It’s no secret, that here at the The Movie Mash, we are big fans of Christopher Nolan. Barrett and Mike each have The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and Inception among their top ten movies of all-time — I have Batman Begins amongst my ten favorites. Nolan is a cinematic genius, and has yet to fail as a blockbuster filmmaker. Many montages have been made showcasing the director’s work, but I think this latest rendition is definitely one of the best. Hit the jump to watch it.

Kees van Dijkhuizen is the man behind the video. He has worked this year on creating a video montage of his favorite directors which include: (my personal favorite) David Fincher, Tim Burton, Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson, Pixar, and more. After creating the previous entries, van Dijkhuizen said he got, “hundreds, literally hundreds of requests” to mash up the work of Nolan. Well, why wouldn’t there be hundreds of requests? Nolan is a visionary with strengths in structruing breathtaking beauty in all his shots — especially his landscapes. We all want to see a man with van Dijkhuizen’s editing talents praise our favorite snippets from Nolan’s films. Without further ado…

What Did You Think Of The Video?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery

I love the Internet. Sarah talked earlier about how she loves to watch short webisodes online, and I’m here to admit I have a tendency to spend hours browsing sites like 9gag.com and comixed checking out all the different creative pictures that are constantly surfacing on their home pages. Whether the creators are commenting on films, television, politics, or just life in general, you don’t have to go far to find a picture that will make you smile. Hit the jump to see some of my favorites.

My brother led me to most of these pics, many of them are funny Harry Potter jokes, and these are some of my favorites:

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery

You Guys Love These Pics Or What?

I stumbled across these funny videos that are inspired by Hollywood’s most disrespected filmmaker, Christopher Nolan. Of course, anyone paying attention to last night’s Oscars saw Nolan lost Best Screenplay for his imagined masterpiece Inception. He was dissed months earlier by not even being nominated for Best Director. But, we all know he is the man and doesn’t need some gold statue and the adoration from a panel of aging critics to be a success. As they always say, “Imitation is the best form of flattery.” The three videos posted after the jump prove Nolan makes films people want to parody, mimic, and digest.

First up, the hilarious website How It Should Have Ended uses animation to give a funny take on how certain films in Hollywood “should have ended.” When you see the animations you will easily be able to tell the short videos are just jokes and not meant to be a suggestion for how the film really should have wrapped up. But the videos are hilarious, and there are so many different endings to many of the films we all love like Avatar, Twilight, Top Gun, The Empire Strikes Back, and so many more. First check out how Inception should have ended, and then below that check out how The Dark Knight should have ended.

Inception:

The Dark Knight:

If you liked those videos, spend some serious time browsing their site and checking out their other very comical content. You definitely need to check out the Iron Man video, it is one of my favorites.

Lastly, another parody of Inception, but this time done by the minds at Rooster Teeth. While this video is no where near as great as the work from How It Should Have Ended, it is worth your time checking it out. The video combines Inception with a very popular television show. So check it out.

Which video was your favorite?

Inception

Dude, it’s like a dream within a dream (within a dream within a dream)! It sounds ridiculous when I say it like that, but Inception really is the most cinematic film of the year. Christopher Nolan creates an entire world from the intriguing premise – what if we could get inside someone else’s dream? Well, if you’re Mr. Nolan you’d get in there and steal something (extraction). Or, since that’s too easy, you’d want to get in there and plant something (inception).

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the entire world that Nolan builds. What are the rules inside a dream? What are the goals? Who’s trying to stop our hero from achieving those goals? Is there anyone from your past who’s not exactly trying to stop you, but more just hanging around, maybe more in the business of haunting? Better yet, if it’s your dream – could it just be that you’re just haunting yourself?

Mr. Nolan’s construction of a complete and satisfying world (a new vocabulary, new laws of physics, new emotional stakes), coupled with his ability to play by his own rules, is an enormous accomplishment in itself. That this picture is also so utterly watchable, so filled with momentum, so layered with intrigue, mystery, relevant action – all on top the simple fact that this is ultimately just one man’s simple journey back home – is what makes Nolan’s Inception my vote for Best Original Screenplay.

