Where there is a BEST list, there is a WORST list. Some of these i was highly disappointed in and it saddens me that they managed to make this list. Some i completely expected to be here and totally deserve it.
So here, are my WORST picks:
10) The Edge Of Darkness
This film is not entirely a bad film, but it’s not the great film one would have expect/wanted. I think Mel Gibson is powerful in this, and sure, he’s even more unpopular in the real world, but up on screen, i still think he has something that most actors lack. The film however seemed to gloss over many things (such as Ray Winstone’s entire character). Its a good film, far from the worst, but enough to get number 10.
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/395945984/review-edge-of-darkness
9) Red
This one was more to do with wasted potential. It had a GREAT cast, allowing them to have fun, but the fun seemed funner for them than for us. If in a good writer or good directors hands, it would have been much more than what it was. Entertaining sure, forgettable, entirely.
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/1598849080/review-red
8) Somewhere
It disappoints me that this film made the list, again not a terrible film, but on reflection it’s not a great film. It seems that Sofia Coppola films have lesser and lesser happening within them, here we didn’t even get the solid soundtrack she always has. Sure it’s somewhat of a departure from previous work, but then again its a departure that i feel is a hinderance. That said, good performances, but a weak Sofia Coppola film.
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/2442145217/review-somewhere
7) The Book Of Eli
This film i caught on DVD around 6 months after it was released so i never got to review it on the blog. However, this is another film with some great potential, post-apocalyptic landscape, a lone badass hero in the form of Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman returning to his deliciously evil villian persona, what’s not to like? Sure, the set-up for the film is good, where the sole character Eli carries a book across a barron epic to protect it, to run into trouble from Carnegie (Oldman) who wants said book, action ensues, it’s pretty fun like that. However there are some wasted opportunities as the film continues (especially a wasted cool cameo from Michael Gambon) and the end featuring Malcolm McDowell (who was there to get a paycheck i’m sure) is pretty ridiculous and a let down, making way for it’s spot on this list.
6) Shutter Island
This is the controvercial one, as Shutter Island is one of the more universally liked films of 2010. I didn’t buy into that at all. Sure if directed by someone of lesser talents i’m sure i would have given the film the benefit of the doubt, however the director is Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest directors of all time. That said i’m not judging it harsher cause of Scorsese, no, i am judging it without giving it the benefit of the doubt. Sure, people say it’s pulpy, i say it’s lazy, overblown filmmaking, too many hallucinatory states that hinder the experience, a plot twists that appear a mile off and treat the audience like idiots (insert Ben Kingsley blackboard explanation). It’s a disappointment from what the film could have been, however Leonardo DiCaprio gives a strong performance. If you like it, i’m not saying you shouldn’t, but it deserves it’s spot on this list for me.
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/404073862/review-shutter-island
5) Repo Men
Another film i failed to see at the cinemas but caught later after it’s release. This is yet another film with potential, despite its similarities to Repo: The Genetic Opera. A sci-fi black comedy about repo men who collect fake organs from non-paying customers is ripe for a good time. The film has some excellent parts, but in the end lacks the greatness it could have had with a better director, say like Paul Verhoeven or David Cronenberg. The thing that REALLY irks me about this film however is the ending (SPOILER):
An ending to the film that discounts the last quarter of the film to be merely Remy’s dream as he has been pretty much turned into a vegetable, distastefully discounting the best moments of the film, such as the extremely gory hallway fight scene, and the sensual organ removal scene with Jude Law and Alice Braga. Sure, this ending has been used to great effect before (Terry Gilliam’s masterpiece Brazil for instance), but here this sort of ending was tacked on for no apparent reason but to destroy any enjoyment a viewer would have experienced in the film. For shame.
4) Predators
I somewhat expected that this wouldn’t be great, i mean how can once beat the original Arnold Schwarzeneggar classic? With Robert Rodriguez involved as producer, i was sure there would be SOME quality to the film. In the end, yes, there was SOME quality, but in ratio to the rest of the film, very little, proving to not only be a disappointment, but a sad homage to the original film. The idea is actually a smart sequel idea, but the execution and progression of the film goes gets worse as it goes along. Pred-dogs, are you kidding me? They need dogs to hunt for them? Change the Predator design and undermine the terror of the original Predator by using him as bait? Using the first films events as knowledge for what to do? Seriously? Unnecessary predictable twists? Yes! Adrien Brody beats the Predator without seemingly breaking a sweat. Ugh, so many things wrong. At least its better than the Alien Vs. Predator series right?
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/785047792/review-predators
3) Alice In Wonderland
Ugh. We’ve reached the bottom of the barrel here, with the top three worst of the year, any one of them could be number one. First with Alice In Wonderland generously not the worst film of the year. Tim Burton (and Danny Elfman) haven’t been on their game for years (yes, Sweeney Todd was average). How i yearn for the day of pure eccentric chaos that was Beetlejuice, their masterpiece in my eyes. Alice In Wonderland makes for a new low for the filmmaker (and composer). Rather than retell the original story in a unique way, a story in need of a unique and detailed re-telling on the big screen, Burton opts for a unique sequel which falls into the rhelm of big piece of shit. They didn’t even bother with adapting Through The Looking Glass, the real Alice In Wonderland sequel.
The Mad Hatter (or the rest of the tea party folks) barely knew Alice, let alone were friends with her, Alice thought they were idiots, yet here they are like homeboys, and given huge and unappealing spotlight. Johnny Depp is on auto-pilot now with Burton i believe, i actually wish they would take a break for awhile to get a freshness back into the partnership. The film had no adventure, too much CGI, barely any good performances, just an insult to the Lewis Carroll classic. In bad 3D too! Bah!
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/438686346/review-alice-in-wonderland
2) Clash Of The Titans
Yeah, waste of time this. CGI crazy, bad 3D, wooden, undeveloped characters, just a waste of time. The Medusa section was OKAY, but Ray Harryhausen would be disgusted.
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/497322726/review-clash-of-the-titans
1) The American
An interesting pick for the worst movie of the 2010 right? I bet most of you haven’t even seen this, let alone heard of it. It had great potential, George Clooney (fine actor) plays a hitman (excellent film territory) who travels to a small Italian town (exotic location, culture clash, nice) for one last job, but is hunted by rival assassins and falls for local women (nice, drama, tension).
However, in the end, it was the most achingly boring and anger inducing film i have seen in years. A wannabe existential film with a pace was slower than a snail on valium, i almost fell asleep multiple times. The characters are left wooden and underwritten, totally sucking any quality from Clooney’s and the other actors performances. Literally almost nothing happens, we learn next to nothing about the town, Clooney stares and builds a gun. Just a a frustrating film, one which i makes you feel inclined to get your money back, because it is like the film takes entertainment in our misery as it sucks any entertainment out of our bodies. Anton Corbijn, director of the excellent Control, come on, this was so shit man!
http://blue-eyed-wonderland.tumblr.com/post/1616909838/review-the-american
So that’s it! Agree? Disagree? Tell me about it.
I will post my “Most Anticipated for 2011” soonish.
Adieu.
