Before I started my own entertainment-related blog, my Top Tens had to whore themselves out on my friends’ pages. This one was originally posted on Justin Plus One.
As usual with my Top Tens, I have preserved them as they were, even if, in hindsight, I may disagree with some of my own choices. (Did I really exclude a Darren Aronofsky movie in favor of Iron Man? Gosh.)
Blame Batman, the first superhero movie I ever saw — and perhaps not coincidentally, my favorite. (Paired with its sublime sequel Batman Returns.) Or blame Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which raised the bar for comic book adaptations — proving they could be artful and commercial at the same time, as well as Oscar contenders. Or blame Bruce Wayne himself, so brooding and tortured and serious, making all those other men in tights look like gravity-defying clowns in comparison.
As a film school graduate, I’m afraid I have an obligation to take entertainment way too seriously. That’s why, when awards season rolls around, I can’t help but partake in the senseless, arbitrary, and totally nerdy critic’s pastime of ranking all the films I saw and compiling a Top Ten List.
And since 2011′s award season has already come and gone (catch “Best Of Film 2011″ for more on that), why not retroactively look back at movies from other years that were just as good?
Why, there is no reason not to!
(Originally posted over at Fabulous Apple. In preparation for this year’s “Not-Oscars,” here’s what I said about last year…)
We all know the Oscars don’t always get it right.
Of course, “right” is a matter of opinion — but with some perspective, there are a few awards and nominations we collectively agree did not go the way they should. A Beautiful Mind as Best Picture over Lord of the Rings, Gosford Park, In The Bedroom, and Moulin Rouge? Tommy Lee Jones as Best Supporting Actor for The Fugitive over Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List? The Green Mile and The Cider House Rules nominated for Best Picture in 2000 over Fight Club, Magnolia, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Being John Malkovich, Election, or The Virgin Suicides? Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich beating Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream?