What do I mean by ‘relevant action’? Well, if you can’t die in a dream then I’m no longer worried about that happening to any of the characters. Any action you take to avoid death is irrelevant because there are no consequences to failing. But Nolan deftly avoids the problem by showing that the real danger is not death but pain, emotional or physical pain. It all hurts. A lot. Have you ever woken up from a dream wherein said dream someone close to you died? It’s sad. But why? It’s only a dream, silly? But it matters because it’s feels real. These are the stakes in Inception.

Finally, I know a handful of people who got lost in the story somewhere inside the dream inside the dream inside the dream inside the dream. Dude, it’s like four levels! Yes, it sounds ridiculous when I say it like that, but this is a complex story and sometimes the audience is not always able to keep up. And, unlike a book, you can’t slow down to your own pace; you must go at the filmmaker’s pace. But I would argue getting lost in this film is still a joy. The moments are so incredibly rich with meaning and relevance that sometimes it’s okay to lose the forest in the trees. Sometimes that’s exactly the point. In fact, isn’t that what happens in a dream? It feels so real and becomes reality.

Well, that’s what a great film is, too

The King’s Speech

This is probably going to win best picture AND best original screenplay AND best actor AND… well, I could go on, but it’s a story about a king who has a speech impediment?! This is exactly the kind of film that anyone under twenty five is forgiven for not caring one little bit about. I’m like fifty and this subject matter repels me. You know what I don’t care about? The class system. You know what system I think is anachronistic and classist and was outdated the moment it was started? Ding-ding-ding! The British Monarchy!  Okay, I’m not really fifty, but I am old enough to know there was a time when this film would have embodied the gap between how much young people know and how little the old(er) folks understand.

Having said all that, I really, really like this film. You know why? It’s more than the sublime performances of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, more than their chemistry which is also world class, more than the story itself is filled with joyous surprises all the way through.

You know what it is? It’s the fact that at its core this is just a buddy story. It’s just two dudes hanging out. One wants to stop stuttering. The other just wants to help out his bro. Sure, there are class issues (one guy is royalty), father issues (if you though your dad was overbearing, imagine if he was King), the physical disability issues (mainly insecurity), but these are all side issues to the buddy story here between a dude and another dude. Or, if you like, a man and a king. Or, if you must, a man and his king.

I imagine there are countries (like, um, say Great Britain) where your fantasy is to be pals with the King. He’d like me, you think. I wouldn’t be one of his hoity-toity friends. I’d be his regular, solid friend. I’d be the one he’d talk to about more human things like football (that’s what they call soccer over there) or birds (girls) or tea (tea). But personally I think that kind of fantasy should be above the intellectual pay grade of someone who isn’t a twelve year girl.

So the fantasy element of the story was lost of me, but it didn’t matter in the slightest because I love this buddy story and the main character’s arc. The other stuff is just bollocks.

What’s Your Take?

As many movie buffs know, the Academy Award nominations were announced yesterday for the 83rd Oscars ceremony set to take place on February 27th. Of course not all of our favorite movies, actors, directors, or writers can be nominated; but seriously, some of the snubs by the snobs on the nomination panel are starting to get a little sickening. This year’s list of nominees is not only missing a few notable names, but features an actress being placed into the wrong category. The list this year is so absurd in places it has infuriated me so much I will vent to anyone who says “Oscars.” Hit the jump to read my frustrations with this year’s nominees.

First things first, some little known director named “Christopher Nolan” was left off the nominees list for Best Director. I haven’t seen any of his movies or anything, but I hear he is a solid director and deserved a nomination. Seriously Academy, how in the eff could you possibly in your right mind leave Nolan off this list of nominees?

Granted, you don’t have to pick him to win, because we all know you love the ‘art house’ film that employs camera aesthetics to reveal character emotions, but to leave his name off the list is simply an insult. Inception was one of the most visually breathtaking movies I have ever seen in my entire life. The concept alone, also conceived by Nolan, was mind bending. But the fact the man was able to pull it off for the screen in a coherent fashion is a feat I doubt many others could have accomplished.

