Some 2010 Movies That Deserved A Closer Look

French film that's reminiscent of the work of Cronenberg or Polanski, about Helena, a student of anatomical drawing who has a raging affair with Benoit, a young radiologist. The film asks: if you really loved someone so much, and you had the ability to actually see inside them, would you? Sexy, creepy, smart and gripping.

I'm going to include this film, because it was on the festival circuit in 2010 even though it was technically finished in 2009. The story follows Mario, a 40-year old garbage collector from Bologna who lives with his disabled mother. Oh, and he's addicted to porn. Sound hard to watch? Hardly. What makes the film is the performance of Stefano Fregni as Mario, who brings such redemptive sensitivity and morose humor to the role that he is simply joy to observe.

Excellent Swiss film about four friends who's lives are influenced by seemingly random effects that are beyond their control. It's a "butterfly effect" technique you've seen before in films like Babel or Mammut, but the way this story winds around a pivotal event is quite compelling.

Don't let the premise (yuppie friends meet in remote cabin to celebrate New Year's Eve together) discourage you. While you could probably lump the film in with acerbic ensemble turns like Rachel Getting Married, The Anniversary Party or Margot At The Wedding you wouldn't be giving the strong performances and whip-smart dialog enough credit. Also it's good to see an indie turn from Community's Gillian Jacobs. Good movie.

Another film that really needs a champion. Jenna Fischer stars as Laura, a 35 year old Long Island dental hygenist who's husband dies suddenly, leaving her and her 12-year old son Dennis to deal with life and her overbearing family, all in the months following 9/11. When Dennis tells his new schoolmates that his father was a firefighter who died in the Twin Towers, Laura finds that, for a while at least, it's easier to live the lie than admit the truth. Tense, witty and emotionally satisfying, this film needs to find its audience!

I included this because it's simply the best film of the year. Hands down.

C'mon people. This was a film made with lots and lots of love and affection. Every frame of this film has something going for it and yet, it couldn't really ever find its audience. How come? Amazing!

I'm going to include this on the list. I know it got a proper release and some decent attention, but here's a film that deserves to be at least in the Oscar conversation, and it isn't.

A controversial selection, I am aware. I thought it was interesting how it was easy for people to be cynical about this film and discount it as "fake" but it was such a pariah after the "truth" came out. The media makes our world like the court of King Louis XIV, where you can fall out of favor and everyone just follows along. My feeling is that, while it was hard to watch a d-bag hard at work being a d-bag, this was an extremely well constructed film and Casey and Joaquin were really turning the mirror back on all of us. If we could be self-critical as a society for a split-second, we might have learned something really valuable from this film.

Didn't really make much of a splash when it came out, but I think that most people who saw it were glad they did.

Debuted in 2009, but released in 2010. ANYONE who sees this film will love it. But, did anyone see it?

Funny thing about this film - it's also getting edged out of the awards race. It's now officially an also-ran. Absolutely haunting film that deserves nods for the performances of its principles and for creating an eerie world which has made a matter-of-fact culture out of cloning and organ harvesting.

Thank God people are finally starting to see this film a bit more now that it's out on DVD/VOD, but it sort of tanked when it was released in the theaters. Has to do with people wanting to be "entertained" rather than woken up when they hit the multiplex, but honestly, if you want to sit on the edge of your seat and witness what it's like to be square in the middle of warfare, you really shouldn't miss this film.

A beautifully acted and painfully-accurately observed portrayal of white liberal guilt. Really loved this movie, but it kind of landed with a thud when it was theatrically released. You should see it - you'll like it.

I feel a bit like WINTERS BONE might have whipped the "raw rural drama" carpet right out from under this film. After premiering at Sundance in 2010 it ran the festival circuit and picked up some awards, but didn't quite penetrate the awards pool. It should have.

Even though it's a 2008 movie, it was actually released in 2010, not that you would have known. This is an excellent example of why Australian film is so damn good when it wants to be. Taught, riveting drama/thriller. If you ever get the chance, see it!

Frothy, sexy, funny and sad. This film suffered from a terrible print campaign that made it look like a bad 80's sex romp. You'll love this film if you see it.

I include this movie for no other reason than the quiet fight at the funeral. "The quiet fight" (fighting - in this case at a funeral - but attempting to be quiet while you're doing it) is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Stuck with me for months.

This film didn't make it onto the Oscar short list and it's a crime. Forget all of that Wikileaks business, if you want to know what really goes on in the minds of people caught in the cross hairs of a world at war, see this film. It's astonishing.

Low budget science fiction. There's a lot to be said for it.