There’s a good chance that the potato has gone mouldy after sitting, neglected, on the couch for the last few weeks. Time then to open up the windows, let out the smell and crack on with a brand new spud in its place. To make up for this neglect I am going to run down a list of the twenty DVDs that have been released in 2010 that must become part of your collection asap.
The catalyst for this decision was the release this week of Shutter Island, the Martin Scorsese helmed, Leonardo DiCaprio starring, masterpiece of modern cinema, on DVD and Blu-ray. Since I view this as an essential purchase I got to wondering what else this year is an absolute must-buy. This list is compiled from the 100+ DVD releases of the year that I have managed to catch either at home or in the cinema and represents not necessarily the best movies from a technical aspect but rather those that you are more likely to watch again and again over time.
So without further ado let me present this years top twenty must-buy DVDs…
A Serious Man - The Coen brothers are back with their most personal story to date. This magnificent example of modern cinema magic centres on a middle-class Jewish lecturer whose life is slowly coming apart at the seams. His wife cheats, his kids lie, his brother takes advantage, and even his students attempt to blackmail him. It’s not easy…How perfectly the Coen’s manage to capture the 1960s suburbia setting alone would be worthy of praise, but with the rest of the movie equally as strong this film is worthy of repeat viewings.
Avatar - Having made over $2 billion at the box-office there’s a good chance you are familiar with Avatar. If not it’s an extraordinary looking space based fantasy adventure from Titanic director James Cameron, and features a strong moralistic and environmental tone of the effects that invading forces can have on native inhabitants. It goes without saying that Avatar is better seen in 3D on as big a screen as possible, however no normal person has a 3D equipped TV or private cinema so it remains an absolute must purchase on DVD (or even better Blu-ray). Even at home and in only two-dimensions the sumptuous visuals of Cameron’s world come to life. Suffice to say that this is the best looking DVD you can buy.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Bright, vibrant and funny CWACOM is exactly the sort of animated movie that DVDs were made for. Flint Lockwood is a madcap inventor who has failed with almost every project to date. That is until he invents a machine that turns water into food, becomes a celebrity and gets the girl…or does he. With plenty of laughs for both young and old this is sure to go down well with kids of all ages.
The Crazies - Every good DVD collection needs a little darkness and this remake of the George A. Romero classic is easily one of the best horror movies released in the last 6 months. A refreshingly modern and eerie take on the zombie outbreak in a small town genre of horror, this film is grounded by some great performances from Timothy Olyphant and Joe Anderson. A taut script and a short running time means it never outstays its welcome. Turn of the lights, sit back and prepare to be scared.
Crazy Heart - Two words…Jeff Daniels. The Dude abides in the touching portrayal of an ageing singer still hoping to relive the glory days but facing the cold hard reality that that time has passed. Similarities to The Wrestler, Rocky and countless old guy facing morality tales abound but with Bridges in the lead role and Colin Farrell in support this is more than just another one of those movies. The music from T.Bone Burnett too makes this essential.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - This almost perfect adaptation of the best-selling novel is proof that foreign-language films can be just as good, if not better, than those that Hollywood churns out. Naomi Rapace is a revelation as the intrepid computer hacker turned mystery solver who teams up with disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist to solve a decades old disappearance. With stunning cinematography and a layered storyline that will draw you in again and again you must have this on your shelf.
Green Zone - Bourne goes to Baghdad. Okay that’s a little simplistic but this movie does reunite Matt Damon with Paul Greengrass and pretty much every advertisement touted it as such. What this movie actually is then is an enthralling mix of secrets, lie and half-truths, mixed with a lot of action, set against the backdrop of the US invasion of Iraq. There’s a lot going on in the movie and repeated viewing unveils new nuances each time. Cruelly overlooked at the box office you can now rectify that mistake from the comfort of your settee.
The Hurt Locker - The perfect accompaniment for Green Zone is this more factual representation of the war in Iraq. Focusing on a group of battle hardened soldiers responsible for clearing the roadsides of incendiary devices this is top drawer action. Both cast and crew have managed to make a tense thriller of a film that manages to invest you in the plight of the audience. Modern warfare is hell.
I Love You Phillip Morris - Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor go gay for one of the funniest and most poignant movies of the year so far. Carrey plays a con man who pulls a serious of outrageous stunts that eventually land him in jail, where he meets McGregor. thing go awry however when Carrey’s character Steven finds himself unable to give up his conning ways. With an emotionally fragile role from McGregor and a tour-de-force in outlandish, yet genuine, behaviour from Carrey this is great.
Mesrine: Killer Instinct/ Public Enemy Number 1 - This two part French movie plots the life of Jacques Mesrine, a notorious French gangster infamous for his bravado and outrageously daring prison escapes. If that’s not enough of a hook I don’t know what will be. The movie itself is an expectedly crafted work of art. Part one focuses on the early career with Vincent Cassel giving a masterful performance and the movie gripping you right from the start. Part 2, while more episodic is just as enthralling and just as brilliant. The French sure know how to make movies.