Just think for a minute about how many of the scenes from Inception were absolutely astonishing; think of the action sequences that your mind had to be working at full capacity to comprehend the drama unfolding on the multiple layers of the dream. The images in this film were amongst the best of the year. You could tell Nolan had his hands all over this project, one of the highest grossing films of the year, and his exclusion from this list is a mockery of the entire film industry.

I personally loved The King’s Speech, I thought it was one of the best films of 2010. But including Tom Hooper’s name on the list of Best Director is simply because the film is a front runner in the Best Picture category, not because his effort was extraordinary. Hooper had a lot of great shots that helped tell this story, but to choose him over Nolan, really? The same can be said for the Coen Brothers grabbing a nomination in the category. True Grit had great cinematography, and the Coens are always in the mix come award season, but to add them to the list for a film with nothing special over Inception that was nothing but special is disgraceful.

The other three nominees truly deserved their inclusion in this category (David Fincher for The Social Network, Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan, and David O. Russell for The Fighter). All three used visuals to help tell these stories — especially Fincher. For a movie comprised of almost all dialogue, The Social Network never felt dull or boring. In my opinion, the opposite can be said for True Grit. The film dragged on for me because of the overwhelming amount of dialogue coupled with the Coen’s lack of creative storytelling.

On the topic of Inception, the film was also left off the Best Editing list of nominees. As I said above, for this film to come off as understandable by the end is the work of top notch directing and editing. The various dream sequences stacked on top of each other is something that could only be pulled off with superb editing. Inception had a large team of editors led by Lee Smith. Inception is arguably the most complex film of the year, and the fact it came together so well is the result of inventive editing.

This might sound like a rant from a fanboy, but that isn’t the case. I love comics, superhero movies, etc., but my movie taste is well-rounded. I didn’t love Inception because I am a Nolan die-hard, I did because it was a jaw-dropping intelligent blockbuster. If The King’s Speech had better direction than Inception, I would be fine with Hooper making the cut. I just want justice and the Academy committee to quit leaving out a deserving film because of its ‘blockbuster status.’

I have highlight the fact Leonardo DiCaprio got the shaft from the Academy once again. Seriously? Did you see him in Shutter Island? My dislike for True Grit is widely known; but I did think Jeff Bridges did a fine job acting his shallow written character. However, him being nominated over Leo’s emotionally unstable and psychotic character Teddy is a joke, an outrage — maybe a scandal? The transition for Leo’s character in that film from scene to scene, from beginning to end, is difficult to swallow. Initially he is a callous cop that is hell-bent on solving the mystery of the missing woman. By the end, Leo’s character is an emotionally unstable mess discovering haunting things about his past. How was he not nominated?

Shutter Island SPOILER ALERT:

I like Bridges as an actor, but his character in True Grit wasn’t profound, deep, or very interesting at all. To say he deserved a nomination over Leo is reprehensible. The scene in Shutter Island where Leo discovers his three young children drowned by his insane wife is one of the most powerful moments in cinema I have ever witnessed — ever. Each time I watch the scene I am connected with Teddy’s devastation as he swims to pull his lifeless children to the shore. The emotion pouring from Leo’s character in that scene alone warrant him a nomination. Will Leo ever get his golden statue?

My last beef with this year’s nominees comes with the nomination of Hailee Steinfeld for her role in True Grit. Please don’t think for a second she doesn’t merit the nomination because she was excellent in the film. My problem stems with her being under the Best Supporting Actress category. How does a film’s leading character get nominated as a supporting actress? She is not only the female lead in the film, she is almost the only female in the entire film. Yet, she is nominated in the Best Supporting category.

I heard one expert claim this was done strategically to give her a chance to win because the Best Actress category is so strong with performances from Natalie Portman in Black Swan, Annette Benning in The Kids Are Alright, and Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole. I honestly do not understand how this is even possible. If a character is the film’s lead, then Best Actor/Actress is the nomination. If the character is supporting the lead, then Best Supporting is the nomination. Is there really a gray area to blur the lines and nominate an actor in a different category?

On a quick note, how did TRON: Legacy get left off the list for Best Visual Effects? The only really great thing from the film was the visuals –Hell, most of the film is computer generated visuals. Alice in Wonderland was nominated, and the visuals in the movie were terrible in the post converted 3D — Truly baffling.

