2010 was a long, strange year. Between all the oil spills, crises and conflicts, the year certainly had its ups and downs. It’s no wonder that people turned to entertainment to escape, bringing in another year of record box office grosses and a 1% increase in television viewership.
In spite of movies like “The Last Airbender” or David Hasselhoff’s reality TV show there were several that stood above the rest as some of the most creative, entertaining works in recent years. For this week, here’s a rundown of the five best movies of the year. Next week, we’ll post the five best TV shows.
1. “Toy Story 3”
Leave it to the Pixar maestros to make a threequel out of this decade-old franchise, and turn it into the strongest movie of the year. Rather than rehash playtime with Andy, the film takes Woody, Buzz and your other favorite action figures to a nefarious daycare center, after college-bound Andy mistakenly packs up his toys for donation. Laugh-out-loud funny moments, an engaging journey and top-notch animation build up to a riveting final act made for the 18-to-24 crowd that grew up with the series. Rumors of Oscar nods prove “Toy Story 3” was no child’s play.
2. “The Social Network”
Though debatably accurate in its portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, this film chronicles the 2003 launch of the world’s most popular social network and the legal drama surrounding “TIME’s” latest Person of the Year. West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin focuses on the relationships between Zuckerberg and his closest friends and schoolmates. With whip smart dialogue, a somber yet energetic score, and an excellent portrayal by lead actor Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network” plays hard and fast with reality. But really, isn’t that what Facebook is for?
3. “Inception”
Director Christopher Nolan has a record of brilliance burned into 35-milimeter film, and his latest project was no exception. The guy behind the enigmatic, brain-twisters “Memento” and “The Prestige” brings another mind-bending epic to viewers – literally. A heist flick at heart, Dom Cobb is a master at corporate espionage, but his success has cost him dearly. By delving inside the dream worlds of his targets, Cobb has one last chance to get his life back. Complex and structured, this film makes viewers feel like they are peeling back a cinematic onion. With “Inception” Nolan took a risk and made a movie that was just fantastic.
4. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”
This deliciously nerdy gem from cult fave director Edgar Wright was destined to be a hit. It’s an adaptation of a graphic novel, but completely approachable for non-die-hards. Perennial awkward sap Michael Cera plays an unemployed twenty-something who wants his dream girl, but has to fight her seven evil exes to get there — video-game style. It’s a special effects bonanza, with pop-up 8-bit graphics and Easter eggs infecting every scene. This movie is sheer fun.
5. “How to Train Your Dragon”
The other big animated movie this year, “How to Train Your Dragon” came out of nowhere with a great story, greater voice talent and some of the greatest cinematic shots this year in any movie. The film proved that someone outside of Pixar can make a beautiful CG film, and someone other than James Cameron can turn 3D into something worth the extra three bucks. Backed by two epic moments of flight and aerial combat, this feature was a visual feast with a witty center just like the story’s titular dragons.
Next week: The top 5 TV shows of the year
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