#5 Winter's Bone
A fantastic peek into an area of the U.S. most people don't think about, Winter's Bone was the most unexpected film of the year for me. A story about a girl on a search for her missing father, the movie introduces you to characters that seem like they'll either help her or hurt her at any given moment. The only film this year I can say I had no idea what to expect next. I'm still scared to meet any of those people. Go see it.
#4 The Strange Case of Angelica
Somehow, at age 101, Manoel De Oliveira managed to deliver one of the best films of his career. A love story between a man and a corpse (well...her ghost), Angelica lets you get lost in the remembrance of how passionate true love can be. Filled with tangents about life and particle physics, you sit with a smile on your face hoping that the two lovers will find a way to be together as you want to hold on closer to your own.
#3 Inside Job
The documentary of the year to get your blood boiling. An explanation of how the economy collapsed and the steps the government and banking industries took that basically made it inevitable. Watch at your own risk if you have high blood pressure. Fascinating from start to finish when you're not yelling at the people on the screen.
#2 The Social Network
Every so often, Hollywood gets it right. A perfect combination of director, screenwriter and actors bring the "story" of the early years of Facebook to life. (How true it is is for others to decide). Everything about this film works. The one liners, the music, all fantastic. Now if only more films like this can be released every year.
Rental of the Year
Word is Out
A documentary from the 1970's featuring 20some gay and lesbian people simply talking about their lives. Some known personages, some not. All with amazing stories to tell. The DVD features an update with almost everyone from the documentary. Rent now.
Film of the Year
#1 Ahead of Time
Ahead of Time is a documentary about a woman almost no one can name today, but who everyone should know. Ruth Gruber was the youngest person in the world to receive a PhD. She worked as a journalist, alerting America to the dangers of Nazism from inside Germany, was the first foreign correspondent allowed to fly through Siberia, and was present at the birth of Israel, a witness to the Exodus incident. During WWII, she worked for the interior department as the liaison between the U.S. and 1000 Jewish refugees brought over from Italy; the only Jewish people the U.S. actively sheltered during the war. She was right at the forefront of most of the important developments of the world from 1930-1950. Her story is outstanding and she's still going strong today at 99. Ahead of Time is a stunning time capsule of those events told firsthand by Ms. Gruber. Watch it as soon as you can.
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