Anyway, another year, another list of deserving people getting wrongfully left on the outside looking in. For the full list of nominees, hit the LINK. Check out the 83rd Academy Awards February 27th, 2011.

What Do You Think? Discuss.

The five Oscar nominations for Best Score have been announced for the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony. The list goes as follows: The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Inception by Hans Zimmer, The King’s Speech by Alexandre Desplat, 127 Hours by A.R. Rahman, and How to Train Your Dragon by John Powell. All of these soundtracks are worthy of a nomination. I have a hard time zoning in on one soundtrack I want to see take the cake. However, I can give you some insight as to what exactly these soundtracks have to offer. That way you can understand where the competition is coming from within each soundtrack on February 27th.

First up, The King’s Speech by Alexandre Desplat, which has more of a melodic, slow-paced feel to it. There is a range of emphasis on symphony instruments with a lot of gorgeous buildups that sometimes surprise viewers by the intensity. One minute you will be listening to the slow rhythm of a piano and within seconds you are engulfed by the whirlwind of a loud and beautifully controlled symphony. Desplat is well known for his recent works on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Parts 1 and 2) soundtrack, which up to this point has not got the recognition it deserves. Regardless, while listening to The King’s Speech soundtrack you may be able to pick out sounds that remind you of Harry Potter. The King’s Speech is a beautiful soundtrack that has a firm hold on its nomination spot. I would not be surprised if Alexandre Desplat wins the award.

127 Hours has a great soundtrack that ranges from ambient, down tempo beats with slow strums of a guitar, to melodic strings, to unbelievably intense strings that pick up in the heat of the moment. Clearly, this is perfect for the film’s desert setting. Some of the songs in the soundtrack include vocals for harmonization, while other songs like “If I Rise” feature vocal accompaniment by Dido. “If I Rise” is composed ambient sounds, down tempo beats, and a simple guitar rhythm mixed with Dido’s captivating voice for a serious ear pleasing experience. I have a serious obsession with this song, along with many other of the songs on the soundtrack. I think A.R. Rahman’s soundtrack brings uniqueness to the table featuring an abundance of down tempo beats and ambient themed songs.

As you may know, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross already won the Golden Globe for Best Original Soundtrack on The Social Network. I tip my hat to the cover of “Creep” by Scala and the Kolacny Brothers that made an epic memorable entrance in the film. The rest of the soundtrack for The Social Network is compelling to people with taste in electronic music. Electronic music does not always receive a lot of recognition in movies. Maybe due to its lack of original instrumentation. However, Reznor and Ross did compile some distinguished dark electronic music for this soundtrack. The opening sequence with the song “In Motion” really gets the audience going from the get go. The nightclub scene also stands firm in my memory as one of my favorite parts in the film, and from the soundtrack. Overall, The Social Network features a good soundtrack that has earned its place, but does it deserve an Oscar? We will see.

[Editor's Note: If you own The Social Network on Blu-Ray or DVD, check out the special features disc for an in-depth look at the the creation of the music for the film.]

Obviously, the legendary Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for Inception made it into the nominees. It contains enormous amounts of energy from a full band and orchestra that makes any music enthusiast proud. All of the music within the soundtrack contains appropriate transitions that are not always predictable, which makes listening to the soundtrack simply enjoyable. From the strong brass and strings to the slow decrescendo of a piano, the soundtrack has a captivating ability to make you feel the intensity of the movie Inception. If you have seen the movie, I suggest going YouTube to listen to a track or two. I would be surprised if you could not recall the moment in the movie where the music was resonating through the speakers. Hans Zimmer has once again, made a strong standing as a nominee at the 2011 Academy Awards.

Indeed, the underdog in the nominations is John Powell’s How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack. Not because the soundtrack barely made it into the running, but because the film was made for children. Yes, I know that is not supposed to play a factor in Best Score, but this is the Academy Awards. I have a feeling the Academy thought they were making themselves look good by adding John Powell to the list of nominees. However, I think the soundtrack is one of the most solid soundtracks of the five nominations. The soundtrack does an amazing job of capturing the enchantment and setting in the animated fantasy. The music includes a lot of emphasis on strings and the occasional flute for an Icelandic feel, which is the location setting for the film. If you have not seen the film as an adult viewer, I highly recommend you watch it or read Matt’s review. It would be awesome to see How to Train Your Dragon take home Oscar because of its underdog status.

