2010 Movies: #12, 11, 10 & 9

Ref: Mulhern

#12 The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right was a well-written look at family life in the post-traditional paradigm. All the characters are uniquely drawn, and Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are convincing as a couple long in love but chafing at routine. As the movie opens, they know that said routine is about to be disrupted by their daughter's departure to college. What they don't realize is that another type of disruption entirely is about to result from their family's introduction to their biological father.

Everything about The Kids Are All Right feels realistic - the family dynamic, the titular kids' curiosity about their father, the little spats and quirks that Bening and Moore demonstrate in their life together, Mark Ruffalo's cool careless exterior and relational awkwardness. Clues are planted early on that come into play as the storyline moves inexorably toward betrayal, discovery and resolution.

I give it bonus points for the fact that Annette Bening looks exactly like my aunt.

#11 Toy Story 3

I'm glad I managed to see this one just in time (i.e. before the Oscars). I haven't seen either of Toy Story 3's predecessors in a number of years so the overall story arc is a little fuzzy, but I think this series resonates so much with people for a couple of different reasons. The toys remind viewers of their childhoods and highlight the bittersweet elements of growing up, but they also stand in for the viewers, experiencing camaraderie and loss in the same way that we do in life.

The animation is once again excellent, though not as groundbreaking as the first time it appeared. Still, it's interesting to think back to the original film and how its style fundamentally changed animation.

(I did like How To Train Your Dragon more... because I love Toothless!)

#10 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

My grandmother bought my little brother a Harry Potter paperback way back when, and I was hooked. While never being disappointed with any of the movies, I've had my favorites, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is now among them despite its understandable lack of resolution.

It's so fortunate for the franchise that the three child actors selected to carry these films have grown up well, with talent to spare. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have settled into their series roles nicely, and their closeness during the last several years likely plays a role in their success as an ensemble. I hope we'll see continue to see good things from them after next year's final installment closes the curtain on the magical world.

B's assessment of the action in Deathly Hallows is right on the money - there's a lot going on even when our heroes are hiding out in the forest and plotting and planning their next move. Visual effects were used nicely, I thought, such as when *spoiler alert* Hermione hides behind an invisibility field a breath away from a pursuer. Even better, the story stuck closely to that of the book and was just as evocative. I shed a tear. I'm sure you did too.

Very much looking forward to next November's final showdown.

#9 Animal Kingdom

Didn't see this one (shocker, especially when you juxtapose Mulhern's synopsis with my love of Valentine's Day).