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2. The Social Network

In the early part of the year, everyone was talking about how stupid “the Facebook movie” was going to be. For some reason, everyone thought that it was going to literally be about Facebook – maybe anthropomorphic thumbs-ups for “likes” or something inane. I’m not sure; I don’t claim to be part of the cultural zeitgeist. At the very least, though, I’m sure people were thinking that Facebook would be an actual character, sort of like the upcoming Ridley Scott Monopoly movie (which, yes, I’m super excited for. No, that’s not sarcasm).

It’s probably that first trailer that convinced everyone otherwise. To the tune of a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” it showed us how intertwined with our lives Facebook is. Its importance cannot be understated, and that made the film immediately more relevant than most people first thought. Plus, it had Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg being really sassy, and sassy is something Eisenberg usually isn’t.

The Social Network will probably be the film of 2010. When you think of 2007, you think There Will Be Blood (or No Country for Old Men), maybe, and when you think of 2002, of course you think of Chicago. 2010 is not the year of the cinematic masterpiece (besides maybe personal ones, like Greenberg for Noah Baumbach or Black Swan for Aronofsky), but in a few years I feel like The Social Network will be considered one. I think its impact on both the film and actual world have yet to truly sink in, but when they do, the film’s importance will grow even more.

The Social Network also makes me excited for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake – as much as I love the original (#5 of the year), a lot because it’s foreign, this movie makes me have absolute faith in David Fincher (and Rooney Mara) that they can pull off something truly special. And special is not word that is often used for film nowadays.

3. Inception

It’s strange, but I think I have a problem with modern Christopher Nolan (besides the fact that the Academy loves snubbing him). It’s not the quality his films – Inception is my sixth favorite film of 2010 and The Dark Knight was my second favorite of 2008 (because, you know...WALL-E). It’s the strange, unmemorable qualities that his films have. I’ve only seen each once (and The Dark Knight in a drive-in), but neither stick with me. I remember the Joker making a pencil disappear, Maggie Gyllenhaal acting embarrassingly, and Aaron Eckhart being awesome.

With Inception, it’s almost the same. I have images stuck in my head, and they’ll probably be some of the most lasting film images of the noveaux-teens, but actual plot? When a movie is pure exposition, it’s hard to allow time to let things sink in. I don’t remember any of the characters or their personalities (although I do remember Marion Cotillard’s smile...makes me melt every time). It’s strange, too, because Inception is well-written and impeccably directed. For the film to work, nothing could be changed to the screenplay.

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