There you have it folks, the contenders for Best Score at this year’s Oscar. I hope my information has provided you with some quick insight as to what these soundtracks have to offer. I still cannot say exactly who I want to win the Oscar. I will tell you that I am not pulling for The Social Network, and I hope to see one of the other four take it. I will let you draw your own conclusions about the soundtracks and who you think deserves the ‘W.’

Who do you want to see take home the Oscar for Best Score?

What Do You Think? Discuss.

Just like the end of 2009, I will wrap up this year with a top ten list of my favorites movies from 2010. Coincidentally enough, this post is on the same day as it was last year. So consider the top ten movies of the year posted December 31st as a new Movie Mash annual tradition.

Of course, I cannot give any insight into films I did not see this year. This list could be different if I saw every movie that came out in 2010, but unfortunately I didn’t have that opportunity. With that considered, here is a list of my favorite movies from 2010. I am sure some of you will have your own thoughts on a top ten. Read through mine, and tell me how little I know about movies if your list differs from mine. Hit the jump to check out the best movies from 2010.

If you want my full thoughts on one of these films, you can check out my reviews by clicking the link in the heading for the title of the movie. The only two films I didn’t write reviews for were Black Swan and The Fighter. In that case, I linked Barrett’s reviews for those films. Enjoy.

#10 Despicable Me

Out of all the movies on this list, I would have to say this movie surprised me the most. I was amazed that not only I would come out of the theater enjoying the movie, but that I would include it on my list of the year’s best. The cast of voices include: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Julie Andrews, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, and Jack McBrayer. This light-hearted comedy has moments of happiness, sadness, laughter, and plenty of excitement. If you haven’t had a chance to check out this summer box office juggernaut (it is the second highest grossing animated film of all-time behind Toy Story 3), it’s now available on DVD. You may be surprised when you realize Despicable Me is more than just a kids movie.

#9 Kick-Ass

Violence, Violence, Violence! That is the name of the game in Kick-Ass. If you are a fan of low-rent, but in some cases highly skilled, action heroes tearing apart bad guys, this film is a perfect fit for you. After praising Chole Morentz’s role in (500) Days of Summer last year, I predicted she would ascend to stardom and nab roles like her character Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass. Despite Nicholas Cage royally sucking in his role as Big Daddy (he was atrocious), the movie’s cast of actors did wonders in their roles. I personally love well executed violence, and that is a big reason why Kick-Ass is on the top ten this year.

#8 Fair Game

This is probably a movie most of you are thinking, huh? What’s Fair Game? It is definitely a movie most of you have not heard of, but many of you should see. This film brings viewers inside the media whirlwind that was the Valerie Plame saga. The United States Government declassified her status as a CIA agent and revealed her name to a media outlet. This not only outed her as a covert operative, but the media went on to blame Valerie for the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. While this is a movie, and it obviously is not a perfect reenactment of Valerie’s difficult situation, it digs deeper than the media coverage and gets intimate with Valerie Plame and her husband Joe Wilson. The performances by Naomi Watts as Plame and Sean Penn as Wilson are award worthy. Add in a script ripe with drama, and Fair Game is one of the year’s best.

#7 Paranormal Activity 2

I find it very strange to include this movie on my list. I hate scary movies; I really really do. But in respect to how well executed Paranormal Activity 2 was, and how much it scared me, this movie warrants a spot on this list. I literally was on the edge of my seat the last 30 minutes of this movie. The fear circulated through my body when the demons displayed their evil deeds as if my heart was pumping terror through my veins. Paranormal Activity 2 takes awhile to set up, but the pay off is worth it in the end. I usually hate movies that make me jump with fright, but I will make an exception for this film because I felt like I was trapped in the house with the demonic spirits. Feeling like I was “part of the movie” solidifies Paranormal Activity 2 in my top ten.