Ponyo - There’s only one animation studio in the world that can compete with Pixar and that’s the Japanese Studio Ghibli. Ponyo is their latest effort and it is breathtaking. Chronicling the story of Ponyo, it sees the half-human half-fish, escape from her father, and adopted by young Sosuke, but as a fish out of water something is terribly amiss. This movie is as weird as it is wonderful and as exuberant as it is elegant. Trust me Disney never made anything quite like Ponyo.
The Princess And The Frog - Speaking of Disney, The Princess And The Frog is that studio welcome return to traditional animation, and is worthy of inclusion with the likes of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. TPATF tells the story of Tania, a waitress in New Orleans who kisses a cursed frog-Prince and is transformed into a frog herself. What follows is a music filled magic journey through the bayou which feature gorgeous animation, great characters and marvellous musical numbers. Old school Disney is back!
Sherlock Holmes - This is on here purely because it’s Robert Downey Jr. playing Sherlock Holmes, which is awesome. And it just so happens to be a damned hoot, which is nice. Guy Ritchie brings a modern sensibility to the age old tale and an infusion of wit and energy. The story is not up to much but the action and banter more than make up for it. Forget the deerstalker this is not your fathers Holmes.
Shutter Island - Martin Scorsese teams with Leonardo DiCaprio to give us a faithful and powerful adaptation of the Denis Lehane novel. Focusing on the sinister goings on at a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane this moody and atmospheric thriller set in the 1950′s will have you in goosebumps. With a thrilling story, top class acting and a haunting soundtrack this is movie making of the highest calibre.
Up - If there’s one thing that Pixar are good at its pulling on heartstrings and the opening 10 minutes of this film might just be their best work ever. The story of the elderly Carl and his new Wilderness Explorer companion Russell is classic buddy comedy but with a Pixar twist. It’s a work of extraordinary beauty that captivates the emotions right from the off and leads them on a whirlwind ride of epic scenery, daring escapes and wondrous imagination. Your inner child will love you forever if you get this one.
Up In The Air - George Clooney is a debonair, suave bachelor, carefree and unattached in a world of opportunity. So is his character in this where he plays a corporate gun for hire firing people across America. Never in one place long enough to settle down he dreams of joining the elite 1 million miles club. But when he is grounded his life changes dramatically. A beautifully made and acted movie, if a tad clichéd and predictable, Up in the Air would be watching just for Clooney alone, but then the support from Vera Farminga and Anna Kendrick is so strong they need to be seen too.
Where The Wild Things Are - This is not you typical childhood fairytale, and then again it sort of is. Max’s escape into a forest of dreams populated by wild, ferocious yet fiercely protective creatures is a visually stunning and emotional journey that will connect with you in a way you didn’t think could happen anymore. Bask in its glow and let your inner child run free.
Youth In Revolt - Michael Cera plays the innocent, sweet geek better than anyone else and this is his starring role. Mixing it up a little the movie sees sweet geek Nick create an alter-ego for himself, Francois, who attempts to win the heart of the girl by commiting a series of crimes. Will she see the real Nick before he’s put away? It sounds like another typical boy falls for unsuitable girl but it is so much more than that.
Zombieland - Forget Rom-Zom-Coms what we really want is just plain old Zom-Coms. Like the Evil Dead before it this is an hilarious mix of gore and comedy that will have you recoiling while grinning like an idiot. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenburg star as a mismatched duo trying to escape the zombie apocalypse. Teaming up with two fellow stragglers they use an abandoned theme park to mount their final stand. Seriously funny, often thrilling and full of small details that demand rewatching, Zombieland is great.
And last but not least:
Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition - If you don’t already own Dumbo then this is your chance to add one of Disney’s best animated movie ever to your collection. Beautifully remastered and restored, this story of a lonely young elephant who is mocked for his huge ears but learns the value of self is a heart-warming and emotional family film that all ages can enjoy. And if you don’t believe that an elephant can fly then there is no hope for you.
*You can click on the pictures for links to Amazon.
Excellent post and list. I saw ”Sherlock Holmes’ on the big screen, liked that a lot. I caught ‘The Hurt Locker’ on the television. ‘Shutter Island’ I’ll watch when it makes it to television. The next film based on a Dennis Lehane book is ‘The Town’ based on Charlestown, Massachusetts. Ben Affleck is the lead character, it looks to be very good. A lot about ‘the code’ there that no one informs or drops a dime on anyone there, not if you’d like to remain amongst the living. Thieves or bank robbers, the Police and the Town’s people are the focus of this film. Lehane is a local writer, I should read his books.
Oh, Niall. I love you and all, but we would come to blows down the pub over this list! Still, kudos for the Cassel love, and I really need to get my arse in gear and watch A Serious Man.