The Best Movies of 2010

Last updated - April 20, 2012.

This list contains all of the films that I rated 7 and higher of the year 2010.

In the order I saw them:

Babies
Documentary
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I was hoping to see more countries but other than that it's quite refreshing.


Udaan
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

It's about a father-son releationship but not a pleasent one. This one will stay with you for some time. The main character reminds me of one of my old schoolmates, just a random and unrelated note from me.


My Good Enemy
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

There are scenes that seem rather unrealstic like when they urinate on one of the boys and he doesn't even close his mouth but that's not something that actually bothered me. Everything else is portrayed more realistic than in any other film of its kind. They aren't scared to show things and the outcome is also something that would most likely happen in real life.


Poetry
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Illégal
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

This made me aware of some things even if it might not be all true, the story is still somewhat engaging.


The Illusionist
Animation/Comedy/Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

The animation is exceptional and absolutely beautiful. This film is filled with humor and charm but also heartbreak. Not to mention the score fits perfectly.


Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Comedy/Drama/Fantasy
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Rubber
Comedy/Drama/Horror
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I'm pretty sure that most people who saw this didn't really get the point of it, at least to me it seems like it's ridiculing hollywood flicks. Whatever it's about, I think it's witty and the camerawork is well done.


One Day
Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

A dreamy and delightful love story, words can't describe it. It has to be seen.


Confessions
Drama/Mystery/Thriller
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

There's no other revenge story like this. It's twisted and dark, no doubt about it but I think that's the best way to deliver a message like this. It also introduced me to the band Boris.


Another Year
Drama/Comedy
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

A subtle film with lovable characters. It's about loneliness and growing old showen in a not so depressing way thanks to the humor and qualitative dialogue. I especially like Oliver Maltman's character Ken.


Certified Copy
Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

At first I didn't even care to see this one because I thought that it's just another romantic drama but I had no clue that it's directed by Abbas Kiarostami although I did know that Juliette Binoche won at Cannes for her performance. This is more of a dialogue driven film about two people but it's not as simple as that, I will not say anything more. It's all left open for your imagination, which is what made me love it. There's also lots of brilliant humor, delightful.


The Colors of the Mountain
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

This film is heartbreaking and visually stunning. I wish I grew up surrounded by so much nature. The more I think about this film, the more I love it. The way the story is told through the eyes of the children makes it so innocent but unfortunately this is reality for a lot of people in different parts of the world.


71: Into the Fire
Drama/History/War
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Quite powerful but lacks originality. It still has pretty much everything you want to see in a film like this. Action packed scenes with guns and fire, some clever and strategic attacks. There's some funny moments like the one with the grenade but also a lot of tragedy. The story is based on true events.


Aftershock
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

The word "touching" describes this film best. It all revolves around family themes, it's heartbreaking and could possibly move you to tears. The acting is absolutely brilliant by everyone, except for the Canadian husband, I would even call it bad but it's no big deal because you can only see him for a few seconds.


The Robber
Biography/Crime/Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


How I Ended This Summer
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Honey
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.

I Wish I Knew
Documentary/History
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

A unique documentary about Shanghai. Absorb it well, the stories told by each person are engaging and the shots of the city are beautiful and refreshing.


Elite Squad 2
Action/Crime/Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

This is the sequel to Elite Squad (2008) but it's way different and frankly, I think it's better. I've seen a lot of films about Rio de Janeiro and I don't get tired of them. This is mainly a political and important film about corruption and organised crime.


Tuesday, After Christmas
Drama/Romance
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Steam of Life
Documentary
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

A very humane documentary about men, emotions and more, it's a deep film. The music fits so well and gives it exactly the right tone and the scenes outside the saunas are absolutely stunning.

If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

A realstic portrait of imprisonment, it grabbed me by the neck at the start of the film and didn't let go till the very end.


Incendies
Drama/Mystery/War
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

The director Denis Villeneuve managed to craft an extremely precise and affective story with a powerful twist. There's nothing else I really can or want to say without giving anything away.


Attenberg
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

This reminded me of last years Dogtooth in some ways, obviously because the diretors of both films were involved in each other's work. The style is similiar but other than that it's a completely different film.


HaHaHa
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


My Joy
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Love in a Puff
Comedy/Drama/Romance
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

Well, this was definitely unexpected, not just because it starts off as a horror film but I didn't expect it to be so appealing. It's very well written, especcially the dialogues, the chemistry between the two is perfect.


Submarino
Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

This is not a happy story, it's devastating and depressing but it's a realistic and well-made film. It pulled me in from the very beginning.


When We Leave
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Some of the scenes in this film are painful to watch. I was cheering for the main character Umay the whole time. Amazing performance by the lead actress Sibel Kekilli and the little boy who played her son also did a great job and actually reminds me of the little boy from Honey.