#6 Black Swan

Natalie Portman delivers the performance of her life as the perfectionist ballerina Nina Myers. Her transformation from the pristine calculated White Swan into the wicked Black Swan is a dark journey. Director Darren Aronofsky crafts the images in his film to represent the condition in Nina’s mind flawlessly. Her psychosis is apparent with the brilliant storytelling as she descends deeper into her own delusions. While I didn’t love this film as much as Barrett (see his review by clicking the link above), Black Swan definitely ranks among the year’s best. Do not miss this dark demented journey into madness; Aronofsky leaves out the predictable as he brings viewers on a roller coaster of emotions.

#5 The Social Network

Everyone loves Facebook! Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and Director David Fincher crafted a compelling story about the inception of Facebook and its creator Mark Zuckerburg. The way the movie jumps around in time would pose difficulties for some filmmakers, but for this duo, they pull it off seamlessly. The dialogue in this movie is among the year’s best. Jesse Eisenberg nails his role as Zuckerberg as he portrays the brilliant pompous Harvard dropout to a T. Add in the dynamic performance of the up and coming Andrew Garfield, a score composed by Trent Reznor, and breathtaking cinematography from Fincher himself, and The Social Network definitely deserves a spot on this list.

#4 Easy A

This was my number one comedy of the year. Granted, Easy A didn’t really have too much competition in the field. In a year marred with let downs like Dinner for Schmucks, The Other Guys, and Due Date, it was a relief to get a knockout in this genre. Emma Stone proves she is a force to be reckoned with in the Hollywood circuit as she carries Easy A like Atlas. The script is a nice mix of comedy and drama which effectively collaborate to make viewers care for the narrative while also getting strong doses of laughter. Easy A scorched its competition in the comedy genre placing it in the upper echelon on this list.

#3 Toy Story 3

Oh Pixar, do these guys ever make a bad movie? According to their track record, no. Once again the brilliant minds at the Disney animation division have brought us a product that not only appeals to children, but is enticing to adults as well. Earlier in the year, Toy Story 3 cracked the one billion dollar mark at the box office and boasted a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The real draw to this film isn’t in the laughs or the “secret lives of toys,” its the filmmakers ability to create characters that are toys the audience cares very deeply about. By the end, everyone in the audience is on the edge of their seat hoping the band of toys are going to pull through and make it to play another day. Toy Story 3 makes Pixar Studios a perfect 11 for 11 in their successful feature films.

#2 Inception

Until two weeks ago I would have thought it crazy for any movie to be number one this year but Inception; then The Fighter came and stole its crown. Inception is still a perfect movie for almost anyone who loves a thriller that will leave them with intrigue. While not every answer a viewer is looking for is addressed, I believe this is Nolan’s way of leaving it up to the viewers to decide for themselves what is real and what is a dream. Call it, strategic ambiguity. The heralded filmmaker purposefully leaves his pet project vague so viewers are left to ponder what they have just seen. Crazy right? Inception was a groundbreaking summer blockbuster that isn’t mindless, formulaic, and simple to follow along with. It requires a concentrated effort to keep pace with the film jumping from dream state to the real world. Throw in the talents of Leonardo DiCaprio, Joesph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, and the great Michael Caine — you have yourself one killer movie. Did I forget to mention the epic original score composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer? His tracks give me goosebumps every time they boom from the speakers.

#1 The Fighter

It wasn’t until the second time I saw The Fighter that I knew this was my number one movie of the year. For a movie to leap frog Inception, a movie very near and dear to my heart, it would take a pretty damn good movie right? The Fighter is just that movie. While I didn’t get to write the Movie Mash’s review for the film, consider this post my two cents on the film. The Fighter is the second movie this year that warrants an A+ in my book (the first being Inception). The reason this film is number one is because of the emotional connection I felt to many of the film’s leading characters.

The audience is drawn to the brothers Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and Dicky Ecklund (Bale) as the two struggle to make it in the boxing world. Dicky had his opportunity as a younger man, but now is stuck in a life of crack addiction. He shrugs many of his responsibilities, including training his brother for upcoming fights, in favor of using the drug that has consumed his life. The parallels between the two brothers on such different paths is arranged in the movie remarkably. Mickey is working to get his boxing career on track while Dicky works to better his life and rid his body of its need for drugs. The title of this movie fits perfectly; The Fighter doesn’t simply represent the boxing in the film, but the fight for this family to overcome the problems blocking progress in their lives.

