12 Days of Christmas, Day 4: The Best Movies of 2010

When I think of movies, I inevitably think of the big-time summer blockbusters. This makes sense, as my all-time favorite movie--The Dark Knight-- was one of the biggest of all-time. That being said, this year offered up some blockbusters of its own, and there were a few that snuck up on everyone and took the world by storm. So with that, let the countdown begin: the Best Movies of 2010 are...

5. Shutter Island (Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sir Ben Kingsley)

This suspense-action-thriller proves once and for all the Leonardo DiCaprio has left behind his days as Jack Dawson (Titanic) for darker, more complex roles, and his star shines bright once again as he plays a detective investigating the operations of a mental hospital in Massachusetts in this Martin Scorsese gem. Sir Ben Kingsley plays the villain role almost equal to DiCaprio's protagonist, and while the ending is slightly predictable, the last line will leave you thinking long after you leave the theater or turn your DVD/Blu-Ray player off.

4. Get Him to the Greek (Starring Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, and P. Diddy)

Jonah Hill gives the best performance of his blossoming career in this comedy, where he plays a starving music intern who gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to escort his all-time favorite rock star (Brand's character, Aldous Snow--yes, the one from Forgetting Sarah Marshall), who slowly discovers the rock and roll life isn't exactly what he thought it would be. Kudos go to Brand on this one, as he played the hilarious-yet-tormented rock star and provides an unexpected heart and message to this otherwise hilarious movie. P. Diddy's big-screen debut goes over incredibly well, as he proved to be the year's biggest scene-stealer.

3. The Social Network (Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake)

This drama detailing the way Mark Zuckerberg went on to create the social networking juggernaut that is Facebook provides a perfect depiction of the decade that was, and turns out to be a phenomenal way for Eisenberg to get past his "nerdy, awkward kid" image, as his dark, bitter portrayal of Zuckerberg is one of the best performances of the year. Surprisingly great performances by Garfield and Timberlake (who plays Napster creator Sean Parker) add to Eisenberg's performance well, making The Social Network one of the better-acted movies in recent memory, while the inside story of the creation of Facebook is wonderfully depicted. 

2. Inception (Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Ellen Page, and Marion Coultillard)

Just when you thought Leo was done for the year after Shutter Island, he comes back roaring with the best blockbuster movie of the Summer, the Christopher Nolan (director of The Dark Knight)-directed Inception. Detailing the life of a dream thief, the movie does an excellent job of explaining its incredibly deep plot, yet still leaving viewers holding their breath for what might happen next. The supporting cast is excellent, but it's Leo who shines the brightest (go figure) in this one. His dark, heartbroken character is such a love-hate figure that it's almost sickening. Inception was a rare feat for a blockbuster, as it was able to become more than just a "popcorn flick" and still has the massive audiences it brought in talking about the controversial ending. 

1. Toy Story 3 (Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack)

Disney/Pixar churns out another animated instant classic with the end of the Toy Story saga, as Woody and Buzz return to guide the lovable troop of Andy's toys through the swirling storm of worry as Andy prepares to leave them behind for college. They end up at Sunnyside Daycare, where things aren't as what they seem to be after Woody tries to escape and find Andy to go to college with him. The ending will tear at your heartstrings no matter what age you are, and the Toy Story saga will forever be heralded as Disney/Pixar's greatest contribution to the film industry.

I know for a fact I missed a bunch of good ones, but you can only see so many movies in one year. So help me out here: what movies did you see that had you and your friends talking? What movies will you remember in the years to come from 2010? Leave it in the comments, and I'll see you in the theaters in 2011!