 9th Legion of the Roman Empire, Marshall fills the screen with so much violence and gore that character development, plotting, and acting all seem to fall by the wayside. Michael Fassbender acquits himself nicely as the film’s hero and Olga Kurlyenko makes an impression as the mute and deadly warrior on his tale. It sure looks nice and Marshall can film an action sequence with the best of them, but the material could have been so much more. Instead we get one long chase sequence, filled with Roman characters we don’t care about who speak in an array of British accents. Worthwhile only for those with a strong bloodlust who wish to check their brain at the door. 2.5 out of 5 stars.