The struggle in this film is so apparent and overwhelming, it doesn’t seem like either brother will be able to make it over the hump. When there were breakthroughs I was overcome with joy. I would find myself choked up with pride while watching the characters succeed after seeing the difficult waters the characters had to wade through. Did I mention this film is based on a true story? In an interview with Sports Illustrated, the real life Mickey Ward said the film is almost spot on with its portrayal of his life. Another huge plus for this movie was the outstanding performance turned in by the radiant Amy Adams. I may be a little bias because I absolutely adore the red head. She not only did a fine job with her character, but her Baaaston accent was spot on.

Also noteworthy, is the overpowering music booming during certain scenes to accentuate the mood of a certain sequence. The music fit perfectly with the images and transitioned the movie through time during the montages. Lastly, I would like to commend David O. Russell for his superb directorial effort in this film. Stylistically, The Fighter has some very unique ways of telling this story and the director pulls this off skillfully. David O. Russell used his imagery to portray emotions on a deeper level. A fine example is Dicky in despair, propped up against a wall, sliding down to his knees in a long dark hallway. The Fighter works on so many levels, a second viewing is definitely recommended so you can catch them all. It was the second viewing that convinced me this was the best movie of the year.

Honorable Mention: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Karate Kid, Shutter Island, Youth In Revolt, Megamind, Leap Year, and The Town.

So thus completes my top ten movies of the year. I am sure many of you have different favorites, and definitely a different ranking of the films, but this is my list, SO LAY OFF! Just kidding. Leave your thoughts and comments below. I’d love to hear the Movie Mash readers thoughts on this year’s best.

What Did You Guys Think Were The Best Movies Of 2010?

Love the title right? Just like the advertisements! This post just serves as a reminder to all those movie lovers and an expression of jubilation on my part that this Summer’s biggest blockbuster hits store shelves today. Can I get an Amen? Perfect distraction from school work and the stresses of life to fall back into the dream created by the master himself, Christopher Nolan. I hope you make it out to grab Inception, and borrow it to those who have not seen it. If you have seen Inception, hit the jump for an intriguing fan-made video of the different dream worlds within the film.

As you will see in the video below, a fan juxtaposed the different dream levels in quadrants on the screen so you can watch the action unfold simultaneously. If that seems confusing, just watch. Are you pumped to have Inception at your fingertips or what?

What Do You Think? Discuss.

Just last week we reported that Tom Hardy was the first new casting addition to Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated sequel to The Dark Knight, currently titled Batman 3. I thought there would at least be a several week gap between that and the next casting rumbling, but alas Moviehole is reporting (via Screen Rant) that Nolan is meeting with a shortlist of young actresses to take the “lead female” role in his next Batman epic.

Moviehole’s source at Warner Bros. told them that “a revolving door will be in operation for the better part of this week” as Nolan, producing partner/wife Emma Thomas & Co. meet with potential candidates who have been vaguely described to be in their “late 20′s and early 30′s.”

“Well, WHAT’S THE ROLE?!?!” you may be asking. Unfortunately, as we learned with Hardy’s casting last week, and pretty much every casting process in Nolan’s career, he and the studio are keeping their mouths shut. But the fact that the story pretty much requires a new romantic interest for Bruce Wayne to cuddle up with after the death of Rachel Dawes, as well as inevitable villain speculation, one could guess that it’s one of the following female characters:

Harley Quinn

We know that the Joker will not be in Batman 3. Nolan has stated this several times leading up to the release of Inception. But that doesn’t mean his psychotic side-kick, Harley Quinn, couldn’t make an appearance. Perhaps she could emerge as a deep admirer of the Joker’s twisted logic, seeking to carry on his quest for chaos and anarchy. She could find out Batman’s identity and cozy up to Bruce Wayne in order to enact her revenge, while simultaneously providing that romantic dynamic. But the fact that Heath will tragically not return to reprise his role, I’d say it’s a long shot.
Chance: 20%