Heartbeats
Drama/Romance
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


About Her Brother
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Already a few minutes in the film I could tell that it has its own style, it touched me deeply.


Reindeerspotting
Documentary
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Another great documentary of 2010, different than all the others. It should be shown in classes all around the world.


Waste Land
Documentary
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Insightful and inspring.


Fishing
Fantasy
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Even more enigmatic than last years Lourdes, also unbelievably beautiful.


Submarine
Comedy/Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I was looking forward to this. It was everything I expected it to be but the actress Yasmin Paige who played the girl Jordana Bevan sort of ruined some parts for me, simply because she's a bad and annoying actress. There's tons of good laughs though. It captures the whole teen angst/depression, growing up, school life thing perfectly.


Senna
Documentary/Biography/Sport
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

I used to watch Formula 1 ages ago but it never interested that much but the name Ayrton Senna did ring a bell. Anyway, now I know who he was, a real tragedy. A lot of good documentaries this year but this is probably the best one along with Stream of Life. I'm pretty sure that you will like it even if you have never even seen a Formula 1 race because this film is about much more then the sport.


The Yellow Sea
Crime/Drama/Thriller
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I was eager to see this film for quite some time and I'm not disappointed. I enjoyed The Chaser and I wasn't sure if the director could deliver once again but now I know better. Throughout the whole film there's a lot tension, just how it's supposed to be. Packed with lots of breathtaking action scenes, which you will want to see multiple times.


Carancho
Crime/Drama/Romance
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Not the most original film but it has Ricardo Darín in it who has been in many great films in the past. Martina Gusman is not bad either, they make a great couple.


Bleak Night
Drama
My Rating - 10/10
IMDB

In my top 10 of 2010.


Oki's Movie
Comedy/Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

The 11th film by Hong Sang-Soo. Just what you would expect, I love the part where they ask the professor all of those questions about life.


Cold Fish
Drama/Thriller
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I don't think that anybody could possibly foresee how this film will end because it starts off so innocent. The director is Shion Sono and no, it's not like last years Be Sure to Share.


Into Eternity
Documentary
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

A documentary about nuclear waste and where its going to be stored in Finland in the future.


Hunting Season
Crime/Drama/Mystery
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

At first it reminded me of Memories of Murder but then it went into its own direction, which of course isn't a bad thing. It had more potential but all in all it's still a great mystery film.


R
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

The concept is not that much different from other prison films but some swift things occur throughout, quite enjoyable.


The Four Times
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Truly beautiful and tragic.


Aurora
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Another fantastic film by Cristi Puiu. I enjoyed The Death of Mr. Lazarescu more but it's not fair to compare them. When he makes a film, he really goes deep into the subject.


The Fourth Portrait
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

I've seen quite a few similiar films but it's a good effort.


Morgen
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

The first film by Marian Crisan. It's quite beauitfully shot, especially the opening scene. Surely there have been countless films about boarder crossing in the last few years but this one stands out.


678
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Nothing innovative here filmmaking wise but the story is surely an important one to be told.


When Love Comes
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

A tender view on everyday struggles in family life.


The City Below
Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

That's the life over there for bankers, greed instead of cheese. It might be showing its own exaggerated version of a economic collapse.


Juliets
Drama/Romance
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Three more or less romantic love tales. I enjoyed the third one most, I actually would have liked to see a full length of it but the other two are also nice.


Orly
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

I just recently watched Angela Schanelec's Afternoon and was blown away so now I'm trying to get my hands on her other work, Orly is one of those films. Quite different from Afternoon but nonetheless excellent. It all takes place in the Orly airport near Paris, which is where I went in the summer of 2011 so it's interesting because I was fimiliar with one or two locations of the film.


In the Shadows
Crime/Drama
My Rating - 9/10
IMDB

As far as crime films like this go I can't imagine it being any better, amazing atmosphere throughout the whole film.


Post Mortem
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

This film has a really gritty feel to it (not just color wise) and it fits very well, it brings the message accross as it's supposed to.


Nostalgia for the Light
Documentary/Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Now I know something about the Atacama Desert and what's going on around there, it can stir up some emotions.


REC
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

This film is without a doubt special in one way or another.


Littlerock
Drama
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Cory Zacharia, whose character is also named Cory saved this film. Not that it's generally bad but I doubt that I would have enjoyed it without him, a very genuine guy.


Leap Year
Drama
My Rating - 8/10
IMDB

Surprisingly this is the first film by Michael Rowe, not easy to digest but most definitely worth it.



Cold Weather
Comedy/Drama/Mystery
My Rating - 7/10
IMDB

Quite funny and actually original. The part where Doug and Carlos were talking while loading the truck with ice reminded me a lot of a job I had, love the dialogues.