Talia al Ghul

Nolan’s ability to tell a story is so amazing because everything is connected, everything comes full circle. What better way to introduce a new villain and a new love interest, than introducing Talia al Ghul, the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) from Batman Begins? In a similar fashion to Harely Quinn, she would have revenge on her mind, but due to her father’s connections to The League of Shadows, she could already have an army assembled to descend upon Gotham, forcing Batman to take one last stand.
Chance: 60%

Catwoman

You all knew it was coming. Possibly the most famous Batman villain/anti-hero tied with The Riddler, Catwoman/Selina Kyle has been a staple of the Batman comics, TV shows and film adaptions for decades. Her story could fit. As Batman is on the run, the streets are ripe for thieves and “cat-burglars,” an easy route for the script to take to introduce the two. Plus, out of all the women that Bruce Wayne has had on his arms in the DC Universe, no woman can manipulate and tempt him more than Catwoman. It would be a great personal conflict for Wayne to endure, while he’s dealing with Tom Hardy. Also, the Moviehole report did state some hints where given that Catwoman is most-likely the role that the female candidates were coming in to talk about, saying “Some of the beauties coming in to chat with Christopher, would suggest that.
Chance: 80%

Some New Character

As Nolan’s Rachel Dawes proved, he has no problem throwing his own original characters into the mix with those from the comic books. And as I worship Nolan’s every breath, I will say that character was the weakest aspect of both his Batman films. And as he’s already killed off one of his original female characters, I really can’t see him introducing another one for his last installment.
Chance: 5%

So there you have it. Nolan and WB are being ultra-secretive about everything regarding Batman 3 because they know they have a $2 billion film on their hands, but I hold out hope that we’ll get a villain/title announcement in the coming weeks. Batman 3 will kick off production in April, with a July 20, 2012 release.

Briefly, as Inception is still trucking along in theaters with a worldwide total of just over $815 million, the inevitable question becomes, “when’s the sequel?” Well, Christopher Nolan has never stated that he intended for Inception’s story to carry on past the ambiguous, thought-provoking ending involving that now-famous spinning totem. Unfortunately, studios are greedy and want to make sequels to successful films any chance they can get. So of course, What’s Playing is reporting (via Nolan Fans) that while Nolan may not want to continue his dream-espionage story, Warner Bros. certainly does. Here’s what the report had to say:

…Warner Bros wants another Inception – as in sequel. Doesn’t make a lick of sense creatively, but financially? well… it made ”a lot” of money for them. Can’t imagine Nolan wanting to do a sequel, let alone direct one. Also don’t imagine Jeff would want to piss off Nolan by doing one around him. All interest is on the studio side at this stage. We shall see comrade…

Don’t press the panic button yet, as I would currently categorize this under, “obviously.” Of course Warner Bros. wants to make a sequel to a film that made them hundreds of millions of dollars, possible Oscars and infinite respect in the industry. But, as that reporter stated, as much as they’d love to see an Inception 2, there’s no way they’d risk screwing up their relationship with Nolan, as they want to keep him right at WB headquarters for the next 25 years.

What Do You Think? Discuss.

I never would have taken Christopher Nolan for a video game guy. During a Q&A at the Hero Complex Film Festival a couple months back, he shockingly admitted that he did not own a cell phone or use email. Not because he’s technologically illiterate. His groundbreaking use of IMAX cameras to film sequences of The Dark Knight proves that he’s a student of cinematic technology. He just feels that those forms of communication distract him during the creative process. So I found it surprisingly awesome, in an interview with Variety, that he is looking into developing a video game based on his smash blockbuster, Inception. All I can say is HELL-to-the-YES!

As most fans know, nearly all games based on movies are usually crap, as they’re just a side synergistic product to sell alongside the release of said film. And a huge reason for that, is that the game is pretty much a carbon copy of the film, using the exact same story, characters and even some of the same actor’s voices in the game. But Nolan, as he always does, is going a different route to build upon the imaginative universe he created for the silver screen with Inception, by tapping into the expansive capabilities of video games. He elaborated: